Travel through breathtaking scenes of glistening lakes, majestic mountains and pretty towns on an exploration of Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Your alpine holiday begins as we meet our fellow travellers and Tour Manager at London St Pancras to join the Eurostar to Brussels, enjoying a light meal at our seats. From the Belgian capital, we travel to Cologne and onwards through Germany to Munich in First Class.

The route passes through rolling wooded hills on its way to Frankfurt before heading through the old Swabian towns of Ulm and Augsburg then arriving in the Bavarian capital of Munich tonight. Located within sight of the Alps, Munich is one of Germany's best-loved cities and blends historic architecture and vibrant culture. Our hotel is just a short distance from the main train station and after check-in, we can look forward to exploring the city in the morning.

Today we get to know Munich and its fascinating culture and heritage on a guided sightseeing tour. Walking through the historic streets, we admire the city's main square, Marienplatz, home to the neo-Gothic Town Hall and the famous glockenspiel. We also see the Church of St Peter, with its exterior boasting eight clocks.

Afterwards, we stop for food and drink in typical Munich style by sampling local food and beers. Munich is renowned for its beer and, after learning about the history of brewing in Bavaria and the influence of the 'Reinheitsgebot' purity law at the Oktoberfest Museum, we visit Munich's oldest beer house, the Höfbrauhaus.

The rest of the day is at leisure before we regroup for dinner at the hotel. One option is to stroll around one of the city's many green spaces. The 17th-century Renaissance gardens of the Hofgarten stand behind Munich Residence, the former home of Bavarian dukes and kings, while the expansive English Garden is larger than New York's Central Park and attracts visitors to its lakes, rivers and peaceful Japanese tea house.

We leave Munich this morning and travel by First Class rail across the Austrian border to Salzburg. This picturesque city is renowned as the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for The Sound of Music. On arrival, we enjoy a guided tour of this musical city. Overlooked by the huge 11th-century Hohensalzburg Fortress, set high on a hill, we stroll through the Old Town. The churches, squares and alleyways here are incredibly well preserved and dominated by Baroque spires in this UNESCO World Heritage site.

This evening, we have dinner with a difference. Making our way to the grand banquet hall of St Peter's, we sit down to savour a candlelit dinner accompanied by the stirring music of Salzburg's most famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A chamber ensemble and singers dressed in Rococo costumes bring selections of Mozart's celebrated music to life while we enjoy a gastronomic menu inspired by historical recipes popular during the composer's lifetime.

After breakfast, there is a full day to explore this grand city at leisure. One suggestion is to use your included Salzburg Guest Mobility Ticket and enjoy free travel on the city's buses and trolleybuses.

Salzburg is a city with a sea of noble white buildings huddled on either side of the Salzach River. This alpine city is renowned for its musical and cultural heritage which Mozart was instrumental in. You can visit the former residence of the Mozart family at Getreidegasse 9. It is where Wolfgang was born in 1756 and now houses a museum detailing his young life. His old Makartplatz home is also a museum displaying artefacts from the composer's life. You could also take a walk through the pretty Mirabell Garden or head out of the city for a cable car ride up Untersberg Mountain for spectacular alpine views.

You are free to dine independently tonight, and from luxurious gastronomy to hearty local cuisine in a lively beer hall, Salzburg's many restaurants accommodate all tastes.

The gentle alpine hills, dense forests and emerald waters of the Austrian Lake District are our destinations today. Our first visit is to the remarkable Kaiservilla, the stately former summer residence of Habsburg Emperor Franz Josef I with beautifully decorated grounds that we can explore.

Continuing to St Gilgen, there is time to grab lunch independently in this town of ornately decorated chalets and enticing cafés before we cruise across Lake Wolfgang. After soaking up the serenity of the aquamarine lake, we disembark at St Wolfgang and have time to stroll amongst its cluster of traditional chalets.

We then travel to Mondsee on the shores of Lake Mondsee whose most famous attraction is its 15th-century Basilica of St Michael. Bedecked in a yellow Baroque façade, this impressive church featured in the wedding scene in The Sound of Music. We have free time here to pay homage to the cinematic von Trapp family or enjoy a lakeside stroll on the attractive promenade before returning to Salzburg for a three-course dinner at our hotel.

