Great Rail Journeys
Classic Five-Star Top of Europe
8 daysfrom $4,406
Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour
Classic Jungfrau Express & Swiss Alps
Experience an outstanding Swiss adventure based in the pretty alpine village of Meiringen, and ride the iconic Jungfrau Railway to the 'Top of Europe'
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Basel
Arriving in Basel, overlooking the Rhine
Meet the Tour Manager and travelling group at London St Pancras. Board Eurostar Plus carriages to Paris, enjoying a light meal in seats. Transfer to First Class seats for a train journey through eastern France to Basel, Switzerland. Basel sits near the borders of France and Germany on the River Rhine. Overnight hotel is just outside the station, near Old Town. First dinner together at the hotel restaurant.
Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner
- Day 2railovernight: Meiringen
To Meiringen in the heart of the Alps
After breakfast, walk back to Basel station. Swiss rail network takes the group through dramatic scenery to Interlaken, skirting the shores of Lake Thun from Thun into the Bernese Oberland. Change trains in Interlaken, passing along the picturesque banks of Lake Brienz to Meiringen. Short walk to the family-run hotel – home for the next six nights. Afternoon to relax before dinner in the hotel's traditional wood-panelled restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 3overnight: Meiringen
Free day to explore Meiringen
Day at leisure. Options include visiting the Reichenbach Falls by funicular, the Sherlock Holmes museum dedicated to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the Aare Gorge with its wooden walkway, or using the Swiss Half Fare Card to visit Interlaken (shops, medieval monastery, castle, Harder Kulm funicular). Rejoin the group for dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 4railovernight: Meiringen
Riding the Jungfrau Railway to the 'Top of Europe'
Journey to Europe's highest railway station. Reach Kleine Scheidegg by rail, then board the iconic Jungfrau Express. The train enters a tunnel through the Eiger, pausing at hand-carved viewing windows inside. Arrive at Jungfraujoch ('Top of Europe') where the Sphinx viewing platform offers awe-inspiring views of the Aletsch Glacier (UNESCO-listed). Free time to marvel at panoramic vistas before returning to Meiringen for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 5railovernight: Meiringen
Lake Brienz cruise & Brienz Rothorn Mountain Railway
Cruise from Brienz to Interlaken and back across the crystalline waters of Lake Brienz, passing the Giessbach Falls. Board the historic Brienz Rothorn steam train to climb to more than 7,300 feet above sea level through lush meadows with wildflowers and grazing cows, revealing breathtaking vistas of the Alps. Note: the Brienz Rothorn Mountain Railway only operates as far as its mid-station for May departures and to the summit from June onwards. Return to Meiringen for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 6railovernight: Meiringen
Discovering the Bernese Oberland at leisure
Free day with many options. Relax locally or explore with the Swiss Half Fare Card. Options include: Lauterbrunnen village and Staubbach Falls; cogwheel railway from Wilderswil to Schynige Platte Alpine Botanical Garden; cruise across Lake Thun to Spiez Castle; or visit Brunngasse in Brienz, one of Switzerland's most photogenic streets. Return to Meiringen for dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 7railovernight: Meiringen
A journey by cable car to the summit of the Schilthorn
Travel by train to the hillside village of Mürren, then board the cable car to the summit of the Schilthorn. Enjoy breathtaking 360° views of approximately 200 mountain peaks including the Jungfrau. Visit the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant, made famous in the 1969 James Bond film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', which contains a museum about the filming. Free time to explore the exhibition or enjoy lunch in the restaurant. Optional stop at Trummelbach Falls on the return journey. Final dinner together at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 8rail
Homeward bound
After breakfast, travel by rail back to Basel. Take First Class seats to Paris, then change to Eurostar Plus for the return to London. Light meal served on the Eurostar. Arrive back in London, concluding the exploration of the Bernese Oberland and Jungfrau region.
Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal
Included
- Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
- 7 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
- Eurostar Plus travel
- First & Standard Class rail travel
- All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
- Eurostar light meals
- Breakfast and dinner each day
- 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
