MichGuy

We've canceled our travel plans for this year, sadly, so I've started to dream about next year already.

Does anyone know how hard it is to travel from Grindelwald to Chanonix "the back way" -- basically as the crow flies over the mountains? Of course there's a train via Geneva but I think a bus ride (or car rental) through the mountains would be fun. Maybe Grindelwald - Spiez - Aigie - Martigny - Chamonix?

I'd like to figure out how to do this as part of a trip that includes Geneva - B.O. - Mont Blanc - Lyon. We haven't visited Lyon or Chamonix in any of our previous travels.

Michael

The Discovery Option in viaMichelin will take you via Martigny. That is probably the most mountainous route.

neckervd

Most scenic itinerary:
Grindelwald - Interlaken - direct GOLDEN PASS train - Montreux - Martigny - MONT BLANC EXPRESS - Chamonix.
Alternatives and side trips:
from Gstaad (Golden Pass line) to Glacier 3000 and back.
from Montbovon (Golden Pass line) to Gruyeres castle/Broc chocolate factory and back.
from Montreux to Chillon castle and back (10 min OW by train, bus or boat).
from Montreux by Lake Geneva boat to Bouveret Swiss Vapeur Park and Acqua park and then by train to Martigny.
from Montreux by train via Vevey - Puidoux through the Lavaux vineyards to Lausanne and back to Montreux y boat.

Basic timetables valid from Dec 1q3th 2020 until Dec 11th 2021:

Grindelwald dp 8.18 - Interlaken Ost ar 8.53, change train, dp 9.08 - Gstaad 10.56 - Montbovon 11.34 - Montreux ar 12.26
Grindelwald dp 10.18 - Interlaken Ost ar 10.53, change train, dp 11.08 - Gstaad 12.56 - Montbovon 13.34 - Montreux ar 14.26
Grindelwald dp 13.18 - Interlaken Ost ar 13.53, change train, dp 14.08 - Gstaad 15.56 - Montbovon 16.34 - Montreux ar 17.26
Grindelwald dp 15.18 - Interlaken Ost ar 15.53, change train, dp 16.08 - Gstaad 17.56 - Montbovon 18.34 - Montreux ar 19.26

Montreux - train - Martigny - Mont Blanc Express - Chamonix:
Montreux dp 6.43 - Chamonix ar 8.45 and then every hr until Monteux dp 18.43 - Chamonix ar 20.45

Montreux - Lake Geneva boat - Bouveret:
Montreux dp 11.01, 12.40, 14.40, Bouveret ar 45 min later

Bouveret - Martigny: trains every hr, 45 min ride; visit the Roman theatre and the museums of Martigny.

Train Montbovon - Gruyeres (20 min ride):
Departures from Montbovon 10 min after the arrival of the train from Interlaken.

bilboburgler

It's only about 200 km by bike via Soon. But about 3 km up 3km down.

neckervd

It's about 350 kms, but the mountian bike trail doesn't touch Sion:

Mountain bike Trail 1/891: Grindelwald - Kleine Scheidegg - Lauterbrunnen - Interlaken - Aeschi - Kiental - Kanderbruck - Adelboden - Hahnenmoospass - Lenk - St. Stephan - Tanzhubel - Turbach- Bissen - Lauenen - Lake Lauenen.
Lake Lauenen - Soersegg - Chrine - Gsteig - Reusch - Pillon Pass.
Mountain bike Trails 590/68/582: - Les Diablerets - Col de la Croix Pass - Taveyanne - Barboleusaz - Peuffere - Les Sallines de Bex.
Les Salines de Bex - Lavey les Bains - Evionnaz - Collonges - Dorenaz - Coude du Rhone - La Batiaz - Trail along the Dranse river - Martigny Croix - Le Fay - Le Drapeau Suissse - Le Mentset - Col de la Forclaz - Le Peuty - Les Esserts - Col des Possettes Pass - Le Tour - Argentiere - Chamonix.

deladeb

Don’t miss going up aiguille du midi (3 chairlifts and breathtaking scenery all the way to the top, a final ride takes you down into Italy.