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Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. The same itinerary is still sold by another operator, listed under Also sold by below.

Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

First Class Mountaintops of Switzerland in Winter

Illustration of First Class Mountaintops of Switzerland in Winter

Vacations By Rail operates this nine-day escorted tour that departs from London St Pancras and concludes in Strasbourg, traveling through France, Switzerland, and Italy. The journey combines First Class rail travel on Europe's most celebrated mountain trains with stays in four-star Swiss hotels, including two spectacular mountaintop properties. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, handling logistics and leading excursions. The itinerary balances guided experiences with free time: you travel on the Glacier Express with lunch served at your seat, cross the Alps on the Bernina Express past the Brusio spiral viaduct, climb by cable car to the Pilatus Kulm hotel high above Lucerne, and explore charming cities like Lucerne and Grindelwald at your own pace. Breakfast is provided daily; seven three-course dinners and one lunch round out the included meals. This tour suits repeat rail travelers seeking luxury, couples looking for romantic settings, and those who prefer guided comfort with structured itineraries rather than independent exploration.

What to know before you look closer

  • The itinerary lists March 2 as a departure date where the final night is in Colmar instead of Strasbourg; confirm your specific departure date and final destination when booking
  • This tour is rated Mobility Rating 3, indicating substantial walking and physical activity; it is not suitable for those with limited mobility
  • Flights and airport transfers are not included and must be arranged separately

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Basel

    A wintry welcome to Switzerland

    Meet the Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras to board the Eurostar in Plus Class, with a light meal at your seats, changing trains in Paris for Basel. First dinner together at the hotel.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Brienz

    Arrival at our spectacular Giessbach hotel

    Train to Interlaken with free time to explore, then coach to the hillside Grandhotel Giessbach overlooking Lake Brienz and the Giessbach waterfall, with a welcome drink and a three-course dinner.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Brienz

    Free time in picturesque Grindelwald

    Coach to Interlaken, then train through the Lauterbrunnen Valley to Grindelwald for free time, with an optional cable car up Grindelwald First mountain. Return to the hotel for dinner with the group.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Chur

    First Class to Chur on the Glacier Express

    Train to Spiez to board the Glacier Express in panoramic First Class carriages, with a two-course lunch served at your seat, arriving in Chur for a two-night stay with a free evening.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Chur

    The Bernina Express: Crossing the Alps in elegance

    First Class journey on the Bernina Express across the Alps to Tirano, Italy, via the summit at Ospizio Bernina, the Palu Glacier, and the Brusio spiral viaduct, with free time in Tirano before returning to Chur by local train in First Class for a three-course dinner.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Mount Pilatus

    Lake views on the journey to our mountaintop hotel

    First Class train past lakes to Lucerne, with time to explore the Old Town and the 14th-century Kapellbrucke, then a cable car ascent to the Pilatus Kulm hotel for a two-night stay and a three-course dinner.

  7. Day 7overnight: Mount Pilatus

    A snow-capped sunrise over the City of Lights

    Free day at the Pilatus Kulm, with a complimentary return cable car ticket to explore Lucerne or, using the Swiss Half Fare Card, cruise across Lake Lucerne to Vitznau. Three-course dinner back at the hotel.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Strasbourg

    From Lucerne to the Alsace city of Strasbourg

    Descend the mountain for a late-morning First Class train from Lucerne, arriving in Strasbourg in the mid-afternoon with time to explore the Old Town, Notre Dame Cathedral and La Petite France, followed by a final three-course dinner at a local restaurant. (On the March 2 departure, the group stays overnight in Colmar instead.)

  9. Day 9rail

    Traveling home

    After breakfast, leave Strasbourg for Paris via Lorraine and the Champagne region, changing to Eurostar Plus in Paris with a light meal at your seats, concluding at London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Board the Glacier Express in panoramic First Class carriages at Spiez; a two-course lunch is served at your seat during the journey to Chur
  • Day 5Ride the First Class Bernina Express across the Alps to Tirano, Italy, passing the Palu Glacier and the UNESCO-listed Brusio spiral viaduct
  • Day 6Ascend by cable car to the Pilatus Kulm hotel, perched on a mountain overlooking Lucerne and the surrounding lakes and peaks
  • Day 3Coach to Interlaken and train through the Lauterbrunnen Valley to Grindelwald; an optional cable car ascends Grindelwald First mountain

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 8 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Plus First Class rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Eurostar light meals
  • Breakfast each day, 1 lunch, 7 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between all hotels
  • Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys
  • Daily return ticket on the cable car from the Pilatus Kulm hotel
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Flights and Airport transfers

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus from London to Paris to Basel, First Class on the Glacier Express from Spiez to Chur, and First Class on the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano and back. All other rail and coach travel throughout the tour is also included.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
This is an escorted tour. A Tour Manager travels with the group from start to finish, providing expertise and leading all guided tours and excursions.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included each day. Additionally, you receive one lunch (the two-course meal on the Glacier Express) and seven dinners. Eurostar provides light meals at your seat on arrival and departure.
Which hotels are included?
You stay in Basel (1 night), the Grandhotel Giessbach in Brienz (2 nights), the ABC Hotel in Chur (2 nights), the Pilatus Kulm hotel at Mount Pilatus (2 nights), and Strasbourg or Colmar (1 night). All are four-star properties.
What is the physical activity level?
The operator rates this Mobility Rating 3, which includes cable car ascents, mountain hotel access, and free time exploring cities and mountain areas on foot.
What else is included beyond accommodation and meals?
The package includes group luggage transfers between hotels, a Swiss Half Fare Card for 50 percent discounts on rail, boat, and most mountain railways on free days, a daily return cable car ticket from the Pilatus Kulm hotel, and all guided tours and excursions.

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