Glacier Express Holidays

Introduction

The Glacier Express is the most famous railway in the world, and is a train to fall in love with. It travels from Zermatt to Davos or St. Moritz in around seven hours. It is a day trip through untouched mountain landscapes, glamorous health resorts, deep gorges, delightful valleys, 91 tunnels and across 291 impressive bridges.

Past picturesque landscapes, snow-covered Alpine peaks, roaring mountain streams, lush meadows, historic fortresses, craggy cliff faces, picturesque villages, refreshing mountain lakes, quaint hamlets and seductive vineyards. A trip onboard the Glacier Express is simply indescribably beautiful.

Overview

St Moritz

St. Moritz is one of the world’s most famous holiday resorts. Chic, elegant and exclusive with a cosmopolitan ambiance, it is located at 1,856 metres above sea level in the middle of the Upper Engadin lake landscape. The dry, sparkling “champagne climate” is legendary and the celebrated St. Moritz sun shines for an average of 322 days a year.

As well as its superb location above and on the lake shore, St. Moritz offers an attractive mixture of nature, cuture, sport, activity and tranquility. St. Moritz offers an all-year-round guarantee of exceptional leisure and sporting attractions, cultural highlights, chic shopping and world-class events. It also has top-class hotels and excellent restaurants.

The St. Moritz sun shines more intensely, the “champagne climate” is dryer and snow is more certain than anywhere else. These elements, combined with the Upper Engadin lake landscape and valley culture create an array of attractions that is unique in terms of quality and diversity. In winter; downhill and Nordic skiing, Cresta Run, bob run, horse racing on the frozen lake, polo, cricket, golf and curling tournaments, Olympic ski jump ramp, gourmet and music festivals. In summer; mountain biking, inline skating, hiking, windsurfing, ice skating, golf, tennis, sailing, opera, art and culture and the Swiss National Park – all within a radius of a few minutes.

Zermatt

On the Italian border of the canton of Valais in the west of Switzerland, lies Zermatt, the village at the foot of the Matterhorn, the most photographed mountain in the world. For guests from all over the world, Zermatt epitomises their image of Switzerland: high-alpine, awe-inspiring and original.

Almost one-third of the 4,000-metre mountains in the Alps are grouped around this word-famous health resort, which has been visited by mountaineers from all around the world since the first successful ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. The hotels and restaurants are world-class, and the ski area is not only the highest in the Alps – it is also one of the best developed and most convenient in the world, ensuring thrilling sporting experiences on the steepest slopes in the world , 365 days a year. The climate is of an excellent quality: with 300 sunny days a year, there is less rainfall than anywhere else in Switzerland. The air in Zermatt is clear, dry and clean, because, since 1947, only electric cars without a combustion engine are allowed to operate in the village. Things are a little different in Zermatt.

The Train

The modern panorama viewing cars are truly comfortable. Whether in 1st or 2nd class – you'll reach your destination in comfort and rested. Albeit, the journey itself is in fact the destination; travel onboard the Glacier Express should never come to an end. Hear, see and marvel. A wealth of interesting route information in German, French, English, Italian, Japanese and Chinese is provided via headphones.

The 1st class panorama viewing car offers 36 comfortable seats (12x3-seat compartments, central-aisle car) with table, air-conditioning and information channel. You'll enjoy nearly equivalent comfort and service in 2nd class with 48 seats (12x4-seat compartments, central-aisle car).

A trip onboard the Glacier Express can be combined with any number of European highlights, either with a completely tailor-made holiday, or on an organised tour. Please see details below of an example holiday itinerary that we can arrange for you...

