jane86

Sorry for the delay to update our travel plan for your review:

Day 1 (6/8) ZRH (visp) - Sion – Martigny overnight at Martigny

Day 2 (6/9) Martigny - Chamonix

Day 3 ( 6/10) Chamonix, gondola ride to Aiguille du Midi- Pointe Helbronner –Entreves (Italy)

- Courmayeur (bus,leaving Chamayeur at 16:00 or 18:00) - Chamonix)

Day 4 (6/11) Chamonix, possible Annecy day trip(train)

Day 5 (6/12) Chamonix – Montreux, Chillon Castle

Day 6 (6/13) Montreux, Lavaux vineyards by train or boat, any things can be added?

Day 7 (6/14) Montreux, day trip to Geneva, to Geneva by boat, back by train

Day 8 (6/15) Montreux – Golden Pass Panoramic Express – Zweisimmen- Interlaken - Grindelwald, stop over at Interlaken for SCHYNIGE PLATTE, gondola ride

Day 9 (6/16) Grindelwald – Schilthorn and thunersee steamer

Day10 (6/17) Grindelwald – First and briensee steamer, cliff walk, aare Gorge (may split into two days)

Day11 (6/18) Grindelwald – Junfrau and mannlichen

Day12 (6/19) Grindelwald – to Brienz – Ballenberg ? add Murren?

Day13 (6/20) Grindelwald - Brienz – Brienzer Rothorn - Lucerne (Lucerne-interlaken express)

Day14 (6/21) Lucerne, Mt Rigi, or Pilatus to be decided

Day15 (6/22) Lucerne, medieval city and museum of Lucerne, to Zurich late the day

Day16 (6/23) ZRH for home

Not sure how to put activities together in a logical way in BO and Lucerne, are there any interesting spots that can be added? Please advice.

Thank you all!

Hambagahle

Jane - I hope you appreciate all the work Neckervd has done for you? I have never, in many many years of helping travellers come to our country, seen such an excellent example of detailed calculations!

In the Oberland since almost all you are doing depends on weather (including Ballenberg) you really cannot plan "day by day". You need a list of various things you COULD do and then slot them in according to the weather on the day. Keep a day trip to Bern as a rainy day option.

SchyniggePlatte is from Wilderswil not Interlaken. I am not sure about luggage lockers at the Wilderswil station. Maybe someone else will know. And it is a train not a cable car...

You have too many things on day 10. Either go to the Brienzersee and the Aar gorges OR First and the Cliff walk. OR combine the Brienzersee with Ballenberg either on the way to or back from Brienz.

Mürren belongs with the Schilthorn. You have to go via Mürren to get there...

day 12 - Mürren doesn't belong here. See above!

Day 8 & 13 - Suggestion - use the SBB Door to Door shipping service and send your bags from Grindelwald to the hotel in Luzern. At worst they will get there the am of day 14 and you can pack overnight things in a carry on...

In Luzern the Transport museum is well worth a visit. And the Tourist Office runs walking tours of the old town which is by far the best way to see it. (This way you know what you are looking at!!) Cost is about 18frs and they last 2 hours. TO is in the main station and you need to sign up for the tour with them so suggest you go there as soon as you get to Luzern.

neckervd

" Swiss Travel Pass is the most likely one to get. And will add BO regional pass. For the last day, probably a saver day pass."
That would be the most expensive solution for sure. But you are free to do so, of course.

Hambagahle told you already that your plans for day 8 to day 13 have to be seriously improved in order to reach a reasonable level.
As to day 7: there will be NO boat running between Lausanne and Geneva on Thursday June 14th. I told you in one of my many posts above, that it's possible to go by boat from Montreux via Ouchy to Evian and to reach Geneva from there by bus or train, however.

jane86

neckervd

You got all information about travel passes and ticket fares. Now, it's really up to you to make a choice!

PalenQ

With this, do you need to buy tickets ahead of time?

Yes with day savers to get cheap rates and they can sell out early (saver day tickets)

No for passes.

To me Swiss Travel Pass though could be tad more expensive but could turn out cheaper if travel more or go to museums, etc but allows you to just jump on any transport covered anytime.

jane86

PalenQ

And look for specials on passes on each end - U.S. and Switzerland - often pop up in early spring - June may be too late for that as they often have a end of May use day but check sources like BETS: Switzerland; and www.sbb.ch for Swiss prices - if not much difference simply buy in Switzerland but again at times there has been a significant difference by buying in U.S. - not today I think but do a check to be sure.

jane86

Ok, understand, will check these sales, thank you for your help.

jane86

"Jane - I hope you appreciate all the work Neckervd has done for you? I have never, in many many years of helping travellers come to our country, seen such an excellent example of detailed calculations! "- Hambagahle

Yes, not only I appreciate Neckervd very much for his expertise, but also each of you for your time, patience and great knowledge in helping us, With your help, this travel planning becomes an interesting and learning thing.

jane86

***************************
Getting back to the itinerary, I need your suggestions and help.

There are no lockers in Winderswill station, I was surprised that interlaken station doesn't seem to have lockers either.. I am not sure of the idea of shipping the bags, maybe we can do something else on that day via Interlaken.

