How much does it cost?

From £2,099 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,835 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. The package includes Eurostar Standard Class from London to Paris, TGV from Basel to Paris on the return, and all Swiss train travel including the Bernina Express, Glacier Express, Albula Line, and Arosa Line in Standard or Panoramic class.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager throughout the eight days. The tour is escorted, though there are free-time days to explore independently in St Moritz, Tirano, Arosa, and Chur.

What hotels are used?

One night each in 3-star hotels in Strasbourg and Basel, and five nights at Hotel Albula & Julier, a family-run riverside hotel in Tiefencastel.

When does the tour run?

The operator does not publish a departure schedule in the available information; contact Great Rail Journeys to confirm dates.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Simply Glacier & Bernina Express

Eight-day escorted rail tour through Swiss Alps on Bernina and Glacier Express

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day escorted rail holiday from London to Brig, starting with Eurostar and finishing with the world-famous Glacier Express. The tour centers on five nights at Hotel Albula & Julier, a family-run riverside hotel in Tiefencastel in the heart of the forested Albula Valley, which allows time to explore the surrounding alpine scenery while returning each evening. The itinerary includes a day trip on the Albula Line to St Moritz in the Engadine Valley, a journey on the UNESCO-listed Bernina Express across the Alps to Tirano in Italy where you see the Palü Glacier and the Brusio spiral viaduct, a day on the Arosa Line climbing to the lakeside village of Arosa, and an excursion to Chur, Switzerland's oldest town. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout. Breakfast and dinner are included each day, along with five picnic lunches and evening drinks in Tiefencastel. The package suits repeat rail travellers seeking panoramic-carriage journeys and guided comfort with all logistics arranged.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £100 since 4 Jul, to £2,099.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The maximum group size is 40 people, which is large for an escorted tour.
Drinks are included only between 7pm and 9pm with dinner at Tiefencastel; other meals and drinks are not included.
Lunch on free days (Day 3 and parts of Days 4 and 6) are picnic-only; no restaurant meal options are mentioned.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Basel
London to Basel by rail
We meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris, then travel via Strasbourg to Basel, checking in to our central hotel before our first dinner together. Note: on certain departures, we stay in Strasbourg instead.
Day 2railovernight: Tiefencastel
A scenic journey further into Switzerland
After free time in Basel, we travel by rail via Chur into the Graubünden canton and the UNESCO-listed Albula Line, arriving in Tiefencastel for a five-night stay at a family-run riverside hotel.
Day 3overnight: Tiefencastel
A free day amid alpine scenery
A day at leisure with a picnic lunch provided, exploring Tiefencastel, the Landwasser Viaduct to Filisur, or further afield to Davos and Klosters using the Swiss Half Fare Card.
Day 4overnight: Tiefencastel
To St Moritz in the idyllic Engadine Valley
We travel on the Albula Line to the resort of St Moritz, with free time to explore its lake, shopping streets and the Diavolezza cable car, before returning to Tiefencastel for dinner.
Day 5railovernight: Tiefencastel
Crossing the Alps to Italy on the Bernina Express
We travel the UNESCO-listed Bernina Express route, passing Lago Bianco and the Palü Glacier and crossing the Brusio spiral viaduct to Tirano in Italy, with free time before returning to Tiefencastel by local train.
Day 6overnight: Tiefencastel
Historic Chur and the Arosa Line
We travel to Chur then continue on the Arosa Line, crossing the Langwieser Viaduct to the lakeside resort of Arosa, with free time to explore Chur before returning to Tiefencastel for dinner.
Day 7railovernight: Basel
The legendary Glacier Express and on to Basel
We board the Glacier Express from Tiefencastel, travelling through the Rhine Gorge and over the Oberalp Pass to Brig, then change trains to Basel for our final dinner.
Day 8rail
Homeward bound
We travel from Basel on the high-speed TGV to Paris, then change to the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 5The Bernina Express climbs to Ospizio Bernina at 7,400 feet, crossing the Palü Glacier and the 360-degree Brusio spiral viaduct before descending to Tirano in Italy
Day 7The Glacier Express travels west through the Rhine Gorge, known as the Swiss Grand Canyon, over the Oberalp Pass and through the nine-mile Furka Base Tunnel to Brig
Day 4The Albula Line from Tiefencastel to St Moritz crosses deep ravines and scenic viaducts, including the Landwasser Viaduct, through the Engadine Valley
Day 6The Arosa Line climbs more than 3,000 feet in 16 miles through verdant valleys, crossing the Langwieser Viaduct to the lakeside resort of Arosa

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
7 nights' 3-Star hotel accommodation
Eurostar Standard Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast and dinner each day, 5 picnic lunches
Drinks package of beer, wine and soft drinks each day between 7pm to 9pm with dinner in Tiefencastel
Group luggage transfers between hotels from Tiefencastel to Basel
Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,099 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,835 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. The package includes Eurostar Standard Class from London to Paris, TGV from Basel to Paris on the return, and all Swiss train travel including the Bernina Express, Glacier Express, Albula Line, and Arosa Line in Standard or Panoramic class.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager throughout the eight days. The tour is escorted, though there are free-time days to explore independently in St Moritz, Tirano, Arosa, and Chur.
What hotels are used?: One night each in 3-star hotels in Strasbourg and Basel, and five nights at Hotel Albula & Julier, a family-run riverside hotel in Tiefencastel.
When does the tour run?: The operator does not publish a departure schedule in the available information; contact Great Rail Journeys to confirm dates.