I probably would stay in Wengen (or Lauterbrunnen)because it offers access to a greater variety of terrain and also does not exclude Muerren. From Wengen, you can travel to the top pf the Maennlichen, then walk to the Kleine Scheidegg, take the train to the Jungfraujoch, and return to Wengen. Or from the Maennlichen, you can walk to Grindelwald and cover some of the region there and return by train to W ngen (via Lauterbrunnen). Wengen - Lauterbrunnen - Muerren and the Silverhorn are also a possibility.

Murren is a bit more remote from what many would consider the best, for the novice traveler in the area, hiking - IMO in an around the Grindelwald amphitheatre/Wengen area.

We stayed 6 nights in Wengen a few years ago, and loved it. We visited Murren, but I thought Wengen was better situated and connected. My vote goes for Wengen.

I'll fourth what treplow, PalenQ and xyx99 said.

Love Switzerland and the BO area.

Happy Travels!

jdc

Another vote for Wengen. Have fun!

I am sold on Wengen. Would six nights be too many? I am an enthusiastic hiker. My interest is good hiking but not extremely long or hard. Would Wengen still be a good choice?

Wengen of course! Murren is great to visit for a few minutes. I have stayed in Wengen 4 times and hope to stay there many more.

Hi Always,

No, you won't run out of things to do in six nights. When you get tired of hiking, just head down to Interlaken and hop on a ferry to spend the day in Thun or in Spiez. Walk around the lake, see the castles in Thun and in Spiez. There are lots of things to do in the neighborhood to keep you busy.

Have fun!

s

One more question. I will be there in the third week of June. Is snow on the trails likely to be a problem?

not at anything IME but really high altitudes you will presumably not be doings - that is called Alpinism!

June is the perfect time IME for this area - not yet summer crowds and flowers are all out making you lapse into a chorus of Edelweiss, Edelweiss...

I prefer Mürren than Wengen or Grindelwald as it offers the most charm,better views,the Schilthorn,better restaurants and some superb hikes. It is also easily accessilble to visit the other villages (45mins to Wengen) by the superb transport network....it just isnt an issue

Are you in a rush or are you on holiday ??

I will be there in the third week of June. Is snow on the trails likely to be a problem?................no

Make the most of your time and book a tadem paragliding flight of the Schilthorn or lower -
http://airtime-paragliding.ch/

follow me on Twitter for the most upto date info on the resort: @murrenlover

webcams of Mürren village
http://hoteledelweiss.roundshot.ch/

Webcam from Männlichen (above Wengen)
http://panocam.skiline.cc/maennlichen

Murrenlover,

No rush - holiday - in fact, that is what I do 10 months of the year.

This is what I have so far for a mostly hiking oriented visit to Switzerland.

19 Jun - Wengen
20 Jun - Wengen
21 Jun - Wengen
22 Jun - Wengen
23 Jun - Wengen
24 Jun - Wengen
25 Jun - Kandersteg
26 Jun - Kandersteg
27 Jun - Kandersteg
28 Jun - Zermatt
29 Jun - Zermatt
30 Jun - Zermatt
01 Jul - Fiesch
02 Jul - Fiesch
03 Jul - Fiesch
04 Jul - Lugano
05 Jul - Lugano
06 Jul - Pontresina
07 Jul - Pontresina
08 Jul - Pontresina
09 Jul - Pontresina

Still considering a few other stops.

Always - with that itinerary some kind of Swiss Pass is a no-brainer to me - covers 100% of travel to Wengen (and Murren) and all over the Berner Oberland and to Kandersteg in full and Zermat infull - you are traveling so much it is really a no-brainer.

If you are the type to go to a base like Wengen and stay put then look at a Flexipass where you still get 50% off on gondolas, etc and anything else on days between your first and last unlimited travel day - if moving in and out of base like I do to see other parts of the area then a consecutive-day pass, much cheaper per unlimited travel day, may be your ticket to ride.

PalenQ - Just what I was trying to decide - Swiss Pass vice Flexi-Pass. I will certainly use transport from Wengen to Murren and other surrounding areas. How much out of base travel will in part depend on the weather.

You have chosen most of our favorite hiking destinations! I will not weigh in on Wengen vs. very nice hikes from Mürren, a bit more strenuous than the Wengen hikes though.

