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Leger Holidays · Escorted tour

Swiss Christmas Markets & the GoldenPass Express by Rail

Swiss Christmas markets and Alpine trains from Basel to Glacier 3000, five days

Illustration of Swiss Christmas Markets & the GoldenPass Express by Rail

Leger Holidays operates this five-day festive rail tour from London to Switzerland, running in November and December. You travel by Eurostar to Paris and then by train to Basel, where the journey begins with the Basel Christmas Markets. Over the next three days based in Montreux, you visit Bern (with a guided city tour and its Christmas Markets), ride the Rochers-de-Naye Cogwheel Railway to a mountain summit for included lunch with Alpine views, and travel the GoldenPass Express Panoramic Train to Gstaad before ascending to Glacier 3000. A Tour Manager guides the group throughout. Hotels are 4-star properties, breakfast is daily, and Leger Holidays transfers your luggage between Basel and Montreux so you travel light. This tour suits couples and first-time rail travellers seeking a structured, comfort-focused Christmas getaway with a mix of guided sightseeing and free market exploration.

What to know before you look closer

  • Day 1 requires independent travel to London St. Pancras International before meeting the Tour Manager; you make your own way home from London on Day 5
  • The from-price of 2,099 GBP covers the package but does not include any transport to the London station or onward from it

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Gaia Hotel, Basel

    Basel Christmas Markets

    Make your own way to London St. Pancras International where you will meet your friendly Tour Manager and board the Eurostar to Paris. We then join the high-speed train to Basel where we check in at our hotel for our overnight stay. You'll have free time this evening to explore the famous Christmas Markets in the festively decorated Old Town. You are free to dine out in one of the many restaurants in Basel this evening.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Hotel Eden Palace au Lac, Montreux

    Bern with Guided Tour & Christmas Markets

    After an included breakfast at the hotel, we take the train from Basel to Switzerland's delightful capital city - Bern. We enjoy a guided tour of Bern followed by some free time to explore before we take the train to Montreux. On arrival, our luggage will be waiting for us, and we enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Hotel Eden Palace au Lac, Montreux

    Rochers-de-Naye Cog Railway & Montreux Christmas Markets

    After breakfast, we take the cog railway from Montreux to Rochers-de-Naye, the local mountain which offers panoramic views of the Swiss and French Alps. We enjoy an included lunch at a restaurant at the summit before returning to Montreux, where you'll have time to soak up the magical Christmas atmosphere.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  4. Day 4railovernight: Hotel Eden Palace au Lac, Montreux

    GoldenPass Express & Glacier 3000

    After breakfast, we travel on the GoldenPass Express Panoramic Train from Montreux to Gstaad. From here, we take the local bus and cable car to Glacier 3000 where you'll have free time. We return to Montreux and enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5rail

    We depart in the morning, retracing our route to Paris for our return journey by Eurostar back to London St. Pancras International. After arriving in London, you will make your own way home.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Arrive in Basel and explore the festively decorated Old Town Christmas Markets at your own pace
  • Day 2Guided walking tour of Bern followed by time in the city's Christmas Markets before the train to Montreux
  • Day 3Ride the Rochers-de-Naye Cogwheel Railway from Montreux to the mountain summit and enjoy included lunch with panoramic views of the Swiss and French Alps
  • Day 4Travel on the GoldenPass Express Panoramic Train from Montreux to Gstaad, then take a local bus and cable car to Glacier 3000

Included

  • Return Eurostar from London St. Pancras International to Paris
  • Connecting rail journeys
  • 4 nights hotel with continental breakfast
  • 1 lunch and 2 evening meals
  • Luggage transfer between Basel and Montreux
  • Services of an experienced Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Return Eurostar from London to Paris and all connecting rail journeys in Switzerland are included, including the GoldenPass Express and Rochers-de-Naye Cogwheel Railway.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
Escorted. Leger Holidays provides a Tour Manager throughout the five days.
What meals are included?
Continental breakfast each morning, dinner on Days 2 and 4, and one lunch on Day 3 at the Rochers-de-Naye summit restaurant.
Which hotels are used?
One night at the 4-star Gaia Hotel in Basel and three nights at the 4-star Hotel Eden Palace au Lac in Montreux.
How much free time is there?
Evenings in Basel are free; Days 2, 3, and 4 include unguided time to explore Christmas markets after guided activities.

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