Grand Alpine Explorer Reviews

This tour lived up to expectations and more! A group of 27 plus our tour leader. The group mixed easily and was very well coordinated by our English tour leader, Ivan, who was a mine of information. As he said, 'he didn't do stress', so it was all quite relaxed. We really appreciated the itinerary had 2 and 3 night stays - more time to explore and great ...read more not to be packing up on a daily basis. Whilst it covered the 3 main rail journeys, Bernina Express, Glacier Express and up to the Jungfrau - there would have been about 12 train connections/trips in all - each a picturesque experience. There was enough time for own exploring as well the planned tour. Highlights - walking tours around towns we stayed in, visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, so many picture postcard scenes, a personal visit to the delightful village of Grindelwald near the Eiger on return from Jungfrau (via the cog railway), snowflakes falling at St Moritz!

The tour went without a hitch with free time and trains to catch. Glad we went for portage, carrying bags would have been difficult. Rooms in general were on the small side. All transfers even to Zurich were confirmed well before time (thanks to tour leader Brian). Group size could have been smaller, I think 28 would have been a good size group. Over ...read more all a good trip. Special thanks to tour leader Brian.

Quite an enjoyable tour, glad we took this. Well organised in Munich with meeting and transfer to the hotel. We met our tour guide and were surprised to meet additional people with him who had started from London. We were incorporated to form the tour group. The tour of Munich was good, however we had to buy a return train ticket to get back to the ...read more hotel. A change to the accommodation booking in Innsbruck to an alternate location (Kramsgach Weislng) meant we lost our sightseeing time in Innsbruck. Not good.

Arrived in St Moritz, it was really enjoyable. Loved the Bernina Line train to Tirano. Excellent, great day out. Loved the Glacier Express train, including lunch onboard. Unbelievable trip to Jungfrau, very nice and enjoyable. It was very good to have free time, especially without the expectation of added on excursions or group tours. Don't change this feature.

There was confusion at the end of the tour in Interlaken and with the trip to Zurich. Did not visit Zurich other than the airport. The tour guide was not aware that this Zurich trip was included in our arrangements and he was expected to help set it up. He did help us set things up, but left early with the England contingent leaving us to sort out the issues that arose with taxi bookings. Not good.

Note: Regarding the optional excursions star rating, gets 5 stars because there wasn't any, hence good.

The train trips were wonderful. As were the mountain destinations. St Moritz was a desert. Nothing open, all over-the-top expensive and absolutely nothing to do. Like a cardboard movie set before the shoot. Take it off the agenda!

The group size of 31 was too large by about 6. Tour guide was very pleasant and personable - and helpful. He did his ...read more best but did not need to give us his thought processes about what “might work” and what might not, as it added to confusion especially when he changed meeting times a few times or was a bit vague.