Melnq8

neckervd -

We'll be arriving May 30 if that makes a difference. We're not fussed about gondola closures, snow or mud.

We're looking for a beautiful quiet area with loads of hiking opportunities.

From Ingo's description, this area seemed to be right up our alley, but I'm curious as to why you think otherwise?

Ingo

I am also curious.

Most centrally located in the Vorderrhein valley is Ilanz - it's *the* hub, the only place that can be called a small town. Non-touristy, but you will certainly find a rental apartment there. Trains and busses go in all directions.

Ingo

For example: http://www.ferienwohnung-valserstrasse.ch/
In German only, but you can see the pictures and the price. Minimum stay 3 nights, 60 CHF per night, plus tax (3 CHF per person and night), plus cleaning fee 60 CHF
(if I got that correct)

Melnq8

Thank you Ingo - I have sent them an email to check availability. I've had trouble finding apartments in Ilanz, but have run across several in seemingly less convenient areas in the vicinity.

I'm probably not just finding the right web sites.

Ingo

www.surselva.info is the official tourism website for this region. Don't know if they have an English version, though.

Good luck!

Melnq8

Cheers Ingo, very helpful!

neckervd

For me, Sedrun and Disentis/Muster in May are just in the middle of nothing. Things get much better in mid June, when the buses to Lucomagn and the rhododendron covered hiking area around Acquacalda begin to run.

For day trips into interesting side valleys, Ilanz/Glion, now suggested by Ingo, is a much better solution.

But if you are just looking for some walks in the Rhine Valley, every place can be recommended.
And there is a difference between May - with a snow line aorund 2000 metres - and June when you will have more hiking possibilities everywhere.

Melnq8

Thank you for your insight neckervd. We chose late May/early June intentionally as we prefer to travel shoulder season - that's just how we roll. I've no doubt we'll have a wonderful time regardless of where we decide to go. Switzerland has never let us down.

The problem has been deciding where - I've been making myself crazy with all the possibilities.

Melnq8

Booked in Ilanz and Kandersteg!

Thanks for the link Ingo, we've booked that very apartment.

Ingo

Thumbs up! Let me know if you need ideas or other help with planning

Melnq8

Will do Ingo.

I've not done much research into specific things to see and do yet.

We'll probably be getting a Half Fare card and we'd like to walk Gemmi Pass from Kandersteg, but other than that, I'm pretty clueless at this point.

Ingo

I'll post some suggestions in the next days

neckervd

I suppose you go to Kandersteg after Ilanz.
The gondola to Sunnbuel (Gemmi) will begin to run on June 3rd, as well as that from Gemmipass down to Leukerbad. You can than go back via Leuk city (stop over) - Leuk railway station - train - Gampel - bus - Goppenstein - train - Kandersteg (40 min from Leuk SBB).

There will still be snow in the mountains above Kandersteg, but you can go by train to Loetschental as well as Loetschberg ramp hiking area (a few min by train only):
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/h...-mountain.html
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/gorp...JlfsjcatBpyZbQ

Melnq8

Thank you neckervd. Yes, Ilanz first, then Kandersteg.

Years ago we walked Sunnbuel to the Berg Hotel (name escapes me) and return (in April). We'd like to make the full loop this time, although I've not yet looked into exact walking distance so not sure we old farts are up for it. Will look at your links.

neckervd

If families with young kids, dogs and strollers can do it, you will have no problem at all. You may have lunch at Hotel Schwarenbach (midway) and some tea and cake at hotel Gemmipaass, before going down to Leukerbad by gondola.

Melnq8

That's encouraging neckervd, I wasn't worried about difficulty, just length, but seems that's not an issue either.

neckervd

In detail:
Sunnbuel (gondola from Kandersteg) - Spittelmatte: 1 mile, 60 metres downwards
Spittelmatte - Hotel Schwarenbach: 2 miles, 190 metres upwards
Schwarenbach - Seestutz/Lake Daubensee: 2 miles, 150 metres upwards
Seestutz - Hotel Wildstrubel and gondola station Gemmipass: 2 miles, 110 metres upwards

Ingo

A couple of suggestions for the Ilanz/Surselva portion of your trip:

- Ilanz itself has a cute little old town, worth a stroll. See the two city gates, the protestant church St. Margarethen and the catholic church St. Martin (above the street to Lugnez valley, beautiful views). The museum is probably not of much interest for you, although you may check yourself: http://www.museumregiunal.ch/English....0.html?&L=0La
As far as I know there's a market in town every Saturday 8.30 am - 12 am with organic, regional cheese, meat, bread, (nut) cake, veggies, honey ... (Yep, just had a look: http://www.ilanzer-wochenmarkt.ch/marktfahrer.html, it's mouthwatering!)

- The two valleys south of Ilanz are different, both worth an excursion.

Vals is famous for the thermal spa, but it looks like it will be closed when you're visiting. This valley is narrow, rough, v-shaped, the old houses in Vals mostly built with granite stones, roofs covered with granite. Quite impressive. Too bad the cable car and bus are not yet running to Zervreila dam and reservoir

Lumnezia valley, on the other hand, is wide open, sunny, gentle. And it's Walser region, not Rumansch. The cute villages spread over the sunny slopes. Lots of churches and chapels worth seeing, but also modern Alpine architecture. You can walk along those sunny slopes from village to village, take a bus back to Ilanz when you are tired. My suggestion is to start in Vrin and walk back, at least to Lumbrein. Info here in German, but with pictures and a map:
https://www.surselva.info/Media/Touren/Senda-Lumneziana
(They recommend to split this hike into two parts. I agree, and since you'll only have for one, start in Vrin.)

- A *must* is the canyon of the Vorderrhein river. You'll pass through by Rhaetian Railway to/from Ilanz, but you'll want to see it from above. There are quite a number of viewpoints on both northern and southern sides. For example, a good idea is a combination of a hike through the woods between Flims and Flims-Waldhaus, passing by Cresta and Cauma lakes. More info on the website of Flims: https://www.flims.com/en/experience-...re/rhine-gorge

- An excursion to Disentis is also a *must* in my opintion. See the Benedictine monastery, one of the oldest in the Alps (with museum).

Along the way you can stop in Trun and visit the Museum Sursilvan (beautiful interior in that old house, pictures and opening hours here: http://www.trun.ch/kultursport/museu...ient_locale=DE).

- Yet another *must*: Waltensburg, which nestles on a sunny terrace above the Vorderrhein river and has a medieval church with famous frescoes to offer. https://www.surselva.info/Media/Attr...en-Waltensburg

You can add a hike to the surrounding villages (pictures here: https://www.surselva.info/Ferienregi...season)/summer )
Or hike from Andiast (direct bus from Ilanz dep. 9.35, arr. 10.00, not on Sunday) to Lake Pigniu/Panix with waterfalls (particularly impressive in May/June!): https://www.surselva.info/Media/Tour...-Lag-da-Pigniu
It's a 15 km hike (round trip), 400 m elevation difference, 4 hours.

All for now ;-)

Ingo

Oops, I mixed that up: Vals is Walser region, Lumnezia valley is of course Rumansch area. Yuck.

neckervd

...and if you like menhirs, you go to Falera (Flims).