MySwissAlps.com features ads, commercial and non-commercial Hiking base: fewer tourists than Murren/Zermatt
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My husband and I fell in love with the carless villages of Zermatt, Murren and Wengen in 1998 and returned in 2003 and 2005. We loved the access to high altitude day hiking that those villages provided and have been longing to return, and we plan to in a couple weeks–late August/September 2018. However, my daughter and her husband spent time there in August 2017 and felt Murren was extremely crowded with tourists. Has it changed that much in 12 years? I’m wondering if you could direct us to other locations in addition to our favorites that would provide us with comparable great high-altitude day hikes as well as lovely accommodations that may be less well-known. Thank you!
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Hi Annladams and welcome to MySwissAlps!
August is peak tourist season in Switzerland, so if you aren’t arriving late August/ September you may find it isn’t too busy. But yes, Switzerland’s tourism industry is booming and I am sure it is busier than 12 years ago so be prepared for that.
You’ll probably be ok in September in Murren and Zermatt as far as not being quite so busy.
The Jungfrau Region (http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion) and Zermatt (http://www.myswissalps.com/ze rmatt) have some of the best high-altitude hikes in the country. So hard to avoid those areas!
How about Graubünden? http://www.myswissalps.com/gr aubunden
St. Moritz could be busy (http://www.myswissalps.com/st moritz) but otherwise there are a lot of towns in the region that are small and quiet and offer great hiking options.There was a recent thread on the Graubünden region and we had a few members mention some towns to look into: http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/what-town-to-stay-in-graubunden
Hi Annladams
Instead of staying in Zermatt, we stayed nearby at Riffelalp Resort. It overlooks Zermatt and is 1 or 2 stops up the Gornergratbahn from Zermatt. It is pricey but gorgeous views of the Matterhorn and Zermatt The train stop is Riffelalp and only 1 hotel so not crowded and Zermatt is readily accessible. Note the thumbnail photo as it was taken from my room balcony at sunrise. Mark
Hello Annladams,
Another option is the eastern/upper part of the Rhône Valley, the Goms area: http://www.myswissalps.com/up perrhonevalley.
Hello Annladams,
I too am drawn back to the mountains many times.
Some highlights include the usual Jungfraujoch, stay in Wengen, Murren Almendhubel funicular, Pontresina Val Roseg, Arosa Rothorn, Pilatus, Rigi, Zermatt Gornergrat Hotel Kulm for night, Montreux Charlie Chaplin museum, Glacier 3000 Diablerets, Zurich and Rhinefall, Stein am Rhine,
Glacier Express, Golden pass, Bernina Express.
I am also looking for some quieter places and have a plan to arrive in Geneva 3rd September travelling Montreux Visp Rhone route to Leukerbad Spa town for local wine and cheeses with the Gemmipass just behind. I then go to Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Eggishorn to see the Aletschgletscher coming down from Jungfraujoch, hoping to walk on the glacier with a guide of course. I then go to Meiringen which has the Sherlock Holmes Reichenbachfall, Aare gorge. From Meiringen I take the Post Bus on a day tour of four mountain passes. Grimsel,Nufenen,Gothard,Susten. On to Engelberg to visit Titlis and Brunnibahn. Next to Hergiswil for Stanserhorn and stay by Lake Luzern (Vierwaldstattersee). On to Rigi Hotel Kaltbad for last night. My last day I want to travel over the Gothard to Bellinzona and then back to Zurich airport via the new base tunnel.
As the experts advise spend a lot of time with the SBB timetable and maps and do not try to do too much in one day as you must enjoy it. The Swiss Travel Pass is always the best for me with lots of movement throughout the country and most flexible even the 15 day pass at 485 Swiss Francs works out cheaper for my 11 days which I could have spent over 800 Francs !
Yesterday I got my pass through My Swiss Alps at Happy Rail over the internet and it came in five minutes!
Many thanks to Annika, Arno, Slowpoke over the years and now Lucas and Rockoyster for helping everybody. I look forward every week to to the messages from you.
Lastly good luck to Maggie Horswell with her health and hope she can return to Switzerland soon. It is sad to have to cancel your journey so close to the time after all the planning !
I hope I have not gone on too long and hope to post a trip report next month !
Best Regards to all travellers !
Yet another option is Ticino, in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland south of the Alps. The Leventina Valley is easy to reach, it is on line 2 of the Swiss railways SBB (stop at Airolo, then use the yellow Postal Bus).
Lake Tremorgio is a treasure. It can be reached by cable car or on foot if you are well trained hikers. From Fusio in the more remote Maggia Valley, you will reach pristine blue Lake Tremorgio in a challenging 5-hour hike (time not counting necessary stops…).
Lake Tremorgio is not crowded by any standard, but you will find there a restaurant with friendly attendents. The other valleys of Ticino (Maggia, Bedretto, Blenio, Verzasca, etc.) are even less crowded, but excellent hotels can be found at most places.
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