How much does it cost?

From £3,399 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,591 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is all the train travel included?

Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus from London to Paris and return, and First Class rail throughout Switzerland, including the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and all connecting trains.

Which trains are featured?

The Glacier Express (St Moritz to Zermatt), Bernina Express (St Moritz to Tirano, Italy), Gornergrat Mountain Railway (a cogwheel railway to over 10,000 feet), and Eurostar Plus for the London to Paris legs.

How many nights and where?

Eight nights: three in St Moritz (Hotel Schweizerhof, four-star), three in Zermatt (Hotel Sonne, four-star), one in Basel (four-star), and one in Strasbourg (four-star).

Is the tour escorted?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager joins you from London through the end of the tour, providing guidance throughout.

What meals are included?

Breakfast each day, one two-course lunch on the Glacier Express, six dinners at hotels or local restaurants, and light meals on Eurostar (outbound and return). Two dinners (day 4 and day 6) are independent.

Great Rail Journeys operates seven departures across April, May, June, July, August, September and October 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

First-Class Glacier & Bernina Express: Zermatt & St Moritz

Nine-day First Class rail circle through Swiss Alps from London via Glacier and Bernina

Great Rail Journeys operates this nine-day escorted tour through the Swiss Alps, departing from London and returning there nine days later. You travel in First Class on two of Europe's most celebrated alpine rail routes: the Glacier Express from St Moritz to Zermatt, and the Bernina Express across the Alps into Italy. The itinerary alternates between two mountain bases, St Moritz and Zermatt, each offering three nights in a four-star hotel. On day five, the Glacier Express carries you past snow-capped peaks, through the Rhine Gorge, and beneath the Matterhorn. On day three, the Bernina Express winds across a UNESCO-listed route to Alp Grüm, where you see Palü Glacier before descending into Italy via the Brusio corkscrew viaduct. You also ascend the Gornergrat cogwheel railway to over 10,000 feet for panoramic mountain views, and take a cable car to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at Europe's highest station. A Tour Manager accompanies the group, luggage transfers between hotels are arranged, and a Swiss Half Fare Card allows independent exploration on the free day in St Moritz.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £100 since 4 Jul, to £3,399.

