10 day trip between June 30 - July 10

Hi, thanks for all the great links and tips. My earlier thread closed so am starting a new one.

My updated itinerary:

• June 30-July 2 (2 nights): Lucerne
• July 2-5 (3 nights): Wengen
• July 5-7 (2 nights): Murren
• July 7-9 (2 nights): Zermatt
• July 9: Zurich (1 night)

what do you think of this itinerary? Should I skip Lucerne and head to Interlaken or somewhere else?

Have bought a swiss pass for 8 days. Need advice on the following:

1) What are the most scenic trains I should take for the above itinerary?

2) What are the day trips I should definitely do from the above places I am visiting?

3) We like moderate to easy level hiking and cycling. Any trails/routes you would definitely recommend? Do we need to book anything in advance?

Thanks.

Bikkrama

Advise for Berner Oberland:

- stay only in the hotel in Wengen, change hotels cost time. Wengen and Murren are village close together.

Day trips from Wengen:

- Jungfraujoch (only by very good weather on the top)

- Schilthorn (only by very good weather on the top)

- Wengen>Lauterbrunnen>Grutschalp> Walk: Grutschalp to Winteregg to Mürren. Mürren to Almendhubel: Walk back to Mürren.

Wengen to Mannlichen: Walk Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg to Wengernalp.

Wengen to Mannlichen to Grindelwald Grund to Grindelwald. Go in citycentre with cablecar to First. Walk to Bachalpsee and back to First. Do on First also the First Cliff walk

Wengen to Lauterbrunnen to Wilderswil: Schynige platte Bahn

Boattrip on Thuner or Brienzersee

Interlaken: Harderbahn with nice few on Interlaken and Jungfrau in afternoon

Steamrailway Brienzer Rothornbahn: walk from Rothorn kulm to Planalp

You can also go to Beatenberg / Niederhorn or to Niesen

Hi Brahms-

<<"Steamrailway Brienzer Rothornbahn: walk from Rothorn kulm to Planalp">>

Bikkrama specified "moderate to easy"

Does that hike fit the definition? It starts at quite high altitude - 2240 meters approximately and ends at 1340 meters, with a steep descent.

If you knees are not in extremely good condition, that will really hurt them.

map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=swisstopo&lang=e n&bgLayer=ch.swisstopo .pixelkarte-farbe&layers=ch.swisst opo.swisstlm3d-wanderwege&X=181460.00 &Y=643880.00&zoom=7&la yers_visibility=false

Also, this link may be helpful:

www.myswissalps.com/hi king

And, this-

www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/tips-about-wengen-and-the-jungfrau-region-by-kim/page/2.

and, maybe this -

www.jungfrau.ch/en/som mer/tourism/destinatio ns/kleine-scheidegg/hiking-trails/

Slowpoke

Brienzer Rothorn to Planalp is indeed 900 meters downwards, but it is good to walk because the walk is longer (as the Railway) and not so very steep. When you are lucky you can walk in the snow in the summer a little bit..........

But, you can also walk from Spiez to Faulensee, that is indeed a very, very easy walk on the border of the Thunersee and back by boat.

Hi Bikkrama-

Although you could certainly spend your entire trip in the Bernese Oberland and enjoy every bit of it, personally, I believe that Luzern is too good to be missed.

So, I do not agree with Brahm's advice to skip Luzern.

You could give some thought to choosing only one of Mürren or Wengen, but they are different enough to make it reasonable, if slightly inconvenient, to split your time between them. It is true that access to Schilthorn is easier from Mürren.

In my opinion, I'd stick with the Luzern section. And, it is easy to access from Zürich airport.

www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne

It has a very different feeling from the Bernese Oberland.

Slowpoke

Brahms didn't even mention Luzern I think. He just provided some good options for the Berner Oberland part of the itinerary.

I think it makes sense to first stay in Luzern, then the Berner Oberland (I would also pick just one village there), then Zermatt. With 11 days, this is certainly possible, although two base towns would work as well.

You're right.

I misread his first sentence, thinking he meant to skip Luzern and go to Wengen.

My mistake.

Glad you caught it.

Slowpoke

Yes, I don't skip Luzern, but give only some advise of the Berner Oberland. No problem Slowpoke !

Also easy to walk in the Berner Oberland,

- Kleine Scheidegg to Alpiglen (summer and winter)

- First to Bachalpsee to Bort (summer and winter)

- Mannlichen to Alpiglen (summer)

- Böningen to Isetwald (summer)

- Schynige platte to Breitlauenen (summer)

HI Brahms-

I've done some of those when I was not in good condition. Some have significant down hill stretches. If you are not used to that kind of hiking, you can get sore knees fast. I did. ;-(

I'd suggest a look at map that shows altitudes or a conversation with the innkeeper to check that out.

The link that I gave to the Swisstopo map above can help.

Slowpoke

But we are in Switserland.... These routes are very easy, unless you're in a bad physical shape, if that's the case I recommend you walk from Interlaken Ost to Interlaken West.

Everywhere in the Bernese Oberlands are mountains and therefore hills. The routes I gave you are intended for people with an average physical condition. You can walk these routes with three people next to each other.

Thanks for all the advice.

Could you share some guidance on the most scenic trains with the below plan? Will my swiss pass allow me to travel on all these trains?

June 30-July 2 (2 nights): Lucerne

July 2-5 (3 nights): Wengen

July 5-7 (2 nights): Murren

July 7-9 (2 nights): Zermatt

July 9: Zurich (1 night)

Also should have elaborated on easy to moderate hiking. We are used to hikes within 2.5-3.5 hours that are not too steep. Also we love cycling so would recommend any routes from Wengen, Murren or Zermatt? Would we be able to hire cycles easily?

Hi Bikkrama,

You'll find scenic trains and what's covered in the Swiss Travel Pass (not Swiss Pass) here:

• myswissalps.com/ activities/scenictrips / train
• myswissalps.com/ swisstravelpass/ validity

Apart from "official" scenic routes, there are many wonderful train routes all across the country. Too many to list. One of them is Spiez - Kandersteg - Goppenstein - Brig, which can be included while traveling from Mürren to Zermatt.

Bicycle routes will be pretty steep in most areas you mentioned. Mountain bikes can be rented in several places, but I don't have a list. Your hotel should be able to direct you to the nearest rental place. Some even rent bikes themselves.

Hi Bikkrama

<<"We are used to hikes within 2.5-3.5 hours that are not too steep.">>

This one definitely fits that requirement:

www.myswissalps.com/hi king/maennlichen-kleinescheidegg

It can be shorter than your time request, but most people stop and look at the scenery... a lot.

Also - here are some ideas:

www.jungfrau.ch/en/som mer/tourism/destinatio ns/kleine-scheidegg/hiking-trails/

Slowpoke

<<"unless you're in a bad physical shape, if that's the case I recommend you walk from Interlaken Ost to Interlaken West.">>

Or, along the valley floor between Stechelberg and Lauterbrunnen?

Slowpoke

Yes !