Celebrate Christmas in Montreux beside the shimmering waters of Lake Geneva and enjoy a panoramic journey to snow-covered Interlaken and the ‘Top of Europe’

Your seasonal holiday to Switzerland begins today as you arrive at London St Pancras International and meet the Tour Manager and your travel group. Together, we board the Eurostar to France and enjoy a light meal in Eurostar Plus before arriving in Paris. Here, we switch to the high-speed TGV in First Class carriages, travelling to Lausanne in Switzerland.

A short transfer by train sees us arrive in Montreux, where we check in to our lakefront hotel for three nights. Located on the promenade, just a short walk from the station, the hotel boasts uninterrupted views across Lake Geneva to the atmospheric French Alps sporting their winter white. The Christmas season casts a new light on the glamorous Swiss Riviera, adding an extra layer of warmth and cosiness to Montreux. Tonight, we enjoy our first dinner as a group in the hotel's restaurant.

The festivities well and truly get underway today as we wake up by the shimmering shores of Lake Geneva, ready to enjoy Christmas Eve in Montreux. With a free morning, you might be tempted to explore Montreux's Christmas markets, which stretch along its promenade. With a spectacular backdrop of the sprawling lake and snow-capped French Alps, you can admire the crafts and produce at more than 150 stalls.

Hopping on a trolleybus outside our hotel this afternoon, we travel along the lake shore to Villeneuve for a guided tour of the picturesque Château de Chillon. This romantic castle of cobblestone courtyards and ancient fortifications appears as if it is floating on the lake. Formerly occupied by the influential House of Savoy from 1150, this castle has attracted tourists since the early 1800s, including Lord Byron and Mary Shelley.

Back at our hotel this evening, we continue our celebrations with a Christmas Gala dinner. While not a traditional British Christmas menu, this event brims with mouthwatering cuisine sure to tempt you and treat you on this most festive night.

Christmas Day features a spectacular journey across the Alps to France on the incredible Mont Blanc Express. From Martigny, the route clings to dramatic mountainsides above spectacular gorges, with views of western Europe's highest mountain appearing on the approach to Chamonix.

On arrival, there is free time to explore the 'mountaineering capital of the world'. As one of France's premier snow sports resorts, Chamonix comes alive in winter - even on Christmas Day, the ski lifts remain open. You might like to take a gentle walk around its picturesque town centre or absorb Chamonix's wonderful atmosphere as the snow-covered streets and trees glisten under the twinkle of fairy lights.

Back at our hotel this evening, we conclude Christmas Day with a three-course dinner.

The celebrations continue on Boxing Day as we board the royal blue and gold panoramic carriages of the GoldenPass Express for a journey across the stunning Swiss Highlands frosted by winter's touch. Enroute, we savour a light lunch in our seats, admiring the picturesque landscapes where our charcuterie, cheese and wine were produced.

Leaving Montreux, the train winds up the hill with shimmering Lake Geneva in the background. The icy pine forests and rolling mountains of the Pays-d'Enhaut highlands are dotted by small villages of charming chalets, their pitched roofs heavy with snow. The halfway point of this three-hour journey is Gstaad - the upmarket mountain resort favoured by Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Roger Moore.

The last stretch of our journey sees the GoldenPass Express emerge beside beautiful Lake Thun at Spiez before we arrive at Interlaken and check in to our hotel. Enjoy some free time to get acquainted with this small town before we gather back at our hotel for dinner this evening.

An unforgettable experience awaits this morning as we embark on an incredible journey up the Jungfrau. We take the train to the alpine village of Grindelwald and hop on the Eiger Express gondola. This modern cable car with panoramic windows affords incredible views of the snowfields below as we pass close to the north face of the Eiger enroute to Eigergletscher station. A slick transfer sees us board the cog-wheel train to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest train station.

The panoramas from here are awe-inspiring year-round, but the deep snow and endless Aletsch Glacier in winter are spellbinding. We have free time to explore this natural spectacle or be tempted by delicious Swiss chocolate at Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven, the world's highest chocolate shop.

We descend the mountains on the Jungfrau Express, travelling through the Mönch and Eiger mountains before twisting down to Kleine Scheidegg. From here, we travel by train to the valley town of Lauterbrunnen and back to Interlaken, arriving in time for a three-course dinner at our hotel.

Today is free to explore at leisure. After breakfast, you could spend some time in our hotel, marvelling at the seasonal views from the roof terrace.

Using your Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% discounts on train and mountain railway fares, you could head south to the picturesque mountain resorts of Wengen and Mürren to absorb the atmosphere among picture-book wintry scenes.

Alternatively, explore turquoise Lake Brienz by catching the train along its northern shore to Brienz, where you can marvel at the idyllic Brunngasse - a winding street of old wooden chalets. For a panoramic view of Interlaken and the surrounding areas, you could ride on the steep Harderbahn up to Harder Kulm for views of lakes Brienz and Thun and surrounding mountains. Exploring Interlaken further is also a good option, viewing the picturesque historic buildings round the cobbled main square or delving into its cuisine in a local restaurant.

After breakfast, we travel by train to Thun, a typical Swiss town dominated by its picturesque 12th-century castle. There is time to explore its charming medieval centre and covered wooden bridges at leisure, made even more beautiful under a layer of snow.

Our journey back to Interlaken is onboard a boat that cruises the length of Lake Thun. This scenic excursion provides a stunning perspective as the boat glides across the clear glacial waters with serene villages peeking out from the shore. Surrounding the route are alpine peaks cloaked in snow and impressive slopes fading into the lake. One of the highlights of any cruise on Lake Thun is gently sailing past the castles perched upon its breathtaking shores, including Spiez Castle, a 10th-century fortress seemingly plucked from a fairytale.

Our boat moors directly next to the rail platform at Interlaken West, meaning it is only a short distance back to our hotel for dinner.

The incredible sights of mountainous Switzerland, from the seasonal grandeur of Montreux at Christmastime to the splendour of the GoldenPass Express and the snow-globe scenes from the 'Top of Europe' at the Jungfraujoch, have set the stage for a stunning winter holiday.

After a final breakfast overlooking the wintertime scenery, we travel by train to Basel, where we board the high-speed TGV in First Class to Paris. Admire the Jura mountains and hills of Burgundy as they flash past our windows on our approach to France's capital.

In Paris, we transfer to the Eurostar in Plus class, enjoying a light meal at our seats before concluding our festive winter holiday on arrival at London St Pancras International.

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.

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.

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.

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.