First Class Mountaintops of Switzerland

 Your memorable Swiss vacation begins today at London St. Pancras as we board our Eurostar Plus carriages. Enjoying a light meal at our seats, we make our way to Paris, where we board our train to Basel, following the quickest route to Switzerland.    

This First Class journey transports us through Jura and Alsace before arriving in the Rhine-side city of Basel. Our hotel here is located near the station, and after checking in, we have some time to explore this typically Swiss city. Basel's redbrick, twin-spired Gothic cathedral is believed to have 9th-century origins and sits in a charming square. Its Old Town is brimming with character-filled buildings that are a joy to discover.

  This evening, we gather at our hotel and enjoy our first dinner together as a group. Overnight Basel.

•  Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner

 Waking in Switzerland, we take a short walk to the train station after breakfast for our rail journey to Interlaken. From here, we board a boat to cruise across Lake Brienz.  

  Sailing through the heart of scenic Switzerland, the turquoise tones of the glacial waters contrast with the green mountain slopes. During the cruise, we can spot picture-book villages dotting the shores of the lake. As we disembark, the Giessbach funicular railway is ready to transport us to our hillside hotel, the stunning Grandhotel Giessbach.    

On arrival, we enjoy a welcome drink and can begin to discover the history and charm of this ideally located Belle Époque hotel. From its secluded setting, the hotel offers views across the lake and onto the nearby Giessbach waterfall. We enjoy a three-course dinner at the hotel in the evening. Overnight Giessbach.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 After breakfast, we set sail from our hotel to the town that gives Lake Brienz its name. Here, we board the charming steam-hauled Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railway*.  

  This line traverses steep mountain trails and verdant alpine meadows - all while providing views of Lake Brienz below. A true heritage rail experience, the small steam engine chugs its way up this dramatic route to its destination at an altitude of more than 7,000 feet. On a clear day, the scenery is spectacular, as we are only a few miles from the lakeshore. Viewing Lake Brienz from a different perspective brings out the remarkable color, and you may also be able to make out Grandhotel Giessbach.    

Returning to Brienz, we have time to explore this pretty Swiss town with its traditional wooden chalets, most notably, the geranium-decorated buildings on cobbled Brunngasse. There is time to relax or explore before reuniting for a three-course dinner in the hotel restaurant with views across Lake Brienz. Overnight Giessbach.

  *Please note: on April departures, we will enjoy an excursion to Harder Kulm with tea, coffee and cake at the summit. On May departures, the Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railway will only travel as far as Planalp. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Today is a highlight of our Swiss vacation. Taking the train to Brig, we board the incredible Glacier Express to the Engadine Valley. The "slowest express train in the world" traverses incredible mountain passes with views of picturesque villages and valleys.    

Our panoramic First Class carriages provide front-row seats to the "Swiss Grand Canyon" as the Rhine winds past limestone cliffs. Enjoying a two-course lunch at our seats, we enjoy a constant showcase of breathtaking scenery. After Thusis, we join the UNESCO-listed Albula Line as it clings to mountain edges, zigzagging and spiraling around mountains and over bridges, including the curved Landwasser Viaduct, before arriving in the impressive Engadine Valley.    

This part of the Graubünden canton epitomizes the beauty of alpine Switzerland with lush meadows on the valley floor surrounded on all sides by imposing mountains. Even in summer, many of the peaks are dusted with snow. This evening is free to explore our new base and dine independently. Overnight Engadine Valley.

• Breakfast, Lunch

 Dubbed the rail experts' best-kept secret, the Bernina Express follows an incredible course across the Alps to Italy. From our First Class panoramic carriages, the exceptional alpine scenery continuously impresses.  

We wind up to Ospizio Bernina, reaching the summit at more than 7,300 feet above sea level, pass the turquoise waters of Lago Bianco, and then cross the Bernina Pass. Pausing to admire jaw-dropping views of the Palü Glacier, the UNESCO-listed route then winds down the mountains, spiraling through the corkscrew viaduct at Brusio before arriving in the Italian valley town of Tirano.   

