How much does it cost?

From £2,399 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,241 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 to and from London, TGV First Class between Paris and Geneva, Swiss rail networks, the Glacier Express in panoramic class from Brig to Chur, and the Bernina Express in panoramic class from Chur to Poschiavo. You also receive a Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% discounts on rail journeys, boat trips and most mountain railways on free days.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies you from London throughout the journey. Most sightseeing is guided, including walks in Zermatt, Chur's Old Town and the tour of Spiez Castle. You have two free afternoons in Chur (days 5 and 7) to explore independently with your Half Fare Card.

What hotels are included?

Great Rail Journeys books a four-star hotel in Brig for three nights, a four-star hotel in Chur for four nights and a four-star hotel in Strasbourg for one night. Luggage transfers between hotels from Brig to Chur are included.

What meals are included?

Breakfast is served daily. You receive a light meal on Eurostar, lunch on the Glacier Express, and six dinners (one in Brig after arrival, one each night in Brig, one in Strasbourg, and one in Chur on the guided day). You dine independently on two evenings in Chur and one evening in Strasbourg.

When does the tour run?

Great Rail Journeys operates eight departures across 2027, running in March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Classic Glacier & Bernina Express: Brig to Chur

Swiss Alps rail circle: Glacier Express and Bernina Express from London

Great Rail Journeys' 9-day escorted journey chains two of the Swiss Alps' most celebrated scenic trains: the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express. Starting in London, you travel via Eurostar and high-speed TGV to Geneva, then onward to the mountain resort of Brig for a three-night base. 5-mile Lötschberg Base Tunnel to Spiez Castle, where you sip an exclusive aperitif on the terrace before cruising turquoise Lake Thun. Day 4 is the centrepiece: the Glacier Express travels at 24 miles per hour through panoramic carriages past the Rhine Gorge and over the 6,670-foot Oberalp Pass, with lunch at your seat. After four nights in Chur (including a guided walk through its Old Town and a free day to explore the Bernina Express route to Poschiavo), you return to London via Strasbourg, TGV and Eurostar. The tour suits repeat rail travellers and couples who enjoy guided structure, hotel comfort and unhurried multi-night stays in Alpine towns.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £300 since 4 Jul, to £2,399.

