Swiss Grand Tour: Glacier, Bernina & Jungfrau

Your grand tour of Switzerland begins today as you meet the Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras, where we board the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in Plus class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats as the French countryside glides by our windows. From the French capital, we continue east to Strasbourg for one night.

This historic Alsatian city has a compact but captivating centre, with grand squares and narrow waterways. Blending German and French architectural influences, the picturesque centre is dominated by the Gothic cathedral - dating from the 13th century and featuring a façade of ornately carved portals, the cathedral is topped by an octagonal tower. After checking in to our central four-star hotel, we enjoy our first dinner together.

• Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

We leave Strasbourg after breakfast at the hotel, heading to the train station for a journey to Switzerland's largest city. As we approach, we can see Zürich's skyline, reflecting centuries of occupation and growth, with modern skyscrapers next to preserved structures from centuries past.

On arrival, enjoy a walking tour of the city's remarkable Old Town, as an expert guide shares hidden details, historic anecdotes and insider insight that reveal its rich past. We wander down the famous Bahnhofstrasse, one of the world's most exclusive shopping streets, enjoy views across the city from Lindenhof park and admire the towering Romanesque Grossmünster church.

After our tour, we make our way to the station to board a train to the alpine city of Chur. As the oldest city in Switzerland, this charming resort town offers a mix of historic architecture, distinctive culture and breathtaking alpine scenery. Arriving in the late afternoon, we check in to our central hotel for two nights before sitting down to dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today brings our first amazing panoramic train journey on the world-renowned Bernina Express. Leaving Chur, this route twists and spirals its way south through the rugged landscape of the Engadine Valley as it has done for more than a century. With amazing scenery and eye-catching feats of engineering, the route has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008.

One of the manmade marvels we can admire is the curved Landwasser Viaduct, which we cross before twisting through spiral tunnels as the track climbs nearly 2,300 feet to Preda. Sat beside glacial Lago Bianco, Ospizio Bernina is the route's summit station at more than 7,300 feet above sea level. Shortly after leaving here, the train pauses to allow us to view the Palü Glacier at Alp Grüm before winding its way down to the Italian-speaking town of Poschiavo.

There is free time to explore Poschiavo, its pastel-coloured buildings and pretty squares, before returning to Chur on a regional rail service. Dining independently tonight, you could sample one of Chur's many restaurants, where local specialities include hearty pizzoccheri and röstis.

• Breakfast

The Glacier Express is one of Europe's most iconic train journeys, and today we experience it on a journey from Chur to the idyllic resort of Zermatt.

Travelling at an average speed of 24mph, the 'slowest express train in the world' delves into the Rhine Gorge, where our panoramic carriages provide front-row seats to the 'Swiss Grand Canyon' as the emerald river winds its way past limestone cliffs. Enjoying a two-course lunch in our seats, we enjoy a constant presentation of breathtaking scenery while climbing to Andermatt and entering the nine-mile Furka Tunnel. Our journey reaches a dramatic conclusion as we zigzag up the Matter Valley, through alpine wildflower meadows and past waterfalls, before the Matterhorn looms into view on our approach to Zermatt.

Accessible only by train, the sense of peace in this quintessential Swiss mountain resort is instantly apparent. After checking in to our hotel, your evening is at leisure to explore this quaint town and find dinner locally - Zermatt offers diverse cuisine, from traditional mountain fare to global favourites including Italian and Indian options.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Waking in Zermatt, today is at leisure to explore this alpine resort independently. The town is car-free, providing a perfect destination for wandering and taking in the picturesque architecture and surrounding mountain views.

From its location at the foot of the mighty Matterhorn, the Swiss national symbol, you could use your Swiss Half Fare Card to ride the Gornergrat Mountain Railway up to the Alps' second largest glacier or hop into a cable car past Schwarzsee and into a year-round winter wonderland, with panoramic views stretching out across the Alps. Both provide sensational views of the Matterhorn and beyond.

Alternatively, soak up the atmosphere in a café in view of the iconic peak, stroll through the charming streets lined with traditional wooden chalets, or visit the Matterhorn Museum. This impressive museum is arranged in the form of a reconstituted mountain village and tells the history of Zermatt and the Matterhorn. There are plenty of cafés and restaurants to find lunch and dinner - perhaps try Zermatt's famous fondue while admiring views of the Matterhorn.

• Breakfast

Our excursion today brings an opportunity to step into the history of Switzerland amidst natural scenery. Leaving our Zermatt hotel after breakfast this morning, we board a train heading to the stunning Lake Geneva, where we have some free time for lunch.

