Classic Glacier Express (Brig-Chur) : Holidays by Rail : Luxury Train Holiday

Spectacular views and stunning scenery have made the Glacier Express famous the world over. Explore the Alps on Switzerland's terrific rail network during this incredibly popular mountain holiday.

Day 1 - London to Luxembourg

We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar for Brussels, in comfortable Standard Premier Class. We continue by train through the rolling hills of the Ardennes region to Luxembourg, where the overnight at the Mercure Grand Hotel Alfa, located opposite the railway station and close to Luxembourg's historic centre. (E,D)

Day 2 - By train to Switzerland

From Luxembourg, we travel by train to Basel and transfer onto the efficient Swiss rail network, which takes us on a picturesque journey to Brig. Brig is a small, historic town situated at the foot of the Simplon Pass, an ideal base from which to explore southern Switzerland by mountain railway. We enjoy a four-night stay at the Hotel Simplon. (B,D)

Day 3 - Excursion by mountain railway to Zermatt

Enjoy the dramatic Swiss scenery as we travel on the narrow-gauge mountain railway to Zermatt, a picturesque village overlooked by the Matterhorn. A fantastic option is to make the train journey up to Gornergrat (supplement payable locally), situated at over 10,000 feet (3,048m) and giving spectacular views of the Matterhorn. (B,D)

Day 4 - The Bernese Oberland to Interlaken

Today our excursion sees us travel to Interlaken, situated between Lakes Thun and Brienz in the Bernese Oberland. Enjoy a lake cruise, take a mountain railway ride through the Alpine meadows or undertake the ultimate excursion to the highest railway station in Europe, Jungfraujoch (supplement payable locally), at over 11,000 feet (3,353m) above sea level. (B,D)

Day 5 - At leisure

Your day is free to relax in Brig, or explore using your GRJ First Class Swiss Travel Card, which offers you 50% fares. We recommend travelling along the Rhône Valley to Montreux. From here you can enjoy a paddle steamer cruise on Lake Geneva or join the GoldenPass Line train. A trip on the Centovalli Railway across 'a hundred valleys' to Locarno is also an option. (B)

Day 6 - First Class on the Glacier Express

We leave Brig travelling First Class on the Glacier Express narrow-gauge train, along the fantastic 100 year old Bernina Line. The train climbs up the Rhône Valley to Andermatt and then snakes and spirals its way towards the Oberalp Pass, the highest point of the route at 6,670 feet (2,033m). The train descends through pasture and woodland to the Rhine and continues along the broad valley to Chur, arriving early afternoon. Lunch on board the Glacier Express is included and served at your First Class seat. We spend the next three nights at the Romantik Hotel Stern in Chur, an historic town where trains still run through the streets. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - Over the Bernina Pass

The narrow-gauge Bernina Express takes us from Chur over viaducts and bridges, past waterfalls and deep ravines as the train ascends the Albula Pass. The route was recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage site status and loops and spirals into the Engadine Valley before climbing even higher over the Bernina Pass to more than 7,000 feet (2,134m). Enjoy the breathtaking views of the snow-capped peaks as we travel to Poschiavo in the Italian-speaking region, a picturesque town with pastel-coloured buildings. You have some free time for lunch in Poschiavo before we return to Chur, via St Moritz if time permits. (B,D)

Day 8 - A day at leisure in Chur

Chur is the oldest town in Switzerland and a pleasure to explore. Stroll through the medieval alleyways and squares of the Old Town, and visit the vast 12th century cathedral, a blend of Gothic and Romanesque styles. Make the most of 50% fares with your tailor-made First Class Swiss Travel Card and travel into the wild and rocky landscape of the fantastic Graubünden region, passing some of the many dramatic valleys that make this one of the most breathtaking cantons in Switzerland. Alternatively, take the Arosa Express through Chur's streets, climbing through the pine forests to the pretty lakeside town of Arosa or visit Lucerne, a historic lakeside city of cobbled streets and ornate churches. In Lucerne, cross the Kapellbrücke bridge or enjoy a relaxing steamer cruise. (B)

Day 9 - To Germany by train

We leave Chur and travel by EuroCity train via Zürich and Basel into Germany, along the scenic Rhine Gorge passing fairytale castles and lush vineyards. We arrive late-afternoon in Cologne and spend one night at either the Four Points Hotel Central or the Grand City Hotel Cologne Centre, both located within walking distance of the station and the city's magnificent Gothic cathedral. (B,D)

Day 10 - To Brussels and London

We depart for Brussels and connect with Eurostar to St Pancras International in Standard Premier Class. A light meal and drinks are served at our seats prior to arrival (B,E)

E = Eurostar meal, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday

The high speed Eurostar trains link St Pancras International in London with Paris and Lille in France as well as Brussels in Belgium.

