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Switzerland- 4 nights and 4 and half days starting from Geneva

Switzerland- 4 nights and 4 and half days starting from Geneva

Old Mar 17th, 2012, 06:28 PM
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Switzerland- 4 nights and 4 and half days starting from Geneva

My wife and I will be visiting Switzerland in first-second week of September. We fly into Geneva(from Brussels) and take a train out of Bern/Basel to Paris. Our plan so far looks like this:
Night before day 1: Arrive in Geneva
Day 1: early morning take a train to Montreaux and head to Chateau de Chillon @9am. Take the golden pass train at around 11 or 12 to Interlaken. Get off at interlaken and head to Murren/Gimmelwald.
Day 2: Berner Oberland
Day 3: Berner Oberland
Day 4: Berner Oberland (?)
Day 5: Leave for Bern. Take a half day tour around Bern and head to Basel. Take a train from Basel late afternoon/early evening to Paris

So here are our questions regarding the itinerary:
1. What do you recommend as a base in Berner Oberland? Murren or Gimmelwald? Gimmelwald has been recommended by Rick Steves, however, there seems to be only one restaurant there and perhaps a bit too remote(?). Also, its accessible only via the Gondola which limits our movement. Do you think Murren is just as good?
2. Do you recommend 3 days in Berner Oberland?
3. We plan to do mild to moderate hikes(nothing technical or strenuous) while we are there. Any recommendations for the same?
4. Do you suggest we go all the way up to Jungfraujoch?
5. We plan to see the Trummelbach and Sttaubach falls, and the folk museum in that area. Do you have any other suggestions?
6. Traveling from Geneva to Interlaken, is it recommended to get off at Thun and take lake cruise to interlaken?

Thanks for all your suggestions
ara1381 is offline  
Old Mar 17th, 2012, 09:17 PM
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Hi ara1381,

I wish you could give yourselves a bit more time in Montreux. You barely have time to get to Chillon, tour it, and then run back to the train station to catch the train to Interlaken. One of the best things about Montreux is its incredibly lovely flowered lakeside path that runs between Chillon and Montreux -- I think you might enjoy taking the time to walk it. You could take the bus to Chillon (bus #201 runs every 10 minutes) and then walk back (walk back takes about 45 minutes).

I also think it would be a good idea to hop off the Golden Pass at Gstaad. Walk through town, stop in a cafe for a snack, then hop on the next train to Interlaken. More information at

www.gstaad.ch

As for some of your questions --

Yes, I think Gimmelwald is just too small; not much there except a few buildings. Mürren is awfully small, too, but it has enough restaurants and hotels for some visitors.

Yes, why not go all the way to the top of the Jungfraujoch? Have you already seen the views from a mountaintop like that? If not, I really think it would be a great thing to do.

No, I don't think taking a cruise from Thun to Interlaken will be wonderful, especially if you're travelling with luggage. I think seeing Gstaad would be more interesting. If you want to take a cruise on Lake Thun, you could do that on one of your days in Mürren.

Anyway, have fun!

s
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Old Mar 18th, 2012, 01:34 AM
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I agree with swandav that you should extend your stay in Montreux a little. I see there's a 12.44 pm train leaving from Montreux via Gstaad to Spiez - that would be perfect. Definitely walk back along the lake promenade from Chillon.

I am afraid there's no time left for a stop in Gstaad.

1) Definitely Mürren and NOT Gimmelwald for the reasons swandav gave. Gimmelwald is tiny, tiny, tiny.

2) Yes. Definitely not too much time. You could even stay longer.

3) There are several moderate trails along the mountain slope where Mürren is situated - Allmendhubel, Winteregg, Grütschalp. You can combine those with the funicular to Allmendhubel and the tram to/from Grütschalp.

A *must* and quite easy is the hiking trail from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, with possible hike down to Wengernalp where you can catch the cog-train back to Wengen - Lauterbrunnen. From Wengen to Männlichen by cable car.

Or go to Grindelwald, gondola to First, hike to Lake Bachalpsee. Or hike First to Grosse Scheidegg, back by bus.

There are too many options to list them all.

4) Hm. Difficult question. You could add that trip to the hike Männlichen - Kleine Scheidegg. I'd say, decide on the spot. If you feel like you'd like to do it, then do it. It's really outrageously expensive. Also, most of the ride is in a tunnel, which I do not like. If you've been on other glaciers then this is not a *must*.

5) There will not be time to see more. Just in case the weather is bad, see Thun (beautiful old town, castle). Or, even with nice weather, do a lake cruise on lake Thun and stop to see one or two castles (Spiez, Oberhofen).

6) No. Too much hassle.
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Old Mar 18th, 2012, 04:47 AM
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Rick Steeves is GOOFY.

Gimmelwald? There is nothing in Gimmelwald.

If I were a French film star and I was having a nervous breakdown and trying to escape the paparazzi, wanting nothing but solitude and to hear only the sound of my own breathing, then maybe I would stay in Gimmelwald.

I also recommend a boat ride on Lake Brienz or Lake Thun.

I recommend a trip up to the Schynige Platte.

Tschuss,
Pepper
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Old Mar 18th, 2012, 05:30 AM
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Hi All,
Thanks much for all your wonderful feedback. I think we are going to take your suggestion and give a couple more hours to Montreaux. We will try to get the 1:45pm train golden pass panoramic train to Interlaken.

Also, we will stay in Murren and not Gimmelwald.

As far as Jungfraujoch is concerned, we are not seeing glaciers for the first time. We were in Alaska last summer and saw a bunch of majestic glaciers. I dont mind seeing another glacier for sure but it is not a must see for us.

Does the swiss train pass cover the price of the train to Jungfrau?

Also, my wife is interested in seeing a demonstration of the alpine horn. Where would be the best place to see that?

Thanks much
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Old Mar 18th, 2012, 09:51 AM
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Nope, the Swiss Pass only covers the train up to Wengen - for the remaining part of the trip up to Jungfraujoch you get a discount, but it's still very expensive. So, no, I think you don't *have* to go up to Jungfraujoch. Seeing the glaciers/mounains from half way up is enough. Or pick another mountain top that is not as expensive.

Don't know when exactly Alphorn players work You could ask (email) the tourist offices in Mürren or Wengen.
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Old Mar 18th, 2012, 02:07 PM
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The Jungfrau Marathon is September 8-9, 2012, Saturday and Sunday.

You don't want to be anywhere near Kleine Scheidegg then as it will look like a scene out of Dr. Zhivago.

You will want to go in opposite direction.

With Swiss Pass you get 25% off Jungfrau excursion.

If you do like Ingo says and walk from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengernalp you will pass right in front of the Jungfrau.

There is a souvenir shop somewhere in GRINDELWALD (not Gimmelwald) that has one of those alphorns outside on the sidewalk. I saw someone blowing into it.

Tschuss,
Pepper
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Old Mar 18th, 2012, 06:28 PM
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Thanks Pepper-von for the heads up. Would the whole region be very crowded during the marathon? We saw that there are over 3500 expected participants. Should we be changing the dates of our trip? We potentially can change our plan to Sep 4th through 8th.

Thanks!
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Old Mar 19th, 2012, 05:54 AM
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No, I wouldn't change the plans.

The BO is always crowded to some degree. It is a very popular tourist destination.

Tschuss,
Pepper
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