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Austria & Switzerland

Classic Glacier Express at New Year

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20252026
9 days From $2,895 $2,695 per person
4.8 stars(4 reviews)
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Ring in the New Year in style, traveling through stunning scenery on two of Switzerland’s most loved trains, the Glacier Express and Bernina Express

Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager
Up to $500 Off

Offer Ends January 22nd.  Save up to $500 per person on Escorted Vacations. 

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Mobility Rating 2

2025 Tour code: GEN26

About the tour

Snow-bound views and seasonal scenery have made the Glacier Express famous at this time of year as the Swiss Alps' glistening peaks and sugar-frosted forests provide picture-postcard backdrops.

Journey through the Swiss Grand Canyon and over the Oberalp Pass on the world-renowned Glacier Express. Spend New Year's Day in historic Chur on this memorable vacation, before passing icy lakes and the ethereal Palü Glacier on the UNESCO-listed route of the Bernina Express. Throughout this seasonal trip, soak in the atmosphere of idyllic mountain resorts, and visit lakeside Lucerne.

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Unforgettable Experiences

Experience the Glacier Express on New Year’s Eve
Experience the Glacier Express on New Year’s Eve
Conclude the year with an unforgettable journey aboard one of the world’s greatest trains, the Glacier Express. Enjoy lunch at your seat, while panoramic carriages present spellbinding views of snow-capped peaks and alpine valleys.
Journey on Bernina Express to Poschiavo and St Moritz
Journey on Bernina Express to Poschiavo and St Moritz
Travel on the UNESCO-listed route of the Bernina Express. Twisting along the Albula Line before climbing towards the Palü Glacier, the journey reaches Italian-speaking Poschiavo, where there’s time to explore.
Discover Chur and Brig at wintertime
Discover Chur and Brig at wintertime
Stay in two beautiful Swiss towns nestled in valleys surrounded by incredible mountains. Both have charms of their own with typical Swiss architecture and narrow, cobbled streets in historic town centers.
View the Matterhorn from idyllic Zermatt
View the Matterhorn from idyllic Zermatt
Enjoy the tranquility of this quintessential mountain resort and long-time mecca for climbers with its clusters of half-timbered chalets and incredible vistas of the iconic Matterhorn.
Visit the charming lakeside town of Lucerne
Visit the charming lakeside town of Lucerne
On the shore of an expansive lake, the vibrant ‘City of Lights’ contains two covered wooden bridges – including Kapellbrücke, the oldest one in Europe – and its old town brims with decorative frescoed buildings.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Brig, nestled in Switzerland’s Rhône Valley

Your stunning seasonal adventure gets underway as you land at Zürich airport. From here, you travel independently to Brig with your rail ticket included.

As you head deeper into Switzerland, the scenery quickly increases in seasonal beauty. The snow-capped Swiss Alps begin to surround the route, and the landscape becomes more dramatic.

Brig is a charming valley town nestled beside the Rhône at the northern edge of the famed Simplon tunnel. Checking in to our family-run four-star hotel near the station for a three-night stay, you meet the Tour Manager and traveling group before enjoying a three-course dinner.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Admiring Matterhorn views from scenic Zermatt

A dramatic journey along the Matter Valley follows breakfast this morning. Flanked on either side by steep cliffs, our train winds between jaw-dropping winter scenes. Sugar-coated trees blanket the rising slopes, while huddles of chalets gather in small villages lining the valley floor.

On the approach to the car-free resort of Zermatt, the Matterhorn comes into view. This pyramidal peak is the Swiss national symbol and inspired the design of the Toblerone. This popular mountain resort exudes a charming atmosphere in winter, and you're free to spend the rest of your time here as you choose.

One option is to ride the 125-year-old Gornergrat Mountain Railway to the summit for some of the best Matterhorn views. Zermatt itself has many beautiful sights, such as the picturesque historic chalets of Hinterdorfstrasse. Later this afternoon, we return by rail to Brig in time for dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Free time in Brig or further afield

A day at leisure provides the opportunity to explore this beautiful part of Switzerland after breakfast. As well as a charming historic center, Brig also boasts the impressive 17th-century Stockalper Palace. Built by wealthy local silk merchant Kaspar Stockalper, it is recognizable from miles around due to its three stone towers topped by large, gilded onion domes.

Alternatively, you could make the most of your Swiss Travel Card, taking the train along the Rhône Valley to Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva. Here, you can join either the GoldenPass Line panoramic train to Gstaad or explore the striking Château de Chillon and the sights of Montreux - including its beautiful lakefront promenade and statue of former Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.

For those wanting to remain in the mountains, the Aletsch Glacier can be reached by cable car, and the Italian town of Domodossola is a short ride from Brig through the tunnel formerly used by the evocative Simplon-Orient Express.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - Experiencing the Glacier Express with lunch on New Year’s Eve

Leaving Brig after breakfast today, we enjoy a sensational journey on the iconic Glacier Express.

Traveling on this world-famous train, Switzerland's striking natural beauty is revealed throughout. Spellbinding scenes of snowy meadows, frozen streams and white mountaintops all play their part to create a jaw-dropping winter wonderland setting. From our panoramic windows, we can marvel at the alpine scenery while we enjoy lunch served at our seats. After climbing through the nine-mile Furka Tunnel, unmissable views are revealed as we ascend to the roof of the route on the Oberalp Pass. Making our way through the elemental 'Swiss Grand Canyon', we arrive at our destination.