One of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe, Château de Chillon is located on a rock on the banks of Lake Geneva and is the most visited historic building in Switzerland. This romantic castle of cobblestone courtyards and ancient fortifications appears as if it is floating on the lake, and we explore it with a guide who shares interesting information about its storied past. Formerly occupied by the influential House of Savoy from 1150, this castle has attracted tourists since the early 1800s, including Lord Byron and Mary Shelley.

After our tour, we embark on a leisurely cruise across the shimmering, glacial waters of Lake Geneva, the largest alpine lake in Europe. The tranquillity of the deep blue expanse is contrasted by the dramatic surroundings of soaring mountains and colourful lakeside towns. Disembarking, we transfer to our next hotel in time for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

With a free morning today, enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. You could find a nearby café to soak up the ambience or stroll along the lakefront, taking in the picture-perfect views.

After lunch at leisure, we head to Montreux train station to board our third panoramic train of this epic holiday - the GoldenPass Express. The route is a feat of engineering more than 100 years in the making and uses innovative technology that allows the train to adapt its gauge. Leaving Montreux, the route winds through untamed forests and rolling mountain landscapes of the Swiss Highlands, passing storybook villages and sweeping alpine meadows before arriving in the mountain resort of Gstaad. From here, the GoldenPass Express glides gently down towards Lake Thun, where panoramic carriages reveal breathtaking views at every turn.

We arrive in Interlaken this afternoon, a compact and attractive town set between lakes Thun and Brienz and the peaks of the Bernese Oberland, where we check in to our central hotel. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore this idyllic resort before dinner together this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is set to be another highlight of the holiday as we enjoy a remarkable journey to Jungfraujoch - a UNESCO-listed site and Europe's highest train station at an altitude of 11,330 feet - on the iconic Jungfrau Express.

Our route includes a train journey from Interlaken to the pretty village of Grindelwald, continuing to the Eiger Glacier on a cable car that rises above dense forest and meadowed valleys. From the Eiger Glacier, we travel the final section by cogwheel train, entering an incredible tunnel which cuts through the Eiger. On reaching Jungfraujoch, the vistas from the Sphinx viewing platform are truly awe-inspiring. At the top, we're close to the stunning Aletsch Glacier - a UNESCO World Heritage wonder - which stretches as far as the eye can see.

Returning to Interlaken this afternoon, you are free to find dinner independently. Interlaken is brimming with fantastic eateries with a variety of local and international offerings.

• Breakfast

Leaving Interlaken after breakfast this morning, we embark on our final panoramic Swiss rail journey - the panoramic Lucerne-Interlaken Express to Lucerne.

Departing from Interlaken our train makes its way eastwards, hugging the shore of shimmering Lake Brienz. Continuing through the scenic Brünig Pass, we reach the peak of the line at 3,307ft, then begin our descent. This stretch of the line is characterised by the attractive villages around lakes Lungern and Sarnen - keep your cameras ready as we journey past some of Switzerland's most beautiful landscapes. Reaching the edge of Lake Lucerne, we continue along its shores to the city of Lucerne, where we set on a walking tour of the city.

Our tour takes in the highlights of Lucerne, including the famous covered bridge, the Kapellbrücke, and the cobbled streets and picturesque squares adorned with medieval buildings in the Old Town. We then make our way to the train station and board a service to Basel, our base for the night. Our hotel is next to the train station - on arrival, we check in and enjoy our final dinner together.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This epic grand tour has encompassed four of Switzerland's iconic panoramic rail journeys in one holiday, with excursions along the way that enveloped us in the natural beauty and rich history of this incredible country. A walking tour of Zürich revealed its unique mix of tradition and modernity, before we embarked on an unforgettable trip on the Bernina Express through unspoilt nature. The celebrated Glacier Express carried us across the Alps to idyllic Zermatt and a tour of Château de Chillon and a cruise on Lake Geneva provided an enchanting experience. The GoldenPass and Lucerne-Interlaken Express rounded out our exploration of Switzerland's renowned panoramic trains with incredible scenic journeys, and the Jungfrau Express transported us to the 'Top of Europe'.

After breakfast this morning, we board a train to Paris where we join the Eurostar service. Travelling in Eurostar Plus class, we enjoy a light meal on the final leg of our trip home. On arrival in London St Pancras, your holiday draws to a close and you are free to make your way home.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal