Comments on 6.5 days itinerary in Wengen?

Dear all

I am trying to revise my 6.5 days itinerary in Jungfrau region, I shall travel with my 8 years old son (he is energetic but we both not an experienced hiker) and stay in Wengen. I not sure if this itinerary looks ok as some days are quite busy. Please feel free to give comments and suggestions, very appreciate for all your help!!

Day 1

Luzern > Lungern (Train: 0905-0951, 46mins)

Lugenrn > Meiringen (Train: 1052-1116, 39mins): The Reichenbach Fall (Won’t hiking up) & Aare Gorge

Meiringen > Brienz (Train: 1251-1302, 11mins)

Lake Brienz (Cruise: 1440, visit Grandhotel Giessbach & Giessbach Falls)

Day 2

Schilthorn

Hiking: Allmendhulsel > Murren + Children Adventure Trail

Hiking: Grutschalp > Winteregg > Murren > Gimmelwald > Stechelberg > Trummelbach Falls

Day 3

Hiking: First > Bachalpsee > First

Toboggan at Pfingstegg + Alpenspielplatz Bort (kid’s playground)

Grindelwald

Day 4

Harder Kulm

Schynige Platte

Hiking: Lauterbrunnen > Staubbach Fall > Stechelberg

Day 5

Jungfraujoch

Hiking: Männlichen > Kleine Scheidegg

Day 6

Wengen > Blausee (Train: 0833-1040, 2hr7m), ride a boat and have lunch

Blausee > Kandersteg (Bus: 1240-1256, 18mins), play Toboggan at Kandersteg (Rodelbaan)

Take cable car to Oeschinensee

Kandersteg > Spiez (Train: 1513-1444, 31mins)

Lake Thun: Spiez > Thun (Cruise: 1534, visit Oberhofen at 1557, take bus to Hunegg and Schadau)

Day 7

Wengen > Gruyere (Train: 1203 or 1403)

Questions:

Day 1: I shall use “Express Luggage” to send my luggage to Interlaken Ost as seems Lungern station has no lockers.

Day 2: Is this possible to do all these activities in one day?

Day 4: Is this hiking routes repeated the hiking routes on part of Day 2?

Day 5: I would like to visit Jungfraujoch in the morning. So how should I plan? Take train from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg, visit Jungfraujoch, take train back to Wengen, then take cable car to Männlichen to start hiking? Should I take the ride from Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald then back to Wengen or simply skip Grindelwald on this day?

Day 7: I leave some buffer today in case there is any place not yet go, I can leave at 14:03 on this day.

Hi cecily113,

It looks like a nice itinerary! A little busy but doable. The key is to be flexible and able to change itinerary day by day depending on weather and how you feel half way through your day. :)

Questions:

1. Yes, good idea
2. This is a busy day yes - best to play it by ear, but if you are both feeling good and the weather cooperates all should be fine
3. Do you mean are they very similar in scenery? A little I suppose but I am not too familiar with the hikes there. I can say Bachalpsee is a nice hiking destination though.
4. I would try and incorporate both routes to Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald and Wengen (one up and one on the return).

Lucas

Dear Lucas

Thanks for your advices!! I have revised my plan for Day 1 to Day 5 as follow, is this arrangement ok? Thanks a lot for all your help!!

Day 1: Spend more time in Meiringen

Day 2: If it’s too late to go to Trummelbach Falls on Day 2, shall put it on either Day 3 or Day 5.

Day 4: Add “hiking: Männlichen > Kleine Scheidegg” so as to take train from Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald

Day 5: In order to go to Jungfraujoch in the early morning, shall take train to Kleine Scheidegg for visiting Jungfraujoch, then going down for another short hiking to Wengernalp and visit Lauterbrunnen, probably Trummelbach Falls too.

Day 1

Luzern > Lungern (Train: 0905-0951, 46mins)

Lugenrn > Meiringen (Train: 1052-1116, 39mins): The Reichenbach Fall (can skip) & Aare Gorge

Meiringen > Brienz (Train: 1451-1502, 11mins)

Lake Brienz (Cruise: 1640-1753 visit Grandhotel Giessbach & Giessbach Falls)

Day 2

Schilthorn

Hiking: Allmendhulsel > Murren + Children Adventure Trail

Hiking: Grutschalp > Winteregg > Murren > Gimmelwald > Stechelberg > (optional: Trummelbach Falls)

Day 3

Harder Kulm

Schynige Platte

Hiking: Lauterbrunnen > Staubbach Fall > Stechelberg > (optional: Trummelbach Falls)

Day 4

Hiking: Männlichen > Kleine Scheidegg

Kleine Scheidegg > Grindelwald (Train: 39mins)

Hiking: First > Bachalpsee > First

Toboggan at Pfingstegg + Alpenspielplatz Bort (kid’s playground)

Grindelwald

Day 5

Wengen > Kleine Scheidegg (Train: 26m)

Jungfraujoch

Hiking: Kleine Scheidegg > Wengernalp

Lauterbrunnen > (optional: Trummelbach Falls)

Day 6

Wengen > Blausee (Train: 0833-1040, 2hr7m), ride a boat and have lunch

Blausee > Kandersteg (Bus: 1240-1256, 18mins), play Toboggan at Kandersteg (Rodelbaan)

Kandersteg > Spiez (Train: 1413-1444, 31mins)

Lake Thun: Spiez > Thun (Cruise: 1534-1620, visit Oberhofen at 1557, take bus to Hunegg and Schadau)

Day 7

Wengen > Gruyere (Train: 1203 or 1403)Gruyere

Is Bachalpsee back light in the morning or afternoon?

Revised Day 4 and 5 as below, that incorporate both routes, one up and down from Grindelwald and Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg. Is there a bus from Grindelwald to Grosse Scheidegg? Then I can take bus up then back to Grindelwald from First by cable car. Thank you!!

Day 4

Wengen > Kleine Scheidegg > Grindelwald (Train: 0924-1042, 1hr18m)

Hiking: Grosse Scheidegg > First

Hiking: First > Bachalpsee > First

Toboggan at Pfingstegg + Alpenspielplatz Bort (kid’s playground)

Grindelwald

Day 5

Wengen > Kleine Scheidegg (Train: 26m)

Jungfraujoch

Kleine Scheideggg > Wengen (Train: 26m) > Männlichen (by cable car)

Hiking: Männlichen > Kleine Scheidegg

Hiking: Kleine Scheidegg > Wengernalp

Hi Cecily,

Yes, there is a bus from Grindelwald to Grosse Scheidegg - you can search the Swiss railways timetable for details.

I haven't been to the Bachalpsee so I'm not sure the best time for lighting...most pictures I see are evening golden hour and they look great (I would head there for that time).

Looks like a very well thought out itinerary - I'm sure it will be a great trip!

You can walk around most of the lake so avoiding backlight should not be a problem. Evening light can be very nice, but do check the gondola timings as they don't operate until late and walking back down won't be fun :-) Don't go too early or late as there might be shadows of the surrounding mountains on the lake.

Thanks Lucas and Arno for your advices!!

How about I take gondola from Mannlichen to Grindelwald Grund instead of taking train from Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald by train, which way has better view and experience? Thank you!!

I equally like both routes I think. They're just different: the Eiger north face up close (via Kleine Scheidegg) or a bit farther away.

I see. Thanks a lot for your info!!

Btw, what time will be better for taking photo in Bachalpsee? Thank you!!

I like taking landscape photos just before and after sunrise or sunset - it is tricky with these destinations though where you are limited by train or gondola operating schedules.

I'm sure no matter what your photos will be great! Hard to beat the location. :)

Lucas

Thanks Lucas for your advices:)

What do you suggest to wear to go to Jungfraujoch, Glacier 3000, Mt. Titlis, Gornergrat, Glacier Paradise.... Do I need to bring down jacket, gloves, hat...? Thank you!!!

It is hard to say exactly (everyone is different) but coming from Hong Kong I am guessing it will be quite cold for you. It is around 5 degrees during the day at Jungfraujoch (the coldest most likely). So be prepared for that temperature in the summer. A down jacket would be overkill for me...but I am Canadian ;)

Hahaha... that's true!! I doubt if I need to bring down jacket as I didn't bring any coat 14 years ago to go to Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat in summer too. Maybe just bring fleece.

I check the Express Luggage from SBB, however the description is quite strange as below, why there is a surcharge per shipment? That means I have to pay CHF12+30 for each luggage?

Quote from SBB:

"Registration in St. Gallen on Sunday, 20.08.2017 by 09:00, ready for pick-up at Zürich HB on Sunday, 20.08.2017 from 18:00 as express luggage with CHF12.00 per luggage item and CHF30.00 express surcharge per shipment."

Hi Cecily

It will be 12chf per piece of luggage with one charge of 30 chf for the express shipment. e.g. last year we sent 2 suitcases from St. Moritz to Thun at 12 chf each + 30chf express making a total of 54chf. Hope that clarifies it for you.

Maggie

Thanks Maggie for your explanation! I have 2 luggages, total CHF54, it is very expensive :(

Does anyone know if Lungern has lockers? I actually need to use the service 3 times!!! 1. Luzern > Murren, 2. Arosa > St. Gallen, 3. St. Gallen > Zurich.

Glad to be of help! We felt it was worth it for us as we didn't want to be encumbered with the large suitcases as well as flight bags and laptop bag on Glacier Express and had quite a tight connection in Brig. We only needed to use it the once so it wasn't a big deal.

Maggie

There are no lockers in Lungern as far as I know.

Yes I agree, especially I have to take care of my 8 years son and two luggage. Do you know what is the closing time of the storage service? I am afraid I can't collect them early.