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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

GRJ All Inclusive Glacier Express in Winter

Eight-day Swiss alpine rail tour from London featuring the Glacier Express

Illustration of GRJ All Inclusive Glacier Express in Winter

Great Rail Journeys runs this eight-day escorted winter tour from London to Zermatt via the Swiss Alps, combining high-speed international rail with some of Europe's most celebrated mountain railway lines. After traveling Eurostar and TGV through Paris to Strasbourg, the group settles into a family-run riverside hotel in Tiefencastel for five nights, using it as a base to explore the Albula Line to St Moritz, the Bernina Express across to Italy, and the Arosa Line from historic Chur. The signature Glacier Express carries guests through snowbound alpine valleys and the Swiss Grand Canyon before the journey home. All breakfasts and dinners are included, along with a drinks package, picnic lunches on free days, a Swiss Half Fare Card for independent exploration, and the expertise of a UK Tour Manager throughout. This tour suits repeat rail travellers seeking multiple UNESCO-listed routes, couples looking for a five-night base, and food-and-wine enthusiasts who value generous included meal service.

What to know before you look closer

  • The group is capped at 40 people, not a small group size.
  • Five nights are based at one hotel with free days; the pace is set by coach and rail transfers on scheduled days.
  • Only breakfast and lunch on free days (Day 5 and Day 6) come as picnic lunches; other meals are at the hotel or included restaurants.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Strasbourg

    London to Strasbourg in Alsace

    Meet the Tour Manager and travelling group at London St Pancras. Board the Eurostar to Paris, then switch to the high-speed TGV to Strasbourg. Check in to the hotel near the station and explore the eclectic mix of French and German architecture, including the Grande Île and Notre Dame Cathedral. Enjoy the first dinner together at a local restaurant. Note: on the 13th February departure, travel is to Colmar for an overnight stay.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Tiefencastel

    Arrival at your hotel in scenic Switzerland

    Free morning to explore Strasbourg, including La Petite France. Transfer to Strasbourg station for the journey to Switzerland via Basel and Chur, passing Lake Zürich and entering the UNESCO-listed Albula Line. Arrive in Tiefencastel in the early evening for a five-night stay at the family-run riverside hotel. Three-course dinner with wine, beer and soft drinks included.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Tiefencastel

    Along the UNESCO-listed Albula Line to St Moritz

    Travel on the Albula Line from Tiefencastel to St Moritz, crossing deep ravines and scenic viaducts. Free time in St Moritz to stroll by the lake, shop on Via Serlas, enjoy an apéritif, or ride the Diavolezza cable car for views over the Morteratsch Glacier. Return by train to Tiefencastel for dinner and drinks.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4railovernight: Tiefencastel

    Crossing the Alps to Italy on the Bernina Express

    Board the Bernina Express at Tiefencastel for a journey along the UNESCO-listed route, crossing the Landwasser Viaduct, passing frozen waterfalls, climbing to Ospizio Bernina at 7,400ft, viewing the Palü Glacier and the spiral viaduct at Brusio. Free time in Tirano to explore the Old Town. Return to Tiefencastel by local train for dinner and drinks.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Tiefencastel

    Alpine scenery or upmarket resorts on a free day

    Free day to explore the region at leisure with a picnic lunch provided by the hotel. Use the Swiss Half Fare Card to visit Filisur, Bergün (Albula Railway Museum), or travel through the Zügen Gorge to Davos and Klosters. Dinner with selected drinks at the hotel in the evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Tiefencastel

    Ascending the Arosa Line from historic Chur

    Train to Chur then the Arosa Line for an hour-long journey to Arosa, climbing more than 3,000 feet in 16 miles, crossing the Langwieser Viaduct. Free time in Arosa with picnic lunch. Explore Chur's historic cobblestone centre, Martinsplatz, St Martin's Church, Rätisches Museum and Cathedral Treasure Museum before returning to Tiefencastel for dinner and drinks.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7railovernight: Basel

    The incredible Glacier Express and on to Basel

    Board the Glacier Express at Tiefencastel. Panoramic carriages offer views of snowbound landscapes through the 'Swiss Grand Canyon', over the Oberalp Pass, beside glacial lakes and through the nine-mile Furka Base Tunnel to Brig. Change trains to Basel via Lake Thun and Spiez Castle. Check in to the hotel next to Basel station and enjoy the final dinner together.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8rail

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast, travel from Basel by TGV to Paris, then Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Travel the UNESCO-listed Albula Line from Tiefencastel to St Moritz, crossing deep ravines and scenic viaducts in winter conditions.
  • Day 4Board the Bernina Express, crossing the Landwasser Viaduct, passing frozen waterfalls, and viewing the Palü Glacier and the spiral viaduct at Brusio.
  • Day 6Ride the Arosa Line from Chur, climbing over 3,000 feet in 16 miles and crossing the Langwieser Viaduct to the lakeside village of Arosa.
  • Day 7Board the Glacier Express at Tiefencastel, traveling through snowbound landscapes and the Swiss Grand Canyon to Brig in panoramic carriages.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 7 nights' 3-star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Standard Class travel
  • Standard Class rail travel throughout
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast and dinner each day
  • 5 picnic lunches
  • Drinks package of beer, wine and soft drinks between 7pm and 9pm with dinner in Tiefencastel
  • Group luggage transfers between hotels from Tiefencastel to Basel
  • 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

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The from-price of GBP 2,199 includes Eurostar, TGV, and all Swiss rail journeys (Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Albula Line, Arosa Line) in Standard or Panoramic Class, plus all coach transfers.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
It is fully escorted. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager for the entire eight days, plus guided tours and excursions throughout.
What is included in the hotel stay?
Seven nights in 3-star hotels: five nights at the family-run Hotel Albula & Julier in Tiefencastel (riverside location), one night near Strasbourg station, and one near Basel station. Breakfast and dinner are included each day, plus a drinks package (beer, wine, soft drinks from 7pm to 9pm with dinner) in Tiefencastel.
What activities are available on free days?
On Days 5 and 6, guests receive a Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% discounted rail, boat, and mountain-railway fares. Day 5 is a free day to explore via Filisur, Bergün, the Zügen Gorge, Davos, or Klosters. Day 6 includes free time in Arosa with a picnic lunch and optional visits to Chur's historic centre and museums.
When does this tour run?
The evidence confirms winter departures; a February 13 departure to Colmar is mentioned, indicating the tour runs in winter months, typically December through March, though specific 2024 or 2025 dates are not listed.
What is not included?
Cancellation and travel insurance are not included. Optional extras available separately include Eurostar Plus Class upgrade, London hotel pre/post tour, and UK rail connections.

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