Leaving Salzburg after a leisurely breakfast, we travel by First Class rail into the heart of the Austrian Alps. The dramatic scenery increases on the approach to Innsbruck, with steep mountains rising on either side of the Inn Valley.

On arrival, we get our bearings with an informative guided tour of Innsbruck's magnificently preserved Old Town. Reflecting the Tyrolean capital's history, it boasts Renaissance and Baroque buildings as well as traditional Tyrolean architecture. Along the way, we see Innsbruck's cathedral and Hofkirche, built by Emperor Maximilian I. On Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse, we admire the Goldenes Dachl (or Golden Roof), and the ornate Hölbling house with its imposing 14th-century watchtower.

The rest of the afternoon is free to continue exploring and you could travel on the Nordkette Cable Car, a hybrid funicular and cable car system designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid. At the top, you are rewarded with otherworldly views across the Tyrolean Alps from a height of more than 7,000 feet. In the evening, we regroup at our central hotel overlooking the majestic peak for dinner.

Returning to Germany by coach this morning, our route crosses the impressive Fern Pass enroute to one of the most beautiful and famous castles in the world - the Neuschwanstein Castle. A magnificent structure built into the mountains, the brilliant white of Neuschwanstein contrasts stunningly against the surrounding forests.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria commissioned the castle's construction in the late 19th century on a rocky outcrop near his childhood home, reportedly having dreamt of building a castle there since he was a child. This symbol of Romanticism has appeared in countless films, from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to The Great Escape and also inspired Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Afterwards, we embark on a journey aboard the Zugspitze Mountain Railway, ascending to the summit for views of elemental rocky peaks. Climbing more than 2,500 feet in seven miles, the cogwheel railway passes the crystal-clear Eibsee lake on its way up the highest mountain in Germany. From the top, there are astonishing views across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Returning to Innsbruck, the evening is at leisure for you to dine independently.

Please Note - For departures 24th April, 8th and 15th May due to the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn not being open, instead will journey on the Innsbruck Nordkette to the Top of Innsbruck, with a welcome drink at Seegrube Restaurant.

A free morning provides the opportunity to explore Innsbruck before we embark on a spectacular First Class train journey through the Alps. The route starts by winding alongside the Inn River, the jade waters rushing between steep peaks dotted with thick pine forests. Shortly after leaving the Inn at Landeck, the Arlberg Line passes Weisberg Castle at the eastern end of the impressive Trisanna Bridge, widely considered to be one of Austria's finest. As the track climbs higher towards the popular resort of St Anton, traditional chalets pepper this beautiful alpine landscape.

Looping briefly into the tiny double-landlocked principality of Liechtenstein, we are welcomed to Switzerland by scenic views. The last leg of our journey takes us on the UNESCO-listed Albula Line, which zigzags and spirals its way around mountains and over bridges, including the curved Landwasser Viaduct. After a panorama of deep ravines, snow-capped peaks and rushing waterfalls, we arrive in St Moritz, where a three-course dinner awaits at our central hotel with a terrace that boasts uninterrupted views of the town's serene lake

An incredible experience awaits today as we climb the Alps on the Bernina Express in First Class. From our panoramic carriages, the exceptional alpine scenery continuously impresses throughout our journey. A truly memorable experience is when we step off the train at Alp Grüm. After we're greeted by jaw-dropping views of the Palü Glacier, this stunning route then twists its way down the mountains, spiralling around the remarkable corkscrew viaduct at Brusio before crossing the border into Italy.

Free time in our destination of Tirano allows you to explore the narrow, cobbled streets and characterful piazzas of the Italian valley town, where you can enjoy lunch. A regional speciality is pizzoccheri, a hearty buckwheat pasta dish made with potato, cabbage and cheese.

We return to St Moritz on a local service in First Class, which provides an opportunity to pull down a train window for spectacular photos, before we sit down for a three-course dinner at our hotel.

With panoramic views of the mountains and lakes of the Engadine Valley, St Moritz provides many options for a free day. Via Serlas is one of the world's most famous shopping streets, brimming with upmarket fashion boutiques right outside our hotel.

The St Moritz resort card provides free travel on the cable cars and funiculars surrounding the town so you can be ferried up to the snow-capped peaks in minutes. Meanwhile, the Swiss Half Fare Card's 50% discount on trains allows you to explore further afield, including the resorts of Davos or Klosters.

