Experience alpine charm and breathtaking mountain views on this quintessentially Swiss holiday featuring a journey on the iconic Mont Blanc Express to Chamonix in France

Meeting the Tour Manager at London St Pancras early this morning, your holiday begins by boarding the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in Plus class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats.

Changing trains in the French capital, we continue by rail to Geneva in First Class. From here, we are transferred by coach direct to our alpine hotel. Passing the glistening shores of Lake Geneva, we view the famous shoreline resorts of the Swiss Riviera on the way to the mountain resort of Champéry. Our home in Switzerland for the next six nights is a charming four-star hotel with beautiful alpine views across to the sharp, toothlike summits of the seven peaks of the Dents du Midi, part of the Chablais Alps.

Tonight, and each evening of our holiday, we enjoy a three-course dinner at the hotel.

Today, you're free to get to know Champéry at your own pace. One of the oldest mountain resorts in Switzerland, Champéry's picturesque main street features traditional chalets displaying carved balconies and pitched roofs. It is here you can find many charming shops and restaurants in which to relax and soak up the views.

High up in a valley just across the mountainous border from the famous French ski resorts of Avoriaz and Morzine, amazing alpine views surround our base. There are many walking trails in the area, but an easier way to bask in the incredible scenery is by taking the red-and-white cable car to Croix-de-Culet. At a height of 6,350 feet, this is a ski area in winter but in summer provides breathtaking panoramas across the region's peaks. A regular train service links the station immediately outside our hotel with Champéry's centre and the town of Aigle, which boasts a stunning medieval château set amid a backdrop of beautiful Alps.

Gathering back at our hotel this evening, we enjoy a three-course dinner in the restaurant.

A highlight of your holiday awaits after breakfast as we travel by train to France. After journeying down the valley to Martigny, we board the Mont Blanc Express for a stunning ride through the Chamonix Valley on a scenic line dating back more than a century. This route winds past dense forests, azure mountain lakes and stunning peaks on the way to Chamonix.

On arrival, you're free to explore this classic alpine resort with glorious mountain panoramas, the jewel in the crown of which is Mont Blanc, the highest in western Europe. Travelling in the vintage carriages of the Montenvers rack railway, you could climb even higher and see the fantastic Mer de Glace glacier and enter the ice cave, an amazing sight!

In Chamonix itself, there are many beautiful churches, shops and restaurants. You may be tempted to tuck into a delicious sweet or savoury crêpe with a café au lait, before we return across the mountains to Champéry for dinner tonight.

Setting out after breakfast, we head to the station to board a train for the short journey to Aigle. We connect by coach to Col du Pillon, where we step into the Glacier 3000 cable car, which whisks us up into the majestic mountains. Reaching the summit station at 3,000 metres, we enjoy panoramic view of 24 snow-capped peaks, including the Eiger, Monch, Jungfrau and the Matterhorn. In clear weather, you may be able to spot Mont Blanc, the focus of yesterday's spectacular train journey.

At the top, you might like to enjoy lunch in one of the high-altitude restaurants. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try the Peak Walk, the world's first suspension footbridge spanning two summits. For an easier stroll, you can take the Ice Express chairlift to a path along the glacier.

In the afternoon, after descending via the cable car, we head by coach to Gstaad, a charming mountain village. In the car-free centre, you can wander among the wooden chalets and sample the cafés before we return to our hotel for dinner.

You are free today to explore using your included Swiss Half Fare Card, offering 50% discounts on rail travel. One option is to take the train to Lake Geneva, where you can find Château de Chillon, an impressive fortress which resembles a fairytale castle.

Alternatively, you could visit the small valley town of Martigny. Surrounded by vineyards, the town has a fascinating culture and history, stretching back to the Romans and Celts. It also played a crucial role in Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power. Napoleonic forces used Martigny and the nearby St Bernard Pass to attack the Habsburgs, defeating them at the Battle of Marengo in northern Italy in 1800.

Situated in a fertile, sunny valley, Martigny is also known for its fresh produce and great food. There is a living museum allowing visitors to meet Saint Bernard dogs - the endearing animals which are devoted to rescuing people in the mountains. If you're looking for a bite to eat, the restaurants and cafés in Martigny are mostly around the Place Centrale in the heart of the town.

