Switzerland in September

Old May 15th, 2017, 04:57 AM
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Switzerland in September

Me and 2 friends (in our mid 20's) are heading to Switzerland for the first time this coming September for almost 3 weeks! We're very active, big into hiking / mtn biking / etc. We'd like our trip to contain a good mix of difficult hiking trails and outdoor activities along with some general sightseeing and touristy aspects. We'll be flying into Geneva in early September and heading East, as we'll be flying out of Munich 3 weeks later (we'll be hitting Oktoberfest for a day or two to end the trip).

Given our active and outdoorsy nature, after Geneva, what are must see areas on our way up to Munich? I've heard great things about Interlaken, Mt Blanc, Grinderwald, Zermatt, etc.

What areas/hiking trails should we 100% have on our list?

Also, should we rent a car or use the rail system?

We plan on doing a mix of tent camping/hostel stays. Really appreciate any and all insight!
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Old May 15th, 2017, 05:30 AM
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The Bernese Oberland, the area around Interlaken, is probably the best overall area to explore for mountain goat-types in their first visit to Switzerland. Excellent resources for hiking and outdoor activities in that region:

- myswitzerland.com

- "Walking in the Bernese Oberland" by Kev Reynolds is a fine resource.

- "Swiss Bernese Oberland", 5th ed. by Philip H. Alspach and Loretta H. Alspach.

- Swiss Alpine Club if you want to go hard-core.

Grindlewald and Lauterbrunnen, just south of Interlaken, are good centralized towns in the mountains that are fine springboards for a variety of hikes. Also check out Murren and Wengen.

Traveling by rail is easiest, but 3 adults renting one car may be a more economical option. And more convenient if you have a lot of gear. Depends on exactly where you want to go. Some places in Switzerland are not accessible by car.
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Old May 15th, 2017, 06:33 AM
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Well why don't you start by doing some Googling on your interests.

You can find plenty of information if you simply look for it. For example:
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...ly-switzerland

But before getting into specific suggestions of where to go and what to do, you need to explain your budget. Generally speaking, a hostel budget does not allow for things like renting mountain bikes and other outdoor activities. Even hiking pretty much requires you to have the money to pay for cable cars, etc. One cable car ride up a mountain can cost you 25-40 CHF per person. You can expect to rent a mountain bike starting around 40 CHF per day.

Without knowing your budget, you may well be asking people to waste their time suggesting things you will not be able to afford to do.
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Old May 15th, 2017, 07:36 AM
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Also, should we rent a car or use the rail system?>

rail for Alpine regions and much cheaper than car - which has to be parked at edge of Alpine towns and not allowed to go farther - have to use trains and gondolas to get to nice hiking paths-for lots of info on Swiss trains check www.sbb.ch - Swiss Railways - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.
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Old May 15th, 2017, 12:34 PM
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If under 26 check to see if Switzerland has Swiss Youthpasses- same as Swiss Pass but of course cheaper.

Balmer's Auberge is a hostel and camp -in Interlaken and a great meeting place:

http://www.balmers.com/

Grindelwald also has a nice hostel -and remote Gimmelwald has one too. Great campsites in Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen - eyeball to eyeball with high Alps.
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Old May 16th, 2017, 08:32 AM
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We have a loose budget.. we're more geared towards hostels so we can some money and use it on the things we enjoy... mtn biking, restaurants, etc etc.

But I appreciate all the advice, thank you so much!

I've also heard great things about the hiking/beautiful nature in Lauterbrunnen Valley, Oeschinensee, Gimmelwald, Jungfrau, and Bernese Oberland. Are these areas that are all worth visiting as well?
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Old May 16th, 2017, 09:53 AM
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I've also heard great things about the hiking/beautiful nature in Lauterbrunnen Valley, Oeschinensee, Gimmelwald, Jungfrau, and Bernese Oberland>

except for Oeschnensee which I have never heard of the others are all in the same compact area - up from Interlaken - again hostels in Grindelwald, Gimmelwald and Lauterbrunnen and the nice Nature Friends' House in Grindelwald - an all ages kind of hostel - private rooms - communal kitchen attracts hikers of all ages.

Really the variety of hiking in the Jungfrau Region is mind-boggling and transports going everywhere makes the trails of all kind easily accessible.
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Old May 16th, 2017, 11:40 AM
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Pal -The Oeschinensee is the lake you get to by first going to Kandersteg.
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Old May 16th, 2017, 11:58 AM
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thanks Diane! then it could be reachable from the Interlaken area in about an hour by train and postal bus.
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Old May 17th, 2017, 07:46 AM
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If you ask for help bgar15, then it would help you if you answered questions as asked in order to get you that help.

I asked what your budget was. Writing, "We have a loose budget", does not answer that question.

