Snow on the Alps

Day 1 – To Cologne

Depart on mid-morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onward to Cologne for an overnight stay.

Day 2 – Onward to Chur

By rail to Basle. From here our rail travel in Switzerland will be in First Class using the unlimited Swiss Travel Pass provided. We continue on to Chur where we will stay for 4 nights.

Day 3 – Explore from Chur

Using your Swiss Travel Pass, explore Chur and the surrounding area using the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railways network. The Alpine city of Chur is the capital of the Graubünden region and is ideally situated for visiting the nearby spa resorts of Arosa and Davos. It is Switzerland’s oldest city and has a car-free pedestrianised ‘old town’. There will also be an optional escorted excursion on offer, at no additional cost.

Day 4 – Bernina Express

Today, you have the option of joining a full day escorted excursion from Chur to Tirano, travelling in First Class on the Bernina Express route with its spirals and tunnels and reaching an altitude of more than 2,000m. The return journey will be via St. Moritz in order to have dinner on the train (included) as we travel back to Chur.

Day 5 – Leisure Time

A second day at leisure and again, there will be an offer of an optional escorted excursion at no additional cost. The Graubünden Canton region boasts raw natural beauty, from its Engadine valleys, where clouds roll over looming mountains, to the grandeur of its sky-scraping peaks – endless opportunities to use your First Class Swiss Travel Pass to explore this winter wonderland.

Day 6 – Glacier Express

Another chance to ride the spectacular line up to the Oberalp Pass as we journey on the Glacier Express train, once famously described as the “slowest express train in the world” – but who would want to rush through such beautiful scenery? Passing through the Furka Tunnel, we are now in the valley of the River Rhône. Changing at Brig, we cross the Alps again (via a tunnel under them on this occasion) and arrive on the shores of beautiful Lake Thun, where we have a 3-night stay.

Days 7 & 8 – Bernese Oberland

Free days based in Thun to explore with your Swiss Travel Pass. There will be an optional escorted excursion on offer each day, including day travelling by rail to Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen, then cable car to Mürren for spectacular views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. Return to Interlaken down the valley of the River Lutschine (a tributary of the Rhine), and board a paddle steamer for the journey back to Thun.

Day 9 – To Cologne

We depart Thun after breakfast and travel via Basle to Cologne for an overnight stay.

Day 10 – To London

Taking the morning ICE service to Brussels, we make a connection with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.