Klosters and The Glacier Express

Your tour begins as you meet your Tour Manager and the rest of
your group at Great Rail Journeys' dedicated Departure Office in
London St Pancras International. From here we board the Eurostar
service to Paris, changing trains for Colmar, a pretty Alsatian
town close to the German border, where we overnight.

Your morning is at leisure to discover the charming cobbled
lanes and crooked half-timbered buildings of Colmar. The town is
filled with quaint charm; enjoy a stroll through the idyllic,
flower-filled canal quarter, known as 'Petite Venise', and explore
the narrow winding streets, colourful houses and picturesque
squares of the enchanting town centre. This afternoon we continue
into Switzerland. We travel by rail to Basel, changing trains in
Landquart for the final part of our journey.

Our destination is the Alpine resort village of Klosters, a
charming, quintessentially Swiss ski resort which is renowned as a
long-favoured holiday destination of the British Royal Family. Our
home for the next six nights is the delightful 4-Star Hotel Alpina,
a beautiful, traditional hotel in the heart of Klosters, moments
from the railway station and cable cars.

You are at leisure today to begin exploring delightful Klosters.
A picture-postcard example of an unspoiled Alpine resort and a
favourite of the rich and famous, Klosters is simply a delight to
discover. Take some time to wander around the peaceful mountain
village, discovering streets filled with traditional wooden
chalets, atmospheric restaurants and cafés, and a number of stylish
boutique shops. Also included in the price of your tour is a Davos
Klosters guest travel card, which provides free travel on local
cable cars for convenient access into the stunning surrounding
mountains.

We take the train to nearby Davos Platz, where our journey on
the spectacular Bernina Express begins. Connecting Switzerland and
Italy via one of the highest mountain railways in the Alps, the
narrow-gauge Bernina Express rises to the challenge of steep
gradients, delighting us with a journey of breathtaking beauty. We
pass rushing mountain streams, pretty flowering meadows, and
snow-capped peaks on our way to Tirano, in northern Italy. You have
free time here before our return journey to Klosters.

Today we travel to the small village of Filisur via Davos by
vintage train. On arrival, there's time to join the short walking
route through the countryside to the base of the Landwasser
Viaduct. Watch as local trains travelling along the Rhaetian
Railway pass by 213 feet above your head before making the trip
back to Klosters.

We discover Schatzalp today, also known as 'The Magic Mountain'.
Returning to Davos Platz by train, we board the Schatzalp Funicular
Railway for the four-minute journey up to historic Schatzalp, 984
feet above the town. Here, we pay a visit to the botanical gardens.
The Alpinum is home to thousands of different species of flora from
mountain regions across the world, including China, New Zealand,
and Tibet, and we enjoy a guided tour with the garden's director.
With free time afterwards, you might like to relax in the panorama
restaurant, soaking up the views from the sun terrace with a coffee
and a slice of homemade cake.

Today is at leisure to further explore the lovely surroundings
in Klosters, venture further afield and discover the surrounding
area, or to simply relax in the fabulous surroundings of your
hotel.

We embark upon what is undoubtedly one the highlights of our
holiday today, as we enjoy a journey on one of the most iconic
trains in the world, the Glacier Express. The Glacier Express,
affectionately referred to as 'the slowest express train in the
world', for an unforgettable journey through the mountains.

We enjoy panoramic views across the sprawling Alpine landscapes
as the train makes its way through the picturesque,
quintessentially Swiss mountain scenery, crossing the famous
Landwasser Viaduct and traversing the terrain of the upper Rhine
Valley. The train climbs steadily and steeply up and over the
Oberalp Pass, the peak of the route, and spirals downwards past
countless villages, before reaching the town of Brig. We enjoy a
two-course lunch served at our seats as the magnificent scenery
passes by. In Brig we change trains for Bern, continuing on to
Basel where we spend the night, enjoying our final dinner together
as a group.

After breakfast at our hotel this morning, we bid a fond
farewell to Switzerland. From Basel, we travel by rail to Paris,
where we board the Eurostar service to London St Pancras. On
arrival in London, your tour concludes.