Chur is the country's oldest town and full of history - as is our 360-year-old hotel. After checking in for the first of four nights, we enjoy a welcome drink and celebrate the coming of the New Year with a special gala dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - New Year’s Day in historic Chur

Enjoy a full free day today to look around Chur, a town with a history dating back more than 5,000 years.

Chur itself is backed by mountains, and the colorful buildings of its charming Old Town means it is a delightful place to wander at this time of year. The center of the Old Town is the idyllic Martinsplatz, where you can find the arcaded 15th-century Town Hall. Overlooking the historic center are the 800-year-old Cathedral of the Assumption and the terracotta-fronted Bishop's Palace.

Once you've marveled at the historical landmarks and wintry mountain setting, back at the hotel we sit down to a traditional dinner with all the trimmings.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Visiting Lucerne, the ‘City of Lights’

Making our way by rail to Lucerne after breakfast today, there is time to explore this attractive town situated on the shores of Lake Lucerne at the foot of the Swiss Alps.

Known for its cobbled streets and ornate churches, you can enjoy a stroll through the town to see the famous Kapellbrücke, a 14th-century wooden bridge that separates Lucerne's Old and New Town. The historic center is situated north of the River Reuss and is rich in history. Houses decorated with frescoes line the picturesque squares, with several half-timbered structures and the remnants of the old town walls a reminder of just how old Lucerne is. The Jesuit church, dating from the 17th century, is regarded as Switzerland's first Baroque building and the twin towers of the Hofkirche form an integral part of the townscape. Alternatively, travel on the Rigi mountain railroad or enjoy a paddle steamer cruise across Lake Lucerne using your Swiss Travel card for 50% fare reductions.

Later, we return to Chur for an evening at leisure.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 7 - Crossing the Alps on the Bernina Express

Our final full day in Switzerland delivers an unforgettable journey after breakfast as we board the panoramic carriages of the Bernina Express.

This stunning seasonal journey over the Alps reveals views of ancient castles, frosted forests and snow-bound plateaus. Twisting along the UNESCO-listed Albula Line, our route then climbs high into the mountains to an altitude of 7,392 feet. Views of frozen lakes and peaks blanketed in pristine white greet us as we skirt Lago Bianco and descend towards our destination. Poschiavo is a pretty, Italian-speaking town of pastel-colored buildings and cobblestone streets. The quaint main square, Piazza Comunale, enjoys views of the wintry mountains and the campanile tower of the Church of Saint Victor.

There's time to grab lunch, perhaps enjoying local specialties, such as pizzoccheri - a hearty pasta dish with cabbage, cheese and potatoes. Afterward, we return to Chur via a short stop in St Moritz, dining at our hotel this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Homeward bound

A winter wonderland of spectacular snow-bound scenery, cozy chalets and iconic trains - Switzerland is breathtaking at this time of year. Having experienced many delights of this beautiful country, from the Bernina Express and Glacier Express to the mountain panoramas of Zermatt and lakeside Lucerne, your Swiss adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning.

Leaving Chur, your rail ticket is included as you make your way independently to Zürich airport ready for your flight back home.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Hotel Ambassador, Brig

Hotel Ambassador, Brig

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Romantik Hotel Stern, Chur

Romantik Hotel Stern, Chur

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Trains

Bernina Express
Eurostar
The Glacier Express

Reviews

4.8 stars4.8 / 5 · 4 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (3)
  2. 4 stars
    (1)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Anita Orsino

4 stars

Submitted 7/Jan

The tour was very well managed and Switzerland is amazing. Our tour manager was terrific. She managed the scheduling perfectly and provided recommendations for meals and things to do on the free days. The Hotels and included meals were very, very good. The New Year's Eve Gala dinner and celebration sipping bubbly on the roof of the Hotel Stern in Chur was a high point along with Glacier and Bernina Express trains. My only issue is that the tour was advertised as luggage transfers included. The materials provided one week before departure said with one exception, you were responsible for getting your luggage on board the trains. I am very petite and facing a shoulder replacement next week. If it wasn't for people on the trip with me doing the lifting, I would have been in big trouble. IF YOU DON'T MEAN IT, DON'T SAY IT!!. I would not have booked the trip if I knew luggage transfers were not universal. My suitcase was 27 lbs. which is not anywhere near the limit. If I had been stranded because of a problem getting my luggage on board, you would have had a much different review.

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Clifford Vickery

5 stars

Submitted 7/Jan

Outstanding trip. Will book with them again.

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Customer

5 stars

Submitted 10 Jan 2023

The food was good. Hotels were centrally located, clean with nicely decorated rooms. The hotel in Brig could have had a larger and better equipped bathroom, but all in all they were fine. Seating on the trains was excellent and Vacations by Rail and our tour leader handled problems such as strikes, etc. as they arose really well. Thanks for a good New Year.

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SHERRILL, RICHARD

5 stars

Submitted 10 Jan 2023

Delivered as promised and more. Great value.

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SHERRILL, RICHARD
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