You could visit the church of St Maurice, also known as 'the church of the springs', around which the town was built or enjoy a traditional 1930s Swiss high tea at Badrutt's Palace Hotel. Alternatively, absorb local culture at the Segantini Museum, dedicated to the works of alpine painter Giovanni Segantini. For a relaxing day, St Moritz's serene lake can be enjoyed on a gentle stroll or from our hotel's terrace along with uninterrupted mountain views.

Today is a highlight of any holiday to Switzerland as we embark on one of Europe's most iconic train journeys - the incredible Glacier Express to Brig in First Class. The 'slowest express train in the world' delves into the Rhine Gorge, where our panoramic carriages provide great views of the 'Swiss Grand Canyon'.

Averaging a steady 24mph, the Glacier Express allows us to enjoy the continually impressive scenery and a two-course lunch at our seats. Snow-dusted peaks pass by as the train climbs over the Oberalp Pass, the highlight of the route, before entering the nine-mile-long Furka Base Tunnel and spiralling down through picture-perfect Swiss villages on the approach to Brig. Here we change trains and travel in First Class to Interlaken, via the lakeside town of Spiez.

Interlaken is a town nestled between two glacier-fed lakes and towering peaks. Our four-star hotel is on the main street, providing great views of mountains. After checking in this evening, we enjoy a three-course dinner.

A jaw-dropping journey to Jungfraujoch - Europe's highest train station - awaits today. We travel by rail to the mountainside village of Kleine Scheidegg where we board the sensational Jungfrau Express to climb the final section of the route. On our trip, the cogwheel train enters an incredible tunnel which cuts through the Eiger. Even more incredible are the carved-out viewing windows meaning we can enjoy the scenery from inside the tunnel.

On reaching Jungfraujoch station, the vistas from the Sphinx viewing platform are spellbinding. At the top, we're treated to panoramic views across an eternally snowy wonderland that includes the Aletsch Glacier - a UNESCO World Heritage wonder - that stretches as far as the eye can see. With free time in this alpine paradise, you could also visit the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven shop and museum or enter the Alpine Sensation exhibition which pays tribute to the miners who built the railway more than 100 years ago.

This stunning experience continues as we descend via the village of Grindelwald before returning to Interlaken and dining independently this evening.

You're free to explore attractive Interlaken today. The town's historic centre is compact, so it's easy to discover the medieval monastery, castle and ancient square on foot.

Interlaken is also a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, so whether you're looking for an adventure or just a peaceful stroll, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Maybe take the funicular for a 10-minute trip to the summit of Harder Kulm, where you can enjoy panoramic views across the mountains and Lake Brienz.

Another great option is to take a peaceful lake cruise on a vintage paddle steamer - your Swiss Half Fare Card gives you a 50% discount on this and other boat tours, as well as for most trains and mountain railways. The travel card can also be used for a day out to Lucerne or Meiringen. Here, you can board a funicular to the Reichenbach Falls which played an important part in the Sherlock Holmes stories or visit the town's museum honouring Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective.

We gather tonight at the hotel for our final three-course dinner together.

Your incredible alpine holiday concludes after breakfast this morning, as we board the train to Zürich Airport for our flight back to London Heathrow. The train journey takes us through mountain scenery, providing one final spectacle. Flying back to London, we can reflect on our great alpine exploration and the unforgettable experiences we have enjoyed.

Whether it was Munich and its heady mix of history and beer, cultured and classical Salzburg, Innsbruck's incredible backdrops or St Moritz's mountains and boutiques - the towns and cities on our great alpine adventure will have left an impression. A candlelit dinner with classical music in Mozart's hometown and the fairytale beauty of Neuschwanstein Castle will live long in the memory. However, the star attraction was the spellbinding scenery and how we experienced it. Mighty peaks and ethereal glaciers, enchanting forests and luminous lakes have all been viewed from some of the Alps' most spectacular railways.

Please note: One of the excursions on this tour is at high altitude. If you have any medical conditions or concerns that could impact this part of the tour, we recommend you seek medical advice and talk to us. We want to make sure that any holiday you book is right for you.

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.

The Bernina Express is dubbed the rail experts' best-kept secret. Connecting northern and southern Europe, the narrow-gauge railway offers a spectacular means of crossing the Alps. The breathtaking route runs through the ancient landscape of Switzerland's beautiful Graubünden region and beside spellbinding glaciers, providing a stunning connection to Lombardy in northern Italy.

