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7 days from £1,195
Christmas on the Glacier Express 2013
A festive rail tour with fantastic journeys by mountain railway
Spend the festive season in beautiful Switzerland on this fantastic holiday by rail. We discover Colmar and its attractive Christmas Markets before continuing to our base in Brig. After spending Christmas Day in Interlaken, we enjoy Switzerland's breathtaking snow-capped mountain scenery on Boxing Day on the Glacier Express. We also travel by train on the Centovalli Railway through pretty valleys to northern Italy, and visit the Swiss mountain village of Zermatt. Discover the joy of the Glacier Express at Christmas time.
Days 1-2 - London to Colmar and Brig
Our tour begins as we depart St Pancras International and travel by
Eurostar to Paris. From here we continue to Colmar, where
we stay tonight at the 4* Best Western Grand Hotel Bristol. We
spend the morning of Day 2 at leisure in Colmar,
allowing you time to explore the town's attractive Christmas
Markets, and its charming Old Town filled with pretty half-timbered
buildings and unique shops. In the afternoon we join our onward
rail service into Switzerland, to Brig, where we spend five nights
at the 3* Hotel Ambassador. (Day 1-D; Day 2-B)
Day 3 - Christmas Eve in Zermatt
On Christmas Eve we travel by rail to Zermatt, a charming,
traditional Swiss village set high in the mountains. The famous
Matterhorn dominates the skyline here. As you are free to explore
here, perhaps you might choose to take the cog-wheel mountain
railway to the summit of the Gornergrat (supplement payable) for
breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks. This evening we enjoy
a typically Swiss Christmas Eve feast in the hotel.
(B,D)
Day 4 - Christmas Day in Interlaken
Today we travel by rail over the Lötschberg Pass to Interlaken,
nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in the Bernese Oberland,
overlooked by the mighty Jungfrau and Eiger mountains. You will
have some free time to explore. You may wish to stroll through
Interlaken or undertake the ultimate ride on the Jungfrau
Railway (supplement payable) to Jungfraujoch, the highest
railway station in Europe at 11,333 feet (3,454m), before we return
to Brig. This evening we enjoy a special five-course Christmas
dinner in the hotel. (B,D)
Day 5 - Glacier Express
On Boxing Day we board the famous Glacier Express,
affectionately known as the slowest 'express' in the world, to
Andermatt. We traverse richly varied landscapes, from snow-capped
mountains and rushing mountain streams, to peaceful meadows and
dramatic passes. Our included excursion continues as we travel
south to Locarno to join the Centovalli Railway to
Domodossola in Italy. One of the most scenic rail journeys in the
southern Alps, the Hundred Valleys Line passes through
picture-postcard scenery before arriving in Italy. We travel north
from Domodossola and return to Brig. (B)
Days 6-7 - At leisure and homeward bound
Today you are free to explore Brig and the magnificent surrounding
area at your leisure, making use of your included Swiss Flexi Saver
Pass for a 50% reduction on fares on public transport. After
breakfast on Day 7 we depart from Brig, and travel
by rail to Paris. Here we connect with the Eurostar
service back to St Pancras International in London. (Day
6-7: B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday.
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Travelling on the Glacier Express at Christmas
The crisp winter landscape of Switzerland provides a whimsical backdrop to journeys on the Glacier Express at Christmas. This stunning, untouched scenery is often inaccessible by road and more enjoyable than ever when witnessed from the warmth of a comfortable rail carriage. There is no better way to discover Switzerland than aboard the "world's slowest express train". Each carriage has large panoramic windows which offer views of untouched nature. The route of the Glacier Express at Christmas travels to the quiet resort of Andermatt, passing dramatic mountains, picturesque meadows and glistening streams. The excursion is then finished with journeys aboard the renowned Centovalli Railway which takes you along the spectacular Hundred Valleys Line, giving you the opportunity to view some of Switzerland's most astounding scenery.
