Gilberto

Wanted suggested schedule for the trips or excursions I can make daily (4 days) from Murren (pacely). What if the weather in the mountains is not good, what would you do? Does anybody knows if the Berner Oberland Pass can be used up to Zermatt?<BR><BR>Thanks in advance for any help on this matter.

Bob Brown

Here is a place where you can see the extent of the Berner Oberland Pass region:http://www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch/e_ticket.htm<BR><BR>You can go as far as Brig at a substantial discount. From Brig to Zermat is a lesser discount, and from Zermat to the Gornergrat station is 25%.<BR>I am not putting percents on the first two because it depends on which day you travel -- is it one of your free days??<BR>But it is a long trip from M&uuml;rren to Zermatt, mainly because getting out of M&uuml;rren is not a simple task.<BR>You can ride the little train to the furnicular station and then down to the Lauterbrunnen train station, which takes about half an hour. It is not such a bad ride, but the problem as I see after my 3 weeks of visiting that area, is that you have to adjust what you do to the return schedule.<BR>I love M&uuml;rren and the views from the various places around there, but I have not stayed there because I wanted to visit many places. <BR>Also the time of the year plays a role, as well, as do your travel objectives.<BR>Are you talking about hiking or riding to various places in the vicinity??<BR>

Gilberto

Thanks again for your input, Bob. The reason I asked for a schedule in the Murren area was to plan day visits in the Berner Oberland Area in case of bad weather. The trip to Zermatt will be at the end of the stay in Murren. No, I`m not planning to hike, altough I wish to try one of the suggested walks in the area. We are travelling with a 77 years old parent, so, mostly we will like to visit interesting places, just in case.<BR><BR>Thank you again for your advice.<BR><BR>Gilberto

jw

Hello Gilberto, I cannot remember the time of the year you will be visiting the area, so if my recommendations are not appropriate, someone else will have to let you know. I think a visit to Thun or Bern would be enjoyable. Brienz is a delightful town if you choose a time when the tour buses are not on site, and the little castle/museum at Oberhofen on lake Thun is very beautiful. We took the lake boat to reach it. J.

Ingo

A must is the capital of Switzerland, Bern. The old medieval centre of Bern figures on the UNESCO-list of heritage of mankind. Some highlights: the munster church (climb the tower!), the Zytgloggeturm – an old clock tower, join a free guided tour to visit the house of the Swiss parliament, the small museum where Albert Einstein lived and defined the theory of relativity… Just enjoy walking along the streets with arcades, do some shopping …<BR><BR>You can do a boat trip on Lake Thun from Interlaken to Thun. Have a look at the castles of Oberhofen, Hilterfingen, Spiez, Schadau and visit the old town of Thun with its castle.<BR><BR>For a rainy day a visit of the Beatus cave is a good choice. You can go there from Interlaken by boat or bus.<BR><BR>Another good deal is to visit Ballenberg Museum close to Brienz. It is a large area with houses from all over Switzerland, which were transferred from their original places to Ballenberg. If you are interested in rural culture and farmer’s life this is a good choice. <BR><BR>I remember you will be travelling in early June. At this time Zermatt is a dead village. So I do not recommend to stay there for more than one night. It takes you about 5 hours to get from Muerren to Gornergrat, so you should leave latest at 8:30, arriving at Gornergrat 13:30 pm.

Bob Brown

Of the various walks in the M&uuml;rren area, I like the trail from Stechelberg to a deeply recessed cirque known as the Kilchbalm. The trail is relatively flat with no steep climbs. It follows along a farm road for much of the way as it follows the creek up-stream. You need to go through some fences by removing slats from posts, which of course you are obligated to replace.<BR>At the end of the trail, you are at the base of towering granite cliffs that are streaming with waterfalls. The bottom of the cirque is flat, then the mountail walls rise vertically to the heights. It is a fascinating place. <BR>You feel like no one knows you are there, except for the cows. They were totally oblivious to our presence to the extent that we had to detour around the ones that were lying in the trail chewing away.

jw

Ingo, if you're around, check out the post which reads "Suggestions on Where to Stay" -- Someone is looking for a small old-world mountain village for a winter non-skiing week. You're just the person to help him select.

Bob Brown

I cannot resist getting my 6 cents worth in on this topic. Having spent several weeks of my life in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, I find that I am still exploring it. It has been fun!!<BR><BR>There is a fine short walk along a flat trail from the station at Grutschalp to M&uuml;rren. You could ride the train north to Grutschalp and walk back. There is a restaurant about halfway that always seems popular the three times I have walked past it. As you walk back, the Jungfrau and friends are immediately in front of you. I suggest walking south from Grutschalp because if you do it the other way, your neck will be sore from turning your head so much to look back, or you will be tempted to walk backwards so you can see the mountains, or you may just find a place to sit and not walk at all!!<BR><BR>Another all world view is from the top of the M&auml;nnlichen ridge east of Lauterbrunnen, and on the opposite side of the vally from M&uuml;rren.<BR>You can get there by taking a variety of means of transportation.<BR>Cable lift down to Stechelberg, post bus to Lauterbrunnen, train to Wengen, Luftseilbahn to the top of the ridge.(big car suspended from a cable). <BR>Or train to Grutschalp, that rolling elevator down to Lauterbrunnen, walk to the train station, take the train up the hillside to Wengen. <BR>There is a cafe on the ridge with a terrace and numerous places to sit and stare.<BR>That location enables a full view of the awesome north wall of the Eiger. The M&ouml;nch and the Jungfrau are also in view as are many, many other beautiful peaks.<BR>The view out over the valley is no slouch either.