Switzerland

Look past the chocolate, cuckoo tickers and warbling – contemporary Switzerland, the place where there are four dialects, is about ideal adventures, heart-hustling Alpine interests, and urban culture.

Itinerary

Day 1

Transportation

Arrive in Engelberg.
Welcome & Orientation. This is at 1,000 meters. An easy valley level hike.

Lodging

Stay at your hotel/accommodation.

Day 2

Boating at Engelberg

Majestic in the Heart of the Swiss Alps.
From Engelberg, we ride two sets of gondolas, with a short level walk around a lake and 2 chair lifts.

Hiking

Afterward, we begin our mostly level hike with the Engstlen lake in front of us. This is one of the largest mountain lakes in Canton Bern.
After 30 minutes we arrive at the historic Engstlenalp hotel preserving its 19th-century charm.

Hiking

We are now in hiking heaven as the well-secured trail clambers up along the walls to Tannalp, an ensemble chapel, Alpine dairy where you can purchase local mountain cheese, a guest house, a beautiful mountain lake.
This is a perfect lunch stop: we cook Swiss sausages in a typical Swiss grilling place.
We continue on a level trail and arrive in the early afternoon to our overnight stay in Melchsee-Frutt. We are in the middle of the Swiss Alps with stunning views of the mountain lake, green pastures, all providing a great way to relax and acclimate.
We overnight in a four-star hotel with a swimming pool, sauna, and steam rooms.

Lodging

Stay at your hotel/accommodation.

Day 3

Hiking

We have hiked from Melchsee-Frutt up to the ridge trail. This is steep terrain, continually up and down. The trail along the ridge is narrow, rocky and ascends to Panplatten, our gondola station.
We have done this in a day and realized it’s too much to do.
The ridge views are stunning and magnificent. However, you need to watch your steps, as the trail is steep and narrow. This ridge trail is strenuous.
We have come up with a ridge trail & easier option where we all will end up in the town of Meiringen and continue together to our end destination of the day in Grindelwald.

Hiking

Easier Option
2 hours total hiking, mostly level
We depart Melchsee-Frutt & walk around the lake and hike up the easier part of the ridge to a point where you see the surrounding Alps.
Afterward, we return to Melchsee-Frutt and ride the cable car down to Stöckalp. We connect with the Postal Bus to Sarnen and train to the Meiringen train station where we will meet up with the others.
In Meiringen – We all take the Postal Bus located at the train station for the 1-hour ride to the Grosse Scheidegg, Grindelwald summit.
Two options are presented for the easier trail:
Option #1
We get off the bus and enjoy a level walk at 1922m/7000 ft elevation overlooking the village of Grindelwald and the surrounding Alps.
Depending on our timing and energy levels, options include to hike back to Grosse Scheidegg and take the Postal Bus to Grindelwald where we will be staying
Option # 2
Continue to the “First” gondola station and then take the gondola down to Grindelwald and walk to our nearby hotel.

Hiking

Ridge Trail Option
4 hours max total hiking, 2 hours with 1000 ft. up, 2 hours on narrow ridge rocky signposted trail
We depart Melchsee-Frutt and hike around the lake before we start our ascent to the Balmeregghorn 2255m / 7000 ft ridge.
Some have labeled this ridge hike to Panplatten as a hike near to heaven because you see the awesome Alpine peaks of Wetterhorn, Mittelhorn, and Rosehorn in the distance while you are looking at the steep valleys below you.
Once we arrive at our cable car station of Panplatten, 2233m / 7000 ft. we will see the Lake of Brienz and the village of Meiringen in front of us. Our cable car down consists of two transfers where we reach the town of Meiringen.
Then it’s a short walk to the train station where we meet the others for our Postal Bus ride to the Grosse Scheidegg,1922m / 7000 ft summit of Grindelwald where we will enjoy a level hike with an incredible view of the Jungfrau Region Alps and surroundings.

Lodging

Stay at your hotel/accommodation.

Day 4

Hiking

Majestic, Awesome, Views of the Jungfrau Mountains
We use the gondola to get us to our trailhead in First.
We hike along the signposted trail to beautiful Bachsee, then descend on the signposted trail to Bussalp.
After 2 hours of hiking, there is public transportation for those who wish to return to Grindelwald.
This summit hike provides a direct view of the world-famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains all the while hiking above the forest tree line while seeing and hearing the cows in the green pastures.
Once in Bussalp, we take the Postal Bus back to Grindelwald. Overnight Grindelwald

Lodging

Stay at your hotel/accommodation.

Day 5

Hiking at Eiger

Experience Europe’s Highest “Aletsch” Glacier
View one of the World’s Most Famous Mountains “The Eiger”
Morning:
Today offers a real highlight as we all experience the Jungfrau Railway completed in 1912 that tunnels through the Eiger mountain to the Jungfraujoch station at 3454 meters/11371 ft.
This places us on top of the Aletsch glacier. It is Europe’s largest glacier with a length of 14 mi and covers over 32.5 square miles.
Depending on the weather, there is time to walk outside on the glacier. There is a snow packed trail where we can get out and walk around.
For lunch, I recommend we take the Jungfrau railway down to the Eigergletcher restaurant at 2320 meters/7000 ft which directly faces the Mönch glacier & Jungfrau mountain.

Hiking

Afternoon:
Depending on the weather, and energy levels, we have a couple of options.
Some people may wish to stay in the Kleine Scheidegg area, do some easy and scenic hikes.
Others may wish to hike the 3 hour Eiger Trail down to Alpiglen, 1650m/5000ft.
Here you hike the base of the Eiger on a gravel signposted trail to Alpiglen. This is the place people wanting to climb the Eiger stay until the weather is right to ascend.
Once in Alpiglen, we take the cogwheel train back to Grindelwald.

Lodging

Stay at your hotel/accommodation.

Day 6

Hiking at Trümmelbach Falls

Morning
We depart via train with 1 transfer and arrive in Lauterbrunnen for a 1-hour valley walk viewing the many waterfalls with some 1000 ft falls from Mürren.
We visit the Trümmelbach falls gorge where you see a series of ten glacier-waterfalls inside the mountain made accessible by tunnel-lift and is illuminated.
Afternoon
From Trümmelbach Falls, we take the local bus to the Stechelberg cable car and ride up to Mürren, 1600m / 5000 ft.
In Mürren there are many hiking options: level hiking path to Winteregg and or Grütschalp offers 1 to 2 hours of summit level hiking while viewing the Jungfrau alps of the Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau.
We overnight in Mürren

Lodging

Stay at your hotel/accommodation.

Day 7

Hiking

Awesome Swiss Mountain Peaks – Panoramic Scenic Views
Today’s hike starts with a ride up the funicular to 1900m/7000 ft.
You will see a display of the local wildflowers with descriptions of their medicinal attributes. We hike on wide gravel trails viewing the many alpine peaks bordering the Aletsch glacier.
Signposts along the way list the history of the individuals who first climbed the different alpine peaks.
For the Rick Steve’s Swiss guidebook reader fans, there is time to visit Gimmelwald reachable via cable car to and from Mürren.
We overnight in Mürren.

Lodging

Stay at your hotel/accommodation.

Day 8

Transportation

After breakfast, our journey ends
The transfer time from Mürren to the Zürich airport is 3 ½ hours with departure times starting at 6:06.
Your first-class train ticket is included along with an overnight at the Radisson Blu.