The GoldenPass Express at Christmas

This seasonal Switzerland adventure starts as soon as we meet at London St Pancras. Boarding the Eurostar in Standard Premier Class, we enjoy a light meal enroute to Paris. Here, we switch to the high-speed TGV in First Class carriages, travelling direct to Lausanne in Switzerland.

A 20-minute transfer by train takes us to Montreux, where we check in to our lakefront hotel for three nights. Located on the lakeside promenade, just a short, downhill walk from the station, the hotel boasts uninterrupted views across glistening Lake Geneva to the atmospheric French Alps glistening in their winter coats. The festive season casts a new light on the glamorous Swiss Riviera, adding an extra homely feel to Montreux. Tonight, we enjoy our first dinner as a group - a three-course meal in the hotel.

• Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

The festivities well and truly get under way 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 lovely promenade. With a spectacular backdrop of the twinkling lake and snow-capped French Alps, you can admire the craft and produce available from 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 gorgeous castle has attracted tourists since the early 1800s, including the likes of Lord Byron and Mary Shelley.

Back at our hotel this evening, we begin our celebrations with a Christmas Gala Dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Christmas Day features a spectacular journey across 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.

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 as the ski lifts remain open. A gentle walk around its picturesque town centre could be combined with a delicious French lunch at a charming restaurant. Absorb Chamonix's wonderful atmosphere as the snow-covered streets and trees glisten under the twinkle of fairy lights.

In late afternoon, we leave Chamonix, returning to Montreux in time for a three-course dinner back at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The celebrations continue on Boxing Day as we board the stylish royal blue and gold panoramic carriages of the GoldenPass Express for an incredible wintry journey across the stunning Swiss Highlands. Enroute, we savour a light lunch in our seats, admiring the incredible landscapes where the charcuterie, cheese and wine was produced.

Leaving Montreux, the train winds its way 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 picturesque 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 to Interlaken sees the GoldenPass Express emerge beside beautiful Lake Thun at Spiez before we arrive at Interlaken and check in to our hotel. There is a free afternoon in this attractive small town before we gather back at our centrally located hotel for dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 and Europe's highest train station at the 'Top of Europe'.

The panoramas from here are truly awe-inspiring all 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.

We descend the mountains on the Jungfrau Express through the Mönch and Eiger mountains before this unsung gem of Swiss mountain railways twists down to Kleine Scheidegg. From here, we travel by train to the valley town of Lauterbrunnen and back to Interlaken for a three-course dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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

With an envious location, there are so many excellent destinations close by. Using your Swiss Travel 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. Exploring Interlaken further is a good option, viewing picturesque historic buildings gathered round a cobbled main square. For those who want an overall view of Interlaken and the surrounding areas, you could take a ride on the steep Harderbahn railway up to Harder Kulm for special views of lakes Brienz and Thun, and surrounding mountains.

• Breakfast

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.

Our journey back to Interlaken is on board a vintage lake boat that cruises the length of Lake Thun. This scenic excursion provides a magical atmosphere as the boat glides across the clear glacial waters with serene villages peeking out from the shore. Surrounding the route are alpine slopes twinkling in the snow and impressive peaks protruding into the lake. One of the highlights of any visit to Lake Thun is Spiez Castle. Jutting out into the serene water, this 10th-century castle and its grounds seem straight out of 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 this evening's three-course dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Over our final breakfast together, we can reflect on yesterday's delightful way to round off our spectacular festive adventure in Switzerland. The warming cosiness of Montreux is a fantastic base for our Christmas celebrations, which included a journey on the Mont Blanc Express on the big day. Taking the GoldenPass Express across the scenic Swiss Highlands transferred us to Interlaken, a great base from which to explore the incredible sights of mountainous Switzerland. As well as the cruise across Lake Thun, we also viewed snow-globe scenes on the way to the magical 'Top of Europe' at the Jungfraujoch.

Leaving Interlaken, we travel by train to Basel then board the high-speed TGV in First Class to Paris. In the French capital, we transfer to Standard Premier Class of the Eurostar, where we enjoy a light meal at our seats before arriving back at London St Pancras this evening.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal