Best options for a tight schedule – Golden Pass

  • sllm1
    Participant
    2 posts
    13 March 2018 at 0:13:45 #814741

    My husband and I are traveling by train from Hong Kong through Asia then through Europe. We hope to take the Golden Pass route through Switzerland on 2 Jun, but scheduling at that date raises a question. We arrive in Lucerne on 31 May and had planned to hit the Golden Pass on 1 Jun. It doesn’t re-open until 2 Jun, so maybe we will do a mountain hike near Lucerne (really some type of tour – we’re not as fit as we once were but still want to get out there a bit!) on 1 Jun then take the Golden Pass on 2 Jun and just ride the train.

    Originally we had hoped to visit the Klein Matterhorn, but since we have to delay a day in Lucerne, that’s really difficult time-wise. (Our trip is an around-the-world “survey” trip rather than one that affords detail within each country.) So my questions include:

    1) What’s the best mountain tour option in Lucerne? Place to stay in Lucerne?

    2) Are we making a mistake not getting to the Klein Matterhorn?

    3) Is there another train option that we’re unaware of on 1 Jun (and capable of navigating on our own – we’re old, ha!)? Any suggestions are welcome. (We bought a Eurail pass – 5 day – if that’s helpful in responding.)

    Just be aware that our time is so limited – we are spending the bulk of this trip in Asia because we’ll be much more likely to get back to Europe in a year or so but will probably not get back to Asia at all.

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    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    13 March 2018 at 2:37:33 #878664

    Hello sllm1 and Welcome to MySwissAlps,

    The Golden Pass Line (http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass) is operating on 1 June. The only issue is that due to construction work on a short section of track there is a bus detour interposed into the trip between Château-d’Oex and Montbovon. As a result reservations are not possible on the Zweisimmen to Montreux leg of the journey. Reservations are not really needed on the other legs. I wouldn’t let this deter you as the bus detour will be seamless and late May/early June is not peak tourist season. The Swiss are very good at that sort of thing.

    Zermatt (where you will find Klein Matterhorn) is a bit of a detour from Montreux if you plan to take the entire Golden Pass Line that is.

    Where are you going next?

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    13 March 2018 at 7:12:47 #878665

    Hi sslm1, and welcome!

    There’s no such thing as the best mountain tour, because they’re all different. On this page (http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne/activities) you’ll find more information on Mt. Pilatus, Mt. Titlis and Mt. Rigi. It might help you to decide where to go.

    We have listed some hotels on our website (http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne/hotels), but you could also use the search box at the top right of this page to see where other forum members have stayed.

    sllm1
    Participant
    2 posts
    13 March 2018 at 13:57:48 #878666

    We would be headed to Paris from Switzerland, as we head back to the U.S. from there.

    Another question came to mind: we live in a very small town here in the U.S. (population about 100 ppl), so we’d really enjoy staying over in a small town there – obviously larger than our hometown is fine though! Is there a good small-town option along the route that also has access to some type of mountaintop hike or tour? We just have no idea what’s along the way, so would like to explore this type of option. It would have been most convenient for us to overnight in Zurich, but we weren’t as interested in Zurich, so figure we’ll just go a little farther to Lucerne. But maybe there’s something we’d prefer even more as we’re really country people at heart.

    Thanks for all the help!

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    13 March 2018 at 15:05:47 #878667

    I have to say that Lucerne is beautiful and it’s not like a typical big city. However, have a look at Wengen, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen or Mürren. These villages all fit your Golden Pass route.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    13 March 2018 at 18:23:31 #878668

    Hey!

    i had a confusion.

    are the routes of golden pass line and the normal train same from lucerne to interlaken?

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    13 March 2018 at 18:34:16 #878669

    And also,

    is there a normal ordinary train from lucerne to Zweisimmen?

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    13 March 2018 at 20:06:45 #878670

    Yes, it’s the same route. The “golden pass” panoramic trains only travel between Zweisimmen and Montreux and are noted on the timetable as MOB Panoramic or Belle Epoque. From Lucerne to Interlaken it’s a standard train.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    14 March 2018 at 10:55:38 #878671

    Okay thanks 😀

    but then why are we charged extra if we take a train from lucerne to montreux?

    Arno
    Moderator
    15471 posts
    14 March 2018 at 11:31:24 #878672

    Hi Simoni,

    Can you provide some extra details so we can give you a better answer? Lucerne to Montreux can be done via the scenic Golden Pass route or the less scenic quicker route via Lausanne. There are standard trains on both routes. Which route are you planning to take, and who is charging you which amount? Do you have a rail pass? The only extra charge I can think of is the optional seat reservation for the MOB Panoramic or Belle Epoque on the leg that Chantal mentioned: Zweisimmen to Montreux.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    14 March 2018 at 14:24:19 #878673

    Hey!!

    we are visiting Switzerland this may!

    and I was informed by one of our local guides that if we choose golden pass rail from lucerne , it would cost us more than that of Zweisimmen to montruex!

    and yes we’d be having swiss rail pass for 8 days.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    14 March 2018 at 16:01:47 #878674

    Hi Simoni97,

    The train you are on doesn’t affect the ticket cost – only the route itself (length overall). The only exception would be a seat reservation which is optional on the Golden Pass route.

    So any train from Lucerne to Montreux would be more expensive than one from Zweisimmen to Montreux (longer distance to travel).

    You can check prices for any route on the Swiss railways timetable here. But since you have the Swiss Travel Pass there is no extra cost for you on either trip (unless you make a reservation).

    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    14 March 2018 at 19:33:23 #878675

    Hello Simoni,

    Note that in May it is not possible to make seat reservations between Zweisimmen and Montreux due to construction work on a short section of the line. You will be re-routed by bus just prior to Montbovon. No big deal.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    16 March 2018 at 11:51:07 #878676

    Thank you so much!

    and would there be any weather issues in May that may cause us any problem in visiting mt titlis and jungfraujoch?

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    16 March 2018 at 12:20:58 #878677

    >> and would there be any weather issues in May that may cause us any problem in visiting mt titlis and jungfraujoch?

    Yes, there could be.

    Clouds can envelop mountain tops at any time of the year, either for part of a day or all day, even if there is no rain or snow. You can get clear sunny blue skies in winter, and grey skies with low cloud in summer and vice versa.

    To increase your chances of getting a clear day to enjoy mountain-top views, the best thing is to stay at least 3 days in the area. If this is not possible, you should have a back-up plan for what to do instead if the mountain top is in the clouds on the day you planned to go up.

    You can check the weather forecast the day before, and check the webcam for visibility before buying a ticket and going up.

    Titlis

    http://www.titlis.ch/en/live/ weather

    Jungfraujoch

    http://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/live/webcams/

    Jungfraujoch weather

    http://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/live/weather/#jungf raujoch

    Alpenrose

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