How much does it cost?

From £2,599 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,511 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager from London St Pancras through your return. Breakfast and dinner are included each day. Three days (Days 3, 6, and free time on Day 7 morning) allow independent exploration, though guided excursions and group activities fill most days.

What trains are used?

Eurostar Plus (London to Paris, return), First Class TGV/intercity rail (Paris to Basel), Swiss SBB rail (Basel to Interlaken to Meiringen), the Jungfrau Railway (Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch), and the Brienz Rothorn Mountain Railway (heritage steam train, opened 1892).

Hotel Alpbach in Meiringen for six nights (4-star, family-run), and an unnamed 4-star hotel near Basel station for one night.

When does the tour run?

Great Rail Journeys schedules departures in May, June, August, September, and October 2026 and 2027. Six specific dates are listed; confirm availability with the operator.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Classic Top of Europe

Eight-day Swiss Alps escorted tour from London via Eurostar and mountain railways

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day escorted tour for travellers drawn to the Swiss Alps and heritage mountain railways. You depart London St Pancras on Eurostar Plus, travel First Class through eastern France to Basel, then settle into the alpine village of Meiringen for six nights at a family-run 4-star hotel. The tour's signature experience is the Jungfrau Railway climb to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station, where you gaze across the UNESCO-listed Aletsch Glacier and 200 surrounding peaks. A second highlight is the 1892 Brienz Rothorn steam train, which climbs to 7,300 feet through Alpine meadows. You also cruise Lake Brienz past Giessbach Falls and ascend the Schilthorn by cable car to visit the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant, famous from the James Bond film. A UK Tour Manager escorts the group throughout, and breakfast and dinner are provided each day. The pace is relaxed, with three free days for independent exploration using a Swiss Half Fare Card that discounts rail and mountain railway journeys by 50 percent. This tour suits repeat rail travellers, couples, and those seeking guided comfort in stunning mountain scenery.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £300 since 4 Jul, to £2,599.

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

Single supplement is GBP 700 (nearly 30 percent above half the double-room price), a meaningful surcharge for solo travellers
The Brienz Rothorn Mountain Railway in May runs only to the mid-station; confirm your departure month directly with Great Rail Journeys
Three of the seven days are free days with activities listed as optional; the tour does not provide guided excursions on Days 3 and 6, though the Swiss Half Fare Card offers 50 percent rail discounts for independent exploration

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Basel
Arriving in Basel, overlooking the Rhine
Your scenic Swiss holiday begins today as you meet the Tour Manager and travelling group at London St Pancras. Boarding our Eurostar Plus carriages, we make our way to Paris, enjoying a light meal in our seats. In the French capital, we transfer to our First Class seats for a train journey through the scenic countryside of eastern France enroute to Basel in Switzerland. Our overnight hotel is just outside the station, not far from Old Town. After checking in, we gather in the hotel's restaurant this evening for our first dinner together.
Meals: Eurostar light meal, Dinner
Day 2railovernight: Meiringen
To Meiringen in the heart of the Alps
Awaking in Switzerland, we take a short walk back to Basel station after breakfast. We settle into our seats as the efficient Swiss rail network takes us through increasingly dramatic scenery on the way to Interlaken, skirting the shores of Lake Thun and plunging into the Bernese Oberland. We change trains in Interlaken, passing along the banks of Lake Brienz. Our destination is Meiringen where, on arrival, we walk a short distance to the family-run hotel that is our home for the next six nights, before dinner in the hotel's traditional wood-panelled restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3overnight: Meiringen
Free day to explore Meiringen
Today is spent at leisure unwinding or exploring at your own pace. Meiringen is famed for its connection to Sherlock Holmes, and the nearby Reichenbach Falls was the location of the showdown between the sleuth and his nemesis, Moriarty, reachable by funicular. In the town, a museum dedicated to Conan Doyle's creation features artefacts relating to Holmes. Alternatively, visit the Aare Gorge, or use your Swiss Half Fare Card to visit Interlaken or Harder Kulm. Rejoin the group for dinner at the hotel this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: Meiringen
Riding the Jungfrau Railway to the 'Top of Europe'
We begin a journey to Europe's highest railway station, reaching Kleine Scheidegg by rail, then boarding the iconic Jungfrau Express for the final section, entering a tunnel through the Eiger with hand-carved viewing windows, past the Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. At Jungfraujoch, the 'Top of Europe', the vistas from the Sphinx viewing platform overlook the Aletsch Glacier, a UNESCO-listed natural wonder. We make the return journey to Meiringen for dinner at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5railovernight: Meiringen
Lake Brienz cruise & Brienz Rothorn Mountain Railway
Taking a cruise from Brienz to Interlaken and back today is a peaceful and scenic way to cross Lake Brienz, passing the Giessbach Falls. Once in Brienz, we hop on the historic Brienz Rothorn steam train to climb the mountain to a height of more than 7,300 feet, offering increasingly stunning views before heading back to Meiringen for dinner. Please note: the Brienz Rothorn Mountain Railway only operates as far as its mid-station for May departures and to the summit from June onwards.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6railovernight: Meiringen
Discovering the Bernese Oberland at leisure
A free day in this part of the world offers many outstanding options: the pretty village of Lauterbrunnen and its Staubbach Falls, the cogwheel railway from Wilderswil up to the Schynige Platte Alpine Botanical Garden, or a cruise across Lake Thun to Spiez Castle, all reachable using your Swiss Half Fare Card. Returning to Meiringen this evening, we gather for dinner at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7railovernight: Meiringen
A journey by cable car to the summit of the Schilthorn
We travel by train to the unspoilt hillside village of Mürren, then board the cable car up to the summit of the Schilthorn, greeted by 360° views of approximately 200 mountain peaks including the Jungfrau. The star attraction is the revolving restaurant, Piz Gloria, made famous in the 1969 James Bond film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', with a museum about the filming. At our hotel this evening, we gather for our final dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8rail
Homeward bound
Saying farewell to this beautiful setting after breakfast, we travel by rail back to Basel, then take our seats in First Class for a journey to Paris, changing to Eurostar Plus in the French capital. After a light meal, we arrive back in London, where your exploration of the Bernese Oberland and Jungfrau region comes to a close.
Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar light meal

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Board Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Paris with a light meal, then travel First Class through eastern France to Basel on the Rhine
Day 4Ride the Jungfrau Railway through hand-carved viewing windows in the Eiger tunnel to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station, with views of the UNESCO-listed Aletsch Glacier
Day 5Cruise across Lake Brienz past Giessbach Falls, then board the historic 1892 Brienz Rothorn steam train climbing to 7,300 feet through Alpine meadows
Day 7Cable car ascent to Schilthorn's 360-degree panorama of 200 mountain peaks, visit the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant from the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Included

Tour Manager: Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
Accommodation: 7 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 and dinner each day
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

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,599 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,511 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager from London St Pancras through your return. Breakfast and dinner are included each day. Three days (Days 3, 6, and free time on Day 7 morning) allow independent exploration, though guided excursions and group activities fill most days.
What trains are used?: Eurostar Plus (London to Paris, return), First Class TGV/intercity rail (Paris to Basel), Swiss SBB rail (Basel to Interlaken to Meiringen), the Jungfrau Railway (Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch), and the Brienz Rothorn Mountain Railway (heritage steam train, opened 1892).
Where do I stay?: Hotel Alpbach in Meiringen for six nights (4-star, family-run), and an unnamed 4-star hotel near Basel station for one night.
When does the tour run?: Great Rail Journeys schedules departures in May, June, August, September, and October 2026 and 2027. Six specific dates are listed; confirm availability with the operator.