Be sure to hike to Fründenhütte above Oeschinensee at Kandersteg---spectacular!!!

http://www.sac-altels.ch/huetten/fruendenhuette.php

But why stay in Fiesch? Why not up at Bettmeralp, where you can start hiking right out your door? From the top of the ridge behind Bettmeralp, you can ssee all the way to the Matterhorn on a clear day.

As for singing "Edelweiss", my experience that time of you is you are more likely to see my favorite, the Schnee-Enzian.

http://flora.nhm-wien.ac.at/Seiten-Arten/Gentiana-nivalis.htm

Enzian - Actually not staying at Fliesch - Eggishorn. Is that also a good choice? I see Bettmeralp is not far. Eggishorn seemed like a good place for starting a hike to Aletsch Glacier.

Swiss Pass vs FlexiPass. For traveling between Wengen and Murren - for example, is this another instance of where I could use a Swiss Pass?

For traveling between Wengen and Murren - for example, is this another instance of where I could use a Swiss Pass?>

100% covered - even on the aerial cable way to Grutschalp and mountain railway Grutschalp to Murren and also on the cable way Murren to Gimmelwald and then the thrilling - stomach churning aerial gondola that plunges to the Lauterbrunnen Valley floor from Gimmelwald and postal bus back to Lauterbrunnel from the Stechelberg cable station and of course the train back up to Wengen. Be sure to use one of your 100% covered days if not having a consecutive-day pass on this journey and do the whole loop via Gimmelwald - a very unique and weird kind of farming hamlet in a simply stunning setting - do not miss stopping off there for at least a quick look.

Ah this area has so so much to offer - I am drooling just thinking about it all!

The Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp aerial gondola is 100% covered by a Swiss Pass - one of the very few such conveyances in Switzerland to be fully covered - usually they are 50% off - still a good deal for the pass but if the conveyance is part of a link to a town or village then it is covered 100% since it is essential transportation and in this case the town is Murren (and from Stechelberg the gondola goes to Gimmelwald, a town and thus is also 100% covered.

So that trek alone is a great perk of a Swiss Pass, 100% covering the whole loop Lauterbrunnen-Grutschalp-Murren-Gimmelwald-Stechelberg and even postal bus back to Lauterbrunnen.

I am an enthusiastic hiker. My interest is good hiking but not extremely long or hard. Would Wengen still be a good choice?

One of the finest in the world. Especially if the weather is clear.


100% covering the whole loop Lauterbrunnen-Grutschalp-Murren-Gimmelwald-Stechelberg

Along with the Swiss Pass, be sure to bring a camera with plenty of space available on the card. Trust me on this.

Murrenlover: Make the most of your time and book a tadem paragliding flight of the Schilthorn

Wow. I have to do that, someday.

Have to.

OK, so not Fiesch but Fiescheralp, aka Kühboden ("cowland"). It is not really a town, just a cluster of hotels and ski chalets, and the gondola building. But yes, you can get a nice view of the Aletschgletcher from the top of the Eggishorn (we hiked up ther and rode the cablecar down). Or you can hike over the Talligrat (or go under it via a 1-km tunnel) to the Märjelensee (lake) and then out to the glacier. You end up alongside it, looking up at a wall of ice towering above you. You can continue from here on a trail that climbs and then traverses a ridge above the glacier, which is where you get the really great views. The trail leads to either the Bettmerhorn or to the trail down the other side of the ridge into Bettmeralp, your choice. This hike, in reverse (starting at Bettmeralp) is one of my all-time favorites, and the reason we go to Bettmeralp.

You can get to the start of the glacier gtrail in Betteralp by getting off the train at Betten and taking the cable car up to Bettmeralp and walk thru the village a bit and hop another cable way to the tip of the dramatic Aletsch Glacier - awesome baby!

Behind the scenes of the aerial shoots for National Geographic in cooperation with Switzerland Tourism and Jungfrau Tourism.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=4472691465837&set=vb.258953594137290&type=2&theater

If you are following me on Twitter you will see what is planned this summer for the Schilthorn and future plans for Mürren village... https://twitter.com/Murrenlover

I was planning to stay Kühboden at the Alpina. It seemed that it was a good location for a hike to the Aletsch Glacier. A bit closer. I could certainly consider Bettmeralp if it is better for this purpose.

ttt