Highlights of the Glacier Express in Winter

Your wonderful winter adventure begins this morning at London St Pancras as you meet the Tour Manager and your travelling group. Boarding the Eurostar, we make our way under the English Channel and into France towards its capital. In Paris, we switch to the high-speed service to Strasbourg.

A stunning blend of traditional French and picture-book, half-timbered German architecture greet us as we arrive in this attractive Alsace city this evening. Admire the grand squares and pretty walkways as we walk from the station to our conveniently located hotel for check-in. There is time to freshen up after our day of travel before we head out once more and walk to a local restaurant to enjoy our first dinner together. Savour the region's cuisine while surrounded by the timeless elegance of this border city.

• Dinner

There's a leisurely morning after breakfast to explore Strasbourg. You could wander amongst the cobbled streets and half-timbered houses of La Petite France. This charming UNESCO World Heritage site bustled with tanners, millers and fishermen in the Middle Ages but now attracts tourists to its picturesque canals and historic buildings.

In the early afternoon, we board the train to Basel and then continue along the superb Swiss railway network to Chur. The route provides a great introduction to Switzerland's breathtaking scenery as we climb higher into the snow-capped mountains and past frosted lakes to our destination.

On arrival, we check in to our hotel in Chur's delightful Old Town. The 16th-century building reflects traditional Swiss architecture, and the family-run hotel offers warm hospitality during our three-night stay. After settling in, we enjoy a three-course dinner at a local restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Your day is free to explore historic Chur and the surrounding region. With more than 5,000 years of history, Chur is Switzerland's oldest town. Take time to stroll through the medieval cobbled alleyways and squares of the Old Town to visit the 12th-century cathedral, which is built with a blend of Gothic and Romanesque styles.

Today is also a superb chance for you to discover the area by mountain railway using your included Swiss Card for 50% fares. The wild, wintry and rugged landscapes of the glorious Graubünden region are waiting to be discovered. Superb railway journeys are available from Chur to take you across the dramatic valleys that make this one of the most attractive cantons in Switzerland. A journey on the Arosa Line to lakeside Arosa, surrounded by dramatic snowy peaks, is a popular option. Alternatively, you could head to the nearby mountain resorts of Davos, Klosters or even St Moritz to soak up the atmosphere.

Dining independently tonight, you could look for local specialities, including hearty pizzoccheri and röstis, or traditional Swiss dishes such as fondue and raclette.

• Breakfast

Dubbed the rail experts' best-kept secret, the Bernina Express is a highlight of any holiday to the Swiss Alps.

After breakfast this morning, we board this remarkable train at Chur station for a spellbinding journey. This 100-year-old route twists and spirals its way south through the rugged landscape of the Engadine Valley, crossing the Landwasser Viaduct and looping its way through tunnels as it climbs the UNESCO-listed Albula Line. As we reach the summit at Ospizio Bernina, we can admire views of snow-blanketed lakes and alpine peaks. After pausing to view the captivating Palü Glacier at Alp Grüm, we wind our way down to Poschiavo. There is free time to explore this valley town in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. Pastel-coloured buildings line the pretty squares, and appealing eateries provide many options for lunch on your own.

An encore presentation of the striking scenery awaits as we make the return journey to Chur, where we have a three-course dinner tonight.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We leave Chur after breakfast, enjoying an unforgettable trip on the iconic Glacier Express - the 'slowest express train in the world'.

Our journey is accompanied by views for which Switzerland is rightly famous: snow-covered pastures, wintry forests rising up the hillsides, and towering, sugar-frosted peaks. We travel along the beautiful Rhine Valley, climbing steadily and steeply as we make our way up and over the Oberalp Pass, the highest point on the route. The descent is lined by sleepy villages nestled in the foothills of the surrounding mountains before we enter the Furka Base Tunnel and the Rhône Valley. On the final part of our journey, we pass expansive vineyards draped across surrounding hillsides as we approach the small town of Brig. From Brig, we travel the short distance to Täsch via a stunning rail route that climbs through the beautiful Matter Valley.

The gateway to Zermatt and the Matterhorn, Täsch is a peaceful village surrounded by incredible mountain scenery. We check in to our hotel and enjoy a three-course dinner together in the on-site restaurant this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The charming mountain town of Zermatt is our destination after breakfast this morning. Travelling by rail, we enjoy views of snow-covered meadows and rugged mountains of the dramatic Matter Valley enroute.

Zermatt is nestled below the snowy pyramidal peak of the Matterhorn, and as we arrive, we first experience its traditions at a local bakery. Heading to Bäckerei Fuchs, we sit down to a tasting of the shop's specialities, from breads to chocolates, and enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Following our visit, you're free to explore the car-free resort. You might like to peruse the Matterhorn Museum or get a closer look at the iconic peak while riding the Gornergrat Mountain Railway.

We reconvene at Gornergrat Station later this afternoon for an expert-led tour of Zermatt, which unveils its surprising connections to the UK, including the story of English mountaineer Edward Whymper, before enjoying the rest of the day at leisure. You are free to return to Täsch independently, though Zermatt has many inviting restaurants for dinner this evening.

• Breakfast

From our picture-perfect base in Täsch, you have many ways to spend a day at leisure today.

With the complimentary Swiss Travel Card, you can enjoy 50% discounts on train journeys from Täsch station. Within easy reach is the town of Brig, with a pretty Old Town and the Baroque Stockalper Palace. Brig's rail connections allow you to travel further afield, perhaps visiting Spiez and its fairytale castle on beautiful Lake Thun, made all the more stunning by winter's embrace.

Alternatively, journey along the Rhône Valley to Lake Geneva, where you could explore the Swiss Riviera towns of Montreux or Vevey. 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.

Wherever you choose to explore, on returning to the hotel this evening, we gather for our final dinner as a group.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Snow-covered mountain peaks, fairytale towns, warm hospitality and iconic trains venturing through stunning scenery: Switzerland puts on an incredible show in winter. From the charming towns of Chur and Täsch, we experienced spellbinding landscapes during two of the world's greatest rail journeys. Whether marvelling at glaciers on a trip across the Alps aboard the Bernina Express or relishing a front-row seat to uninterrupted views of snow-bound meadows on the Glacier Express, this winter holiday has showcased Switzerland's natural beauty.

After breakfast this morning, we begin our journey home. From Täsch to Brig and on to Lausanne, we can enjoy final glimpses of the spectacular scenery. Continuing on to Paris, we board the Eurostar back to London, where your tour comes to a conclusion on arrival this evening.

• Breakfast