Swiss hiking- Berner Oberland; 1 week route ?
Apr 28th, 2004, 01:59 PM
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Swiss hiking- Berner Oberland; 1 week route ?
My wife and I fly into Zurich and then go to Luzern for a few days before leaving for Engelbert. Our plan is to hike from Engelbert to Lauterbrunnen ( September 10-16). We then depart for Cinque Terre via Montreux. I'd appreciate recommendations on hike ( and after) accomodations ( 3-4 stars hotels), hiking routes, train travel and how to get an extra suitcase from Englebert to a pick-up point without doubling back.
Apr 29th, 2004, 11:00 AM
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If I understand correctly you want to hike from Engelberg to Lauterbrunnen and have 5 full days for that hike.
Well, that's an interesting thread!
I have done several hikes in that region, but never did this tour, which is a part of the also offered hike by a company "Eurotrek"; they call it the "Bear Trek".
I suggest you hike from Engelberg to Engstlenalp (you can take the gondolas up to Trübsee and maybe the chair lift to Jochpass, but that does not leave much for the hiking
) and stay there for a night in that old, charming hotel (no personal experience though). www.engstlenalp.ch
Continue the next day to Meiringen via Tannen, Balmerhorn and Planplatten, from where you can take the gondola down. Better, don't go all the way down to Meiringen and stay overnight in Hasliberg, small hamlets on a sunny terrace with charming accommodations.
Next day continue (maybe first down to Meiringen) via Rosenlaui up to Grosse Scheidegg and down to Grindelwald (maybe take the bus up to Schwarzwaldalp - recommended). You can also hike from Grosse Scheidegg to First and take the gondola down to Grindelwald from there. Plenty of hotels in Grindelwald. For a splurge I recommend the four star Schweizerhof or the Belvedere.
Final day hike or take a mountain railway/gondola up to Kleine Scheidegg (or Männlichen if gondola). Continue down to Wengen and Lauterbrunnen. You can also take the mountain railway down - you'll pass several stops where you can hop on the trains.
The best hotel in Lauterbrunnen is the Silberhorn (three star). I would stay in Wengen, though - better views.
I would add a day hiking/exploring on the other side of the Lauterbrunnen valley (Mürren). Maybe hike around Winteregg, Allmendhubel or go up to Schilthorn by cable car. Plenty of lifts available.
As far as I know you can check your luggage through to your hotel (in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen) from the US. Maybe S sees the thread and can reply to that - she's the expert (I am German and obviously don't fly to Switzerland).
Let me know if you need more details.
Ingo
Well, that's an interesting thread!
I have done several hikes in that region, but never did this tour, which is a part of the also offered hike by a company "Eurotrek"; they call it the "Bear Trek".
I suggest you hike from Engelberg to Engstlenalp (you can take the gondolas up to Trübsee and maybe the chair lift to Jochpass, but that does not leave much for the hiking
) and stay there for a night in that old, charming hotel (no personal experience though). www.engstlenalp.chContinue the next day to Meiringen via Tannen, Balmerhorn and Planplatten, from where you can take the gondola down. Better, don't go all the way down to Meiringen and stay overnight in Hasliberg, small hamlets on a sunny terrace with charming accommodations.
Next day continue (maybe first down to Meiringen) via Rosenlaui up to Grosse Scheidegg and down to Grindelwald (maybe take the bus up to Schwarzwaldalp - recommended). You can also hike from Grosse Scheidegg to First and take the gondola down to Grindelwald from there. Plenty of hotels in Grindelwald. For a splurge I recommend the four star Schweizerhof or the Belvedere.
Final day hike or take a mountain railway/gondola up to Kleine Scheidegg (or Männlichen if gondola). Continue down to Wengen and Lauterbrunnen. You can also take the mountain railway down - you'll pass several stops where you can hop on the trains.
The best hotel in Lauterbrunnen is the Silberhorn (three star). I would stay in Wengen, though - better views.
I would add a day hiking/exploring on the other side of the Lauterbrunnen valley (Mürren). Maybe hike around Winteregg, Allmendhubel or go up to Schilthorn by cable car. Plenty of lifts available.
As far as I know you can check your luggage through to your hotel (in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen) from the US. Maybe S sees the thread and can reply to that - she's the expert (I am German and obviously don't fly to Switzerland).
Let me know if you need more details.
Ingo
Apr 29th, 2004, 11:44 AM
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Ingo's the man with the answers!
I'd just like to add...if you do hike the Grosse Scheidegg to First route, you could detour a little bit for an unforgettable photo op by the Bachalpsee. It looks like this:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...36128472XPWrXu
Then again, you will have no shortage of photo opportunities on such a magnificent hike. And Ingo's right about the vast selection of comfy hotels and inns in the valley below.
Enjoy!
I'd just like to add...if you do hike the Grosse Scheidegg to First route, you could detour a little bit for an unforgettable photo op by the Bachalpsee. It looks like this:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...36128472XPWrXu
Then again, you will have no shortage of photo opportunities on such a magnificent hike. And Ingo's right about the vast selection of comfy hotels and inns in the valley below.
Enjoy!
Apr 29th, 2004, 02:20 PM
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Hi bramsey,
Here I am! ((Ingo, you rock -- what a wonderful and detailed reply!))
I'm not sure, bramsey, if you want to send your suitcase to your hotel in Lauterbrunnen or if you want to send your suitcase from one village to the next along your route? The former I have some experience with, the latter -- not so much experience.
Basically, you can send your luggage on the Swiss trains for a fee of 13 chf each; usually the bags arrive a few hours later (lately though I've heard that it may take up to 48 hours . . . ). You can also do this using many of the ferry docks, but I don't know about the bus stations.
Which brings me to your request. I don't know how you'd do this along a route without train stations. I'm not at all familiar with the villages that Ingo has named here. If you want to investigate, you could either email each of your hotels and ask for their assistance, or you could sign up with Eurotrek (no guide -- they charge a fee for handling details & transfers like this).
If you want to send your suitcases to Lauterbrunnen to wait for you while you hike, hey, that's simple. You have to go through RailEurope (www.raileurope.com) and get their "Fly-Rail Baggage" service for $25 per bag. They'll send you the proper documents, which you fill out and put into a big opaque green tag and attach to your suitcase. Your case is checked through to Zurich on your airline, then in Zurich, the Swiss rail folks take your bag and send it on to your Swiss destination. The only catch might be a further fee for storage as it'll sit there for 4 or 5 days.
I think it would also be very simple to send your bags from Engelberg (dontcha just love auto spell check . . . I really chortled at the thought of hiking ol' Humperdink) to Lauternbrunnen. That'll cost the 13 chf per bag, and your bags will be waiting . . .
I hope some of this answers what you wanted. Please let me know if I can help further --
s
Here I am! ((Ingo, you rock -- what a wonderful and detailed reply!))
I'm not sure, bramsey, if you want to send your suitcase to your hotel in Lauterbrunnen or if you want to send your suitcase from one village to the next along your route? The former I have some experience with, the latter -- not so much experience.
Basically, you can send your luggage on the Swiss trains for a fee of 13 chf each; usually the bags arrive a few hours later (lately though I've heard that it may take up to 48 hours . . . ). You can also do this using many of the ferry docks, but I don't know about the bus stations.
Which brings me to your request. I don't know how you'd do this along a route without train stations. I'm not at all familiar with the villages that Ingo has named here. If you want to investigate, you could either email each of your hotels and ask for their assistance, or you could sign up with Eurotrek (no guide -- they charge a fee for handling details & transfers like this).
If you want to send your suitcases to Lauterbrunnen to wait for you while you hike, hey, that's simple. You have to go through RailEurope (www.raileurope.com) and get their "Fly-Rail Baggage" service for $25 per bag. They'll send you the proper documents, which you fill out and put into a big opaque green tag and attach to your suitcase. Your case is checked through to Zurich on your airline, then in Zurich, the Swiss rail folks take your bag and send it on to your Swiss destination. The only catch might be a further fee for storage as it'll sit there for 4 or 5 days.
I think it would also be very simple to send your bags from Engelberg (dontcha just love auto spell check . . . I really chortled at the thought of hiking ol' Humperdink) to Lauternbrunnen. That'll cost the 13 chf per bag, and your bags will be waiting . . .
I hope some of this answers what you wanted. Please let me know if I can help further --
s
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