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

Spiez Castle closes from late March to late April; the itinerary substitutes an alternate activity on those departures.
Two dinners in Chur are independent (you choose your restaurant), and the final evening in Strasbourg is a group dinner at a local restaurant.
Single supplement is GBP 200 (GBP 2,899 vs. GBP 2,699 double), a notably high premium on a GBP 2,699 base fare.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Brig
London to Brig in the Swiss Alps
Your Swiss holiday begins as you meet the Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras, ready to board the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in Plus class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats. On arrival in Paris, we board the high-speed TGV in First Class and travel east to Switzerland, joining the efficient Swiss rail network in Geneva. On arrival in Brig, we check in to our four-star hotel for a three-night stay and enjoy a three-course meal together.
Meals: Dinner, Eurostar light meal
Day 2railovernight: Brig
Savouring Matterhorn views from Zermatt
After breakfast in Brig, we take a local train to Zermatt, a tranquil mountain resort only accessible by foot or train, zigzagging through the dramatic landscape of the Matter Valley. On arrival, we have a short walk to Air Zermatt Heliport, learning from a pilot about the life-saving work of mountain rescue, before a free afternoon to explore - you might take the Gornergrat Mountain Railway or a cable car past Schwarzsee. In the evening, we return to Brig for a three-course dinner at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3railovernight: Brig
Spiez Castle and a cruise on Lake Thun
Travelling by rail through the 21.5-mile Lötschberg Base Tunnel after breakfast, we arrive in the quaint town of Spiez. Set beside the crystal-clear waters of Lake Thun is Spiez Castle, a fairytale fortress dating from the 10th century. After a tour of the fortress, we relax on the terrace for an exclusive private aperitif. Leaving Spiez by boat, we cruise along the turquoise Lake Thun to the historic town of Thun, then catch the train back to Brig for dinner. Please note: on departures from 24th March to 28th April, Spiez Castle is closed, and an alternative excursion by rail to Interlaken will take place.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: Chur
An epic journey on the Glacier Express
One of Europe's most iconic train journeys awaits us today. After breakfast in our hotel, we board the incredible Glacier Express to Chur. The scenic route of the 'slowest express train in the world' delves into the Rhine Gorge, where panoramic carriages provide front-row seats to the 'Swiss Grand Canyon'. Travelling at an average speed of 24mph, we are served a two-course lunch in our seats. We traverse the nine-mile Furka Tunnel and pass through Andermatt before reaching the Oberalp Pass, the highest point of the route at nearly 6,670 feet. On arrival in Chur, we check in to our hotel near the station for a four-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5overnight: Chur
A guided tour of Switzerland's oldest town
Today begins with a leisurely breakfast before we meet a local guide at the hotel for a short walking tour of Chur's Old Town, strolling through the colourful town centre towards Martinsplatz. After the tour, you're free to take in the lovely sights of Chur independently, perhaps taking the cable car up to Brambüesch. Dining independently in Chur tonight, you could opt for the local speciality of pizzoccheri.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6railovernight: Chur
A superb journey on the Bernina Express
Dubbed the rail experts' best-kept secret, a journey on the Bernina Express in panoramic carriages is a highlight of this holiday. After breakfast, we join this amazing train. The UNESCO-listed route twists and spirals through the Engadine Valley, across the Landwasser Viaduct and up the Albula Line, reaching the summit at more than 7,300 feet, past Lago Bianco and over the Bernina Pass, viewing the Palü Glacier at Alp Grüm, down to the Italian-speaking town of Poschiavo. On the return journey, we stop briefly in St Moritz before arriving back in Chur for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7railovernight: Chur
A free day to explore in and around Chur
After a leisurely breakfast, today is yours to explore the city's many lovely destinations independently. You could use your Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% discounts on all rail journeys - the scenic Arosa Line, or the mountain resorts of Davos and Klosters, are all easily reachable. Dining independently tonight, choose from Chur's range of gourmet restaurants and traditional pubs.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8overnight: Strasbourg
Travel to Strasbourg
After breakfast in Chur, we journey to Strasbourg for an overnight stay in this historic city. On arrival, we check into our four-star hotel in the centre before a free afternoon to explore Strasbourg's compact but captivating centre, dominated by the Gothic cathedral. In the evening, we take a short walk to a local restaurant for our final dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9rail
Homeward bound
After breakfast, we depart Strasbourg on the high-speed TGV to make our way back to Paris. In the French capital, we join the Eurostar service, travelling in Eurostar Plus class for the final leg of our trip home. On arrival in London St Pancras, your holiday draws to a close.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Day 2: Take a local train to Zermatt through wildflower meadows, alpine forests and waterfalls, with free time to view the Matterhorn from a café or ride the Gornergrat Mountain Railway.
Day 3Day 3: Tour the 10th-century Spiez Castle with its conical turrets and central keep, then enjoy a private aperitif on the terrace overlooking Lake Thun before cruising its turquoise waters to Thun.
Day 4Day 4: Board the Glacier Express from Brig to Chur, averaging 24 mph through panoramic carriages past the Rhine Gorge, serene lakes and snowy peaks, with a two-course lunch served at your seat.
Day 6Day 6: Travel the Bernina Express from Chur across the curved Landwasser Viaduct, through the Albula Line tunnels, past turquoise Lago Bianco and over the 7,300-foot Bernina Pass to Poschiavo.

Included

Tour Manager: Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
Accommodation: 8 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
Transportation: Eurostar Plus; First & Standard Class rail travel; First & Standard Class rail options available; all rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Food & Drink: Eurostar Light Meals; Breakfast each day, 1 lunch, 6 dinners
Luggage: Group luggage transfers between hotels from Brig to Chur
Excursions & Entertainment: Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys; all guided tours and excursions

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,399 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,241 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 to and from London, TGV First Class between Paris and Geneva, Swiss rail networks, the Glacier Express in panoramic class from Brig to Chur, and the Bernina Express in panoramic class from Chur to Poschiavo. You also receive a Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% discounts on rail journeys, boat trips and most mountain railways on free days.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies you from London throughout the journey. Most sightseeing is guided, including walks in Zermatt, Chur's Old Town and the tour of Spiez Castle. You have two free afternoons in Chur (days 5 and 7) to explore independently with your Half Fare Card.
What hotels are included?: Great Rail Journeys books a four-star hotel in Brig for three nights, a four-star hotel in Chur for four nights and a four-star hotel in Strasbourg for one night. Luggage transfers between hotels from Brig to Chur are included.
What meals are included?: Breakfast is served daily. You receive a light meal on Eurostar, lunch on the Glacier Express, and six dinners (one in Brig after arrival, one each night in Brig, one in Strasbourg, and one in Chur on the guided day). You dine independently on two evenings in Chur and one evening in Strasbourg.
When does the tour run?: Great Rail Journeys operates eight departures across 2027, running in March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October.