Interlaken and the Jungfrau Express in Winter

We meet our Tour Manager at London St Pancras before boarding the Eurostar to Brussels. Here we change trains and continue to Cologne for the night.

*For departure 12/01/2025 we will overnight at the Hilton Garden Inn Mannheim, in Mannheim.

• Dinner

We journey into Switzerland after breakfast at our hotel, passing through the Rhine-side city of Mannheim and Freiburg in the Black Forest on our way to Basel. Here, we change for a beautifully scenic journey past sparkling lakes and snowy peaks to Interlaken in the heart of the Bernese Oberland - one of the most gorgeous regions in the Swiss Alps. This remarkable town is uniquely nestled between Lakes Thun and Brienz, sitting peacefully in a picturesque valley that's watched over by the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. On arrival, we check into our hotel for five nights.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A spellbinding train journey awaits today as we travel by rail to Lucerne, known as the 'City of Lights'. Riding along the banks of beautiful Lake Brienz, we travel to Meiringen, in the shadow of the famous Reichenbach Falls. From here, we climb the Brünig Pass through a winter wonderland of snowbound scenery to an elevation of 3,287 feet. On the descent, we pass shimmering lakes before arriving in charming Lucerne. With free time to wander its pretty old town, you can discover cobbled streets embodying tradition and culture with their well-preserved medieval architecture. There are also plenty of interesting attractions, from ornate churches to frescoed historic houses and the 14th-century covered Kapellbrücke. Set on the crystal-clear lake, lively and vibrant Lucerne is a great place to explore and find somewhere to eat at one of the many cosy cafés and restaurants. This evening, we retrace our gorgeous journey back to our hotel in Interlaken.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a free day to explore Interlaken. You could take a boat ride across one of the lakes before warming up at one of the cosy cafés or perhaps wrap up and head out on one of the many nature trails that start in the town. Interlaken's history can be traced back to a monastery built here in the 12th century, while the surrounding landscapes provide a gateway to the Bernese Oberland, a region home to over 45 mountain railways and aerial gondolas that you can discover using your Swiss Travel Card for 50% off fares.

• Breakfast

We make our way by rail to the snow-bound alpine village of Grindelwald, a delightful town nestled at the foot of the imposing north face of the Eiger. We enjoy an incredible cable car journey to the summit of the Grindelwald First mountain for breathtaking panoramas of the twinkling valley below - and the mighty Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau opposite. Returning to Grindelwald, there is free time to admire the attractive wooden chalets and town squares of this fairytale setting, with a stunning backdrop of the dramatic mountains.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The highlight of our holiday, a journey along the Jungfrau Railway, is enjoyed today as we start by joining the Bernese Oberland Railway to Lauterbrunnen. On arrival, the Wengernalp Railway takes us to Kleine Scheidegg. Due to the steep area through which it runs, the views are outstanding, with highlights including the White Lütschine River Valley and Staubbach Falls, often frozen in winter. The Jungfrau Railway itself begins at Kleine Scheidegg and runs the remaining six miles to just below the summit of the Jungfrau Mountain.

With a viewing stop along the way to maximise the fantastic panoramas, we emerge from the tunnel at Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe. With plenty of free time here, you can admire the enchanting snow-globe views of the Aletsch Glacier from the Sphinx Observatory or head to Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven for an insight into the history and making of Swiss chocolate.

• Breakfast, Dinner

As our wonderful winter holiday draws to a close, we bid farewell to Interlaken on our way to Basel, before transferring to the onward service to Paris. On the Eurostar to London St Pancras we can take time to recall the breathtaking views and unforgettable memories on this incredible trip to remarkable and dramatic Switzerland.

• Breakfast