Is your budget a secret? Or do you not know what it will be? Judging by what you have written so far, I cannot tell if you will have enough money for what you say you are interested in doing. If you don't, there is no point in people suggesting anything at all.

Not counting airfare to/from Switzerland and not counting transportation within Switzerland, you will need around 70-100 CHF per day for a hostel bed, supermarket food and the odd museum entry or beer. A hostel bed alone can cost you 30-40 CHF per person/night.

That budget will NOT get you cable car rides or mountain bike rentals etc. Asking, 'should we go here or there' is a waste of time if you won't have the money to do anything when you get there.

It may be that the best advice for you is to go to one place, get a campsite and spend your money in that one area doing the things that interest you. Moving around costs more money and might mean you then have no money left to do anything other than hike. You need to tell us what budget per person/per day you will have to work with and what you expect it to cover.
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Old May 17th, 2017, 10:14 AM
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Pal - Yup!
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Old May 17th, 2017, 12:20 PM
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What areas/hiking trails should we 100% have on our list?>

None stick out that much- let serendipity rule - but one everyone raves about is Schynige Platte down to Grindelwald valley or for more difficult hike up - trains go from Wilderswill -near Interlaken - to Schynige Platte -known for its rave views and Alpine Garden and Teddy Bear Land!
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Old May 17th, 2017, 01:45 PM
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"Walking in the Bernese Oberland" by Kev Reynolds is a fine resource.>>

lol, Edward, I'm sure Kev would love to know that you like his book [one of many as I'm sure you know] - I was only speaking to him on Saturday and discussing where we might stay in Switzerland - hence my visiting this thread!
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Old May 17th, 2017, 01:55 PM
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And thank you annhig for reminding me to pack Kev's Walks in the Engadine - we leave for Iceland and Switzerland Friday and I'd completely forgotten to put it in the pack pile.
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Old May 17th, 2017, 02:15 PM
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my pleasure, Mel. I'm sure he'd be glad to know that his books are being put to such good use.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2017, 03:23 AM
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I know most say to "do the math" when calculating what rail pass is most practical, but our trip will be much less of a plan and more of "take each day as it comes." The only dead set plans are flying into Geneva, heading to Chamonix for a couple nights, heading back East towards Interlaken/Bernese Oberland, spend a decent chunk of time there, then head East towards Zurich. We will then be spending the final nights in Munich. This trip will include a lot of backpacking/hiking/mtn biking.

What do you guys think? Does it make more sense to get a Swiss Travel Pass then just pay for our transportation out of pocket to and from France/Germany? Or does it make more sense to obtain a 3 country Select Eurail pass?
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Old Aug 22nd, 2017, 04:39 AM
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No to Eurail - for one thing costs more per day than Swiss Pass and doesn't give nearly as many benefits - like 50% off most trains and lifts to mountain tops-resounding yes to Swiss Pass for your Swiss travels - no-brainer off hand. check sites I gave far above for pass details.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2017, 06:07 AM
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Take bus Geneva - Chamonix

then a Swiss Pass is valid from there to Switzerland on the really scenic railway Chamonix-Martigny - on mainline to get to Interlaken via Visp/Brig and Spiez.

For Munich from Zurich check fares at www.bahn.de/en - German Railways site for tickets as cheap as 29 euros - so no need for any 3-country Eurailpass -Swiss Pass though is very useful in Interlaken area (Eurail is limited there).
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Old Aug 22nd, 2017, 06:34 AM
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What do you guys think? Does it make more sense to get a Swiss Travel Pass then just pay for our transportation out of pocket to and from France/Germany? Or does it make more sense to obtain a 3 country Select Eurail pass?>>

we ummed and erred about what pass to get too, and in the end we splashed out on a 15 day swiss travel pass, first class and I will never regret it, not even when we have to pay the c/card bill. Wherever we wanted to go, we went, with no need to think about tickets - upstairs in the first class on the boats, in the trains, up the funiculi - you name it we did it. Plus the odd cable car and museum.

You could also look at a Berner Oberland pass or even a Jungfrau pass but as we were going to Lucerne, they wouldn't have covered the whole area we were visiting.

In the end it's a matter of personal choice [and the ½ price card is also very useful I think, if you don't mind paying every time you get on some form of transport[ but for the most flexibility, the swiss pass is the card to have.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2017, 07:52 AM
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On inter-city trains like Martigny-Interlaken and to Zurich you will find many more empty seats in 1st class and more roomy, etc. And on boats as annhig says preferential outdoors up front seating (which though with a 2nd cl pass you can pay an upgrade of the difference between 1st and 2nd class fares.

Even on trains Interlaken-Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen I have seen 2nd cl SRO while the tiny 1st-class section was empty.

But on chairlifts, etc of course there is only one class.

If not on a tight budget first-class is always a benefit but many in Switzerland find 2nd class perfectly adequate.
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