The scenic route

Travelling by train in this part of the world is as enthralling as it gets, especially if you happen to hop aboard the Glacier Express. This is no ordinary train journey – you’ll be enjoying the best seats in the house in Excellence Class. The new carriage is a throwback to the golden age of travel, when a journey wasn’t simply a question of getting from A to B. Here, sip local wines while watching glaciers go by from the comfort of guaranteed window seats. Your personal concierge can provide anecdotes and information about the nature, culture and people you meet along your journey.

With bags dispensed of and champagne corks popped for welcome drinks beneath the gold-plated compass in the Glacier Bar, take your seat for a five course lunch of regional delicacies, accompanied by wines, amuse-bouche and more champagne. All dishes are freshly prepared in the on-board kitchen, including the delicate patisserie treats served at teatime, with a side order of outstanding views.

Tick off the highlights of the alpine chain – from the soaring 2,033-metre high Oberalp Pass to the 400-metre deep Rhine Gorge – while diving through 91 tunnels and over 291 bridges on the eight-hour journey from Zermatt to St Moritz via Andermatt (or vice versa). It offers the rare opportunity to combine one of the most spectacular train journeys in the world with the most iconic Swiss ski resorts.

The final destination is St Moritz – as the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism, this glamorous region has already hosted two Winter Olympic Games and five Alpine World Ski Championships. In addition, an array of festivals and events make this a sought-after resort before you even carve powder – the annual gourmet festival, snow polo, classic car racing, not to mention the world-famous toboggan track, the Cresta Run, provide year-round entertainment.

St Moritz offers a rare combination of snow and sun, and with 350km of pistes over four separate sectors, it’s a great choice for all abilities, particularly intermediates. Experiencing the mountains of Switzerland is a true feast for the senses – and travelling in style doesn’t get much better than this.