The GoldenPass Express at Christmas

Your seasonal vacation begins today as your flight arrives in Geneva. From the airport, board the train to Montreux, a journey that takes just over an hour and skirts the shores of Lake Geneva, offering a scenic start to your time in Switzerland.

On arrival in Montreaux, walk the short distance to our lakefront hotel to check in for the first of three nights. Located on the lakeside promenade, just a short walk from the station, the hotel boasts uninterrupted views across Lake Geneva to the atmospheric French Alps sporting their winter white. The Christmas season casts a new light on the glamorous Swiss Riviera, adding an extra layer of warmth and coziness to Montreux.

This evening, return to the hotel to meet the Tour Manager and your travel group, and then together, we enjoy our first dinner as a group in the hotel's restaurant. Overnight Montreux. 

• Dinner

 The festivities well and truly get underway today as we wake up by the shimmering shores of Lake Geneva, ready to enjoy Christmas Eve in Montreux.

With a free morning, you might be tempted to explore Montreux's Christmas markets, which stretch along its promenade. With a spectacular backdrop of the sprawling lake and snow-capped French Alps, you can admire the crafts and produce at more than 150 stalls.

Hopping on a trolleybus outside our hotel this afternoon, we travel along the lake shore to Villeneuve for a guided tour of the picturesque Château de Chillon. This romantic castle of cobblestone courtyards and ancient fortifications appears as if it is floating on the lake. Formerly occupied by the influential House of Savoy from 1150, this castle has attracted tourists since the early 1800s, including Lord Byron and Mary Shelley.

Back at our hotel this evening, we continue our celebrations with a Christmas Gala dinner. While not a traditional Christmas menu, this event brims with mouthwatering cuisine sure to tempt you and treat you on this most festive night. Overnight Montreux.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Christmas Day features a spectacular journey across the Alps to France on the incredible Mont Blanc Express. From Martigny, the route clings to dramatic mountainsides above spectacular gorges, with views of western Europe's highest mountain appearing on the approach to Chamonix.

On arrival, there is free time to explore the "mountaineering capital of the world." As one of France's premier snow sports resorts, Chamonix comes alive in winter - even on Christmas Day, the ski lifts remain open. You might like to take a gentle walk around its picturesque town center or absorb Chamonix's wonderful atmosphere as the snow-covered streets and trees glisten under the twinkle of fairy lights.

Back at our hotel this evening, we conclude Christmas Day with a three-course dinner. Overnight Montreux.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 The celebrations continue as we board the royal blue and gold panoramic carriages of the GoldenPass Express for a journey across the stunning Swiss Highlands frosted by winter's touch. En route, we savor a light lunch in our seats, admiring the picturesque landscapes where our charcuterie, cheese and wine were produced.

Leaving Montreux, the train winds up the hill with shimmering Lake Geneva in the background. The icy pine forests and rolling mountains of the Pays-d'Enhaut highlands are dotted by small villages of charming chalets, their pitched roofs heavy with snow. The halfway point of this three-hour journey is Gstaad - the upscale mountain resort favored by Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Roger Moore.

The last stretch of our journey sees the GoldenPass Express emerge beside beautiful Lake Thun at Spiez before we arrive at Interlaken and check into our hotel. Enjoy some free time to get acquainted with this small town before we gather back at our hotel for dinner this evening. Overnight Interlaken.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 An unforgettable experience awaits this morning as we embark on an incredible journey up the Jungfrau. We take the train to the alpine village of Grindelwald and hop on the Eiger Express gondola. This modern cable car with panoramic windows affords incredible views of the snowfields below as we pass close to the north face of the Eiger en route to Eigergletscher station. A transfer sees us board the cog-wheel train to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest train station at the "Top of Europe."

The panoramas from here are awe-inspiring year-round, but the deep snow and endless Aletsch Glacier in winter are spellbinding. We have free time to explore this natural spectacle or be tempted by delicious Swiss chocolate at Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven, the world's highest chocolate shop.

We descend the mountains on the Jungfrau Express, traveling through the Mönch and Eiger Mountains before twisting down to Kleine Scheidegg. From here, we travel by train to the valley town of Lauterbrunnen and back to Interlaken, arriving in time for a three-course dinner at our hotel. Overnight Interlaken.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Today is free to explore at leisure. After breakfast, you could spend some time in our hotel, marveling at the seasonal views from the roof terrace.

With an envious location, there are so many excellent destinations close by. Using your Swiss Travel Card for 50% discounts on train and mountain railway fares, you could head south to the picturesque mountain resorts of Wengen and Mürren to absorb the atmosphere among picture-book wintry scenes.

Alternatively, explore turquoise Lake Brienz by catching the train along its northern shore to Brienz, where you can marvel at the idyllic Brunngasse - a winding street of old wooden chalets. For a panoramic view of Interlaken and the surrounding areas, you could ride on the steep Harderbahn up to Harder Kulm for views of lakes Brienz and Thun and surrounding mountains. Exploring Interlaken further is also a good option, viewing the picturesque historic buildings round the cobbled main square or delving into its cuisine in a local restaurant. Overnight Interlaken.

• Breakfast

 After breakfast, we travel by train to Thun, a typical Swiss town dominated by its picturesque 12th-century castle. There is time to explore its charming medieval center and covered wooden bridges at leisure, made all the more beautiful under a layer of snow.

Our journey back to Interlaken is onboard a boat that cruises the length of Lake Thun. This scenic excursion provides a stunning perspective as we glide across the clear glacial waters with serene villages peeking out from the shore. Surrounding the route are alpine peaks cloaked in the snow and impressive slopes fading into the lake. One of the highlights of any cruise on Lake Thun is gently sailing past the fairytale castles perched upon its breathtaking shores, including Spiez Castle, a 10th-century fortress seemingly plucked from a fairytale.

Our boat moors directly next to the rail platform at Interlaken West, meaning it is only a short distance back to our hotel for dinner. Overnight Interlaken.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 The incredible sights of mountainous Switzerland, from the seasonal grandeur of Montreux at Christmastime to the splendor of the GoldenPass Express and the snow-globe scenes from the "Top of Europe" at the Jungfraujoch, have set the stage for a stunning winter break.

After a final breakfast overlooking the wintertime scenery, your vacation comes to a close as you check out of the hotel and walk to Interlaken's railway station. Settle into your seat and enjoy another look at Switzerland's snow-clad grandeur before arriving at Zürich's airport, where you are free to continue your onward journey home.

• Breakfast