Experience Swiss luxury in five-star hotels while exploring the country’s largest city and the majestic mountains of the Jungfrau region

Your luxurious Swiss vacation begins as you land at Zürich Airport, making your own way by rail or taxi to our lakeside hotel, located in a tranquil suburb of Zürich.

Zürich is Switzerland's largest city and sits at the northern edge of a beautiful lake that shares its name. With a history stretching back to the Romans, there are many attractions to seek out here. The city is also an art-lovers' paradise. The Kunsthaus displays major works of fine art, modern and Constructivist pieces can be found at Museum Haus Konstruktiv (located inside a former power station), and Cabaret Voltaire is the spiritual home of Dadaism, an early 20th-century avant-garde movement.

This evening, return to your hotel to meet the Tour Manager and fellow travelers for a group welcome dinner. Overnight Zürich.

Waking in Zürich, we get acquainted with the city after breakfast, embarking on a guided walking tour.

Starting at Zürich main station, we wander through picturesque alleys and past historic buildings, including the Opera House and the castle-like building that houses the National Museum. Crossing Bahnhofstrasse, one of the world's most exclusive shopping venues, we enter the Old Town and view the iconic Grossmünster church and the 13th-century Fraumünster church, an icon of Zürich and the city's skyline. Throughout the tour, our knowledgeable guide shares fascinating stories and insights into Zürich's unique past.

After free time to enjoy lunch, we transfer by coach to the Lindt Chocolate Museum. Here, you can explore the museum at your own pace, discovering the history and craftsmanship behind Switzerland's world-famous chocolate, with the opportunity to enjoy a tasting of their mouth-watering creations. Returning to the hotel, this evening is free to dine independently at one of the city's many inviting restaurants. Overnight Zürich.

There's a free morning in Zürich after breakfast, before we head deeper into the Swiss Alps by First Class rail. Our destination is Grindelwald in the Jungfrau region of the scenic Bernese Oberland. This idyllic village sits at the foot of the mighty Eiger mountain, offering authentic Swiss charm and dramatic alpine surroundings.

Our five-star hotel enjoys a quiet location with spectacular mountain views and boasts more than 130 years of history. After checking in, there is some time to become acquainted with our new base. With your Swiss Half Fare Card, you may like to ride the Grindelwald-Männlichen gondola to the summit of Männlichen - at 7,687 ft, this mountain offers panoramic views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Alternatively, enjoy a leisurely afternoon in Grindelwald, admiring the traditional wooden buildings in the town center or strolling along the Schwarze Lütschine river.

This evening, we reconvene for a three-course dinner at our hotel. Overnight Grindelwald.

This morning, we enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before embarking on the first alpine excursion of your vacation.

We walk to the station where we board a cable car to the summit of Grindelwald First mountain, one of the most popular in the Jungfrau region. Ascending by sky gondola, we experience great views of the snow-dappled peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, swathes of forests and distant villages. There is time to enjoy the fresh mountain air and soak in the spectacular scenery before returning by cable car and to Grindelwald.

The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure until dinner at our hotel. You may like to find lunch at one of the inviting cafés or bars and browse the charming shops selling traditional souvenirs, before returning to our five-star hotel for a three-course dinner this evening. Overnight Grindelwald.

An unforgettable experience awaits today as we travel by train to the unspoilt hillside village of Mürren. With peaceful, chocolate-box surroundings, we board the steepest cable car in the world for a trip up to the summit of the Schilthorn.

At the top, we are greeted by breathtaking 360° views of approximately 200 mountain peaks, including the Jungfrau. However, the star attraction is the remarkable revolving restaurant, Piz Gloria. Made famous as a location in the 1969 James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service, this mountaintop eatery contains a museum about the filming of the movie. We have free time here to either follow in the footsteps of George Lazenby's 007, view the exhibition or enjoy a memorable lunch in the restaurant.

On the return journey, we stop off near the Trummelbach Falls and you might like to observe the glacial waterfalls that tumble through the mountain, creating a roaring sound until they burst into the valley. This evening, we have dinner back at our hotel. Overnight Grindelwald.

Today is set to be a highlight of your vacation as we enjoy a remarkable journey to Jungfraujoch - a UNESCO-listed site and Europe's highest train station - on the iconic Jungfrau Express.

From Kleine Scheidegg, we travel the final section by cogwheel train, entering an incredible tunnel which cuts through the Eiger. On reaching Jungfraujoch, the vistas from the Sphinx viewing platform are truly awe-inspiring. At the top, we're close to the stunning Aletsch Glacier - a UNESCO World Heritage wonder - which stretches as far as the eye can see.

We enter the glimmering interior of the Ice Palace, carved inside the glacier and adorned with dazzling ice sculptures. This special location is not open to members of the public and we enjoy an exclusive tour with a glass of wine, beer or glacial water at the Ice Bar. Descending, we return to the hotel for a three-course dinner this evening. Overnight Grindelwald.