For lucerns's last day, we could store the bags in hotels (hotel will be near Lucerne train station), by the end of the day, pick up the bags and get on to the train to Zurich (will find hotel nearby ZRH)

Is Museum Lucerne the Transportation musuem? Yes we can sign up their tour.

Regarding to the four days in BO, need suggestions to fill in the slots, according to the weather. There are so much to do there, I am confused about what to do and how to make it logical. I will try to work on it a little.

Thank you

jane86

Yes, I need help on day 8-13, maybe I can make a list of what we want to do, then with your help, fit them on the right slot.

June 14 is Friday, are there boats running between Lausanne and Geneva on Friday? If not, will consider Montreaux to Evian by boat, then Evian to Geneva by train, or just take train to Geneva from Montreux.

Thank you

dugi_otok

All day trips are weather permitting. Duh!
Day 8 (6/16) Golden Pass Panoramic Express (Montreux-Zweisimmen-Spiez) in AM, Niesen in the PM, continue to Interlaken Ost, followed by BOB train to Grindelwald.I would stop in route at Spiez. for a ride on the Niesen Bahn (NB) in nearby Mülenen (8 min train ride from Spiez). Luggage Storage at Spiez Station. The NB is a funicular (2 sections). The first section , a 60 passenger car, takes you to Schwandegg. This is a 14 min ride up the side of the mountain. You then change to another section which climbs up the sheer side of the mountain to the top station in 12 min. The ride is spectactular and the exquisite panoramic view from the top- Thunersee to the north, Interlaken and the Brienzersee to the east, the Alps to the south and southwest. Also, the time required is less than Schynige Platte.


Days 9, 10, 11, and 12 should each include at least 2 hours of walking.

Day 9 (6/16) Jungfraujoch-AM and Mannlichen-PM. WAB train Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg. JB train to Jungfraujoch. After a couple of hours of at the top activities, take the JB to Kleine Scheidegg. You could earn 1 hour of your walking goal by getting off the train at Eigergletscer and hiking down to Kleine Scheidegg. Next take the WAB to Wengen. You could walk to Wengernalp (35 min) and board the WAB there for the ride to Wengen. Walking Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen would earn you 2 hours. Walk 5 min through the village to the Luftseilbahn Wengen-Männlichen (LWM) cable car. Take this 5 min ride to Männlichen. After exiting you can climb 371 ft to the top of Männlichen ( I will give you 1/2 hr credit) for an excellent view looking north to Thunersee, Interlaken, and Schynige Platte. South to the Wetterhorn to the Jungfrau Massif to the Schilthorn with Tschuggen in the foreground. If you don’t climb to the top just go to the observation point. For a view of Wengen and the Lauterbrunnen valley. Across the valley you will see Mürren, the Shilthorn and Grütschalp. Next stop Kleine Scheidegg. This is the walk you have been waiting for. Worth 1-1/2 hrs.Return to Grindelwald on the WAB.

Day 10 (6/17) Walk from your hotel to the Gondolabahn Grindelwald -First (GGF) station at the east end of the main street. Take the 6 person gondola to the top to the top. This is one of the longest gondola rides, 3-1/2 miles in 20 min over green pastures and pine trees. The usual suspects are seen from the terrace-Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn, Fiescherhorn, Eiger, Jungfrau to the south. After taking in the scenery take the Cliff Walk. Then for walking take the 3 hour round trip to Bachalpsee, two small lakes. After exploring the lakes return to the station. You can ride the gondola down or take one of the adventure ways down. If it is mid afternoon you may want another activity. Perhaps take the BOB to Lauterbrunnen to visit Trümmelbach Falls, an engineering phenom where you go inside the falls by elevator and a stair climb.Then go into Interlaken for dinner.

