Late Nov/early Dec: 14 day itinerary - Need advice

Hi!

I'm planning to travel with friends (all adults) to Switzerland in late Nov/Early Dec for 2 weeks. Need some advise on our draft itinerary. We want a relaxing and not too rush holiday. We do not intend to ski but if there's any fun sledding available, please do let us know!

Mode of Transport: Swiss Pass. Is this the best planning tool for Train Routes: fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/qu ery.exe/en&HWAI=JS!aja x=yes!&. Also, I read from some sites and they mentioned shops are usually closed on Sunday?

Day 1:Morning: Arrive Zurich AirportTransfer to Zermatt by Train - approx 4 hrs

Day 1 Afternoon: Arrive Zermatt, Checkin (Stay 3 nights in Zermatt)

Day 1 afternoon: Go Lausanne / Sightseeing Zermatt

Day 2: Matterhorn (Not skiing, maybe paragliding or hotspring?)

Day 3: Go Montreux / Visit Chillon Castle

Day 4: Depart Zermatt and travel to Interlaken by train - approx 4 hrs(Stay 3 nights in Interlaken)

Day 4 afternoon: Lake Thun

Day 5: Jungfrau Mountain / Vantage Point Schynige Platte

Day 6: Explore Berne (Shopping/Bear pits/Old Town)

Day 7: Depart Interlaken travel to Lucerne by train - approx 2 hrs(Stay 4 nights in Lucerne)

Day 7 afternoon: Explore Lucerne - Chapel Bridge

Day 8: Mount TitlisTake train to Engelberg - approx 1 hr. Cable Car from Engelberg to Trubsee middle station / Take Titllis Rotair (rotating cable car) to summit

Day 9: MT RIGI (Queen of Mountain) - Descend to Vitznau - Lake Ship back to Lucene

Day 10: Shopping / Relax, enjoy Interlaken Town

Day 11: Depart Lucerne and travel to Appenzell by train - approx 3 hrs(Stay 2 nights in Appenzell)

Day 11 & 12: Explore Appenzell / Wasserauen / Hauptgasse

Day 13: Depart Appenzell to Zurich by train - approx 2 hrs(Stay 2 nights in Zurich)

Day 13 & 14: Explore Zurich Old Town / Christmas Market? / Uetliberg / Last Min Shopping

Day 15: Depart for Airport for early morning flight home

Thanks in advance! :)

Welcome to MySwissAlps, happi!

Late November/early December is low season. Winter sports, like sledding, won't be available in most regions yet. You may have chance in Zermatt though: please refer to www.zermatt.ch/en/wint er-hiking-snowshoeing/Sledding.

Now, as for your itinerary: you'll be traveling a lot, so a 15 day Swiss Travel Pass is definitely the best option. Purchase options are listed at www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/price. Since you're from Singepore, the cheapest option is to buy your pass through www.raileurope-world.com.

If you want your itinerary not to be too rushed, I'd suggest some changes. You can best use the timetable to check traveling times. Here are some tips:

• it's too much to include Lausanne on day 1. Just travel to Zermatt and check in in your hotel; that will be enough for one day;
• on day 3, note that a single trip to Montreux takes 2h40. Alternatively, you can spend another day near Zermatt;
• day 5: the Schynige Platte train won't be running in November. Just a trip to the Jungfraujoch will do though;
• day 13/14: please see www.zuerich.com/en/vis it/christmas-markets for information on Christmas markets, and our Zurich page for further tips.

Hotels close to the railway stations are listed at these pages:

• Zermatt hotels
• Interlaken hotels
• Lucerne hotels
• Zurich hotels

Hi Annika,

Thanks for your reply and your recommendation. After some discussion with my friends, we might drop Appenzell (2N) and now considering either staying in Lausanne or Montreux and to explore the area + Geneva. Can you please let us know which would be better considering we will go Interlaken after that.

Thanks so much!

Hi happi!

The Lake Geneva region is definitely worth a visit too. Both Lausanne and Montreux would be fine. Lausanne is a bit closer to Geneva, but Montreux is generally more attractive for tourists. And you could easily board the Golden Pass train for your transfer to Interlaken from Montreux. Please check www.myswissalps.com/mo ntreux for information and hotel recommendations.

Thanks so much again! ^^

Without contradicting Annika, I might add that Appenzell in the countryside, is a very "Swiss" experience.. The Lake Geneva region is more cosmopolitan, and the cities are attractive. However, they share characterisitics with many cities around the world. I like those cities, but they do not have the uniquely Swiss character of Appenzell.

Just a thought.

Slowpoke.

Hi Slowpoke,

Many thanks for your suggestion! Do you think it's worth doing day trip to Appenzell from Lucerne? Reason is we are trying to stay put at one base longer rather than the packing & unpacking.

Thanks so much again!