Six of Switzerland's best
Panoramic peaks and perfect viewing points
Staggering views, surreal landscapes of ice and snow and railways hewn directly from the rocks – to visit one of Switzerland’s extraordinary mountain peaks is to experience another world.
Jungfraujoch
Europe’s highest train station, Jungfraujoch, is aptly named the Top of Europe and from its spectacular viewing point you can look out across awesome peaks and valleys.
Just above the station is the Sphinx Observation Deck where you can look out across the beautiful Bernese Alps to the stunning peaks of the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger. On a clear day, views extend all the way to Germany and Italy, with the Black Forest in the middle ground. Another amazing sight from here is the awesome Aletsch Glacier which stretches out as far as the eye can see.
On our small group tour, the Jungfrau Express Five-Star All Inclusive we see all this and more, with a private tour of the remarkable Ice Palace – carved into the glacier itself, and packed with exquisite ice-sculptures – and a visit to the Ice Bar for a chilled drink.
Jungfrau Express Five-Star All Inclusive | Great Rail Journeys
Schilthorn
Ride the cable car to the sensational summit of the Schilthorn, and you’re up among the staggering peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and the Jungfrau. Apart from being the famed setting of a James Bond classic ‘On our Majesty’s Secret Service’ – with a 360 degree views from the revolving restaurant up here, the view lounges here provide a perfectly sheltered spot to soak up the extraordinary stillness of nature at this altitude, and the seemingly endless views.
And did we mention views of the gorgeous Bernese and Valais Alps, and the impossibly blue waters of Lake Thun? Speaking of water, on our Wengen and the Jungfrau Express tour you enjoy an excursion to the Schilthorn, which also includes a visit to the phenomenal Trümmelbach Falls. Nestled deep inside a canyon, these ten waterfalls have carved a path through the hillside and are Europe’s largest subterranean waterfalls.
Wengen and the Jungfrau Express Tour | Great Rail Journeys
Gornergrat
The Gornergrat Mountain Railway is Switzerland’s original electric rack railway, which first carried travellers the six miles up the mountain in August 1898. It still holds the title of the highest open-air cogwheel railway in Europe. Joining the route from Zermatt, we’re transported over valleys and alpine forests to the summit of the Gornergrat, an altitude of over 10,000 feet above sea level. With jaw-dropping views from the top of this glacial plateau, on a clear day an astonishing 29 mountaintops are visible, including the best view of the distinctive, pyramid-shaped Matterhorn.
First-Class Glacier Express, Zermatt and Matterhorn is a holidays in two bases, St Moritz and tranquil Zermatt, which – besides journeys on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express - includes a trip on this fabulous railway.
First-Class Glacier Express, Zermatt and Matterhorn | Great Rail Journeys
Schynige Platte
On the Jungfrau Express Five-Star All Inclusive holiday we take a nostalgic journey by cog railway through pretty alpine meadows, up to the fantastic vantage point of Schynige Platte. The route of the Schynige Platte Railway takes us from Wilderswil, up above dense forests, idyllic alpine meadows, and the gorgeous turquoise lakes Thun and Brienz. At the summit is the Botanical Alpine Garden, a breathtaking place with stunning views. Take the delightful one kilometre walk among hundreds of species of enchanting alpine flora, where you can see rare mountain flowers including the paradise lily, black lobelia and Switzerland’s beloved Edelweiss.
Jungfrau Express Five-Star All Inclusive | Great Rail Journeys
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
At the top of the highest cable car station in Europe lies a magical experience, as well as incredible year-round vistas. The snow-covered alpine wonderland of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise provides monumental views of the famous peak, and the enchanting ice palace - the highest of its kind in the world. The experience is further enhanced as a lift lowers us 15-metres inside the glacier, where we are greeted by remarkable sculptures crafted from the perpetual ice that surrounds us, adding a decorative touch to a surreal landscape.
From 2024, our First-Class Glacier Express, Zermatt and Matterhorn holiday includes an excursion to this extraordinary location.
First-Class Glacier Express, Zermatt and Matterhorn | Great Rail Journeys
Grindelwald
One of the memorable excursions on the Wengen and the Jungfrau Express tour is a trip on the innovative Wengen-Männlichen cableway which was built in the 1950s to connect Wengen with the mountains. From here we continue to Grindelwald aboard Europe’s longest gondola cableway – originally constructed in 1978, this 6.2km cable car was replaced with a new model in 2019.
As we soar above the impressive mountain panorama there’s a great view of the rugged Eiger’s forbidding north face. Grindelwald itself is a quintessential Alpine village in a natural paradise setting, surrounded by mighty peaks and the start of several walking paths.
Wengen and the Jungfrau Express Tour | Great Rail Journeys
