Swiss Glacier Express & The Bernina

DAY 1

Travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, then onwards to Basel and our base for this evening, the GAIA Hotel, where we check in and enjoy our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

This morning, we enjoy a leisurely breakfast before our private guided tour of Basel where we will visit the best sights of the city and can admire the contrasting modern and historic architecture of this beautiful city. The evening is free for you to dine at leisure in one of the many local restaurants.

DAY 3

After a relaxed morning, we travel by train to Neuchâtel where we have a little time to explore the medieval core of the town before our afternoon cruise on the magnificent Lake Neuchâtel aboard a beautifully restored paddle steamer dating back to 1912. Afterwards, we continue by train to Vevey and our hotel for the next three nights, The Astra, is conveniently located opposite the station, and we enjoy our evening meal together.

DAY 4

After breakfast this morning, the day is ours to spend at leisure in Vevey and, using our included Riviera card, we can venture further into this lovely lakeside town. We can stroll along the promenade, visit fascinating museums, or discover historic buildings, the choice is ours.

DAY 5

This morning, we travel by train to Montreux and enjoy some free time in Lake Geneva's most celebrated resort before transferring to Château Chillon, perched dramatically at the water's edge against a stunning mountain backdrop. We include entrance to the castle to explore before continuing by boat cruise, sailing amidst magnificent landscapes to Lausanne. Afterwards, we return by train to Vevey in time for our evening meal together.

DAY 6

One of the great railway journeys of the world awaits today! After breakfast, we travel by train through the mountains to Brig where we will join the iconic Glacier Express, a truly scenic railway journey that we will enjoy in style with a 2-course lunch served to our seats. Marvel at the breathtaking and varied panoramic views outside your window as the train follows the course of the River Rhône en route to the Oberalp Pass, the highest point on the line at over 6,000 feet, before continuing through the UNESCO World Heritage Albula Line, a masterpiece of railway engineering of tunnels, spirals, and viaducts. On arrival in St. Moritz, we will transfer to the Steffani Hotel*, our base for the next four nights, and dinner this evening will be at leisure.

*In December, the tour will continue from St. Moritz to Celerina and transfer to our hotel, the Chesa Rosatsch.

Day 7

Today we enjoy a leisurely breakfast and relaxed morning before travelling to Punt Muragl where we take the historic funicular railway to scale the steep mountainside up to the magnificent Muottas Muragl. Highly regarded as the most beautiful vantage point above the lakes of Upper Engadin and, at almost 2,500m above sea level, the enchanting views are truly spectacular. Afterwards, we retrace our steps back to the hotel in time for our evening meal together.

DAY 8

A remarkable travel experience awaits us today - the Bernina Express! Crossing marvellous viaducts, journeying through breathtaking scenery, passing romantic gorges, and admiring the masterpieces of engineering, we travel towards the sunny south of the Alps before crossing the border into the Italian town of Tirano. We enjoy some free time and the chance to enjoy a classic Italian espresso before returning through the majestic Alpine scenery via the regional train services to the hotel for our evening meal together.

*Subject to winter/summer timetables, we may travel out via regional train services and return via the Bernina Express.

DAY 9

Today is spent at leisure and our included Engadin Card provides us with unlimited travel on local public transport plus a number of cable cars and funiculars allowing us to journey to the peaks of the area, affording stunning views. This evening, dinner will be at our own arrangements.

DAY 10

After breakfast this morning, we retrace our steps to Basel where we enjoy our final evening and farewell dinner together.

DAY 11

We bid farewell to Switzerland, returning by rail to Paris, where we will join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner