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. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Plus (London-Paris return), TGV First Class (Paris-Geneva), Swiss rail throughout, the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, and a Lake Thun cruise. Optional extras are the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, Grindelwald-First cable car, and Brambüesch cable car.

Is this tour escorted or independent?

Escorted. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London through Strasbourg. Most days include guided walks and structured activities; Days 2, 3, and 7 also offer free time to explore independently.

Which hotels are included?

Hotel Ambassador in Brig (4-star, 3 nights), Hotel Stern in Chur (4-star, 4 nights), and a 4-star hotel in Strasbourg (1 night). All are included, with group luggage transfers between Brig and Chur.

Great Rail Journeys offers three departures: January 2027, February 2027, and March 2027.

What meals are included?

Breakfast each day, one lunch on the Glacier Express, Eurostar light meals outbound and return, and six group dinners. Day 5 dinner and Day 7 dinner are independent (dine on your own from local restaurants).

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Classic Glacier Express in Winter: Brig to Chur

Alpine rail journey on Glacier and Bernina Express through Swiss winter peaks

Great Rail Journeys operates this nine-day escorted winter tour from London to Strasbourg, featuring two of Europe's most celebrated mountain railways: the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express. The journey spans five countries, beginning with Eurostar Plus and TGV First Class to Geneva, then climbing into Switzerland's alpine heartland. You stay four nights in Chur, a 360-year-old town, and three nights in Brig, surrounded by snow-capped peaks. A UK Tour Manager leads the group throughout, organising guided walks in historic town centres, a Lake Thun cruise, and excursions to the Matterhorn and Grindelwald. Day 4 brings the signature Glacier Express experience: a panoramic carriage journey through the Rhône Valley and the dramatic Rhine Gorge with a two-course lunch at your seat. Day 6 follows the UNESCO-listed Bernina Express over the Landwasser Viaduct and across the Bernina Pass toward the Italian-speaking village of Poschiavo. Four-star hotels, daily breakfast, and most dinners are included, alongside a Swiss Half Fare Card for independent exploration on your free day. This tour suits repeat rail travellers, couples seeking guided comfort, and photographers drawn to alpine winter scenery.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £400 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

The single supplement (from GBP 2,999) represents a premium over half the double rate; confirm the exact premium when booking
Day 5 dinner is not included; you dine independently from Chur's restaurants
Day 7 is unguided; you explore independently using the included Swiss Half Fare Card, which covers 50% discounts on rail, boat, and mountain railways

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Brig
London to Brig in the Swiss Alps
Meeting the Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras, your winter holiday begins by boarding 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: Eurostar light meal, Dinner
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 past sugar-coated trees. On arrival, you have a free afternoon to explore - you might take the Gornergrat Mountain Railway or a cable car past Schwarzsee for views of the winter wonderland. In the evening, we return to Brig for a three-course dinner at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3railovernight: Brig
Grindelwald mountain views and Lake Thun cruise
Travelling by train to the picturesque mountain village of Grindelwald, you have free time to look around one of Europe's oldest mountain resorts, surrounded by the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger. You could continue to the summit of Grindelwald-First mountain by cable car. Afterwards, we continue to Interlaken to cruise across glimmering Lake Thun, looking out for the fairytale Spiez Castle. From Thun, we return to Brig by train for our final dinner together as a group.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: Chur
A magical journey on the Glacier Express
Today, one of Europe's most iconic train journeys awaits. After breakfast in our hotel, we board the incredible Glacier Express. Our route takes us through the nine-mile Furka Tunnel along the Rhône towards Chur, the oldest city in Switzerland, enjoying a two-course lunch at our seats. As we approach Chur, we delve into the Rhine Gorge, the 'Swiss Grand Canyon'. We check in to our 360-year-old hotel for a four-night stay, before dinner tonight.
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 for a short walking tour of Chur's Old Town, strolling 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 wintertime holiday. The UNESCO-listed route twists through the frozen 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 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 scenic region independently, using your Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% discounts on rail journeys - the Arosa Line, or Davos and Klosters, are 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 Old Town, 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
Leaving Strasbourg in First Class, the snow-covered mountains line our route as we journey back to Paris. In the French capital, we join the Eurostar service, travelling in Eurostar Plus class for the final leg of the 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: Board a local train to Zermatt through the Matter Valley; the Matterhorn appears across dramatic winter scenery accessible only by train or foot
Day 4Day 4: The Glacier Express departs Brig after breakfast, passing through the nine-mile Furka Tunnel and the Rhine Gorge while a two-course lunch is served at your seat in panoramic carriages
Day 6Day 6: The Bernina Express twists south from Chur across the UNESCO-listed curved Landwasser Viaduct and through the Albula Line, climbing to 7,300 feet past Lago Bianco and the Palü Glacier
Day 5Day 5: A guided walking tour explores Chur's Old Town, including the 800-year-old cathedral, the Bishop's Palace, and Martinsplatz with its 18th-century zodiac fountain

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; all rail, cruise 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

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

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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. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Plus (London-Paris return), TGV First Class (Paris-Geneva), Swiss rail throughout, the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, and a Lake Thun cruise. Optional extras are the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, Grindelwald-First cable car, and Brambüesch cable car.
Is this tour escorted or independent?: Escorted. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London through Strasbourg. Most days include guided walks and structured activities; Days 2, 3, and 7 also offer free time to explore independently.
Which hotels are included?: Hotel Ambassador in Brig (4-star, 3 nights), Hotel Stern in Chur (4-star, 4 nights), and a 4-star hotel in Strasbourg (1 night). All are included, with group luggage transfers between Brig and Chur.
When does it depart?: Great Rail Journeys offers three departures: January 2027, February 2027, and March 2027.
What meals are included?: Breakfast each day, one lunch on the Glacier Express, Eurostar light meals outbound and return, and six group dinners. Day 5 dinner and Day 7 dinner are independent (dine on your own from local restaurants).