The highest class of travel available for leisure customers is Standard Premier class. In your dedicated Standard Premier carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

Passengers travelling in Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet, which sells a range of snacks, meals, hot and cold drinks - including champagne!

Zermatt - Brig - Chur - St Moritz on the Glacier Express

The Glacier Express is undoubtedly Switzerland's best known train. The 181 mile (290km) trip from Zermatt to St Moritz lasts around eight hours winding its way through some of Europe's most dramatic and beautiful scenery.

Beginning in Zermatt, a pretty Alpine resort close to the Matterhorn, the Glacier Express glides northwards from under the shadow of the mighty Matterhorn and follows the Matter Vispa River and the Rhône Valley to Visp. The train then heads east to Brig, before climbing through Betten, Grengiols and Oberwald on its journey to the 9¼ mile (15km) long Furka Base Tunnel.

The train emerges and makes its way to the village of Andermatt, before beginning its ascent towards the Oberalp Pass which at 6,670 feet (2,033m) is the highest point on the line. It then makes the steep descent towards Disentis, where the train is attached to an RHB locomotive. From here we pass the historic town of Ilanz, descending to the stunning Rhine Gorge where we continue on to the attractive cantonal capital of Chur.

The Glacier Express retraces its route to Reichenau-Tamins before heading south along the valley of the Hinterrhein. The train ascends to Thusis, and continues through green forests before crossing the elegant Landwasser Viaduct railway bridge and disappearing into a 705 foot (215m) tunnel carved into a sheer wall of rock. The Glacier Express passes through the village of Flisur, before climbing 1,364 feet (416m) in just 7.8 miles (12.6km) thanks to a series of loop tunnels, coils, bridges and viaducts.

After passing through Preda, a village which didn't exist until 1898, the train enters the 3.6 mile (5,864m) long Albula Tunnel, the highest railway tunnel in the Alps at 5,971 feet (1,820m). On emerging the Glacier Express begins its descent through pasture and woodland to the broad Engadine valley. Nearing the end of the journey the train passes through Celerina and across the channel of the famous bob-sleigh run, the 'Cresta Run'. After one more short tunnel the Glacier Express arrives in St Moritz.

Chur - Poschiavo - Tirano on the Bernina Express

The narrow-gauge Bernina Express connects northern and southern Europe and offers a spectacular means of crossing the Alps. The route runs through the ancient landscape of Switzerland's beautiful Grisons/Graubünden region and provides essential links to the Italian-speaking population in the south.

Beginning in Chur, the oldest town in Switzerland, the route travels south along 76 miles (122km) of track, through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges including the spectacular Landwasser Viaduct. The route meanders past glaciers, an alpine garden and rushing mountain streams, passes through the 5,955 foot (1,815m) long Albula Tunnel and climbs over the Bernina Pass to more than 7,000 feet (2,134m) before crossing the Italian border to arrive in the village of Tirano.

The journey from Chur to Tirano takes four hours, Chur to Poschiavo takes three-and-a-half hours and St Moritz to Tirano takes just two-and-a-half hours.

100 years on the Bernina Line

It took just four years to build the Bernina Line and even in today's hi-tech age it is regarded as a shining example of the civil engineer's art. The first trains operated between St Moritz and Zermatt on 8 July 1910 so there is much to celebrate through the summer of 2010

UNESCO World Heritage status

The route of the Bernina Express on the Albula/Bernina Line between St Moritz and Tirano was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2008, in recognition of the stunning beauty, incredible engineering and the impact this line has had on mountain life in the Swiss canton of Graubuenden and Northern Italy. The Albula/Bernina Line constitutes an outstanding technical and architectural feat and complements the aesthetic harmony through which it passes.

EuroCity

These regular express services operate throughout Europe linking towns and cities beyond country boundaries. The trains are operated by multiple companies and services vary, though most are air-conditioned and feature a buffet coach and/or a restaurant on board.

TGV

Introduced in 1981, France's TGV - Train à Grande Vitesse - was the original European high-speed train. Linking Paris with Lyon, the new service revolutionised train travel and meant that travelling by air over medium and short distances was no longer seen as the best option, even for business travel. The network has expanded rapidly and today these sleek, stylish trains offer links to over 60 destinations throughout France. Operated by SNCF, the French national rail operator, TGV trains travel over specially-constructed high speed lines. The trains can achieve speeds of up to 186mph (300km/h) on most long distance routes and 200mph (320km/h) on the new TGV Est line, which links Paris with Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Basel. With the exception of shorter journeys, TGVs almost always have an on-board buffet car, serving a selection of drinks and light refreshments.

Our hotels have been chosen based on their location, the facilities and value for money. Where possible we select hotels with individual style and character, preferably run by local families as we find this gives our hotels a friendlier, more personal feel. We have worked with many of our hotels for over a decade.