How much does it cost?

From £2,799 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,781 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 (London to Paris and return), First Class rail from Strasbourg or Basel through Switzerland, Standard Class local trains within Switzerland, the Bernina Express in panoramic class, the Glacier Express in panoramic class, and a Lake Thun cruise.

Is the tour escorted or independent?

It is fully escorted. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London St Pancras through the entire nine days, including all hotel check-ins and group meals.

Which trains feature on this tour?

The signature trains are the Bernina Express (Chur to Poschiavo to St Moritz and return) and the Glacier Express (Chur to Brig), both in panoramic carriages. Additional trains include Eurostar, TGV, Swiss intercity rail, and local trains to Zermatt and Grindelwald.

What meals are included?

Breakfast is included every day. Dinners are included on Days 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 (six total). A two-course lunch is served on the Glacier Express (Day 5). Eurostar light meals are included on Days 1 and 9. Other meals are not included.

What is not included?

Cancellation and travel insurance are not included. Meals not listed above, optional upgrades (such as a Deluxe Double room in Brig), and any activities beyond those listed in the itinerary are at your own cost.

When does this tour run?

Great Rail Journeys operates four departures in winter and early spring: December 2026, January 2027, February 2027, and March 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Classic Glacier Express in Winter

Nine-day Swiss winter rail loop from London on Glacier and Bernina Express trains

Great Rail Journeys operates this nine-day escorted winter tour from London to Geneva, combining two of Europe's most celebrated scenic trains with bases in the Swiss mountain towns of Chur and Brig. A UK Tour Manager guides the group throughout, handling hotel logistics and group meals so you can focus on the journey. The Bernina Express crosses the UNESCO-listed Albula Line and the Landwasser Viaduct en route to Poschiavo; the Glacier Express descends the Rhine Gorge and passes through the nine-mile Furka Tunnel, with a two-course lunch served at your seat in panoramic carriages. Between train journeys, the itinerary includes free days in Chur and Brig where you can explore historic town centres, visit museums, or use the Swiss Half Fare Card to take optional rail excursions to Zermatt (for Matterhorn views), Grindelwald (with views of the Jungfrau and Eiger), or nearby resorts. The final day includes a Lake Thun cruise before the high-speed TGV and Eurostar return you to London. Eight nights in four-star hotels, breakfast daily, and six dinners are included; accommodation, trains, and cruises reflect a premium comfort standard suited to repeat rail travellers and those seeking guided exploration of Alpine scenery in winter.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £200 since 4 Jul, to £2,799.

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

The group size may reach 30 passengers; confirm the departure cohort size when booking if you prefer a smaller group.
Day 4 and Day 7 in Chur and Brig are unguided; the itinerary suggests optional activities, but dining on Day 4 is independent.
50); solo travellers should budget accordingly.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Strasbourg
London to Strasbourg overnight
Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Paris, then rail east to Strasbourg for the first overnight.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2railovernight: Chur
A warm alpine welcome in historic Chur
Free morning in Strasbourg, then rail via Basel to Chur for a three-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3railovernight: Chur
A superb journey on the Bernina Express
Bernina Express over the Albula Line and Bernina Pass to Poschiavo, returning via St Moritz.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Chur
A free day in Chur, Switzerland's oldest town
Day at leisure in Chur, with options including the Brambrüesch cable car or the Arosa Line using the Swiss Half Fare Card.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5railovernight: Brig
A magical journey on the Glacier Express
Glacier Express from Chur to Brig via the Rhine Gorge and Furka Tunnel, with a two-course lunch onboard, for a four-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6railovernight: Brig
Savouring Matterhorn views from Zermatt
Local train to Zermatt for Matterhorn views, with options including the Gornergrat Mountain Railway.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7overnight: Brig
Uncovering Brig or venturing further afield
Day at leisure, with options including the Stockalper Palace, Montreux or the Aletsch Glacier.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8railovernight: Brig
Grindelwald mountain views and Lake Thun cruise
Rail to Grindelwald for mountain views, then a cruise across Lake Thun from Interlaken.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9rail
Homeward bound
Rail via Lake Geneva and Montreux to Geneva, TGV to Paris in First Class, then Eurostar Plus to London St Pancras.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Board the Bernina Express in panoramic carriages from Chur, crossing the UNESCO-listed Landwasser Viaduct and climbing the Albula Line to over 7,300 feet, passing the Palü Glacier before descending to Poschiavo.
Day 5Travel the Glacier Express through the Rhine Gorge at an average speed of 24 mph, climbing to Andermatt and passing through the nine-mile Furka Tunnel with a two-course lunch served at your seat in panoramic carriages.
Day 6Take a local train to Zermatt, a car-free mountain resort, with the option to ride the Gornergrat Mountain Railway up to the glacier or take a cable car for Matterhorn views.
Day 8Travel by train to Grindelwald to view the Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger, then cruise across Lake Thun with views of Spiez Castle before returning to Brig by train.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
8 nights 4-Star hotel accommodation
Eurostar Plus, First & Standard Class rail travel
All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
Eurostar Light Meal, breakfast each day, 1 lunch, 6 dinners
Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days
Group luggage transfers between hotels from Chur to Brig
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

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The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

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Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,799 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,781 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 (London to Paris and return), First Class rail from Strasbourg or Basel through Switzerland, Standard Class local trains within Switzerland, the Bernina Express in panoramic class, the Glacier Express in panoramic class, and a Lake Thun cruise.
Is the tour escorted or independent?: It is fully escorted. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London St Pancras through the entire nine days, including all hotel check-ins and group meals.
Which trains feature on this tour?: The signature trains are the Bernina Express (Chur to Poschiavo to St Moritz and return) and the Glacier Express (Chur to Brig), both in panoramic carriages. Additional trains include Eurostar, TGV, Swiss intercity rail, and local trains to Zermatt and Grindelwald.
What meals are included?: Breakfast is included every day. Dinners are included on Days 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 (six total). A two-course lunch is served on the Glacier Express (Day 5). Eurostar light meals are included on Days 1 and 9. Other meals are not included.
What is not included?: Cancellation and travel insurance are not included. Meals not listed above, optional upgrades (such as a Deluxe Double room in Brig), and any activities beyond those listed in the itinerary are at your own cost.
When does this tour run?: Great Rail Journeys operates four departures in winter and early spring: December 2026, January 2027, February 2027, and March 2027.