Search

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

GRJ All Inclusive Jungfrau Express at Christmas

Seven-day escorted rail holiday to Swiss Alps, Jungfrau Express, Christmas

Illustration of GRJ All Inclusive Jungfrau Express at Christmas

Great Rail Journeys operates this seven-day escorted Christmas holiday from London St Pancras to Lausanne, combining famous European trains with five nights in the Swiss alpine village of Wilderswil. Travellers depart on Eurostar to Paris, continue by TGV to Strasbourg to explore the historic Christmas market and medieval quarter, then travel by Swiss rail to the Bernese Oberland. The centrepiece is a journey on the Jungfrau Express, which climbs through tunnels inside the Eiger and Mönch mountains to Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe) at over 11,000 feet, where the Sphinx Observatory overlooks the Aletsch Glacier and Swiss peaks. Subsequent days include excursions to Grindelwald on Christmas Day and Interlaken on Christmas Eve, plus a free day to explore the Lauterbrunnen Valley with the included Swiss Half Fare Card. All accommodation, meals (breakfast, dinner, and picnic lunches), rail travel, and guided tours are included. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group throughout. The pace is relaxed, anchored to one base hotel, suiting couples, families, and first-time rail travellers seeking guided comfort during the festive season.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is a Christmas-specific departure; confirm availability before booking.
  • The group size can reach 40 people, which may affect the intimacy of some excursions.
  • All lunches on Days 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are picnic meals; hot lunches are provided only on Days 3 and 4.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Strasbourg

    To the magical city of Strasbourg

    Your festive journey starts at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and group before boarding the Eurostar service to Paris. On arrival in the French capital, we continue by high-speed TGV to the medieval city of Strasbourg in the Alsace region for an overnight stay. Strasbourg, a charming city with a blend of German and French influences, is a perfect place to break our journey. In December, the city sparkles with lights, an atmospheric Christmas market and charming seasonal decorations. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the historic quarter of 'Petite France' features enchanting half-timbered houses overlooking the narrow canals. Soak up the festive ambience as we walk a short distance from our central hotel to enjoy a three-course dinner at a traditional Alsace restaurant.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Wilderswil

    Welcome to the snow-clad alpine village of Wilderswil

    Enjoy a free morning to explore Strasbourg and browse the stalls of one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe. Strolling through the historic quarter, you can admire the Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral with its famous astronomical clock, and the beautiful central square, Place Kléber. Later, we continue our journey by rail to Switzerland, travelling via the city of Basel and the resort town of Interlaken. As we approach Spiez, look out for its fairytale castle beside dazzling Lake Thun. This picturesque route leads to our base for the festive season, the quaint village of Wilderswil, set in a snow-clad alpine valley and surrounded by the impressive Mönch, Eiger and Jungfrau mountains. We check in to a picture-book Swiss chalet-style hotel, receiving a warm welcome from the family who has run it for more than 60 years. Tonight, and each evening of our stay, we enjoy a three-course dinner, with beer, wine and soft drinks served during our meal.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Wilderswil

    A captivating journey on the Jungfrau Express

    Today is sure to be a high point of the holiday with a trip to Europe's highest railway station, Jungfraujoch, or the 'Top of Europe'. We start the day with a short ride on the Bernese Oberland Railway, joining the Jungfrau Express at Kleine Scheidegg and climbing through a tunnel deep inside the Eiger and the Mönch mountains. Our train emerges just below the breathtaking summit of the Jungfrau at more than 11,000 feet. Enjoy free time at the summit with a visit to the Sphinx Observatory, absorbing spellbinding views of the surrounding peaks and the immense Aletsch Glacier. You may be tempted to head to Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven or Alpine Sensation, a multi-sensory exhibition on the history of tourism in the region. In the evening, we retrace our journey to the hotel and enjoy time to relax before dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4railovernight: Wilderswil