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.

Undoubtedly Switzerland's best-known train, the Glacier Express winds its way through some of Europe's most dramatic and beautiful scenery. Called 'the slowest express train in the world', the panoramic carriages allow us to soak up the spectacular views as we traverse incredible mountain passes, picturesque villages and valleys between the popular alpine resorts of St Moritz and Zermatt. Enroute, the train clings to the mountainsides on the Albula Line, zigzags and spirals its way round mountains and over bridges, and delves into the Rhine Valley - also known as the 'Swiss Grand Canyon'.

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.

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.

We enjoy a journey on the narrow-gauge Zugspitze Railway on some of our tours. The line takes us from the charming Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen on an 11-mile journey to the peak of Germany's highest mountain - overcoming a height difference of 2,897ft.

On leaving Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the electric train runs through the gentle countryside surrounding the town, including flat, fertile farmland and glorious meadows. Continuing past a scattering of small villages, the line begins its ascent; about four miles from Garmisch the train begins to use a rack-and-pinion system to negotiate the steep gradient.

From the base of the mountain, the scenery becomes ever-more dramatic, with the spiky, snow-covered peaks towering over dense patches of woodland below. After pausing at Eibsee station, our journey continues into the mountains, using a series of wide curves to gain height. Zugspitze Railway then passes through Höllental or 'Hell Valley' named for its dramatic slopes and narrow gorge that made climbing the mountain difficult. We then run through an area thick with pine trees before disappearing onto a long tunnel built to protect the railway from the most extreme weather. We emerge near the summit of Zugspitze, where the views out over Bavaria and Austria are incredible.

The 4-Star Hotel Innsbruck is situated in the heart of the Old Town, within walking distance of many of the sights and attractions of Innsbruck. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar, a wellness centre with panoramic mountain views, a swimming pool, a steam bath and a sauna. The comfortable and spacious rooms feature flat-screen televisions, safes and free Wi-Fi.

With views across the Tyrolean mountains, the 4-Star Penz Hotel in Innsbruck is just a short walk from the picturesque banks of the River Inn and the main attractions of the town, including the ornate Hofkirche church. On site, there's a rooftop bar with panoramic views across Innsbruck and the peaks beyond, as well as an elegant restaurant with an outdoor terrace area. Each of the chic guest rooms comes with air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen television and tea & coffee making facilities.

The 4-Star Hotel Jnterlaken is situated on the city's Höheweg, within walking distance of the centre and Interlaken Ost railway station. The hotel has been welcoming guests for more than 600 years, some of the most notable including the 19th-century poet Lord Byron, and composer Felix Mendelssohn. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, lounge, a sun terrace and a Japanese garden. The comfortable rooms feature a telephone, television and a hairdryer.

Set within its own gardens, a short walk from the centre of Salzburg, the 4-Star Castellani Parkhotel is a relaxing, peaceful base for our time in the city. The air-conditioned hotel has a restaurant, bar, sun terrace and fitness area with sauna, steam room and solarium. The rooms have a telephone, television, safe and hairdryer.

Situated just 15 minutes' walk away from Salzburg's Old Town and 9 minutes from the Mirabell Gardens, the 4-Star Hotel NH Salzburg City is ideally located for access to this wonderful city. The hotel offers great facilities in an elegant setting and the restaurant offers a blend of local and international favourites as well as a terrace eating area. The light and airy rooms are air-conditioned throughout, and also come with a hairdryer, a minibar, an in room safe, a television, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

The 4-Star Hotel Schweizerhof is situated in the centre of St Moritz and provides spectacular views over the lake from its terrace, with the main shopping area on the doorstep. The original Belle Époque surroundings and modern comforts of the hotel include two restaurants, a piano bar and a spa. Guest rooms are comfortably furnished with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, telephone and minibar.

Just a short distance from Munich's old town, this 4-Star hotel is ideally located to explore the city. Air-conditioned guest rooms are equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities and a fridge. The Oleo Pazzo bistro features an open show kitchen. There is also a 24-hour snack shop on site as well as a modern fitness suite.

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.

Enjoy hassle-free travel with our door-to-door luggage transfer service from only £169 per bag return one way only.

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. 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.