Experience Switzerland’s stunning peaks and deep blue lakes on this all-inclusive holiday, featuring an epic journey to the ‘Top of Europe’

Meeting our Tour Manager at London St Pancras, we travel by Eurostar to Paris. From the French capital, we change trains and continue by rail to the attractive Alsace city of Strasbourg for the first night of our holiday.

Due to its location, Strasbourg has a blend of French and German history which is reflected in its eclectic architecture. There's time to look around this attractive city after checking in to our hotel and you could explore one of its two UNESCO World Heritage sites. The historic centre of La Grande-Île contains busy squares, the city's cathedral and the charming Petite France area with its half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets beside canals. Built in the late 19th-century during the German Reichsland period, the neo-Renaissance palaces and Art Nouveau buildings of Neustadt seem a world away from the medieval atmosphere of Petite France but provide an elegant glimpse into the city's more recent history.

This evening, we enjoy our first dinner together at a local restaurant.

Please Note - For departures 2nd & 16th May we will travel out via Mulhouse, staying at the Mercure Mulhouse hotel.

With a free morning to discover Strasbourg after breakfast, you could watch the city come to life from its main square, Place Kléber, or stroll to the soaring Gothic cathedral before we make our way to the station.

Travelling by train into Switzerland, the scenery becomes more dramatic as we journey south. Look out for the shimmering turquoise waters of Lake Thun before we reach our destination for a wonderful six-night, all-inclusive stay. Wilderswil is a quaint village in a pretty alpine valley surrounded by the impressive Mönch, Eiger and Jungfrau mountains. It's the perfect base to explore the enchanting villages and landscapes of the Bernese Oberland.

Our family-run hotel is a traditional Swiss chalet-style hideaway, nestled in the heart of Wilderswil. The friendly owners are Richard, a chef, and Yvonne, a wine specialist. As you'd expect, the pair know all about regional specialities and their hotel is highly rated by its customers, especially for food. 

Our all-inclusive stay includes breakfast, a picnic lunch and dinner each day in Wilderswil, plus selected wine, beer and soft drinks with dinner.

This morning, there is time to explore nearby Interlaken by rail after breakfast. With a picnic lunch provided by our hotel, you can uncover the delights of this attractive resort town at leisure. Set between two sparkling blue lakes - Lake Brienz and Lake Thun - with an alpine backdrop of snow-dusted mountains, Interlaken buzzes with life and contains a variety of cafés, bakeries and shops. The town's historic centre is compact, so it's easy to discover the medieval monastery, castle and ancient square on foot.

Interlaken is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, so whether you're looking for an adventure or just a peaceful stroll, there's something for everyone. Maybe take the funicular railway to the top of Harder Kulm for panoramic views of lakes and peaks or enjoy a peaceful boat cruise on Lake Thun. Your complimentary Swiss Half Fare Card gives you a 50% discount on this and other boat tours, as well as for most trains and mountain railways.

We return to Wilderswil this evening before dinner with drinks.

On departures from April to mid-June, we travel on the Interlaken to Lucerne Express, to the lakeside town of Lucerne. This stunning route starts beside shimmering Lake Brienz before travelling up to the Brünig Pass where the highpoint of Brünig-Haslibergand offers a fantastic panorama of the Bernese Alps and waterfalls. Lucerne has an attractive Old Town whose medieval architecture includes the 14th-century Kapellbrücke. Walk along the waterfront for views of mountains and Lake Lucerne or explore one of Lucerne's museums and art galleries.

On departures from mid-June, we take a scenic journey on the Schynige Platte Railway. With restored 19th-century carriages hauled by a vintage electric locomotive, the railway has a nostalgic Belle Époque feel. At the top, enjoy panoramic views from what is considered the best place to see the Jungfrau. The café here has a terrace and entry to the Botanical Alpine Garden is included, home to many species of alpine flowers, including edelweiss.

Whichever excursion you join, you'll be provided with a picnic lunch. At the end of the day, we return to our hotel for dinner and drinks.

There's a chance to take things at your own pace today. If you'd like to take it easy, take a walk around the traditional Swiss village of Wilderswil or watch the world go by from a traditional café.

If you're feeling more adventurous, you could use your Swiss Half Fare Card to uncover the villages of the beautiful Lauterbrunnen Valley. The fairytale village of Grindelwald has amazing views of the north face of the Eiger and the popular mountain resort of Wengen sits beneath the Jungfrau overlooking the valley. Alternatively, head to the quaint village of Mürren and take a cable car trip to the top of the Schilthorn mountain, one of the highest peaks in the Jungfrau region. From the Schilthorn's viewing platform, you can view Switzerland's three most iconic mountain peaks - the Eiger, Mönch and the Jungfrau - and you could also visit the famous Piz Gloria revolving restaurant, featured in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

However you decide to spend your day, you can look forward to dining at our hotel this evening.

A journey on the legendary Jungfrau Express to the 'Top of Europe' is an unsung gem of Swiss mountain railways and one of our favourites. This unforgettable experience awaits us after breakfast today.

