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Spending time in Berner Oblerand - Take a side trip to Saas Fee?

Spending time in Berner Oblerand - Take a side trip to Saas Fee?

Old Jan 28th, 2015, 05:38 AM
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Spending time in Berner Oblerand - Take a side trip to Saas Fee?

We've been to Switzerland number of times. Will be spending about 4 days in the Berner Oberland in September and I see that we can go to Brig in about 1 hour and Saas Fee from there in another hour. We've never been to these areas and wonder if they are different enough from BO to warrant a day trip.
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 07:28 AM
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Well Saas-Fee is different of course but not nearly as wooing and aweing as the B O overall - kind of small - the bus ride there from St Niklaas (?) - changing from the train is nice and rather thrilling. Personally I would not spend a whole day going there and back at the expense of the many varied things to do in the B O - Brig is a nice town but no nicer than many around the Interlaken area.

Saas-Fee is basically one huge mountain that slopes down to the town - different than the sheer cliffs of the B.O. so different.
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 07:57 AM
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Brig is definitely different and not worth leaving the BO for, IMO. However since you've "been to Switzerland number of times" perhaps it would be worth it. Frankly, I'd try to find somewhere else within two hours.
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 08:12 AM
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Like Engleberg and Mt Titlis - just over the Brunig Pass route by train - more impressive to me than Saas-Fee, which is awesome enough.
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 08:43 AM
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We've been to Mt. Titlis in April 2013. Loved it.
We haven't been to the BO since 2002, so I'm sure we'll find many things to do in that area. Just thought I'd try something new. If you have any other suggestions, let me know. (Been to Lucerne, Lugano, Lake Constance area, Bern, Lake Geneva/Leman).
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 09:23 AM
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I don't think it's worth it.

What about the three lakes area? Murten is a beautiful town, the wine regions along the lakes is very nice.

Have you seen Ballenberg? Reichenbach falls, Aare gorge near Meiringen?

What about Emmental? Very green, cheese making area, picturesque villages/beautiful isolated typical farmhouses. Burgdorf is worth a couple of hours, too.

Fribourg has a stunning medieval old town. Lots of churches, monasteries, museum, cathedral, bridges ...
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 09:39 AM
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Hi Ingo - Been to Fribourg and loved it also. Depending on wether, may go back. Thanks for suggesting it.

Will check out Ballenberg. I think getting to Emmental region from Interlaken (where we will be staying) is a long trip.
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 10:09 AM
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bookmarking this
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 10:56 AM
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diane seems you've not been to Zermatt and if not base there for a few days - not nearly as many varied things to do as in the Berner Oberland but then take the shorter day trip to Saas-Fee from there and spend a few hours in Brig as well - perhaps take the Simplon Pass postal bus up and over the pass - one of the most dramatic bus rides in Europe!
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 01:40 PM
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Thanks PalenQ.
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Old Jan 28th, 2015, 04:29 PM
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Now thinking about Kandersteg. Any comments or opinions?
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Old Jan 29th, 2015, 07:46 AM
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The Saas Valley (where Saas Fee lies) is a beautiful Swiss mountain valley, surrounded by some 40 more than 12.500ft high mountains and by some 30 glaciers.

The following viewpoints can be reached by cableways:

Graechener Hannigalp, 7000ft, gondola from Graechen
Giw, 6500ft, chairlift from Visperterminen
Gspon, 6200 ft, gondola from Stalden-Saas
Hannig, 7700ft, gondola from Saas Fee
Langfluh, 9400ft, gondola from Saas Fee
Mittelallalin, 11400ft, cablecar from Saas Fee
Plattjen, 8400 ft, gondola from Saas Fee
Hohsaas, 10300ft, gondola from Saas Grund
Furggstalden, 6250ft, gondola from Saas Almagell
Monte Moro Pass, 9200ft, gondola from Macugnaga Staffa

Only Saas Fee and may be Saas Almagell and Saas Grund are somewhat touristy (Swiss family tourism). The other places, namely Saas Balen, Eisten, Gspon and Visperterminen are almost unspoilt (with 1 hotel in each village).

The whole valley can be surrounded on hiking trails at altitudes around 2200 metres. Four well signmarked trails lead to Italy and three others to the Simplon Pass road.

The itinerary from the Bernese Oberland goes of course NOT via Brig:
Spiez - train - Visp - Postbus - Saas Fee: 85 min journey, every 30 to 60 min from 6.36 until 22.05
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Old Jan 29th, 2015, 03:02 PM
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Thanks neckervd.
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Old Jan 30th, 2015, 05:34 AM
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You're welcome!
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