Jungfrau Express Five-Star All-Inclusive

Your vacation starts at Zurich Airport station, with a First-Class rail journey via Interlaken to the alpine village of Grindelwald.

This scenic journey passes the picturesque shores of beautiful Lake Thun and stunning Spiez Castle. In traditional Grindelwald a warm welcome at our luxurious five-star hotel awaits, where we meet our Tour Manager and the rest of our group. Run by the same family for generations, the hotel has a private spa and an indoor pool which has fabulous views of the region's famous peaks.

Grindelwald is an idyllic Swiss village, one of Europe's oldest mountain resorts, overlooked by the dramatic north face of the Eiger, the Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. With quaint wooden chalets and inviting cafés, bakeries and gift shops, this is an area of natural beauty and appealing Swiss charm.

At our all-inclusive five-star Swiss chalet-style hotel tonight, we enjoy a three-course dinner, with drinks included from 7-9pm as they are each evening.

• Dinner

After breakfast at our Grindelwald hotel, there is time to look around the village before we board a cable car for a scenic journey to the summit of Grindelwald First mountain, one of the most popular in the Jungfrau region. Ascending in the sky gondola is a delight, affording some wonderful panoramas of the magnificent Alps. At the top we have great views across the snow-dappled peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, swathes of forests and far-off villages. Our hotel supplies us with a picnic lunch, and we have free time to enjoy it in this lovely setting, among fresh mountain air and spectacular scenery before returning to Grindelwald.

This afternoon is spent at leisure until dinner at our hotel. You may like to venture out on one of the nearby trails for spectacular views or stroll through the vibrant village and visit one of the welcoming cafés and bars, before returning to our five-star hotel for a three-course dinner and drinks this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

With a scenic paradise on our doorstep, a picnic lunch provided by our hotel, a charming village and a railway station only a few feet from our accommodation, you have plenty of options on this free day.

Using your Swiss Travel Card for discounted fares on rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys, you might like to take a train to the beautiful town of Spiez, set between green hills and vineyards on tranquil Lake Thun. Spiez is known for its handsome medieval castle and gorgeous lakeside location. Alternatively, you could enjoy beautiful views on a cable car trip to nearby Männlichen. This alpine wonderland is full of picturesque meadows with incredible panoramas of surrounding mountains and the nearby village of Wengen, which can also be reached by cable car. Grindelwald itself is surrounded by hiking trails, ranging from gentle to challenging.

Wherever you choose today, you're guaranteed breathtaking vistas before a three-course dinner and drinks back at our lovely hotel.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is set to be a highlight of our vacation as we enjoy a remarkable journey to Jungfraujoch - Europe's highest train station - on the Jungfrau Express.

As we travel, our expert guide tells us about the mountains and geology around us and describes the history and construction of this remarkable railway line. From Kleine Scheidegg 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 World Heritage wonder - which stretches as far as the eye can see. We enter the glimmering interior of the Ice Palace, carved inside the glacier and adorned with dazzling ice sculptures. This special location is not open to members of the public and we enjoy an exclusive tour with a glass of wine, beer or glacial water at the Ice Bar.

We return to the hotel for a three-course dinner together this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A short train journey to the nearby picturesque village of Wilderswil follows breakfast this morning. From here, we travel along an open-car cog railway through pretty alpine meadows on our way up to Schynige Platte, soaking up sensational views of Jungfrau Mountain. Enjoying this wonderfully nostalgic journey from beautifully restored 19th-century carriages, the vintage train hugs the picturesque contours of the mountain as we cross many bridges and burrow through endless tunnels. The higher the train climbs, the more breathtaking the views.

At the summit, we have free time to explore the Alpine Botanical Garden and find a scenic spot to enjoy our picnic lunch. An explosion of color, this delightful garden has around 800 different species of alpine flora, including blueberries, local azaleas and roses. Look out for the legendary edelweiss flower, a beloved symbol of the Swiss Alps, as it blossoms in its natural habitat.

Returning down the mountain on the quaint railway, we return to Grindelwald for dinner together this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We travel by rail to Interlaken after breakfast today, a picturesque town set between two glittering lakes and surrounded by majestic mountains. This beautiful location sets the stage for the rest of our magnificent day.

We head to Brienz, the starting point for a steam-hauled ascent of the Brienzer Rothorn mountain above the glorious turquoise Lake Brienz. The cog railway journey to the top of the mountain is magical, as we admire wonderful views of the Emmental Alps. Free time at the summit allows you to explore and bask in the panoramic views at your leisure, whether it's taking a stroll or visiting the summit restaurant for a bite to eat. Our afternoon ends with a wonderful scenic cruise back to Interlaken, sailing serenely across the crystal-clear lake on a traditional lake boat. With the alps rising all around us, and pretty villages dotting the green shores, our cruise is as beautiful as the ascent.

Back at our five-star hotel in Grindelwald this evening we have a three-course dinner with drinks included between 7-9pm.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today provides an opportunity to explore with your Swiss Travel Card. One exciting option could be to travel by rail to the attractive resort of Mürren and continue by cable car to the summit of the Schilthorn, site of the famous rotating restaurant 'Piz Gloria' that featured in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Here, you're close to the Jungfrau massif with a stunning 360° panorama of peaks and sweeping glaciers.

Other appealing locations include the cultural city of Bern. The seat of Switzerland's government and its medieval capital, its grand, UNESCO-listed Old Town exudes historic importance. Travelling west to the shores of Lake Geneva, you can find the glamorous town of Montreux, nestled under gleaming vines opposite the hazy French Alps. Alternatively, you could cross the spectacular Brünig Pass by rail to the lakeside city of Lucerne.

Of course, you may prefer to relax in the lovely surroundings of our hotel and make the most of the exceptional hotel facilities before enjoying dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we check out of our stunning hotel and say our goodbyes to our Tour Manager, group and Grindelwald as we begin our First Class journey back to Zurich.

Winding down the picturesque valley to Interlaken, we change trains for our journey to Zurich, and can start to recall the wonderful experiences of our Swiss holiday. We have admired the north face of the Eiger, journeyed up Grindelwald First by cable car and ascended to the 'Top of Europe' on the sensational Jungfrau Express. The region's heritage railways revealed astonishing views from the top of Brienzer Rothorn and the Schynige Platte Alpine Botanical Garden, while we also marveled at the majestic peaks during a serene cruise along Lake Brienz.

Arriving back in Zurich in the afternoon, wherever you head to next, the memories of this vacation to the 'Top of Europe' are sure to remain with you.

• Breakfast