Christmas and New Year in the Swiss Alps

Make it a Christmas and New Year to remember as you spend the holiday in a genuine Winter Wonderland, surrounded by the snow-capped Swiss Alps.

• The tour includes a 15-Day Swiss Pass rail rover in First Class as well the extra journey on the world famous mountain railway to the Gornergrat, where you will see glaciers, the Matterhorn and unrivalled high altitude landscapes.
• Celebrate Christmas Day in style with a wonderful steamboat cruise on Lake Geneva. Additional scenic cruises on Lake Lucerne are also possible with the Swiss Pass.
• Make the most of your First Class Swiss Pass on six free days of the tour for individual discovery of the many mountain railways of Switzerland, such as the Golden Pass, Glacier Express route, Brünig Railway, Rhätische Bahn and countless others.
• A brand-new tour highlight is the festive trip for New Year’s Eve aboard the luxurious ‘Swiss Classic Train’ in opulent Pullman Class, with a sophisticated 8-course menu served at seat, including complimentary sparkling wine to toast the new year and access to the train’s elegant Bar Car.
• This tour is running on a half-board basis, with breakfast and dinner included every day at your centrally located, quality hotels in the mountainous towns of Brig and Lausanne, thus providing excellent value and ideal comfort.
  

Tuesday 23 December
London to Brig by high speed rail
You travel from London to Brig via Paris on Eurostar and TGV services. On arrival you check in to the 3-star Hotel Victoria, located directly across from the railway station. A welcome dinner will be served at the hotel this evening. (D)

Wednesday 24 December
Along the Glacier Express route to Zermatt, Gornergrat rack railway and Matterhorn
Your tour starts with a real highlight as you take the scenic narrow gauge railway to Zermatt, following along the route of the famed Glacier Express. Then you transfer to the Gornergrat Railway, ascending to 3089 metres. It’s Europe’s second highest railway, eclipsed only by the Jungfrau. From this high Alpine summit, enjoy 360-degree views of the surrounding glaciers and a front view of the Matterhorn.
After refreshments at Gornergrat, you can descend back down to Zermatt, with ample time to explore the car-free village centre that is lined by typical Swiss chalets. This initial group excursion will allow you to get familiar with the Swiss railway system, giving you insights on how to best use your Swiss Pass for individual trips on other days. In the afternoon, there is time for individual discovery, before dinner back at the hotel in Brig. (B D)

Thursday 25 December
Festive Lake Geneva steamboat cruise
For Christmas Day, the memorable highlight is a splendid cruise on Lake Geneva and along the vineyards and chateaux of the Swiss Riviera.
You board at Montreux and make a circular cruise aboard an early 20th century ‘tall stack’ paddle-wheeler. The cruise offers stunning views of the French Alps and also passes through the famed resort town of Evian and past Chillon Castle. In the afternoon you alight at Vevey and return to Brig by train. Back at the hotel, your Christmas dinner awaits. (B D)

Friday 26 until Tuesday 30 December
Freedom of Switzerland with First Class Swiss Travel Pass
For the next few days, you can individually discover all that Switzerland has to offer. Aside from attractions like the nearby Bernese Oberland or the Golden Pass route, you can explore the narrow gauge railway lines in the serene Gruyere region or make a side-step to Domodossola in Italy and then travel on the stunning Centovalli route to Locarno. Enjoy iconic ‘little trains’, towering viaducts and mountain vistas at attractions all around Switzerland. Excursions over the Oberalp Pass to the Rhaetian Railway are also possible. Each night, dinner is served at the hotel in Brig. (B D)

Tuesday 30 December
Brig to Lausanne
After breakfast you check out of your hotel in Brig and travel by train to Lausanne, where you check into your new hotel for the last three nights of the tour.

Wednesday 31 December
New Year’s Eve on the Swiss Classic Train in luxurious Pullman Class
In the early afternoon you continue by SBB train to Vallorbe. There a new highlight for this popular tour, as you spend New Year’s Eve in Pullman Class aboard the magnificent ‘Swiss Classic Train’. This splendid luxury train with at-seat dining in deeply cushioned, wide armchairs, includes a Bar Car with a live piano. Your train will be hauled by a vintage electric locomotive and make a 8-hour, all-evening roundtrip on the main line through western Switzerland and up the Lötschberg north ramp to Kandersteg. There you will have an hour’s break to enjoy this magical, snow-covered chalet village.
As a special treat, you will be served an 8-course gala menu, that is expertly presented and comfortably stretched out through the evening. At midnight, the train will stop at the beautifully illuminated medieval town of Romont, as you can toast the New Year in the Bar Car or on the platform. The train returns after midnight to Lausanne, capping a memorable experience and the most exclusive way to spend New Year’s Eve on a Swiss luxury train. (B D)

Thursday 1 January
At leisure in Lausanne or discovery of regional railways
Today you can relax in the beautiful city of Lausanne, with its historic landmarks and world class attractions. You can also use your Swiss Pass one more time to discover pretty local railways, such as the narrow gauge lines above Lake Geneva from Morges to Biere or Nyon to St. Cergue. In the evening there’s a final group dinner at the hotel in Lausanne. (B D).

Friday 2 January
Return to London
After your exhilarating Christmas holiday you return to London via Paris by TGV and Eurostar services. (B)