We take a short rail journey after breakfast to the picturesque village of Wilderswil. From here, we travel along an open-coach cog railway through pretty alpine meadows on our way up to Schynige Platte, soaking up sensational views of the Jungfrau. Enjoying this wonderfully nostalgic journey from beautifully restored 19th-century carriages, the vintage train hugs the picturesque contours of the mountain as we cross many bridges and burrow through endless tunnels. The higher the train climbs, the more breathtaking the views.

At the summit, we have free time to explore the Alpine Botanical Garden - an explosion of color, this delightful garden has around 800 different species of alpine flora, including blueberries, local azaleas and roses. Look out for the legendary edelweiss flower, a beloved symbol of the Swiss Alps, as it blossoms in its natural habitat.

Returning down the mountain on the quaint railway, we continue by rail to Grindelwald for dinner at our hotel this evening. Overnight Grindelwald.

This morning, we head to Brienz, the starting point for a steam-hauled ascent of the Brienzer Rothorn Mountain above the glorious turquoise Lake Brienz.

The cog railway journey to the top of the mountain is magical, as we admire wonderful views of the Emmental Alps. Free time at the summit allows you to explore and bask in the panoramic views at your leisure, whether it's taking a stroll or visiting the summit restaurant for a bite to eat. Our afternoon ends with a wonderful scenic cruise back to Interlaken, sailing serenely across the crystal-clear lake on a traditional lake boat. With the Alps rising all around us and pretty villages dotting the green shores, our cruise is as beautiful as the ascent. From Interlaken, we continue to our hotel in Grindelwald.

Back at our five-star hotel this evening, we enjoy a final three-course dinner together. Overnight Grindelwald.

This Swiss vacation has taken us from the historic city of Zürich to the heart of the Alps. We have encountered the north face of the Eiger, journeyed up Grindelwald First by cable car and ascended to the "Top of Europe" on the spectacular route of the Jungfrau Express. The region's heritage railways revealed astonishing views from the top of Brienzer-Rothorn and the Schynige Platte Alpine Botanical Garden, and we enjoyed a serene cruise along turquoise Lake Brienz, encircled by Swiss mountain scenery.

After breakfast, your fantastic Swiss vacation concludes with a First Class train journey to Zürich Airport, from where you can make your way home.

The delightful steam-hauled Brienz-Rothorn Mountain Railway was opened in 1892 and provides a real heritage rail experience. A charming small steam engine carries us up the route beside steep and rocky mountains and verdant alpine meadows - all while providing beautiful views of the glistening Lake Brienz below. Its destination is Rothorn mountain at an altitude of more than 7,000ft. On a clear day, the vistas from this vantage point are spectacular and, as it is only a few miles from the lake shore, viewing Lake Brienz from a different perspective really brings out the remarkable color.

Venture to the "Top of Europe" on Switzerland's Jungfrau Railway. Planning for this electric cogwheel rail line began in 1896, and after nearly 17 years of hard manual labor, digging, excavating, and laying track within the face of Eiger to reach the summit of Jungfraujoch, the line opened in 1912. Passengers have been enjoying this incredible journey for over 100 years. Inspiring panoramas of the Swiss Alps await at each station, and at the summit, attractions range from a spectacular viewing platform to an ice palace.

High up in the Bernese Highlands of Switzerland, stretched between sun-drenched alpine meadows or snow-capped peaks depending on the season, the Schynige Platte Railway winds its way from the town of Wilderswil to the Schynige Platte ridge. Along the way, a jaw-dropping spectacle of ancient mountains reveals itself, indulging passengers in an alpine wonderland of supreme beauty. The route also features marvelous views of the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau mountains.

Perfectly situated in the heart of the charming village of Grindelwald, this 5-Star traditional Swiss chalet-style hotel provides a truly authentic alpine experience and, with the train station on the doorstep, it is perfectly located for exploring locally or further afield. Many of the guest rooms offer views of the imposing north face of the Eiger and the wonderful alpine scenery surrounding Grindelwald. Facilities include several restaurants, a beautiful swimming pool with breathtaking views of the mountains, a well-equipped spa and a wellness center. Each ensuite guestroom is elegantly furnished and individually decorated, and comes equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, minibar, coffee & tea-making facilities and complimentary toiletries.

This contemporary 5-Star boutique hotel sits directly on the shores of picturesque Lake Zurich. Situated on the outskirts of Zurich city center in Thalwil, a scenic lakeside town, this hotel offers a tranquil retreat with luxury comforts. Savor a nightcap in the elegant bar or indulge in fresh Mediterranean cuisine with lake views in the restaurant or terrace. Guests enjoy access to the well-equipped spa, with indoor pool and sauna and direct lake access, as well as access to the complementary boat and chauffeur services into Zurich's Old Town. Each ensuite guestroom is equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, minibar, coffee & tea-making facilities and complimentary toiletries.

Many of our guests choose to spend additional nights before or after their trip. Great Rail Journeys would be happy to make hotel arrangements for you.