How much does it cost?

From £3,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,456 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus class travel from London to Paris and back, First Class rail throughout Switzerland, and all mountain railways and cable cars: the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch, Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railway, Schynige Platte cogwheel railway, and Grindelwald First cable car.

Is this tour escorted or independent?

It is an escorted tour. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from start to finish. All guided tours and excursions are included.

What hotels are included?

Six nights in the five-star Grand Hotel Beau Rivage in Interlaken and one night in a four-star hotel near the station in Colmar.

What meals are included?

Breakfast each day, five dinners, light meals on Eurostar, and beer, wine, and soft drinks from 7-9pm each evening in Interlaken. Other meals are your own expense.

When does the tour operate?

Departures run in May, June, July, August, September, and October 2026 and 2027.

What is the physical demand?

Days include cable cars, cogwheel railways, and mountain summits. Day 7 involves ascending and descending Brienzer Rothorn plus a lake cruise. A free day on Day 4 offers optional rail trips and a funicular with scenic views.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

First-Class Top of Europe & Grindelwald

Swiss Alps escorted rail tour from London, eight days, mountain railways and five-star hotel

Great Rail Journeys' Classic Five-Star Top of Europe is an eight-day escorted tour from London through the Swiss Alps, taking Eurostar Plus class and First Class rail throughout. You spend six nights in the five-star Grand Hotel Beau Rivage, a Belle Époque property in Interlaken on the banks of the Aare River, with one night in Colmar in Alsace. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from start to finish. The itinerary centres on mountain railways and Alpine scenery: Day 3 includes a cable car to Grindelwald First with views of the Eiger and Mönch; Day 5 climbs the Jungfrau Railway cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest train station, where you tour a private Ice Palace and view the Aletsch Glacier; Day 6 takes the Schynige Platte cogwheel railway to an Alpine Botanical Garden; and Day 7 features a steam-hauled ascent of Brienzer Rothorn followed by a scenic cruise across turquoise Lake Brienz. Three-course dinners with wine are included most evenings. This tour suits luxury-seeking repeat rail travellers and those seeking guided comfort with substantial included excursions.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £3,299 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Day 3 and Day 4 may be swapped on some departures; confirm the exact itinerary with Great Rail Journeys when booking
On departures before 5 June, the Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railway stops at the mid-station rather than the summit; verify the route at the time of booking
Single supplements are substantial: from 4,499 GBP versus a per-person from-price of 3,299 GBP for a double
The maximum group size is 30 travellers; it is not a small-group tour

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Colmar
London to the Alsace town of Colmar
Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar in Plus class with a light meal served at your seat, then continue by First Class rail to Colmar, checking into a four-star hotel near the station before dinner at the riverside Restaurant Caveau Saint-Pierre in the Little Venice district.
Day 2railovernight: Interlaken
A First Class journey to Interlaken
Free time in Colmar after breakfast, then travel by First Class rail via Basel to Interlaken, passing Lake Thun and Spiez Castle, checking into the Belle Époque hotel for a three-course dinner with drinks included from 7-9pm.
Day 3railovernight: Interlaken
Panoramic views from Grindelwald First
Travel by First Class rail to Grindelwald, then board a cable car to the summit of Grindelwald First for views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, with free time before returning to Interlaken; dinner is independent this evening.
Day 4railovernight: Interlaken
A free day to explore mountains and more
A free day using the Swiss Half Fare Card, with options including a rail trip to the medieval town of Thun or a funicular to the Harder Kulm viewing platform; dinner is independent.
Day 5railovernight: Interlaken
A trip to the 'Top of Europe' on the Jungfrau Railway
Journey on the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest train station, with a guide describing the history and construction of the line, then tour the glacial Ice Palace and enjoy an exclusive visit to the Ice Bar with a drink included, before returning for dinner.
Day 6railovernight: Interlaken
Schynige Platte Railway and the Alpine Botanical Garden
Rail to Wilderswil, then an open-coach cog railway up to Schynige Platte for views of the Jungfrau and free time to explore the Alpine Botanical Garden's 800 plant species, before returning to Interlaken for dinner.
Day 7railovernight: Interlaken
Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railway and lake cruise
Travel to Brienz for a steam-hauled cog railway ascent of Brienzer Rothorn with free time at the summit, then a scenic lake cruise back to Interlaken, followed by a three-course dinner with drinks at the hotel.
Day 8rail
Homeward bound
After breakfast, travel by First Class rail to Basel, continue by high-speed rail to Paris, then join the Eurostar in Plus class with a light meal back to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Depart London St Pancras on Eurostar Plus class with a light meal served at your seat, then continue by First Class rail through France to Colmar in the Alsace wine region
Day 3Ride a cable car to Grindelwald First for panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains
Day 5Travel on the Jungfrau Railway cogwheel train through the Eiger tunnel to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest train station, and view the Aletsch Glacier from the Sphinx platform; enter a private Ice Palace tour with a drink at the Ice Bar
Day 7Ascend Brienzer Rothorn on a steam-hauled mountain railway to 7,700 feet, then cruise back across turquoise Lake Brienz on a traditional lake boat

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
7 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
Eurostar Plus First Class rail travel where possible
All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
Eurostar Light Meals
Breakfast each day, 5 dinners
Beer, wine and soft drinks each evening from 7pm-9pm in Interlaken
Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £3,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,456 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus class travel from London to Paris and back, First Class rail throughout Switzerland, and all mountain railways and cable cars: the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch, Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railway, Schynige Platte cogwheel railway, and Grindelwald First cable car.
Is this tour escorted or independent?: It is an escorted tour. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from start to finish. All guided tours and excursions are included.
What hotels are included?: Six nights in the five-star Grand Hotel Beau Rivage in Interlaken and one night in a four-star hotel near the station in Colmar.
What meals are included?: Breakfast each day, five dinners, light meals on Eurostar, and beer, wine, and soft drinks from 7-9pm each evening in Interlaken. Other meals are your own expense.
When does the tour operate?: Departures run in May, June, July, August, September, and October 2026 and 2027.
What is the physical demand?: Days include cable cars, cogwheel railways, and mountain summits. Day 7 involves ascending and descending Brienzer Rothorn plus a lake cruise. A free day on Day 4 offers optional rail trips and a funicular with scenic views.