sbrosnan813

Hello! Thank you to everyone who has already been so helpful with the larger planning of my trip this summer. From your advice, I have definitely decided to just stay in the BO instead of trying to go to the Bernina Express area (guess I just have to take another trip). I now want to start organizing the stays in the different locations. My husband and I are planning on staying 4 nights in Lauterbrunnen. We will most likely arrive in Zurich around 8:00 am (Wednesday, June 28) from an overnight JFK flight. I'm guessing it would take about 60-90 minutes to get off the plane, get our luggage, get through customs, and then drop our luggage to be sent ahead to Lauterbrunnen, and the grab a quick snack before boarding a train. Then, depending how tired my husband is (he sometimes can sleep on overnight flights, and other times he's wide awake), we would either stop in Bern for a few hours before heading into Lauterbrunnen, or we would head right to Lauterbrunnen.

Depending on whether we stop in Bern or not, I'm guessing we would end up in Lauterbrunnen somewhere between noon and 5pm (staying at Hotel Silberhorn).

Once we are in Lauterbrunnen, the main things we want to do/see are (and I know its possible we won't get to all- these are just the main things that have piqued our interest):

-Trummelbach Falls
-Blumenthal-Murren Hike
-Mannlichen-Kleine Scheidigg Hike
-Possibly a visit to Schlithorn/ Piz Gloria or the Brienzner-Rothorn cogwheel ride to the peak (depending on how we are adjusting to the altitude-we've never been up in the high mountains, so we're just going to see how we feel and how much we can tolerate in terms of altitude).
-Day trip (or maybe a little more than a half day?) to Thun, which would include a boat ride (probably only one way- we can just take the train the other way).

I'm guessing if we get to Lauterbrunnen early on the first day (meaning we would skip Bern), depending on the weather, we can even do the falls on the day that we get there. Then, that would leave 3 full days for the rest. Is this doable? Not exactly sure how to organize everything or how long things would take (we would probably stop to eat a meal somewhere during or at the end of the hikes and even though we wouldn't turn a 2 hour hike into 6 hours, we would want to take our time, take pictures etc). Any suggestions on how to organize this? Also, if we get washed out on a given day and we have to trim down what we do, which of the above would you cut? Finally, if we have to change plans due to weather, does anyone have any recommendations for other things to do that would still be a great experience? Or are some of the outside activities still manageable in a little rain?

Thank you again for your help!

FuryFluffy

Yes, you may do Trummelbach Falls on the 1st day if you arrive in Lauterbrunnen early. It's a pleasant walk from your hotel to the Falls, passing by Staubach fall and a beautiful scenery. It's a long walk, you may take a bus or bike instead, but I love walking that route. If you are tired after the flight, you may take a nap of 20 mins in your hotel before heading out - science have said that a short nap after arriving helps you to readjust for the jetlag.

PalenQ

Finally, if we have to change plans due to weather, does anyone have any recommendations for other things to do that would still be a great experience? Or are some of the outside activities still manageable in a little rain?>

Well if it is poor weather up in the hills it may be better down in Interlaken and taking boat trips on either lake bookending Interlaken could be good - or day trip to say Bern- a city enjoyable in all weather -in part because of covered walkways in much of the old town center. Thun would be fine too but not nearly as fine as Bern.

In worst of times take refuge in Interlaken's casino and replenish dwindling trip funds - maybe!

annalynn

When we went a few years back, we had noting but bad weather in Lauterbrunnen, other than our last day (naturally). We spent one day in Bern, and one in Thun. Bern was okay, but I loved Thun - its a great, manageable little city, with a castle and markets, and just lovely. Bern does have the advantage of having a lot of covered sidewalks, which is ideal for walking about in the rain. Even with the bad weather, we were able to do Trummelbach Falls, although it was slippery, and we rode the cable car to Murren (I think?) in absolute fog and then took the cogwheel train back down, more for the experience than anything else. This was all covered by our rail pass, not sure I would forked out additional swiss francs for the fog. We also hiked back down from Wengen which was foggy at the top, but the hike down was still beautiful and easy. I use the word hike loosely - the Swiss have great paths that are so flat its practically ADA accessible.

Have a great time! I'll be rooting for some great weather for you.

PalenQ

rode the cable car to Murren (I think?) in absolute fog and then took the cogwheel train back down, more for the experience than anything else>

the old funicular Lauterbrunnen-Grutschalp has been replaced by a aerial gondola- Grutschalp to Murren a train but not with cogs. I miss the old funicular but the newer cable ways can carry more people as there were often long lines.

But yes go up from L'brunnen by cable - Grutschalp -then either do a lovely serene flat walk to Murren - do Schilthorn maybe then take cableway down from Gimmelwald to Stechleberg then postal bus back to L'brunnen (or sweet mellow stroll along a gurgling stream - hit Trummelbach Falls on way into L'brunnen if not too late.

sbrosnan813

Thank you for the suggestions everyone- just out of curiosity, is there more rain/fog than not during that time of the year (end of June into July)?

sbrosnan813

and ps Annalynn- my husband will be happy to know that the trails are flat (I'm MUCH more the outdoor person than him so the flat trails will be a nice compromise lol) Also, glad you were still able to enjoy the area even with the rainy weather- really hoping for some nice days while we're there!

kja

I think your plan may be do-able, but perhaps a bit ambitious. I think it will depend on the weather, how carefully you plan it out, and how hard you want to push yourselves.

Visiting Trummelbach Falls could work on your first day – but note that it closes at 17:00 (I think) and it’s about 4 km from the Hotel Silberhorn to the falls, so you’ll probably want to be en route by about 15:00 or so.

You might want to check my trip report for how I managed my time – at the risk of seeming immodest, I honestly believe that it would be hard to organize one’s time any more efficiently than I did. .
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...any-thanks.cfm
Its a long report, but it's searchable. The key portion for you is days 22 through 26, and -- for some options before / after my time in the Bernese Oberland that might suit for your bad-weather day options -- a bit before and after.

It's a beautiful area -- enjoy!

neckervd

I never spent more than 45 min between plane and railway station platform at Zurich airport, often less.
I would take my luggage into the train and put it into Berne railway station lockers during your visit of Berne. Snacks can be got on board of the train.

Everything you mention is doable. And you can hop off and on trains and boats as many times as you like (on Lake Thun for example at St. Beatus caves and Oberhofen castle)

Pepper_von_snoot

Piz Gloria rotates. If you suffer from dizziness or get sick on rides at amusement parks you aren't going to want to eat there.

I like to take the Brienz boat to Giessbach Falls and have lunch on the terrace at Hotel Giessbach.

Thun is a very cute town with a covered bridge.

Thin

PalenQ

Piz Gloria rotates. If you suffer from dizziness or get sick on rides at amusement parks you aren't going to want to eat there.>

It rotates so so slow you may not even notice it unless looking out the window.

I like to take the Brienz boat to Giessbach Falls and have lunch on the terrace at Hotel Giessbach.>

If motion sickness is a problem stay away from boats like those that will cause many more problems than Piz Gloria.

sbrosnan813

Kja- Your itinerary is impressive!! I hope you don't mind, but I copied and pasted the days that you recommended (plus the couple of other days before and after as additional options) just so I can have that for reference. As you said, we defintely won't get as much done as you, but it's a good way to see how we can organize our time- thank you!

Also, thanks for the heads up Pepper and PalenQ- Unless it's constant fast spinning, I'm pretty good for motion (the only time I ever felt nauseous on the water was when I went kayaking in the ocean in Maui on a particularly "wavy" day lol). I'm fine with forward motion (I take the 20 min ferry ride to our barrier beaches all the time), but can the lake actually be rough? I figured if anything, it would be calmer than our sound over here(but who knows- I've heard of people feeling sick at our Finger Lakes lol).

Also, just out of curiosity- it seems like the boat from Interlaken to Thun is 2 hours. Does that seem about right? In your own opinion, do you think the sights on the water are worth the two hours (as opposed to a half hour train ride?). It does look beautiful from the pictures I'm seeing, but I also know I only have 3.5 days in the area. Is there possibly a shorter boat cruise?

PalenQ

but can the lake actually be rough?>

No but I was comparing it to the slightly revolving Piz Gloria- more motion but normal boat -it is a relatively small lake.

kja

I'm glad my itinerary and trip report included some information that your found helpful!

With as little time as you have, I think it makes sense for you to question the value of spending 2 hours to take the boat from Thun to Interlaken. Another option would be to take a boat or bus from Thun to Oberhofen and then the boat or bus back. You can check the schedules on the Swiss Rail website:
http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
(Use the "advanced search" feature to look for boats.)

neckervd

"the boat from Interlaken to Thun is 2 hours. Does that seem about right? In your own opinion, do you think the sights on the water are worth the two hours (as opposed to a half hour train ride?)"

Yes, it's 2 hrs. But I told you above that you can hop on/hop off wherever you like. You can change to bus or train at any boat stop. The view from the boat is panoramic, in contrast to that of a train or bus window.
Boat rides make sense if you want to visit some places along the shore anyway (like St. Beatus Caves, Oberhofen castle, Spiez castle, rope railway to viewpoint Beatenberg, etc.).