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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

GoldenPass, Mont Blanc & Jungfrau at Christmas

Eight-day Christmas escape from London through Alpine rail to Jungfraujoch

Illustration of GoldenPass, Mont Blanc & Jungfrau at Christmas

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day Christmas tour from London to Basel, mixing festive lakeside celebration with Alpine rail journeys. The itinerary opens with Eurostar and TGV to Montreux on Lake Geneva, where you spend three nights at the waterfront Royal Plaza and tour Château de Chillon on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day itself, you ride the Mont Blanc Express across the Alps to Chamonix; the train passes through snow-covered terrain with views of Mont Blanc. Boxing Day brings the GoldenPass Express in panoramic carriages through the Swiss Highlands to Interlaken, your base for the final four nights. Day 5 climbs to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station, via the Eiger Express cable car and a cog-wheel train, with views of the Aletsch Glacier. A free day on Day 6 lets you explore mountain resorts or Lake Brienz at leisure. Day 7 includes a train journey to Thun and a scenic boat cruise back to Interlaken along the length of Lake Thun. Throughout, a UK Tour Manager leads the group, handles luggage transfers, and arranges group dinners. A Swiss Half Fare Card gives you discounted travel on free days.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one December 2026 departure is currently listed; confirm availability with Great Rail Journeys before booking
  • Day 6 is free time in Interlaken with optional activities; the Swiss Half Fare Card enables discounted mountain railways but requires separate ticket purchases
  • Final breakfast and Eurostar light meal are included, but lunch is included only on Day 4; other meals are at your own cost

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Montreux

    A festive beginning on Lake Geneva

    Arrive at London St Pancras International and meet the Tour Manager and travel group. Board the Eurostar to France and enjoy a light meal in Eurostar Plus before arriving in Paris. Switch to the high-speed TGV in First Class carriages, travelling to Lausanne in Switzerland. A short transfer by train arrives in Montreux, where you check in to the lakefront hotel for three nights. Tonight, enjoy the first group dinner in the hotel's restaurant.

    Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Montreux

    Christmas Eve at the fairytale Château de Chillon

    Free morning to explore Montreux's Christmas markets along the promenade with over 150 stalls. In the afternoon, travel by trolleybus along the lake shore to Villeneuve for a guided tour of Château de Chillon. Return to the hotel for a Christmas Gala dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Montreux

    Celebrating Christmas on the Mont Blanc Express

    Christmas Day features a spectacular journey across the Alps to France on the Mont Blanc Express from Martigny, with views of Mont Blanc. Free time in Chamonix to explore the mountaineering capital of the world. Return to the hotel for a three-course dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4railovernight: Interlaken

    A Boxing Day journey on the GoldenPass Express

    Board the GoldenPass Express panoramic carriages for a journey across the Swiss Highlands. Enjoy a light lunch en route, passing Lake Geneva, Pays-d'Enhaut highlands, Gstaad, and Lake Thun at Spiez before arriving in Interlaken. Check in to the hotel and enjoy free time before dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Interlaken

    The Eiger Express to the spectacular 'Top of Europe'

    Travel to Grindelwald and board the Eiger Express gondola with panoramic windows, passing close to the north face of the Eiger to Eigergletscher station. Board the cog-wheel train to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest train station, with views of the Aletsch Glacier. Descend on the Jungfrau Express through Mönch and Eiger mountains to Kleine Scheidegg, then by train to Lauterbrunnen and back to Interlaken for a three-course dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: Interlaken

    Exploring the Bernese Oberland at leisure

    Free day to explore at leisure. Options include visiting mountain resorts of Wengen and Mürren using the Swiss Half Fare Card, exploring Lake Brienz and Brienz village, riding the Harderbahn to Harder Kulm for panoramic views, or exploring Interlaken's historic buildings and cuisine.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7railovernight: Interlaken

    Thun and cruising the length of its lake

    Travel by train to Thun, a typical Swiss town with a picturesque 12th-century castle and charming medieval centre with covered wooden bridges. Return to Interlaken by boat cruising the full length of Lake Thun, passing alpine peaks, villages, and Spiez Castle. The boat moors next to the rail platform at Interlaken West for a short walk back to the hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8rail

    Homeward bound

    After a final breakfast, travel by train to Basel and board the high-speed TGV in First Class to Paris. Transfer to the Eurostar Plus class, enjoying a light meal before arriving at London St Pancras International.

    Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Guided tour of Château de Chillon on Christmas Eve, a fairytale 12th-century castle on Lake Geneva's shore
  • Day 3Christmas Day ride on the Mont Blanc Express across the Alps from Martigny to Chamonix with views of Mont Blanc
  • Day 4Boxing Day journey on the GoldenPass Express in panoramic carriages from Montreux through the Swiss Highlands to Interlaken
  • Day 5Eiger Express cable car and Jungfrau cog-wheel train to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station, overlooking the Aletsch Glacier
  • Day 7Full-length Lake Thun cruise from Thun back to Interlaken, passing alpine peaks, villages, and Spiez Castle

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 (First & Standard Class options available)
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Eurostar light meals
  • Breakfast each day
  • 1 lunch
  • 6 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between all hotels
  • 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

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Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included?
Yes. Eurostar Plus, TGV First Class, the GoldenPass Express, Mont Blanc Express, Eiger Express cable car, Jungfrau Railway, and all other rail, boat, and coach travel throughout the tour are included.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
Escorted. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from London St Pancras to Basel, organising group dinners, guided tours, and luggage transfers.
When does the tour run?
December 2026 only (Christmas and Boxing Day 2026).
What is included in the price?
Seven nights' four-star hotel accommodation, all rail and transport fares, Eurostar light meals, breakfast daily, six dinners, one lunch, luggage transfers, a Swiss Half Fare Card for free days, and all guided tours and excursions.
How much walking and climbing is involved?
The tour includes guided walks in towns and castles, cable car and cog-wheel train travel to mountain heights (no climbing required), and a free day on Day 6 for self-directed exploration at your own pace.
Where do you stay?
Three nights at the Royal Plaza Montreux and Spa (four-star, lakefront) and four nights at Hotel Metropole Interlaken (four-star).

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