Day 1 - London to France

You will depart St Pancras International by Eurostar for Paris. Sit back in your comfortable Leisure Select seat and enjoy a complimentary meal and drinks before your arrival in the French capital. After crossing the city by coach, your journey continues by TGV to Dijon. Here you will spend one night at the Mercure Dijon Clémenceau, located close to the centre. (E,D)

Day 2 - By train to Switzerland

From Dijon, you will travel by TGV into Switzerland and transfer onto the efficient Swiss rail network, which takes you on a spectacular journey up the Rhône Valley to Brig. Brig is a small, historic town situated at the foot of the Simplon Pass, an ideal base from which to explore southern Switzerland by mountain railway. You will enjoy a four-night stay at the Hotel Simplon. (B,D)

Day 3 - Mountain railway to Zermatt

Enjoy the dramatic Swiss scenery as we travel on the narrow-gauge mountain railway to Zermatt, a picturesque village overlooked by the Matterhorn. Take a refreshing walk into the mountains or, if you have a head for heights, make the train journey up to Gornergrat (supplement payable locally), situated at over 10,000 feet (3,048m). (B,D)

Day 4 - The Bernese Oberland

Today you travel to Interlaken, situated between Lakes Thun and Brienz in the Bernese Oberland. Enjoy a lake cruise, take a mountain railway ride through the Alpine meadows or undertake the ultimate excursion to the highest railway station in Europe, Jungfraujoch (supplement payable locally), at over 11,000 fee (3,353m) above sea level. (B,D)

Day 5 - A day at leisure

Your day is free to explore this region using your GRJ Swiss Travel Card. We particularly recommend travelling along the Rhône Valley to the stylish city of Montreux. From here you can enjoy a relaxing paddle steamer cruise on Lake Geneva or join the GoldenPass Line train for the spectacular journey over the Golden Pass to Spiez. The wonderful journey on the Centovalli Railway across 'a hundred valleys' to Locarno on the northern shores of Lake Maggiore is also an excellent choice for today. (B)

Day 6 - The Glacier Express

You will leave Brig on the Glacier Express narrow-gauge train, probably the slowest 'express' in the world. The train climbs up the Rhône Valley to Andermatt and then snakes and spirals its way towards the Oberalp Pass, the highest point of the route at 6,670 feet (2,033m). The train descends through pasture and woodland to the Rhine and continues along the broad valley to Chur, arriving early afternoon. Lunch on board the Glacier Express is included and served at your First Class seat. Chur is a historic town in southeast Switzerland where trains still run through the streets. You spend three nights here at the historic Romantik Hotel Stern, located in the Old Town. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - Over the Bernina Pass

The narrow-gauge Bernina Express takes us from Chur over viaducts and bridges, past waterfalls and deep ravines as the train ascends the Albula Pass. The route was recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage site status and loops and spirals into the Engadine Valley before climbing even higher over the Bernina Pass to more than 7,000 feet (2,134m). Enjoy the breathtaking views of the snow-capped peaks as you travel to Poschiavo in the Italian-speaking region. You have some free time for lunch in Poschiavo before returning to Chur. (B,D)

Day 8 - A day at leisure in Chur

Chur is the oldest town in Switzerland and a pleasure to explore. Stroll through the medieval alleyways and squares of the Old Town, and visit the vast 12th century cathedral, a blend of Gothic and Romanesque styles. Take a train to the mountain resort of Arosa or visit Lucerne, a historic lakeside city of cobbled streets and ornate churches. In Lucerne, you could see the Kapellbrücke bridge or enjoy a relaxing steamer cruise. (B

Day 9 - To Germany by train

You leave Chur and travel by EuroCity train via Zürich and Basel into Germany, along the scenic Rhine Gorge to Cologne. You will arrive late-afternoon and spend one night at either the Four Points Hotel or the Hotel Euro Garden, both located within walking distance of the station and the city's magnificent Gothic cathedral. (B,D

Day 10 - To Brussels and London

You will depart for Brussels and connect with Eurostar to London, where you will arrive into St Pancras International after a complimentary meal and drinks are served on board. (B,E)

Essential Information

Climate

The Alps cause many climatic variations throughout Switzerland. In the higher Alpine regions temperatures tend to be low, while the lower land of the northern area has higher temperatures and warm summers.

 

Visa

You need a passport to enter Switzerland. If you are a British Citizen or British Subject with Right of Abode in the United Kingdom, you will not need a visa to enter Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Other British passport holders should confirm the current entry requirements with the nearest Swiss Diplomatic mission.

Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.

Health

For up-to-date health advice for Switzerland, please consult your GP.

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions from the policy, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake whilst on holiday. Medway Travel can provide you with a quote for this – please contact a member of the Leisure team for further details.