15 days Switzerland - too long?
Jan 27th, 2017, 05:03 PM
#21
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omg you guys are absolutely awesome! Thank you for all your posts!!! The suggestions are terrific!!!
Okay i think i will stick to Switzerland - we are also the type who like to soak it in so don't see the point of rushing it. And I pretty much fall in love with great views and ANY European city/quaint village very easily and could spend hours in one of those places.
Excellent point about the weather - i DO need a backup don't I for those days...yes I've been warned about weather top of Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn but I think I have enough days built into Murren and Wengen to hopefully catch these two on a good day - fingers crossed.
Yes getting the Swiss pass for these rides..
I think I want to do BOTH Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch and am ready to splurge to eat up top one or both of these places! Jungfraujoch I heard there is a glacier walk after which you come to a little hut and they serve u some pretty good food in that hut - sounds intriguing.
PalenQ the ride to Schwarzdalp is via Meiringen. I will check out the town and perhaps that walk you mentioned - don't think I was going to do was just going to bus it up to Schwarzdalp mountain inn and begin the hike next day to Grindelwald. Considering Sherlock Holmes season 2 is here maybe i should pay a visit to that viewpoint And thank you for the suggestion on Wengen hike will look into it sounds lovely!
@twk omg i can only imagine how those hikes would be in bad weather...trust me i hiked for 3 out of 5 days in bad weather in Chile's Patagonia and while i was very well equipped for the snow/hail - it was...let's just say I would have preferred the sunny skies So okay let me rethink that Zurich overnight plan too and think about Bern etc...some backups.
@KJA omg your trip report is magnificent. Makes me want to do Switzerland for a month too! I want to do Gruyeres and that chocolate factory and Gstaad too! Amongst all the other things you did. Wow. Yeah 15 days isn't a whole lot now that i think about it Maybe i'm hiking too much...if i hiked less i could see more places. hmm.
@Helsie lovely pics indeed!
I'm wondering if I should go toward end of June - start June 30th and do like until July 15th. Maybe weather will be better? Again who knows these days - those dreaded words 'unusually bad weather at this time' might just crop up even in July.
Lots of thinking to do....
Okay i think i will stick to Switzerland - we are also the type who like to soak it in so don't see the point of rushing it. And I pretty much fall in love with great views and ANY European city/quaint village very easily and could spend hours in one of those places.
Excellent point about the weather - i DO need a backup don't I for those days...yes I've been warned about weather top of Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn but I think I have enough days built into Murren and Wengen to hopefully catch these two on a good day - fingers crossed.
Yes getting the Swiss pass for these rides..
I think I want to do BOTH Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch and am ready to splurge to eat up top one or both of these places! Jungfraujoch I heard there is a glacier walk after which you come to a little hut and they serve u some pretty good food in that hut - sounds intriguing.
PalenQ the ride to Schwarzdalp is via Meiringen. I will check out the town and perhaps that walk you mentioned - don't think I was going to do was just going to bus it up to Schwarzdalp mountain inn and begin the hike next day to Grindelwald. Considering Sherlock Holmes season 2 is here maybe i should pay a visit to that viewpoint
And thank you for the suggestion on Wengen hike will look into it sounds lovely!@twk omg i can only imagine how those hikes would be in bad weather...trust me i hiked for 3 out of 5 days in bad weather in Chile's Patagonia and while i was very well equipped for the snow/hail - it was...let's just say I would have preferred the sunny skies
So okay let me rethink that Zurich overnight plan too and think about Bern etc...some backups.@KJA omg your trip report is magnificent. Makes me want to do Switzerland for a month too! I want to do Gruyeres and that chocolate factory and Gstaad too! Amongst all the other things you did. Wow. Yeah 15 days isn't a whole lot now that i think about it
Maybe i'm hiking too much...if i hiked less i could see more places. hmm.@Helsie lovely pics indeed!
I'm wondering if I should go toward end of June - start June 30th and do like until July 15th. Maybe weather will be better? Again who knows these days - those dreaded words 'unusually bad weather at this time' might just crop up even in July.
Lots of thinking to do....
Jan 27th, 2017, 05:22 PM
#22
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I'm glad you enjoyed my trip report -- it was a magnificent trip!
IME, no matter how long you are able to spend in Switzerland, it won't be enough and you won't be able to see everything you'd like. ;-) If you are still avid hikers, I must admit that I'm not sure it would make sense to limit your hiking time unless you really want to. Unfortunately, the ability to hike some of these trails might not last as long as your desire to do so, and visiting some of Switzerland's wonderful cities, or riding the trains, is likely to be something you can do even after some of the hikes are off-the-table. Just my perspective....
IME, no matter how long you are able to spend in Switzerland, it won't be enough and you won't be able to see everything you'd like. ;-) If you are still avid hikers, I must admit that I'm not sure it would make sense to limit your hiking time unless you really want to. Unfortunately, the ability to hike some of these trails might not last as long as your desire to do so, and visiting some of Switzerland's wonderful cities, or riding the trains, is likely to be something you can do even after some of the hikes are off-the-table. Just my perspective....
Jan 27th, 2017, 07:54 PM
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Disclaimer: Minority report. DO NOT ALLOW MINORS TO READ THIS
We found Switzerland to be one of the dullest countries we have ever visited. Yes, there is great natural beauty, but is like a stereotypical model, there aint't much after that. For a 1,000 year old culture, they have contributed little to western culture, especially when compared to just about every other western European country.
We hiked the Alps, went to Zermatt, took the tourist train, St. Moritz, Zurich, and Geneva, which can mistaken for a sleep clinic with street lights.
The people are humorless but professionally courteous. Like almost everyone else here, we are experienced independent travelers but we extruded little joy from Switzerland.
We found Switzerland to be one of the dullest countries we have ever visited. Yes, there is great natural beauty, but is like a stereotypical model, there aint't much after that. For a 1,000 year old culture, they have contributed little to western culture, especially when compared to just about every other western European country.
We hiked the Alps, went to Zermatt, took the tourist train, St. Moritz, Zurich, and Geneva, which can mistaken for a sleep clinic with street lights.
The people are humorless but professionally courteous. Like almost everyone else here, we are experienced independent travelers but we extruded little joy from Switzerland.
Jan 27th, 2017, 08:19 PM
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@ IMDonehere: Interesting! I found the humor of public art in Switzerland to be absolutely delightful. I was intrigued by the enormous differences between the different regions of the country. I was surprised by how many artists and sculptors that I had already known (not to mention those I learned about while there), had come from Switzerland (even if they ended up being identified with other parts of the world). I am glad I visited the Latenium, where the prehistoric remains of the area (circa 450 BC) are on glorious display. And I was pleased to find so many people who, despite their professionally courteous exterior, were happy to laugh and engage in delightful conversation if given even a tiny opening to step outside their official roles. Just my experience -- and honestly, I'm glad it was my experience!
If I might offer an hypothesis: Maybe you didn't visit the places that show Swiss charm off to its best advantage? St. Moritz is, IMO, among the country's most ugly and overrated locations. I enjoyed Zurich and Geneva, but would not count them among my favorite areas of the country. I didn't make it to Zermatt. Much as I adored the Bernese Oberland, I found it so devoted to tourism as to be nearly without a recognizable national identity. IME, to discover the joys of Switzerland requires going to at least some places not on the most common tourist trail. Again, JMO.
If I might offer an hypothesis: Maybe you didn't visit the places that show Swiss charm off to its best advantage? St. Moritz is, IMO, among the country's most ugly and overrated locations. I enjoyed Zurich and Geneva, but would not count them among my favorite areas of the country. I didn't make it to Zermatt. Much as I adored the Bernese Oberland, I found it so devoted to tourism as to be nearly without a recognizable national identity. IME, to discover the joys of Switzerland requires going to at least some places not on the most common tourist trail. Again, JMO.
Jan 28th, 2017, 12:53 PM
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Again who knows these days - those dreaded words 'unusually bad weather at this time' might just crop up even in July.>
Yes exactly - and crowds start to materialize start of July - mid- to late-June would be ideal- weather can always be bad but crowds are always bad in July and in some popular locals.
Yes exactly - and crowds start to materialize start of July - mid- to late-June would be ideal- weather can always be bad but crowds are always bad in July and in some popular locals.
Jan 28th, 2017, 06:34 PM
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okay i'll stick to June - i don't want to be hiking with the crowds...
Yep i won't say we are avid hikers but definitely enjoying tackling some of these lovely destination hikes with views...and I know Switzerland is a great country for hiking and views
So hey I just return to Switzerland another time and see all the other non touristy little towns away from the Bernese Oberland region someday This trip I will enjoy the Bernese and well just hope the weather is good but make sure i have backups like the train rides to cities etc if the hiking is not possible. The good thing with the Bernese region is any of these treks can be substituted with a bus or cable car ride to the next town - in case of rain. With the exception of the Obersteinberg hike, i hear once we begin that hike we must finish that...no public transportation up to that hut/inn.
Thanks again everyone!!
Yep i won't say we are avid hikers but definitely enjoying tackling some of these lovely destination hikes with views...and I know Switzerland is a great country for hiking and views
So hey I just return to Switzerland another time and see all the other non touristy little towns away from the Bernese Oberland region someday
This trip I will enjoy the Bernese and well just hope the weather is good but make sure i have backups like the train rides to cities etc if the hiking is not possible. The good thing with the Bernese region is any of these treks can be substituted with a bus or cable car ride to the next town - in case of rain. With the exception of the Obersteinberg hike, i hear once we begin that hike we must finish that...no public transportation up to that hut/inn.Thanks again everyone!!
Jan 28th, 2017, 07:52 PM
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Kja-I am certainly glad you had a different experience than us. That is what makes travel wonderful and boards like more informative.
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The Swiss seem to have the soul of Calvin, Zwingli, bankers, and clock makers.
I went into a bookstore in Zurich and asked for any serious Swiss contemporary writer besides Max Frisch, they could recommend. I was genuinely surprised when they said none. They do excel at architecture, however. And as noted for a 1,000 year old culture their contribution to western culture is dwarfed by almost every other western and central European country.
I wanted to bring home applications for Swiss bank accounts as gifts but I forgot.
________________________
The Swiss seem to have the soul of Calvin, Zwingli, bankers, and clock makers.
I went into a bookstore in Zurich and asked for any serious Swiss contemporary writer besides Max Frisch, they could recommend. I was genuinely surprised when they said none. They do excel at architecture, however. And as noted for a 1,000 year old culture their contribution to western culture is dwarfed by almost every other western and central European country.
I wanted to bring home applications for Swiss bank accounts as gifts but I forgot.
Jan 29th, 2017, 08:21 AM
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"okay i'll stick to June - i don't want to be hiking with the crowds..."
I never understand why non European visitors refuse to walk on the more than 99 per cent of hiking trails which get never crowded (at least as beautiful as the others, of course!) and tell as that they don't like crowded trails.
I never understand why non European visitors refuse to walk on the more than 99 per cent of hiking trails which get never crowded (at least as beautiful as the others, of course!) and tell as that they don't like crowded trails.
Jan 29th, 2017, 02:08 PM
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Well folks in say Grindelwald area for just a few days naturally gravitate to well known trails an easy chair lift or train ride from town. I've hiked in just about all the trails in the Grindelwald amphitheatre and relatively few I would say are crowded - even Mannlichen to Kl Scheiedegg - relatively few of the mobs of folks that descend on the Jungfrau Region rarely even hike - so towns may be crowded but few trails IMO and I do not need to have a whole trail to myself either.
I rather like passing other hikers -like those Swiss and Germans in Lederhosen and walking sticks.
I rather like passing other hikers -like those Swiss and Germans in Lederhosen and walking sticks.
Jan 31st, 2017, 09:03 AM
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Palen. An answer to your question "neckervd -do you think the hikes OP has in OP will be very crowded in late June early July?"
Of course not, but there will be some differences (always if the weather isn't too bad, otherwise there would be no hikers at all):
Saturday June 24th:
Schwarzwaldalp - Bidem - Scheidegg Oberlaeger: no people coming down, but may be a few dozens going up (the same way as OP) every hour;
Scheidegg Oberlaeger - Grindel Oberlaeger: some hundred people per hour coming down from First gondola station along the upper trail, almost nobody on the lower trail.
Grindel Oberlaeger - Grindelwald: OP will probably never be alone for more than 3 minutes. He will cross families and individual hikers.
Sunday June 25th:
Grindelwald - Kleine Scheidegg: there may be many (mostly foreign) hikers on the so called Eiger Trail and much less (mostly Swiss) people along the usual itinerary via Tschuggen - Arvengarten. There will be more people (coming from Alpiglen) between Arvengarten and Kleine Scheidegg as along the lower legs.
Tons of people just a few steps around Kleine Scheidegg railway station.
Kleine Scheidegg - Wengen along the railway line: a lot of people with kids and dogs walking down.
Kleine Scheidegg - Wengen via Biglenalp - Mettlenalp - Schiltwald: OP will not meet many people, but as it's Sunday, he will not be alone on this trail.
Tuesday June 27th: OP will not see many people, neither on the direct trail (only 5 miles or so) nor via Schmadri Hut.
Wednesday June 28th: Obersteinberg - Busen - Gimmelwald. May be OP will meet some other human beings, may be not; the last time when I passed there, I met only sheep.
Of course not, but there will be some differences (always if the weather isn't too bad, otherwise there would be no hikers at all):
Saturday June 24th:
Schwarzwaldalp - Bidem - Scheidegg Oberlaeger: no people coming down, but may be a few dozens going up (the same way as OP) every hour;
Scheidegg Oberlaeger - Grindel Oberlaeger: some hundred people per hour coming down from First gondola station along the upper trail, almost nobody on the lower trail.
Grindel Oberlaeger - Grindelwald: OP will probably never be alone for more than 3 minutes. He will cross families and individual hikers.
Sunday June 25th:
Grindelwald - Kleine Scheidegg: there may be many (mostly foreign) hikers on the so called Eiger Trail and much less (mostly Swiss) people along the usual itinerary via Tschuggen - Arvengarten. There will be more people (coming from Alpiglen) between Arvengarten and Kleine Scheidegg as along the lower legs.
Tons of people just a few steps around Kleine Scheidegg railway station.
Kleine Scheidegg - Wengen along the railway line: a lot of people with kids and dogs walking down.
Kleine Scheidegg - Wengen via Biglenalp - Mettlenalp - Schiltwald: OP will not meet many people, but as it's Sunday, he will not be alone on this trail.
Tuesday June 27th: OP will not see many people, neither on the direct trail (only 5 miles or so) nor via Schmadri Hut.
Wednesday June 28th: Obersteinberg - Busen - Gimmelwald. May be OP will meet some other human beings, may be not; the last time when I passed there, I met only sheep.
