First Class Glacier Express at New Year

DAYS 1-2 STRASBOURG AND SWITZERLAND We depart our St Pancras International Departure Office by Eurostar for Paris, travelling in Standard Premier Class, with a light meal and drinks served during the journey. In Paris we change trains and continue through the French countryside to Strasbourg. Here we overnight. Spend a morning at leisure exploring the half timbered houses of Strasbourg's historic centre on Day 2, before we travel south into Switzerland to Basel. Here we join the famously efficient Swiss rail network, which takes us on a wonderful journey into the Swiss Alps to Brig for a four-night stay at the welcoming Hotel Ambassador. Brig is a small town situated at the foot of the Simplon Pass, and is an excellent base from which to explore. INCLUDES:Day 1 - Eurostar Meal, DinnerDay 2 - Breakfast, Dinner DAY 3 BY MOUNTAIN RAILWAY TO ZERMATT Today we experience the first mountain railway journey of the holiday as we travel to the charming, traffic-free resort of Zermatt. We walk to Brig railway station to board our narrow-gauge train, heading south through picturesque vineyards and alongside the River Rhône to Visp. From here we join the mountain track for the steep ascent to Zermatt. The train clings to the track as we wind left and right, ascending past small clusters of houses and tiny hamlets that together form the region's village communities. The spectacular approach to Zermatt takes us through 8 tunnels and across 42 bridges, the gradient of the ascent requiring cogwheels to be engaged. Finally we reach the grandiose scenery of Zermatt, nestled below the peak of the instantly recognisable Matterhorn. In Zermatt you are free to spend your time at leisure. One option that you will find hard to resist is the ascent to the summit of the Gornergrat by funicular railway (payable locally). At over 10,000 feet (3,048m), the Gornergrat is a truly spectacular place to visit, offering dramatic vistas over the valley below. INCLUDES:Breakfast, DinnerBreakfast, Dinner DAY 4 A DAY EXPLORING THE WESTERN ALPS You are free today to explore the area at leisure, enjoying 50% fares using your included Swiss Card. We particularly recommend travelling down the Rhône Valley to Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva. Here you can join the GoldenPass Line panoramic train to make the spectacular trip to the chic resort of Gstaad, a favourite destination of the rich and famous. Alternatively, the wonderful journey on the Centovalli Railway across 'a hundred valleys' is an excellent choice for today. INCLUDES:Breakfast DAY 5 NEW YEAR'S EVE ON THE GLACIER EXPRESS We leave Brig today, travelling from the pretty Valais to the rocky landscape of the fantastic Graubünden canton on the iconic Glacier Express. We make the journey in First Class, enjoying unspoilt views through panoramic windows - views of the scenery for which Switzerland is justly famous, all covered in a thick blanket of snow; sloping snowy meadows and frosted forests, rising up the hillsides beside the track towards towering mountain peaks. A two-course lunch is served at our seats during the journey, followed by tea and coffee - the perfect accompaniment to our time on board 'the slowest express train in the world'. We follow the wintry Rhône Valley and climb towards and through the Furka Base Tunnel. We continue past the countless small villages that line our route, decorated for the festivities and nestled in the foothills of the surrounding mountains, before our steep ascent over the Oberalp Pass - at 6,670ft the highest point of the route and where the views south include the distant peaks of the Italian Alps. Our descent from Oberalp takes us along the beautiful Rhine Valley and into Chur - Switzerland's oldest town, for four nights at the Romantik Hotel Stern. This evening we enjoy a New Year's Eve celebration at the hotel with a five-course meal accompanied by wine. We ascend to the rooftop terrace at midnight to watch the fireworks over Chur, accompanied by a glass of wine. INCLUDES:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 6 NEW YEAR'S DAY AT LEISURE New Year's Day is at leisure to relax in Chur. Set against a breathtaking backdrop of towering mountains, Chur is Switzerland's oldest town, and a pleasure to explore. Take time to stroll through the medieval alleyways and tranquil squares of the Old Town, and visit the beautiful 12th century cathedral. Alternatively, use your GRJ First Class Swiss Travel Card for 50% fares, perhaps to make the spectacular train journey on the Arosa Line to the scenic mountain resort of Arosa. INCLUDES:Breakfast, Dinner DAY 7 THE BERNINA EXPRESS We enjoy a journey on the narrow-gauge Bernina Express, which takes us from Chur over viaducts and bridges, past frozen waterfalls and deep ravines and ascends the Albula Pass, on an amazing route which enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status. The ascent loops 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, a picturesque town in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. INCLUDES:Breakfast DAY 8 LUCERNE Today we travel by train to the historic lakeside city of Lucerne. You have plenty of time to discover the cobbled streets lined with pretty, frescoed buildings, picturesque squares and the famous Kapellbrücke bridge. The bridge has served as a prison, torture chamber, watchtower and treasury in its long history. The Swiss Transport Museum, with its fascinating collection of artefacts relating to land, air and sea transportation is also well worth a visit. INCLUDES:Breakfast, Dinner DAYS 9-10 ALONG THE SCENIC RHINE GORGE TO LONDON We leave Chur and travel by First Class EuroCity train via Zürich and Basel into Germany. Our journey continues up the stunning Rhine Gorge, past fairytale castles and vineyards to Cologne. We arrive late afternoon and spend one night at the Wyndham Hotel, situated close to the Rhine and the city's magnificent Gothic Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On Day 10 we leave Cologne and travel on the high-speed rail service to Brussels, where we join the Eurostar, enjoying a light meal and drinks on board before arriving at London St Pancras. INCLUDES:Day 9 - Breakfast, Dinner Day 10 - Breakfast, Eurostar Meal