Day 11 (6/18) Schilthorn AM, Schynige Platte PM. This is doable if you do not do any walking/hiking in the Schilthorn part. There are numerous opportunities walking/hiking if you want to make Schilthorn an all day adventure. Take the BOB from Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen. Then the BergbahnenLauterbrunnen-Mürren (BLM). The first part takes you to Grütschalp by cable car , then train to Mürren for a total of 30 min. A 15 min walk through town to catch a cable car up to the Schilthorn. Actually it is 2 sections of the Luftseilbahn Stechelberg-Mürren-Schilthorn (LSMS). I would return to Lauterbrunnen in reverse order. If you saved your walking for Schynige Platte you can take the BOB to Wilderswil connecting to the Schynige Platte Bahn (SPB) for a 52 min ride to the top. After doing top stuff you can take the SPB to Wilderswil to either go 5 min to Interlaken or to return to Grindelwald.

Day 12 (6/19) Brienzer Rothorn AM, Aareschluct PM. BOB Grindelwald to Interlaken Ost. SBB train Interlaken Ost to Brienz. – Brienzer Rothorn Bahn (BRB). Brienz to Meiringen. – Aareschluct - Innertkirchen to Brienz. Lake Steamer to Interlaken Ost. BOB to Grindelwald.

Day 13 (6/20) Ballenberg AM. Lucerne PM BOB Grindelwald to Interlaken. SBB train to Brienz. Bus to Ballenberg (8 min). -Ballenberg- Bus to Brienz. Train Brienz to Lucerne

What are we missing in the Bernese Oberland?

A fairly strenuous hike such as the Eiger Trail-Eigergletcher Station to AlpiglenThunersee Steamer ride. Oeschinensee. Pfingstegg-Grindelwald Glaciers. Day trip to Bern. Thun. Kandersteg.

Hambagahle

<June 14 is Friday, are there boats running between Lausanne and Geneva on Friday? If not, will consider Montreaux to Evian by boat, then Evian to Geneva by train, or just take train to Geneva from Montreux<<

You can see the boat timetables on www.cgn.ch If you just put the date you want to travel it will give you the precise times. But there are never any boats between Montreux and Evian. The boats to Evian run from Lausanne-Ouchy.

Day 13 - a morning is not enough time at Ballenberg. It only opens at 1000. 2 hours will not even scratch the surface. Plan on 4-6 hours...then you can really see things. The whole point of the visit there is for you to see the regional/cantonal differences in the buildings etc. If you only see one group you cannot compare it with others.

Somewhere you said there are no lockers at Interlaken Ost station. There are lockers there. Plenty of them. And if they are all full the Luggage office will keep your bags for you for 10frs/bag.

dugi_otok

Reference my post #233 Day 13. You can stay as long as you want in Ballenberg. Arrive in AM. Leave in PM. You can get there when in opens by planning your train travel from Grindelwald to Brienz. Knowing the train schedule Brienz to Lucerne you can synchronize your leaving Ballenberg with catching the train to Lucerne.

The luggage storage, lockers, office etc. situation , open hours, for each rail station can be found on the SBB timetable website. It takes a little digging down to find it. Note that some smaller stations storage office close for lunch. Also sometimes weekdays open hours may be different than weekends. Both Interlaken Ost and West have storage facilities.

PalenQ

If you use a Swiss Travel Pass to get to Ballenberg then entry is free for all on that pass.

jane86

Thank you all for your responses, suggestions, and the detained information @dugi_otok, Hambagahle, PalenQ, the information is huge, it will take sometime to read and think over. Thank you

Hambagahle

BTW there are luggage lockers at the entrances to Ballenberg as well... and probably cheaper than at the Brienz station.

neckervd

Lausanne - Geneva boats are daily from June 15th, only on weekends until June 10th.
The Interlaken railway stations have luggage lockers, of course!
The Swiss Transportation Museum is the biggest among the museums of Lucerne.
Monday June 10th, the Chamonix bound buses leave Courmayeur at 15.45 and 17.00; they stop at the Funivia Skyway 5 min later.

dugi_otok

Reference Post #233 Day 12 (6/19)
Brienzer Rothern Bahn (BRB)- Aareschluct-Brienzersee Steamer Brienz to Interlaken.

This works better Aareschluct-BRB- Brienzersee Steamer Brienz to Interlaken.
Saves you one train ride. Aareschluct opens at 8:30 AM. Train Grindelwald to Meiringen takes 1hr17 min. Trains run every half hour. It is easy to Walk the gorge and get to Brienz for BRB departure at 11:45, or 12:58. You spend some time at Rothern Kulm. Depart Rothern Kulm at 14:28 or 15:28 to take the steamer at 15:32 or 16:02. BRB is in sync with the Steamer. Boat trip takes 1hr10min. Return to Grindelwald from Interlaken Ost on the BOB. Worst case you miss the last steamer and you take the train from Brienz to Interlaken (20 min).