Bask in Switzerland’s awe-inspiring natural beauty while enjoying three iconic train journeys on the Mont Blanc Express, GoldenPass Express and Jungfrau Railway

Your Swiss tour begins as you meet the Tour Manager and your fellow travellers at London St Pancras International, ready to board the Eurostar. After enjoying a light meal in Plus class, we arrive in Paris and change to the First Class carriages of the high-speed TGV service to Lausanne in Switzerland.

A 20-minute transfer by train sees us arrive in Montreux*, where we check in to our lakefront hotel for three nights. Montreux is a cultural town, with many actors and musicians having chosen to live nearby along the shore of Lake Geneva. Two of its most famous residents were Charlie Chaplin and Freddie Mercury, and there is a statue of the Queen frontman on the shoreline walk. Our hotel is located on the promenade, just a short walk from the station, and boasts uninterrupted views across Lake Geneva to the French Alps.

Tonight, we enjoy our first dinner as a group - a three-course meal in the hotel.

*Please note: on the 4th and 18th May departures, we will stay at the 5-Star Lausanne Palace hotel in Lausanne instead of Montreux.

After breakfast, the morning is at leisure to get acquainted with Montreux. A park separates our hotel from the convention centre that hosts the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival, while the promenade provides a relaxing glimpse into the town's cultural history. Alternatively, our hotel has spa and wellness facilities, including a pool.

This afternoon, a trolleybus ride along the shore sees us arrive in Veytaux, where a local English-speaking guide takes us on a tour of the beautiful Château de Chillon. This fairytale castle appears as if it is floating on Lake Geneva and was formerly occupied by the influential House of Savoy.

After free time to explore, we board a Belle Époque paddle cruiser for a trip across Lake Geneva, sailing on crystal-blue waters surrounded by mountains. We visit the colourful lakeside village of St-Gingolph on the border with France before the elegant boat gently glides back across the lake to Montreux.

Dining independently tonight, Montreux has a wide range of restaurants serving various cuisines.

Please note: on the 13th & 20th April and 12th & 19th October departures, the cruise has been replaced with a cog railway journey to Rochers-de-Naye before the tour of Château de Chillon.

A holiday highlight awaits today as we travel across the Alps to France by train. From Martigny, we join the Mont Blanc Express as it clings to mountainsides above dramatic gorges. Entering France, the jagged peaks of the snow-covered mountains drift into view as the route approaches the resort of Chamonix, backed by Mont Blanc.

With free time to explore the 'mountaineering capital of the world', many options are at your disposal. A gentle walk round Chamonix's scenic town centre could be combined with a French lunch at one of the town's restaurants, or you could head up to the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) glacier by cogwheel railway. This incredible journey through dense pine forests takes you up the mountainside to an otherworldly landscape of piercing, snowy peaks and plunging valleys. It is this spectacular scene that inspired Mary Shelley during the writing of her most famous novel, 'Frankenstein'.

In the late afternoon, we leave Chamonix, returning to Montreux in time to enjoy dinner at our hotel.

Boarding the panoramic carriages of the GoldenPass Express, an incredible journey takes us from palm trees to snow-capped mountains. This route is a feat of engineering more than 100 years in the making and uses innovative technology that allows the train to adapt its gauge, negating the need to change trains.

This excellent rail journey is currently less well known than Switzerland's other famous trains, but it won't be for long. Leaving Montreux, the train winds its way up the hill with Lake Geneva and vineyards in the background. The untamed forests and rolling mountains of the Swiss Highlands are dotted by picturesque villages and alpine meadows before we reach the upmarket mountain resort of Gstaad. The last stretch sees the GoldenPass Express glide down towards Lake Thun. Our panoramic carriages mean we get better lake views than from other trains.

We arrive in Interlaken, a compact and attractive town set between lakes Thun and Brienz and the peaks of the Bernese Oberland, where there's a free afternoon to explore. Dinner is at our hotel this evening.

An unforgettable experience is in store today as we journey to the 'Top of Europe'. Travelling by train to the alpine village of Grindelwald, we join the Eiger Express gondola for a 20-minute ride to Eigergletscher station.

This modern gondola with panoramic windows allows us to admire the north face of the Eiger during the four-mile trip. From here, the Jungfrau Express takes us to Jungfraujoch - the continent's highest train station. With year-round snow, the vistas are truly awe-inspiring. At the summit, we're close to the Aletsch Glacier, which stretches as far as the eye can see. We have free time to marvel at this UNESCO World Heritage wonder from the Sphinx Observatory or have lunch at one of the indoor restaurants.

We descend via the Jungfrau Express. Through tunnels with viewing windows, we travel under the Mönch and Eiger mountains before re-emerging at Eigergletscher and twisting down to Kleine Scheidegg. From here, we take the train back to Interlaken, via Lauterbrunnen, arriving in time for dinner.

Enjoy a full free day to explore as you wish. After breakfast, you could unwind amid the views from our hotel's roof terrace or uncover Interlaken. The historic castle with its Gothic cloister and 12th-century monastery is nearby, while the adjoining town of Unterseen is also worth visiting. For those wanting a bird's-eye view of Interlaken and surrounding areas, you could take a ride on the steep Harderbahn to Harder Kulm for panoramic vistas of lakes Brienz and Thun and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains.

There also are many excellent destinations within easy reach, and your Swiss Half Fare Card offers 50% discounted fares on rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys. In Mürren, you could also travel on the Schilthorn cableway to the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant that appeared in the James Bond film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'.

Alternatively, explore Lake Brienz by travelling by train to Brienz, where you can join the steam-hauled Brienz-Rothorn Railway or marvel at the picture-perfect Brunngasse - a winding street lined by old wooden chalets decorated with beautiful flower boxes.