Today's journey takes us into the heart of the scenic Rhône Valley and the celebrated Valais wine region. In the morning, we set out for the charming town of Sion, travelling by train and connecting in Monthey.

Surrounded by vast terraced vineyards, Sion is famed for its two iconic medieval castles, Château de Tourbillon and the Basilique de Valère, which sit on twin hills overlooking the valley. On arrival, we set out on a tour of the town's well-preserved historic centre, viewing the 15th-century cathedral and the Witches' Tower, a remnant of the medieval city fortifications. Our tour also takes us to the town's two fortresses, which we explore with a guide.

In the afternoon, we head to a local winery, where we indulge in an exceptional wine tasting. Switzerland's Valais canton, where Sion is located, is celebrated for its rich winemaking tradition and exclusive varieties. Even today, the region only exports a small amount of its wine. In the evening, we return to Champéry for the final dinner of the holiday at our hotel.

The peaceful mountain town of Champéry is a great place from which to explore this part of mountainous Switzerland and neighbouring France. The Mont Blanc Express carried us over the Alps, affording great views of western Europe's highest mountain from the charming town of Chamonix. We soared into the clouds on the Glacier 3000 cable car, visited the charming mountainside village of Gstaad and enjoyed a wine tasting in the heart of the Valais wine region.

Leaving Champéry this morning, we say farewell to Switzerland, travelling by rail to Paris, via Aigle and Geneva, where we board the Eurostar in Plus class to London St Pancras, with a light meal onboard. On arrival this evening, your Swiss holiday comes to a conclusion.

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

Designed to make the most of the beautiful scenery and wonderful mountain vistas, the superb Mont Blanc Express offers one of the best railway journeys on offer in the Alps. Our journey on the tourist line begins in the small Swiss town of Martigny. On departure, the line begins a gentle ascent, passing through the neat rows of vineyards which line the fields running down to the tracks.

We continue into France through the charming landscape of the pretty Rhône Valley, and then our train begins to ascend in earnest - here it makes use of the rack-and-pinion mechanism to climb higher into the mountains. The views in this section are outstanding with snow-capped mountains towering over the sloping valley below. Our electric train then reaches the dramatic Trient Gorge, crossing the wild rocky canyon using a series of bridges. Soon we catch our first glimpse of the mighty Mont Blanc - France's highest mountain - as we approach the Chamonix Valley.

After a final climb along one of the line's steepest sections, the Mont Blanc Express arrives in the resort town on Chamonix, a wonderfully popular holiday destination due to its amazing mountain panoramas and picturesque location.

A 4-Star hotel that lives up to its name with a striking white frontage, this attractive boutique hotel is located a short distance from Champéry-Village train station on the edge of the beautiful mountain resort of Champéry. With incredible views of the magnificent Chablais Alps and just 25 rooms, this cosy retreat has an on-site restaurant serving local and traditional alpine cuisine. Modern and comfortable guest rooms are all equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, safe, minibar with complimentary water, tea & coffee-making facilities and hairdryer.

Your holiday begins the moment you meet your Tour Manager at St Pancras International and board the Eurostar train for mainland Europe. If you wish to get your holiday off to an extra special start, why not consider upgrading your on-board accommodation from Standard Class to Plus Class?

As well as all the amenities enjoyed in Standard Class, Plus Class travellers benefit from extra spacious, comfortable seats, complimentary newspapers and magazines and a light snack with drinks served at your seat during the journey. Before 11am, the light snack comprises breakfast pastries, yoghurt, fruit juice and tea or coffee. After 11am there is a choice of 2 main dishes and a dessert, accompanied by soft drinks, wine or beer and tea or coffee.

Prices for an upgrade from £125 each way. Please call us for more details.

Enjoy hassle-free travel to and from Switzerland with our return door-to-door luggage transfer service from only £349  per bag.

The service includes one 20kg bag per person which will be collected from your home before you depart and will be ready and waiting for you at your first destination hotel in Switzerland. Your bag will also be delivered back to your home address on your return.

If your tour involves an overnight stay enroute, you'll need to travel with an overnight bag. If flying to or from your destination, you will take your own luggage with you on the flight.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.