Classic Swiss Mountains & Mont Blanc Express

Meeting the Tour Manager at London St Pancras early this morning, your holiday begins by boarding the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in Plus class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats.

Changing trains in the French capital, we continue by rail to Geneva in First Class. From here, we are transferred by coach direct to our alpine hotel. Passing the glistening shores of Lake Geneva, we view the famous shoreline resorts of the Swiss Riviera on the way to the mountain resort of Champéry. Our home in Switzerland for the next six nights is a charming four-star hotel with beautiful alpine views across to the sharp, toothlike summits of the seven peaks of the Dents du Midi, part of the Chablais Alps.

Tonight, and each evening of our holiday, we enjoy a three-course dinner at the hotel.

• Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

Today, you're free to get to know Champéry at your own pace. One of the oldest mountain resorts in Switzerland, Champéry's picturesque main street features traditional chalets displaying carved balconies and pitched roofs. It is here you can find many charming shops and restaurants in which to relax and soak up the views.

High up in a valley just across the mountainous border from the famous French ski resorts of Avoriaz and Morzine, amazing alpine views surround our base. There are many walking trails in the area, but an easier way to bask in the incredible scenery is by taking the red-and-white cable car to Croix-de-Culet. At a height of 6,350 feet, this is a ski area in winter but in summer provides breathtaking panoramas across the region's peaks. A regular train service links the station immediately outside our hotel with Champéry's centre and the town of Aigle, which boasts a stunning medieval château set amid a backdrop of beautiful Alps.

Gathering back at our hotel this evening, we enjoy a three-course dinner in the restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A highlight of your holiday awaits after breakfast as we travel by train to France. After journeying down the valley to Martigny, we board the Mont Blanc Express for a stunning ride through the Chamonix Valley on a scenic line dating back more than a century. This route winds past dense forests, azure mountain lakes and stunning peaks on the way to Chamonix.

On arrival, you're free to explore this classic alpine resort with glorious mountain panoramas, the jewel in the crown of which is Mont Blanc, the highest in western Europe. Travelling in the vintage carriages of the Montenvers rack railway, you could climb even higher and see the fantastic Mer de Glace glacier and enter the ice cave, an amazing sight!

In Chamonix itself, there are many beautiful churches, shops and restaurants. You may be tempted to tuck into a delicious sweet or savoury crêpe with a café au lait, before we return across the mountains to Champéry for dinner tonight.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Setting out after breakfast, we head to the station to board a train for the short journey to Aigle. We connect by coach to Col du Pillon, where we step into the Glacier 3000 cable car, which whisks us up into the majestic mountains. Reaching the summit station at 3,000 metres, we enjoy panoramic view of 24 snow-capped peaks, including the Eiger, Monch, Jungfrau and the Matterhorn. In clear weather, you may be able to spot Mont Blanc, the focus of yesterday's spectacular train journey.

At the top, you might like to enjoy lunch in one of the high-altitude restaurants. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try the Peak Walk, the world's first suspension footbridge spanning two summits. For an easier stroll, you can take the Ice Express chairlift to a path along the glacier.

In the afternoon, after descending via the cable car, we head by coach to Gstaad, a charming mountain village. In the car-free centre, you can wander among the wooden chalets and sample the cafés before we return to our hotel for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

You are free today to explore using your included Swiss Half Fare Card, offering 50% discounts on rail travel. One option is to take the train to Lake Geneva, where you can find Château de Chillon, an impressive fortress which resembles a fairytale castle.

Alternatively, you could visit the small valley town of Martigny. Surrounded by vineyards, the town has a fascinating culture and history, stretching back to the Romans and Celts. It also played a crucial role in Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power. Napoleonic forces used Martigny and the nearby St Bernard Pass to attack the Habsburgs, defeating them at the Battle of Marengo in northern Italy in 1800.

Situated in a fertile, sunny valley, Martigny is also known for its fresh produce and great food. There is a living museum allowing visitors to meet Saint Bernard dogs - the endearing animals which are devoted to rescuing people in the mountains. If you're looking for a bite to eat, the restaurants and cafés in Martigny are mostly around the Place Centrale in the heart of the town.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today's journey takes us into the heart of the scenic Rhône Valley and the celebrated Valais wine region. In the morning, we set out for the charming town of Sion, travelling by train and connecting in Monthey.

Surrounded by vast terraced vineyards, Sion is famed for its two iconic medieval castles, Château de Tourbillon and the Basilique de Valère, which sit on twin hills overlooking the valley. On arrival, we set out on a tour of the town's well-preserved historic centre, viewing the 15th-century cathedral and the Witches' Tower, a remnant of the medieval city fortifications. Our tour also takes us to the town's two fortresses, which we explore with a guide.

In the afternoon, we head to a local winery, where we indulge in an exceptional wine tasting. Switzerland's Valais canton, where Sion is located, is celebrated for its rich winemaking tradition and exclusive varieties. Even today, the region only exports a small amount of its wine. In the evening, we return to Champéry for the final dinner of the holiday at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The peaceful mountain town of Champéry is a great place from which to explore this part of mountainous Switzerland and neighbouring France. The Mont Blanc Express carried us over the Alps, affording great views of western Europe's highest mountain from the charming town of Chamonix. We soared into the clouds on the Glacier 3000 cable car, visited the charming mountainside village of Gstaad and enjoyed a wine tasting in the heart of the Valais wine region.

Leaving Champéry this morning, we say farewell to Switzerland, travelling by rail to Paris, via Aigle and Geneva, where we board the Eurostar in Plus class to London St Pancras, with a light meal onboard. On arrival this evening, your Swiss holiday comes to a conclusion.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal