Five Days in Switzerland
 

My husband and I are going to be in Switzerland for five days in the beginning of July. We are interested in not too touristy places for hiking. Any suggestions?

Have not been yet. Going in August ....but w/ speaking to a lot of people - they say Wengen is nice for hiking.

I'm going to Kandersteg in three weeks. Although it is a hiking destination I don't thnik its too touristy. I guess I'll find out.<BR><BR>http://www.kandersteg.ch/kandersteg/englisch/frame_englisch.htm<BR>

Kandersteg is really nice ... though it has its share of tourist. If not international, then local.<BR><BR>There's a really good place that I could recommend - hotel adler. We stayed there during ski season and for Sfr200 we got a room with a living room and bathroom with a jacuzzi. Even nicer, was that this was on the top floor of the hotel and the roof of the bathroom sloped downwards. So right above the jacuzzi, was a sky-light. <BR><BR>That time we were there, they were also having spring gourmet festival in the restaurant and we ended up paying an extra Sfr30 for each of us for a 5-course meal. It was fantastic!!<BR><BR>If you book early, you may be able to get a room with a fireplace and a jacuzzi. <BR><BR>For Sfr200 in switzerland .. it is a steal.

I agree that Kandersteg is a good area that isn't as touristy as some others in Switzerland. You'll find at least some tourists everywhere, though. In the same general area as Kandersteg, with even less tourists per my experience, are Lenk and Leukerbad. You might consider one of them.

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I like Val d'Anniviers for a less than top level touristy place. Any place in Switzerland in the mountains accommodates guests, and has guest facilities, but Zinal and the surrounding area seems less touristy than Grindelwald. The trail to Cabane de Moiry is a challenge, and you can go higher once you get there. <BR>If you are going hiking in Switzerland, get the books by Kev Reynolds.<BR>They are good guides to the trails.<BR><BR>I am not sure I agree on Wengen being nice for hiking. My favorite hikes are near there, but they do not originate in Wengen. For one thing, if you go east, you go straight up! If you go west you go straight down. If you go north, you don't go very far without descending steeply into the gorges of the two branches of the L&uuml;tschine River. If you go south, you run into some deep gorges.<BR>About the only way to go is toward<BR>Kleine Scheidegg along the rail line.<BR>You do have the shelf around Wengen, particularly Wengeralp itself.<BR>And the Jungfrau is in front of you.<BR>So that much of it is beautiful.<BR>

I second Bob, Wengen is probably not the best place for hiking. And the trails are sometimes crowded.<BR><BR>My favourite region is the lower Engadine valley, not far from St. Moritz, but less touristy and less pricey. The region offers about 1000 km of hiking trails. Check www.scuol.ch<BR>There is a description of the Engadine Valley in the thread "Support Group for Those who love Switzerland".<BR><BR>Ingo

Thank you for your help! I am thinking that we will go to Wengen and then on to The Engadine Valley. I will check the web site. Thank you again!<BR>Brittany