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

5 percent above half the double price.
Day four in St Moritz is free; the Swiss Half Fare Card is provided but other activities or meals are at your own cost.
Day six dinner and day four dinner are independent; not included in the package meals.
Maximum group size is 30 travellers, a relatively large escorted tour.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Basel
Arriving in Switzerland
Your Swiss holiday begins today as you meet the Tour Manager and your fellow travellers at London St Pancras. Travelling in Eurostar Plus class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats on our way to Paris. In the French capital, we continue via Strasbourg to Basel by First Class rail. On arrival, we take a short walk to our central hotel, and you have a bit of time to relax or get acclimatised after checking in for the night. This evening, we reconvene at the hotel for our first dinner together.
Meals: Eurostar light meal, Dinner
Day 2railovernight: St Moritz
From the Rhine Valley to serene alpine lakes
After breakfast at our hotel, we return to Basel station to take our First Class train seats to Chur. This captivating route takes us past lakes towards increasingly dramatic mountains. From Chur, the last leg of our journey into the heart of the Swiss Alps sees us snake across deep ravines and scenic viaducts, past snow-capped peaks and rushing waterfalls before arriving in St Moritz. We check in to our central hotel, which boasts uninterrupted views of Lake St Moritz, and after taking time to get settled in our new location, we enjoy a three-course dinner in the on-site restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3railovernight: St Moritz
Crossing the Alps in First-Class onboard the Bernina Express
The Bernina Express crosses the Alps into Italy on a UNESCO-listed route. From our First Class panoramic carriages, the alpine scenery continuously impresses as we wind ever higher. Reaching the summit at more than 7,300 feet above sea level, we pass the turquoise waters of Lago Bianco. Stepping off the train at Alp Grüm, we admire jaw-dropping views of the Palü Glacier. The route then twists down the mountains, spiralling round the corkscrew viaduct at Brusio to Italy, arriving in Tirano with free time to explore. We return to Switzerland on the local train. Arriving back in St Moritz, we enjoy a three-course dinner at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4overnight: St Moritz
A free day amidst the Engadine Valley
Nestled amidst the mountains and lakes of the Engadine Valley, the resort of St Moritz lends itself to an abundance of possibilities during your free day today, from shopping on Via Serlas to a gentle stroll by the lake, or using your complimentary Swiss Half Fare Card for a 50% discount on trains to explore Davos or Klosters. You dine independently this evening.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5railovernight: Zermatt
Awe-inspiring scenery in First Class on the Glacier Express
This incredible holiday follows the full route of the Glacier Express from St Moritz to Zermatt. Travelling at an average speed of 24mph, the panoramic First Class carriages cling to mountain edges on the UNESCO-listed Albula Line before delving into the Rhine Gorge. Enjoying a three-course lunch in our seats, we climb to Andermatt and enter the nine-mile Furka Tunnel before the Matterhorn looms into view on our approach to Zermatt. A warm welcome and three-course dinner awaits at our chalet-style spa hotel, where we check in for three nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6railovernight: Zermatt
Viewing the Matterhorn from the Gornergrat Mountain Railway
We set off on the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, Switzerland's original electric rack railway, first carrying travellers in August 1898. We climb over picturesque valleys and through lush alpine forests to an altitude of more than 10,000 feet, with up to 29 mountaintops visible on a clear day, including the best view of the Matterhorn's pyramidal peak. Back in Zermatt, an expert guide reveals the resort's surprising connections to the UK, including the story of English mountaineer Edward Whymper. We dine independently tonight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7overnight: Zermatt
Entering the wonderland of the Matterhorn Glacier
After breakfast, we travel by gondola to the highest cable car station in Europe. At a height of more than 12,700 feet, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise provides monumental views of the famous peak. A lift lowers us nearly 50 feet inside the glacier to the ice palace, the highest of its kind in the world, where we are greeted by ice sculptures. A leisurely afternoon provides the opportunity to explore the plateau or relax in our hotel's outdoor jacuzzi. This evening, we gather back at our hotel for a three-course dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8railovernight: Strasbourg
To the Alsace via idyllic lakes and the Rhine
We leave Zermatt after breakfast, travelling by rail to the French city of Strasbourg, winding down the Matter Valley to Visp and continuing via Basel, passing Lake Thun and the lakeside town of Spiez. The historic city of Strasbourg, with its Gothic cathedral and half-timbered riverside houses of La Petite France, is well worth exploring from our central hotel. This evening, we gather at a local restaurant for our final dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9rail
Homeward bound
Departing Strasbourg after breakfast, we travel by First Class rail to Paris, passing the vines of the Champagne region. Here, we board Eurostar Plus, enjoying a light meal as we journey back to the UK, where our First Class adventure concludes.
Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar light meal

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Ride the Bernina Express in First Class panoramic carriages across the Alps to Italy, passing Lago Bianco and stopping at Alp Grüm to view Palü Glacier before descending via the Brusio corkscrew viaduct.
Day 5Travel the full Glacier Express route from St Moritz to Zermatt in First Class, traversing the UNESCO-listed Albula Line, the Rhine Gorge, and climbing to Andermatt with the Matterhorn appearing as you approach Zermatt; two-course lunch included.
Day 6Ride the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, a 125-year-old cogwheel railway, six miles up to over 10,000 feet for views of up to 29 mountaintops including the Matterhorn, then learn the resort's UK connections from an expert guide.
Day 7Travel by gondola to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at over 12,700 feet, Europe's highest cable car station, and descend inside the glacier to view ice sculptures in the ice palace.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
8 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
Eurostar Plus First Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Eurostar light meal
Breakfast each day, 1 lunch, 6 dinners
Group luggage transfers between St Moritz and Zermatt
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 £3,399 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,591 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is all the train travel included?: Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus from London to Paris and return, and First Class rail throughout Switzerland, including the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and all connecting trains.
Which trains are featured?: The Glacier Express (St Moritz to Zermatt), Bernina Express (St Moritz to Tirano, Italy), Gornergrat Mountain Railway (a cogwheel railway to over 10,000 feet), and Eurostar Plus for the London to Paris legs.
How many nights and where?: Eight nights: three in St Moritz (Hotel Schweizerhof, four-star), three in Zermatt (Hotel Sonne, four-star), one in Basel (four-star), and one in Strasbourg (four-star).
Is the tour escorted?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager joins you from London through the end of the tour, providing guidance throughout.
What meals are included?: Breakfast each day, one two-course lunch on the Glacier Express, six dinners at hotels or local restaurants, and light meals on Eurostar (outbound and return). Two dinners (day 4 and day 6) are independent.
When does it run?: Great Rail Journeys operates seven departures across April, May, June, July, August, September and October 2027.