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Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

Europe's Gourmet Heartland - The GoldenPass

Seven-day rail journey from London through French Alsace to Swiss Alps and Lake Geneva

Illustration of Europe's Gourmet Heartland - The GoldenPass

Planet Rail's Europe's Gourmet Heartland is a seven-night self-guided rail holiday linking London, the Alsatian town of Colmar, the Swiss alpine village of Lenk, and the lakeside resort of Vevey. Travelling by Eurostar Plus, high-speed TGV, and the scenic GoldenPass Panoramic Express, you stay in three 5-star Relais & Châteaux hotels, each renowned for fine dining and service. The itinerary includes a Michelin-starred dinner in Colmar, gourmet meals at the Lenkerhof spa resort, and two free days to pursue optional activities such as Glacier 3000, wine tastings in the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards, or explorations of Château de Chillon and Chaplin's World. Designed for luxury-seeking couples and independent travellers who value gourmet cuisine, cultural exploration, and alpine scenery in equal measure, the package departs as a bespoke itinerary, so dates and some details are arranged with Planet Rail directly.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of £2,150 covers accommodation, most meals, and rail travel; optional experiences such as Glacier 3000, Lake Geneva cruises, and wine tastings cost extra.
  • Day 4 in Lenk and Day 6 in Vevey are unstructured; you choose among suggested activities (Glacier 3000, Bern visit, spa, vineyards, or cruises) with no guide provided.
  • The itinerary is tailor-made; confirm final dates, train seat availability, and any rail pass requirements with Planet Rail before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Colmar

    London to Colmar

    Board the Eurostar at London St Pancras to Paris in Eurostar Plus, with light meal and drinks served on board. From Gare du Nord walk to Gare de l'Est for the high-speed TGV through the Alsace to Colmar, often called 'Little Venice'. Check in to the 5-star La Maison des Têtes, a Relais & Châteaux property featuring the Michelin-starred Restaurant Girardin and the elegant Brasserie Historique.

  2. Day 2overnight: Colmar

    Colmar

    A day to discover Colmar: cobbled streets of medieval and Renaissance buildings, the vibrant Little Venice district, the 13th-century collegiate church and the renowned Unterlinden Museum, home to Grünewald's Isenheim Altarpiece, plus inviting cafés, boutique shops and surrounding vineyards.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lenk

    Colmar to Lenk

    Depart Colmar by train via Basel and Bern into the Swiss Alps, through lakes, mountains and the scenic Simmental Valley to the alpine village of Lenk. The hotel's driver meets you at the station. Two nights at the 5-star Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort, with a gourmet dinner this evening at either Spettacolo or Oh de Vie.

  4. Day 4overnight: Lenk

    Lenk & Alpine Experiences

    A free day: visit Glacier 3000 with its cable car and the Peak Walk by Tissot, the world's only suspension bridge connecting two mountain peaks, with views of the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Jungfrau; explore Bern, Switzerland's capital; or unwind in the 7 Sources Spa at the hotel. In the evening dine at the hotel or the rustic Mountain Restaurant Bühlberg at 1,664 metres.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Vevey

    GoldenPass Line to Vevey

    Board the panoramic GoldenPass train in Zweisimmen through the Bernese Oberland, past Château d'Oex and Gstaad, with the option of VIP front-row seats. The route descends toward Lake Geneva with views of the French Alps. From Montreux a short connection brings you to Vevey and the elegant 5-star Grand Hôtel du Lac, a Relais & Châteaux property overlooking the lake.

  6. Day 6overnight: Vevey

    Vevey & Lavaux

    Explore Vevey and the Lavaux region: the lakeside promenade, Château de Chillon, Chaplin's World and Villa Le Lac. Optional experiences include a Lake Geneva cruise, wine tasting in the vineyards of Puidoux-Chexbres, or scenic rides on the GoldenPass funicular and Ascenseur Plein Ciel.

  7. Day 7rail

    Vevey to London

    From Vevey continue to Lausanne for the TGV to Paris, where a private taxi transfer takes you to the Gare du Nord for the Eurostar to London, relaxing over a light (cold) meal and drinks in your Eurostar Plus seat back to St Pancras International.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Paris with light meal served, then TGV through Alsace vineyards to Colmar, arriving at La Maison des Têtes with access to the Michelin-starred Restaurant Girardin.
  • Day 3Train journey from Colmar through Basel and Bern into the Swiss Alps and Simmental Valley, arriving at alpine Lenk for two nights at the Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort.
  • Day 5The GoldenPass Panoramic Express descends from Zweisimmen through the Bernese Oberland past Gstaad toward Lake Geneva, with optional VIP front-row seats and views of the French Alps.
  • Day 6Explore Vevey's lakeside promenade and the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards with optional wine tasting or rides on the GoldenPass funicular and Ascenseur Plein Ciel.

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus (London to Paris and return), TGVs (Paris to Colmar and Lausanne to Paris), and the GoldenPass Panoramic Express (Zweisimmen to Montreux). VIP front-row seats on the GoldenPass are optional at extra cost.
Is this an escorted or independent trip?
This is a tailor-made, self-guided holiday. There is no group escort. Planet Rail arranges your itinerary, hotels, and rail bookings; you travel independently with hotel-to-station transfers included.
What meals are included?
Light meals and drinks are served on Eurostar Plus journeys. Gourmet dinners are included at the Lenkerhof (Spettacolo or Oh de Vie) and access to Michelin-starred Restaurant Girardin at La Maison des Têtes in Colmar and fine dining at Grand Hôtel du Lac in Vevey. Other meals are at your own expense.
How much free time is there?
Day 4 in Lenk and Day 6 in Vevey are free days. You may visit Glacier 3000, explore Bern, enjoy the spa, taste wines in Lavaux, or take Lake Geneva cruises; Planet Rail offers these as optional extras.
What is the comfort standard of the hotels?
All three are 5-star Relais & Châteaux properties: La Maison des Têtes in Colmar, Lenkerhof Gourmet Spa Resort in Lenk, and Grand Hôtel du Lac in Vevey, each offering exceptional service and cuisine.
When does this trip run?
Planet Rail publishes no fixed departure dates for this tailor-made holiday. Contact them directly to arrange your preferred travel dates.

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