A short walk to the station after breakfast sees us join a train to Thun. This typical Swiss town is dominated by its picturesque 12th-century castle, and there is time to explore at leisure. With a charming medieval centre and covered wooden bridges, Thun is a rewarding town to wander round. There is time to grab lunch independently before we head to the boat terminal.

Our journey back to Interlaken is on board a vintage lake boat, enjoying a scenic and relaxing cruise along the full length of Lake Thun. Gliding across the glacial waters, villages with Romanesque churches look on from the shore while forested alpine slopes and impressive peaks, such as the pyramidal Niesen or the Niederhorn, protrude into the lake. One of the highlights of any visit to Lake Thun is the Spiez Castle, a 10th-century fortress that juts out into the water, shielding a pretty marina dotted with small boats.

The boat moors directly adjacent to the platform at Interlaken West, meaning it is only a short walk to our hotel for dinner.

From elegant Montreux to idyllic Interlaken, this Swiss holiday has shown us the best of this mountainous nation by train, boat and even cable car. Whether cruising Lake Geneva on a vintage paddle steamer or marvelling at the Swiss Highlands from the GoldenPass Express, we have embarked on many astonishing journeys. Reaching the Bernese Oberland, we then travelled to the 'Top of Europe' by cable car and cogwheel railway before sailing across the glacial waters of Lake Thun - a wonderful way to round off our time in Switzerland.

Our journey comes to a close this morning, as after breakfast, we walk to Interlaken station to board the train to Basel by way of Spiez. In Basel, we board the high-speed TGV in First Class to Paris. The Jura mountains flash past our windows on our way to the French capital, where we join the Eurostar in Plus class. A light meal is served at our seats before we arrive back at London St Pancras.

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

Train journeys on The GoldenPass Line are a wonderful introduction to Switzerland and give you the opportunity to see the country at its very best. Travelling on ultra-modern panoramic trains, you experience unparalleled views of some of Switzerland's finest scenery from weathered timbered chalets sat in peaceful sunlit valleys to dramatic peaks, glittering lakes and remote, untouched forest.

The GoldenPass Line's picturesque route stretches between Montreux on the Swiss Riviera and lakeside Lucerne in the historic heart of Switzerland, taking us through Zweisimmen and Interlaken along the way. Various sections of this route are featured in a number of our Swiss tours.

The route from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station, comprises three different railways. The first leg from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen is on the Bernese Oberland Railway, continuing to Kleine Scheidegg on the Wengernalp Railway. From Kleine Scheidegg, the Jungfrau Railway climbs to Eigergletscher, before entering the 4.43-mile tunnel that ends in the underground station at Jungfraujoch. During the journey through the tunnel, the train makes a short stop at the Eiger Wall for view through the picture window from the north face of the Eiger down to Grindelwald.

Designed to make the most of the beautiful scenery and wonderful mountain vistas, the superb Mont Blanc Express offers one of the best railway journeys on offer in the Alps. Our journey on the tourist line begins in the small Swiss town of Martigny. On departure, the line begins a gentle ascent, passing through the neat rows of vineyards which line the fields running down to the tracks.

We continue into France through the charming landscape of the pretty Rhône Valley, and then our train begins to ascend in earnest - here it makes use of the rack-and-pinion mechanism to climb higher into the mountains. The views in this section are outstanding with snow-capped mountains towering over the sloping valley below. Our electric train then reaches the dramatic Trient Gorge, crossing the wild rocky canyon using a series of bridges. Soon we catch our first glimpse of the mighty Mont Blanc - France's highest mountain - as we approach the Chamonix Valley.

After a final climb along one of the line's steepest sections, the Mont Blanc Express arrives in the resort town on Chamonix, a wonderfully popular holiday destination due to its amazing mountain panoramas and picturesque location.

Introduced in 1981, France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) was the original European high-speed train. Linking Paris with Lyon, the new service revolutionised train travel and meant that travelling by air over medium and short distances was no longer seen as the best option, even for business travel.

The network has expanded rapidly and today these sleek, stylish trains offer links to over 60 destinations throughout France. Operated by SNCF, the French national rail operator, TGV trains travel over specially constructed high-speed lines. The trains can achieve speeds of up to 186mph (300km/h) on most long-distance routes and 200mph (320km/h) on the new TGV Est line, which links Paris with Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Basel. With the exception of shorter journeys, TGVs almost always have an on-board buffet car, serving a selection of drinks and light refreshments.

As the tallest building in the compact and appealing town of Interlaken, this modern 4-Star hotel enjoys incredible views of the surrounding Bernese Oberland, including lakes Thun and Brienz and the Jungfrau mountain. Amenities include a fitness centre, a sauna and a panoramic restaurant on the top floor. Guest rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, minibar, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.

From its prominent position on Lake Geneva's shore in upmarket Montreux, this stylish hotel boasts uninterrupted views of the lake across to the beautiful French Alps. Amenities include a gourmet café restaurant, a stylish cocktail bar, and a spa including a pool, jacuzzi, hammam, sauna and fitness room. Guest rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, minibar, ironing equipment, tea and coffee facilities, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.

Enjoy hassle-free travel to and from Switzerland with our return door-to-door luggage transfer service from only £269 per bag.

The service includes one 20kg bag per person which will be collected from your home before you depart and will be ready and waiting for you at your first destination hotel in Switzerland. Your bag will also be delivered back to your home address on your return.

If your tour involves an overnight stay enroute, you'll need to travel with an overnight bag. If flying to or from your destination, you will take your own luggage with you on the flight.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.