Crossing the Adda River and entering the Old Town through the Porta Poschiavina, we are greeted by scenes of rustic cobbled streets and stout palazzos. With free time to explore, you could wander the narrow streets, uncovering the Collegiate Church of St. Martin or the preserved 16th-century Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Tirano. You might also like to grab lunch at sidewalk café in this charming destination.  

We return to Switzerland in First Class on a local train in the afternoon before enjoying a three-course dinner at our hotel. Overnight Engadine Valley.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 This morning, we travel by First Class rail to Chur, continuing from here to Lucerne. The fourth most populus city in Switzerland, Lucerne is draped across an inlet of the expansive Lake Lucerne.  

  We have time to wander the picturesque Old Town independently. One of the most striking landmarks is the 14th-century Kapellbrücke - the oldest wooden bridge in Europe constructed to help protect the city from attacks.    

Our hotel for the next two nights, Pilatus Kulm, is reached by way of the steepest cogwheel railway in Europe. Reaching a gradient of 48%, the half-hour ascent from Lucerne takes us past alpine meadows and rocky outcrops to a land above the clouds. With such a jaw-dropping location nestled between two peaks, Pilatus Kulm provides stunning views and unforgettable sunrises and sunsets (weather permitting). We arrive in good time for the latter and then enjoy a three-course dinner in the restaurant. Afterward, perhaps step outside to view the display of stars if the night sky is clear. Overnight Pilatus Kulm.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 If you wake in time, you could witness a sunrise that gradually illuminates the mountainous surroundings. While today is spent exploring independently, you might not want to leave this heavenly location. However, with a complimentary return ticket on the Pilatusbahn, you could explore Lucerne or beyond. According to local legend, Lucerne was founded after an angel beamed a light onto the spot where a chapel should be built. The "City of Lights" has a charming old town of cobbled streets, ornate churches and frescoed historic houses.    

Alternatively, you may want to explore further afield. With your Swiss Half Fare Card, you receive a 50% discount on rail, boat and most mountain railways, so you could hop on a boat for a cruise across Lake Lucerne to Vitznau. The Rigi Mountain Railway, Europe's first mountain railway, has been departing from here since 1871 and offers beautiful views of Mount Pilatus.    

Returning to the hotel via the Pilatusbahn, there is another opportunity to delight in the sunset as we indulge in a three-course dinner. Overnight Pilatus Kulm.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 After breakfast, we descend the mountain by funicular railway, ready to catch a late-morning train from Lucerne in First Class. We arrive in Strasbourg in mid-afternoon, and there is a chance to explore after we check into our four-star hotel. With an interesting blend of German and French culture, Strasbourg's architecture ranges from Gothic to modern.   

Located on an island, the historic Old Town is dominated by the spectacular 13th-century Notre Dame Cathedral, while Place Kléber is the city's main square lined on one side by the imposing l'Aubette. This 18th-century building was redecorated in the 1920s by three avant-garde artists and has since been known as the "Sistine Chapel of abstract art."   

La Petite France is one of Strasbourg's most popular districts. In the Middle Ages, it was home to the city's millers, tanners and fishermen, but today, it draws tourists with its colorful half-timbered buildings and bridges crisscrossing peaceful canals.

We gather for our final dinner at a local restaurant in the evening. Overnight Strasbourg.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Switzerland's spectacular mountains and lakes have been uncovered on some of the world's most famous train journeys, while our incredible hotels have elevated the experiences by providing exquisite views. Sailing across Lake Brienz to the Grandhotel Giessbach, we admired stunning vistas from our idyllic vantage point before enjoying a trip on the charming Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railway. First Class journeys on the iconic Bernina Express and Glacier Express showcased the jaw-dropping scenery of this astonishing country, while the panoramas from our Pilatus Kulm hotel were truly breathtaking. 

  Leaving Strasbourg after breakfast on a morning train bound for Paris, we pass the vineyards of the Champagne region before arriving in the French capital. Changing to Eurostar Plus, we enjoy a light meal as we travel back to London St. Pancras, arriving early this evening. You are free from this point to continue your onward journey home.

•  Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal