Late Nov/early Dec: 14 day itinerary – Need advice

  • Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    17 September 2015 at 18:54:09 #807962

    Hi!

    I’m planning to travel with friends (all adults) to Switzerland in late Nov/Early Dec for 2 weeks. Need some advise on our draft itinerary. We want a relaxing and not too rush holiday. We do not intend to ski but if there’s any fun sledding available, please do let us know!

    Mode of Transport: Swiss Pass. Is this the best planning tool for Train Routes: fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/qu ery.exe/en&HWAI=JS!aja x=yes!&. Also, I read from some sites and they mentioned shops are usually closed on Sunday?

    Day 1:Morning: Arrive Zurich AirportTransfer to Zermatt by Train – approx 4 hrs

    Day 1 Afternoon: Arrive Zermatt, Checkin (Stay 3 nights in Zermatt)

    Day 1 afternoon: Go Lausanne / Sightseeing Zermatt

    Day 2: Matterhorn (Not skiing, maybe paragliding or hotspring?)

    Day 3: Go Montreux / Visit Chillon Castle

    Day 4: Depart Zermatt and travel to Interlaken by train – approx 4 hrs(Stay 3 nights in Interlaken)

    Day 4 afternoon: Lake Thun

    Day 5: Jungfrau Mountain / Vantage Point Schynige Platte

    Day 6: Explore Berne (Shopping/Bear pits/Old Town)

    Day 7: Depart Interlaken travel to Lucerne by train – approx 2 hrs(Stay 4 nights in Lucerne)

    Day 7 afternoon: Explore Lucerne – Chapel Bridge

    Day 8: Mount TitlisTake train to Engelberg – approx 1 hr. Cable Car from Engelberg to Trubsee middle station / Take Titllis Rotair (rotating cable car) to summit

    Day 9: MT RIGI (Queen of Mountain) – Descend to Vitznau – Lake Ship back to Lucene

    Day 10: Shopping / Relax, enjoy Interlaken Town

    Day 11: Depart Lucerne and travel to Appenzell by train – approx 3 hrs(Stay 2 nights in Appenzell)

    Day 11 & 12: Explore Appenzell / Wasserauen / Hauptgasse

    Day 13: Depart Appenzell to Zurich by train – approx 2 hrs(Stay 2 nights in Zurich)

    Day 13 & 14: Explore Zurich Old Town / Christmas Market? / Uetliberg / Last Min Shopping

    Day 15: Depart for Airport for early morning flight home

    Thanks in advance! 🙂

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    Annika
    Moderator
    7104 posts
    18 September 2015 at 9:54:15 #846183

    Welcome to MySwissAlps, happi!

    Late November/early December is low season. Winter sports, like sledding, won’t be available in most regions yet. You may have chance in Zermatt though: please refer to http://www.zermatt.ch/en/wint er-hiking-snowshoeing/Sledding.

    Now, as for your itinerary: you’ll be traveling a lot, so a 15 day Swiss Travel Pass is definitely the best option. Purchase options are listed at http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/price. Since you’re from Singepore, the cheapest option is to buy your pass through http://www.raileurope-world.com.

    If you want your itinerary not to be too rushed, I’d suggest some changes. You can best use the timetable to check traveling times. Here are some tips:

    • it’s too much to include Lausanne on day 1. Just travel to Zermatt and check in in your hotel; that will be enough for one day;
    • on day 3, note that a single trip to Montreux takes 2h40. Alternatively, you can spend another day near Zermatt;
    • day 5: the Schynige Platte train won’t be running in November. Just a trip to the Jungfraujoch will do though;
    • day 13/14: please see http://www.zuerich.com/en/vis it/christmas-markets for information on Christmas markets, and our Zurich page for further tips.

    Hotels close to the railway stations are listed at these pages:

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    18 September 2015 at 18:07:47 #846184

    Hi Annika,

    Thanks for your reply and your recommendation. After some discussion with my friends, we might drop Appenzell (2N) and now considering either staying in Lausanne or Montreux and to explore the area + Geneva. Can you please let us know which would be better considering we will go Interlaken after that.

    Thanks so much!

    Annika
    Moderator
    7104 posts
    19 September 2015 at 13:41:41 #846185

    Hi happi!

    The Lake Geneva region is definitely worth a visit too. Both Lausanne and Montreux would be fine. Lausanne is a bit closer to Geneva, but Montreux is generally more attractive for tourists. And you could easily board the Golden Pass train for your transfer to Interlaken from Montreux. Please check http://www.myswissalps.com/mo ntreux for information and hotel recommendations.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    20 September 2015 at 19:32:22 #846186

    Thanks so much again! ^^

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    24 September 2015 at 0:25:56 #846187

    Without contradicting Annika, I might add that Appenzell in the countryside, is a very “Swiss” experience.. The Lake Geneva region is more cosmopolitan, and the cities are attractive. However, they share characterisitics with many cities around the world. I like those cities, but they do not have the uniquely Swiss character of Appenzell.

    Just a thought.

    Slowpoke.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    1 October 2015 at 16:17:25 #846188

    Hi Slowpoke,

    Many thanks for your suggestion! Do you think it’s worth doing day trip to Appenzell from Lucerne? Reason is we are trying to stay put at one base longer rather than the packing & unpacking.

    Thanks so much again!

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