Great Rail Journeys
Classic Glacier Express: Brig to Chur
9 daysfrom $3,605
Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour
Classic Glacier Express at New Year
This magnificent New Year rail holiday in Switzerland is a fantastic way to experience exciting train journeys on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Strasbourg
From London to Strasbourg
Meet the Tour Manager and travelling group at London St Pancras. Board the Eurostar to Paris in Eurostar Plus, enjoying a light meal at your seat. Continue eastwards to Strasbourg for an overnight stop. After checking in to the central four-star hotel, take a short walk to a local restaurant for the first dinner together.
Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner
- Day 2railovernight: Brig
Arrival in Brig, nestled in Switzerland's Rhône Valley
Free morning after breakfast to explore Strasbourg, Place Kléber, La Petite France and the UNESCO World Heritage cobbled streets and canals. Leave Strasbourg by train to Basel in First Class, then join the Swiss rail network in Standard Class heading to Brig. Check in to the family-run four-star hotel near the station for a three-night stay, followed by a three-course dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 3railovernight: Brig
Admiring Matterhorn views from scenic Zermatt
Dramatic journey along the Matter Valley by train, flanked by steep cliffs and winter scenes. On approach to car-free Zermatt, the Matterhorn comes into view. Free time to explore, options include riding the 125-year-old Gornergrat Mountain Railway to the summit. Return by rail to Brig in time for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 4overnight: Brig
Free time in Brig or further afield
Day at leisure. Explore Brig's historic centre and the 17th-century Stockalper Palace. Alternatively, use the Swiss Half Fare Card to travel to Montreux on Lake Geneva, join the GoldenPass Line to Gstaad, or visit Château de Chillon. Other options include the Aletsch Glacier by cable car or a trip to Domodossola through the Simplon Tunnel.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 5railovernight: Chur
Experiencing the Glacier Express with lunch on New Year's Eve
Leave Brig after breakfast for a sensational journey on the iconic Glacier Express. Enjoy panoramic views of snowy meadows, frozen streams and white mountaintops. Lunch is served at your seat. Ascend through the Furka Tunnel to the Oberalp Pass and through the 'Swiss Grand Canyon' to arrive in Chur. Check in to the 360-year-old hotel for four nights. Welcome drink and special New Year's Eve gala dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 6overnight: Chur
New Year's Day in historic Chur
Full free day to explore Chur, a destination with a history dating back more than 5,000 years. Wander the colourful Old Town, visit Martinsplatz and the 15th-century Town Hall, the 800-year-old Cathedral of the Assumption and the Bishop's Palace. Traditional dinner with all the trimmings at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 7railovernight: Chur
Visiting Lucerne, the 'City of Lights'
Travel by rail to Lucerne after breakfast. Explore the cobbled streets, the famous 14th-century Kapellbrücke wooden bridge, frescoed buildings, the Jesuit church and the Hofkirche. Optionally travel on the Rigi mountain railway or enjoy a paddle steamer cruise across Lake Lucerne using the Swiss Half Fare Card. Return to Chur for an evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 8railovernight: Chur
Crossing the Alps on the Bernina Express
Board the panoramic carriages of the Bernina Express after breakfast. Travel the UNESCO-listed Albula Line, climbing to 7,392 feet with views of ancient castles, frosted forests, frozen lakes and snow-bound plateaus. Descend to Poschiavo, a pretty town of pastel-coloured buildings in Italian-speaking Ticino. Time for lunch and local specialities such as pizzoccheri. Return to Chur via a short stop in St Moritz, dining at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 9rail
Homeward bound
After breakfast, leave Chur by train. Snow-covered mountains and glistening lakes line the route to Basel. Continue to Paris and board the Eurostar in Eurostar Plus, enjoying a light meal at your seat before arriving back at London St Pancras.
Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal
Included
- Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
- 8 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
- Eurostar Plus travel (London to Paris and return)
- First Class rail travel (Strasbourg to Basel)
- Standard Class rail travel on Swiss rail network
- All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
- Eurostar light meals (outbound and return)
- Breakfast each day
- 1 lunch (on the Glacier Express, New Year's Eve)
- 6 dinners (including New Year's Eve gala dinner)
- Group luggage transfers between hotels from Brig to Chur
- Swiss Half Fare Card (50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railways)
- All guided tours and excursions
Not included
- Cancellation & Travel Insurance
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