    Christmas Eve in scenic Interlaken

    After breakfast, we take a short trip by rail to Interlaken, capital of the Bernese Oberland and one of the most popular towns in the Swiss Alps. Besides flaunting snow-capped peaks, glistening glacial lakes and waterfront castles, Interlaken is the centre of a year-round playground for climbers, walkers and skiers. Your included Swiss Half Fare Card provides 50% discount on rail, bus and boat fares. You might take a magical winter cruise across Lake Thun and experience fairytale vistas of castles, hills and the soaring Bernese Alps. Or, if you'd rather enjoy the day in town, you might visit one of Interlaken's chocolate shops or relax in a cosy café with a glass of mulled wine or a slice of cherry cake. A festive three-course dinner is served at the hotel this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Wilderswil

    An excursion to Grindelwald on Christmas Day

    On Christmas morning, we travel by train to the characterful village of Grindelwald, tucked away between dramatic mountains. Like a scene from a folktale, this famous village is one of Europe's oldest mountain resorts, rising to prominence in the 1920s when skiing became a popular leisure activity. You might enjoy a yuletide stroll through the village, where quaint town squares and attractive wooden chalets are surrounded by open skiing fields. To mark the occasion, you may be able to take a gondola trip to Grindelwald First Mountain, or a cable car to Pfingstegg, a viewpoint 4,260 feet above the Grindelwald Valley. In the evening, enjoy celebratory drinks and a festive dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Wilderswil

    At leisure in Wilderswil

    Boxing Day is a free day to enjoy a variety of sights and experiences of the Bernese Oberland at your own pace. If you'd like to take it easy, take a walk around the quintessentially Swiss village of Wilderswil. Venturing farther afield, you might use your Swiss Half Fare Card to uncover the villages of the beautiful Lauterbrunnen Valley. Wengen, a picturesque mountain resort, sits beneath the Jungfrau with fantastic views of the valley. Alternatively, you might head to the village of Mürren and take a cable car trip to the top of the Schilthorn mountain, visiting the famous Piz Gloria revolving restaurant featured in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Yet another option is to take the train to Lucerne and discover this pretty lakeside city known as the 'City of Lights'. In the evening, we enjoy the final dinner of the festive holiday at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7rail

    Homeward bound

    This festive holiday draws to a close this morning as we board a train via Bern to Lausanne. After dashing through the French countryside by TGV to Paris, we connect with the Eurostar that returns us to London St Pancras.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Depart London St Pancras on Eurostar to Paris, then ride the TGV through France to arrive in Strasbourg for Christmas market exploration.
  • Day 3Travel on the Jungfrau Express from Kleine Scheidegg, climbing through tunnels inside the Eiger and Mönch to reach Jungfraujoch at over 11,000 feet and view the Aletsch Glacier from the Sphinx Observatory.
  • Day 5Visit the mountain village of Grindelwald by train on Christmas Day, set between dramatic peaks.
  • Day 6Free day in the Bernese Oberland to explore Wilderswil or use the Swiss Half Fare Card to visit villages in the Lauterbrunnen Valley such as Wengen, Mürren, or Schilthorn.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 6 nights' 3-star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Standard Class rail travel
  • Standard Class rail travel throughout
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast and dinner each day
  • 5 picnic lunches
  • Drinks with dinner each day in Wilderswil (beer, wine and soft drinks 7pm–9pm)
  • Swiss Half Fare Card (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

Is all rail travel included?
Yes. Eurostar Standard Class from London to Paris, TGV Standard Class from Paris to Strasbourg and return, Swiss rail throughout, and the Jungfrau Express are all included. A Swiss Half Fare Card providing 50% discounts on free days is also included.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager from start to finish and includes guided tours and excursions throughout.
What is the accommodation?
Six nights in two hotels: one night in Strasbourg (unspecified central hotel) and five nights in the Hotel Alpenblick, a family-run three-star hotel in the village of Wilderswil.
What meals are provided?
Breakfast and dinner each day, plus five picnic lunches. Drinks (beer, wine, and soft drinks) are included with dinner each evening in Wilderswil from 7pm to 9pm.
When does this tour run?
This is a Christmas-specific departure, running in December. Great Rail Journeys lists this as a set holiday package; confirm exact dates and availability with the operator.
How much walking is involved?
The tour involves train travel with station transfers and walking through villages and towns. Day 3 includes travel by mountain railway to Jungfraujoch, at an elevation of over 11,000 feet.

Similar journeys