[Staceyw]

6 April 2022 at 21:39:10 #826793

I have a couple of questions. We are coming from Annecy to Wengen and staying 2 nights in Wengen in early September. We were thinking of going up to Jungfraujoch one direction via Eiger Express and other Kleine Scheidegg. Is it better to go up EE and down KS or vice versa? Want to go early am for best viewing. We don’t plan on going to the Fun Park but do want to visit all the other possibilities on the Top. How much time do you recommend we stay? If we book a reservation, can we decide to come back earlier or later once we are on Top?

We will then be going Wengen to Milan or Wengen to Zurich. We need to get to Naples so looking at best route. All of this is just in a matter of a few days. Not sure whether to go point to point tickets, a pass, or the Half-Fare Card? We will not have a car. There are 2 adults.

Thanks very much with your assistance!

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[User]

Reply 1 of 11 • 6 April 2022 at 23:17:33 #940207

The traditional railway route is a slower more gradual ascent so is better for your body acclimatisation for high altitude, so would be the better way to ascend.

[User]

Reply 2 of 11 • 7 April 2022 at 6:47:33 #940208

Hi Staceyw and welcome to MySwissAlps.com!

I’m not sure if you’ve seen our page yet, but you’ll find a lot of information here: myswissalps.com/jungfraujoch.

It depends on what you would like to do on the top, visiting the attractions takes around 1 hr. If you would like to have some snow activities that take an extra 30 min- 1 hour. If you would like to have lunch there, count with an extra 1 hr again.

You can choose a rail pass if you already know your itinerary. We have a guide at http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass, that will help you.

As you are planning to go to Italy, check this one: http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/italy.

If you check the SBB timetable, that will help you to decide on your route to Naples. If you are not familiar with the SBB timetable, read first at http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable. I’ve made a quick search for you. According to that your route from Wengen to Naples takes around 9-9,5 hrs, via Milan with several changes.

As you are going to travel via different European countries, make sure to check this rail pass: http://www.myswissalps.com/eurailglobalpass

Let us know if you have further questions,

Ildiko

[Staceyw]

Reply 3 of 11 • 7 April 2022 at 8:05:56 #940209

Thanks very much for the links. I’ll check them out.

Do you know if they can take a different timed return than their reserved ticket if there’s space?

And, do you agree to go up by train and back by cable car as previous responder recommended?

Thanks again,

Stacey

[Staceyw]

Reply 4 of 11 • 7 April 2022 at 8:07:15 #940210

That makes sense. Thanks much. Do you know if you can change times on reserved spot for return once you are up on mountain if they decide they want to come back earlier?

Thanks again,

Stacey

[User]

Reply 5 of 11 • 7 April 2022 at 8:21:46 #940211

Hi Stacey,

if you miss a train or would like to return earlier, you can get to a train if there is more space on it. So no worries.
This had already happened to us once. We missed our reserved train so we queued and we got a place in the one after our missed train. We just had to wait a bit more.

Yes, 1960man’s answer is quite reasonable. It will be better for your body to do so.

Ildiko

[Staceyw]

Reply 6 of 11 • 7 April 2022 at 8:37:50 #940212

Perfect! Really helpful. This will make them happy.

[Annika]

Reply 7 of 11 • 7 April 2022 at 9:30:48 #940213

Hi Staceyw,

Yes, I’d recommend a round trip. That way you get to experience both the Lauterbrunnen as well as the Grindelwald valley. My personal favorite would be to go up via Lauterbrunnen-Wengen-Kleine Scheidegg, as the ascent to Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg is truly amazing. I’d then get down via Grindelwald (either by train or by Eiger Express). All options are explained here: https://www.myswissalps.com/jungfraujoch/gettingthere.

[Mark]

Reply 8 of 11 • 7 April 2022 at 13:27:03 #940214

Hi Staceyw

you don’t say what your interests are but you might consider on the return to stop in Kleine Scheidegg and walk to Mannlichen then take the cable car down to Wengen. The walk is very easy, beautiful views, and will take about 1.2 hrs. Alternately you could hike from KS to Wengernalp then train to Wengen. Also very nice easy walk on easy trail. You can walk from Eigergletscher to KS but it is quite steep and takes about 1 hr. In my opinion your perspective of the beauty of the area when on a walk is quite different (and superior)than when riding on a train or gondola. These short, easy walks are appropriate for all but the most infirm.

As to the question of altitude acclimation I personally doubt that the difference in times of ascension by train or gondola will make any significant difference. Altitude symptom severity is a function of altitude, duration of stay, and individual susceptibility. Typically acclimation at truly high altitude takes days or even weeks. I would doubt 30 minutes will make much of a difference one way or the other. Anyway I would guess good hydration to be more helpful.

I would be curious if others who visited Jungfraujoch had any significant symptoms while visiting.

Mark

[User]

Reply 9 of 11 • 7 April 2022 at 17:54:41 #940215

Hi Mark,

not exactly Jungfraujoch, but at Gornergrat my father was quite sick. He had a terrible headache and felt also a bit dizzy. After we went back to Zermatt, he was OK again.

I think it depends on the person and I am also sure that most people do not feel anything.

Ildiko

[Mark]

Reply 10 of 11 • 7 April 2022 at 23:57:06 #940216

Hi IIdiko

I have taken part in several threads in this forum on the risks of Acute Mountain Sickness especially for infants and children. Apparently mild but annoying symptoms (headache,fatigue, sleeplessness)are fairly common above 8000 feet. Fortunately severe symptoms (cerebral edema and pulmonary edema) are rare below 14,000 feet. As you noted there is often a great deal of variability in how susceptible an individual is and it is not necessarily related to age or level of fitness (it is however related to duration of stay, physical exertion, hydration). Medical literature describing acclimation protocols usually allow 2-3000 feet ascents per day but sleeping at only 1000 feet per day higher than the previous day. Thus mountain climbers take days if not weeks to acclimate on high altitude ascents. That’s why I doubted a 30 minute difference between train and gondola rides would change the risk of symptoms much especially if they are only going to be there a couple of hours.

Mark

[Staceyw]

Reply 11 of 11 • 8 April 2022 at 18:24:27 #940217

Thank you so much for this information. We will take a look at the walks. If not strenuous, its something we would be interested in.