Setting out on the Bernese Oberland Railway, we arrive at Kleine Scheidegg and join the cogwheel Jungfrau Express for the spectacular journey to the continent's highest railway station. Our route takes us through a tunnel dug into the rocks of the Eiger mountain before arriving at Jungfraujoch - entering a wintry world of eternal snow, whatever the season. Here, you're free to admire the countless awe-inspiring mountain peaks from the Sphinx observatory, be wowed by the endless Aletsch Glacier, enjoy your picnic lunch in jaw-dropping surroundings or maybe head to Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven to see how Swiss chocolate is made. You could also visit the Alpine Sensation exhibition which uses projected images and music to pay tribute to the miners who built the railway more than 100 years ago.

We return to our hotel at the end of the afternoon and have time to relax before dinner.

Today, we take the train to Interlaken for a scenic cruise aboard a traditional boat on Lake Brienz. As we set sail on the lake's glacier-fed waters, we're encircled by magnificent mountains and vivid green forests. Tiny villages are dotted along the shoreline, with traditional Swiss church spires and colourful flower gardens adding to the idyllic scenes.

You'll also have a chance to see the lake's many natural wonders and waterfalls which spill down the mountainside. On arrival in the village of Brienz, there's some free time to have a look around. Brienz is known for its wood carvings, and you'll notice several wooden buildings here with intricate details, and shops display examples of this artisan craft. A stroll down the picturesque, cobbled Brunngasse alley reveals historic wooden chalets bedecked with colourful flower boxes.

We take the train back to Interlaken after lunch, and you're free to do some final sightseeing or shopping in this town surrounded by impressive peaks before returning to our hotel at your leisure. This evening, we enjoy our final dinner at Hotel Alpenblick.

During this elevating tour we've experienced many stunning Swiss sights from our chalet-style hotel in idyllic Wilderswil. Surrounded by mountains at all times, we've soaked up views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and taken an unforgettable trip to the 'Top of Europe' on the Jungfrau Express. With free time to explore at leisure, the Bernese Oberland was ours to discover, and on a cruise along the emerald waters of Lake Brienz we admired the scenery from a different perspective.

After our last breakfast in Switzerland, we pick up our picnic lunch and take the local train to Interlaken Ost. From here, we continue by rail via Bern to scenic Lausanne, skirting the shore of glistening Lake Geneva as we travel onwards to Paris. In the French capital, we board the Eurostar back to London St Pancras where your Swiss holiday draws to a close.

Enjoy More with a GRJ All Inclusive Holiday

• On this GRJ All Inclusive tour, all meals at Hotel Alpenblick are included. On excursion days a picnic lunch will be provided by the hotel.
• Drinks between 7pm-9pm include beer, wine and soft drinks.

Our Discoveries range offers everything you need at a great price so you can travel with confidence. It provides comfortable, locally run accommodation*, standard rail or economy flights and expert-led group tours. You'll be in groups with an average of 30-35 travellers and a maximum of 40. *where available

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.

The Harder Kulm Funicular (or Harderbahn) runs from Interlaken to Harder Kulm Mountain in Switzerland. The line opened in 1908 and was updated and modernised in the 1960s, and now runs to a height of 4,335 feet. Passengers on the route are treated to stunning views over the Swiss Alps, the town of Interlaken, and the twin lakes of Thun and Brienz. The mountains of the Eiger and Jungfrau are also visible from the summit.

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.

High up in the Bernese Highlands of Switzerland, stretched between sun-drenched Alpine meadows or snow-capped peaks depending on the season, the Schynige Platte Railway winds its way from the town of Wilderswil to the Schynige Platte Alpine ridge. Along the way, a jaw-dropping spectacle of ancient mountains reveals itself, indulging passengers in an Alpine wonderland of supreme beauty. The route also features marvellous views of the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau mountains.

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.

Set in the heart of the small village of Wilderswil, this family-run 3-Star hotel is a pretty, 17th-century chalet-style lodge, offering traditional Swiss charm and two on-site restaurants. The hotel is located in the heart of Wilderswil, a quiet village at the gateway to the Jungfrau region. Guest rooms are decorated in a rustic alpine design and are equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, safety deposit box, desk, seating area and hairdryer.

Your holiday begins the moment you meet your Tour Manager at St Pancras International and board the Eurostar train for mainland Europe. If you wish to get your holiday off to an extra special start, why not consider upgrading your on-board accommodation from Standard Class to Plus Class?

As well as all the amenities enjoyed in Standard Class, Plus Class travellers benefit from extra spacious, comfortable seats, complimentary newspapers and magazines and a light snack with drinks served at your seat during the journey. Before 11am, the light snack comprises breakfast pastries, yoghurt, fruit juice and tea or coffee. After 11am there is a choice of 2 main dishes and a dessert, accompanied by soft drinks, wine or beer and tea or coffee.

Prices for an upgrade from £125 each way. Please call us for more details.

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.