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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

GoldenPass, Mont Blanc & Jungfrau Express

Eight-day Alpine rail loop from London through French Alps and Swiss peaks

Illustration of GoldenPass, Mont Blanc & Jungfrau Express

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day escorted tour from London to Basel, combining famous Alpine trains and mountain railways with stays in lakefront and mountain towns. After crossing the Channel on Eurostar Plus, you spend three nights at the Royal Plaza Montreux and Spa on Lake Geneva, including a guided tour of Château de Chillon and a Belle Époque paddle cruiser. Day 3 takes you across the Alps on the Mont Blanc Express, clinging to mountainsides above gorges with views of Mont Blanc before returning to Montreux. The GoldenPass Express carries you from Montreux through vineyards and alpine meadows to Interlaken, where you spend four nights at Hotel Metropole. From there, the Eiger Express gondola and Jungfrau Express climb to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station, and you cruise Lake Thun aboard a vintage boat. A UK Tour Manager oversees the journey, luggage transfers between hotels are arranged, and breakfast is served every day along with five dinners at the hotels. The Swiss Half Fare Card allows discounted self-guided exploration on the free day.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement from GBP 2,699 is GBP 400 more than half the double-occupancy price, a significant upcharge.
  • Day 2's Lake Geneva cruise is replaced by a cog railway journey on early April and mid-October departures; confirm your departure date.
  • Day 6 is completely free with no included meals or guided activities, though the Swiss Half Fare Card enables self-guided rail and boat exploration.
  • Maximum group size is 30 travellers; confirm current departures and availability before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Montreux

    London to Lake Geneva

    Meet the Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar. After a light meal in Plus class, arrive in Paris and change to First Class TGV to Lausanne. A 20-minute train transfer arrives in Montreux, where you check in to the lakefront hotel for three nights. Enjoy a three-course dinner as a group.

    Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Montreux

    Château de Chillon and a Lake Geneva cruise

    Morning at leisure in Montreux. In the afternoon, a trolleybus ride along the shore leads to Veytaux for a guided tour of Château de Chillon. Board a Belle Époque paddle cruiser for a trip across Lake Geneva, visiting St-Gingolph on the French border before returning to Montreux. Dine independently this evening. Note: for early April and mid-October departures, the cruise is replaced with a cog railway journey to Rochers-de-Naye before the château tour.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3railovernight: Montreux

    Mont Blanc Express across the Alps to Chamonix

    Travel from Martigny on the Mont Blanc Express, clinging to mountainsides above dramatic gorges, crossing into France with views of snow-covered peaks and arriving in Chamonix. Free time to explore the mountaineering capital, with options including the Mer de Glace glacier by cogwheel railway. Return to Montreux in the late afternoon for dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4railovernight: Interlaken

    The GoldenPass Express from Montreux to Interlaken

    Board the panoramic GoldenPass Express from Montreux, winding up through vineyards, Swiss Highlands, alpine meadows, and the upmarket resort of Gstaad before descending to Lake Thun and arriving in Interlaken. Free afternoon to explore. Dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Interlaken

    To the 'Top of Europe' via the Eiger Express and Jungfrau Express

    Travel by train to Grindelwald, then join the Eiger Express gondola for a 20-minute ride to Eigergletscher station with views of the Eiger's north face. The Jungfrau Express continues to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station, with views of the Aletsch Glacier from the Sphinx Observatory. Descend via the Jungfrau Express through tunnels under the Mönch and Eiger, then back to Interlaken via Lauterbrunnen. Dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Interlaken

    Exploring the Bernese Oberland at leisure

    Full free day. Options include the hotel's roof terrace, exploring Interlaken's historic castle and Gothic cloister, visiting Unterseen, riding the Harderbahn to Harder Kulm for panoramic views, or using the Swiss Half Fare Card to visit Mürren and the Schilthorn cableway to Piz Gloria, or travelling to Brienz for the steam-hauled Brienz-Rothorn Railway.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7railovernight: Interlaken

    Explore Thun and cruise the length of Lake Thun

    Train to Thun to explore the medieval centre, covered wooden bridges and 12th-century castle. Independent lunch before boarding a vintage lake boat for a scenic cruise along the full length of Lake Thun, passing Spiez Castle, back to Interlaken West. Short walk to the hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8rail

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast, walk to Interlaken station and board the train to Basel via Spiez. In Basel, board the First Class TGV to Paris, then join the Eurostar Plus class back to London St Pancras with a light meal served en route.

    Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Eurostar Plus from London St Pancras to Paris, then First Class TGV to Lausanne, arriving at the Royal Plaza Montreux lakefront hotel.
  • Day 3Day 3: Mont Blanc Express from Martigny clings to mountainsides above gorges crossing into France, with views of snow-covered peaks and arrival in Chamonix.
  • Day 4Day 4: GoldenPass Express panoramic train winds through vineyards, Swiss Highlands, alpine meadows, and Gstaad before descending to Interlaken.
  • Day 5Day 5: Eiger Express gondola ascends to Eigergletscher with views of the Eiger's north face, then Jungfrau Express continues to Jungfraujoch and the Aletsch Glacier.
  • Day 7Day 7: Vintage lake boat cruise along the full length of Lake Thun from medieval Thun to Interlaken, passing Spiez Castle.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 7 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Plus class travel
  • First & Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Eurostar light meals
  • Breakfast each day
  • 5 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

Which trains are included?
Eurostar Plus from London to Paris, First Class TGV from Paris to Lausanne and Basel to Paris, Mont Blanc Express to Chamonix, GoldenPass Express to Interlaken, Eiger Express gondola, and Jungfrau Express to Jungfraujoch are all included.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes, a UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout all eight days.
What meals and accommodation are included?
Seven nights in four-star hotels: three nights at Royal Plaza Montreux and Spa and four nights at Hotel Metropole Interlaken. Breakfast is included every day, five dinners at the hotels are included, and Eurostar light meals are served on the outbound and return journey.
What is not included?
Lunch is not included except on Day 1. Dinner on Day 2 is independent. The Swiss Half Fare Card is included but applies only to self-guided travel on free days. Travel insurance and cancellation insurance are not included.
Is walking involved?
Yes. Days include train station walks, a guided tour of Château de Chillon, exploration of Montreux and Interlaken, and a walk through medieval Thun. Mountain gondola and railway rides involve minimal walking at altitude.
When does it run?
Great Rail Journeys offers eight departures between October 2026 and October 2027 in April, May, June, July, August, September, and October.

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