Switzerland 2012 and 2013

Interlaken

Interlaken - A beautiful town surrounded by mountains and where two lakes meet. What a fabulous place to live and visit.

On our way to and arrival at Interlaken

Interlaken town pictures

Swiss Day - 1st August 2013

Harder Kulm

Taking the funicular railway out of Interlaken up to Harder Kulm for the views over the town and mountains beyond. Here are a few of these breath taking views.

Schiltorn

This is a fabulous round day trip, with fantastic views and then great waterfalls. So our trip went like this…. We took the train from Interlaken to Wilderswil, and Lauterbrunnen. Then caught the cable car to Grütschalp where we changed onto the narrow gauge railway to Murren via Winteregg.

At Murren you walk the length of the village, enjoying the houses, and mountains to the cable car, firstly to Brig, then changing to get up to the Schiltorn.

At the top of the Schiltorn we had a great look around, enjoying the view over the mountains in Switzerland and toward France. We also had lunch, goulash soup, in revolving restaurant which is always a great fun.

Having had our fill of the soup and views we head back down again, to the Trümmelbach falls by cable car and bus, via Brig, Murren, Gimmelwald and Stechelberg.

We found the falls are easy to walk around and you certainly get the real sense of power as they cascade down. From here we caught the  bus to Lauterbrunnen and then the train to Wilderswil which leads back to Interlaken.

We decided we had enough energy left for another trip so we got off the train at Wilderswil and went by cog railway up to Schynige Platte.

Journey to Schiltorn

Schiltorn - at the top and views

Schiltorn - to the Trümmelbach Falls

Trümmelbach Falls

Schynige Platte

Lake Brienzersee and the Rothorn Kulm

Our next day trip adventure we take the train to Brienz, where we look around the village and then take the cog railway - the Rothorn Bahn Train up the mountain to the Rothorn Kulm. 

This was great fun riding this open carriage railway, up the steep mountain side, enjoying the views as we trundle along. Once on top we explore and savour the views over the maintains and lake below. Wehad lunch in the mountain cafe with great views and good food.

Having enjoyed this we take the mountain railway back to Brienz and then a pleasure boat trip on Lake Brienzersee, back to Interlaken. The views out on the water were fantastic and being on a boat you definitely get a different perspective on the scenery in this very pretty area.

Rothorn Bahn Train and the Rothorn Kulm mountain.

Boat trip on Lake Brienzersee

Jungfraujoch

This day trip takes in some of the most iconic mountains in the area. So we travel from Interlaken by train to the Jungfraujoch changing at both Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg. 

We stop at Kleine Scheidegg for a good hour on our first visit and visit this village twice more in 2013. The pictures are a range of those dates showing the village and fantastic views, plus the imposing and very famous North Face of the Eiger. The pictures from Grindelwald and trip to this village again very much show the North Face.

From Kleine Scheidegg we travel to the top of Europe, the Jungfraujoch, mainly through a tunnel into the Eiger. The train stops on a couple of occasions, and we can jump out and quickly see the views through the viewing areas provided. The station is at 3,454 meters (11,332 ft) above sea level, this is the highest railway station in Europe.

There is so much to see at the top, as the views from the Jungfraujoch are spectacular, with plenty of snow about as well, plus people skiing. There is also a ice cave to visit with many various displays in ice. When we were there in July 2013, it snowed! A rare occurrence for us Brits from the West Country let alone in the summer!

Having enjoyed our time up at the Jungfraujoch we leave by train and travel via Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald. 

Grindelwald is a very pretty village in the foothills of the Bernese Alps, with incredible views, especially of the Eiger and the North-face. We walk around the village taking in the atmosphere and sights.. Then it’s back to the train to Interlaken changing at Zweilütschinen.

A very spectacular day trip.

On our second trip to this area, we went via Grindelwald and took the train up to Kleine Scheidegg and back to Interlaken. This was in April hence some pictures with much more snow, which makes the area even prettier.

This area is not cheap to visit, although it’s so worthwhile.

Kleine Scheidegg - train from Interlaken and looking around this village

Jungfraujoch

Grindelwald

Lake Thun at Thurensee and Niederhorn

Today we take a very enjoyable boat trip around Lake Thun, the lake in the sunshine with the mountains on all sides is spectacular along with the traditional dwellings and villages along the lake.

We then walk over to Beatenberg and take the Gondola up to the Niederhorn where we feast on the mountain views and Lake Thun below. When we were there you could hire Trotty bikes to ride down the mountain side. The youngsters who came with us in the Summer of 2013 did this and made it down, most enjoying the challenge, although some had scrapes and bruises.

Lake Thun boat trip

Niederhorn

Zermatt and area

Sunnegga Blauherd and onto Rothhorn

Time to move on and saying good bye to Interlaken, after a fabulous time we take the train to Zermatt via Spiez and Visp. A spectacular journey to enjoy.

Once we settled in at Zermatt we go up the Sunnegga Blauherd by Funicular and onto Rothhorn by Cable Car. Both on the way up and looking around on the mountain we get glimpses of the Matterhorn in the clouds...

Zermatt

Once back down, we walk to Zermatt to our Hotel. Zermatt is car free, so you walk or catch an electric bus. Best just to walk, the village is very pretty, lots of traditional places and restaurants to enjoy. The mountains are all around you and dominating the whole area is the incredible Matterhorn. I hope the pictures of the area over the next few days do justice to Zermatt and the mountains.... 

Again we were in this area in September 2012 and Summer 2013, so this was our experiences at that time....

Klein Matterhorn ( Little Matterhorn)

Our first day trip at Zermatt was to the Klein Matterhorn ( Little Matterhorn - 3,883 m - 12,740 ft). 

So we walked through Zermatt, always enjoyable and go to Furi by Cable Car, where we change for Trockener Steg, again by Cable car. We take our time here and looked around enjoying the views and taking advantage of the viewing platforms.

From here we make the steep ascent by cable car to Klein Matterhorn ( Little Matterhorn). Being that much higher the views are different and more spectacular and the Matterhorn just dominates the landscape, such a majestic mountain. 

Having spent some considerable time at the top, including looking around the spectacular worlds highest glazier palace 

 we make our way back, on a different route as we go to Trockener Steg, change, and onto Schwarzsee, where we get out, explore and looked around.

Then it’s back to Zermatt. All these rides were by Cable Car and Gondola.

Glazier Palace

Gornergrat

Our next day trip is Zermatt to Gornergrat via ridged rack and pinion railway

We get off the railway at Rotenboden, to enjoy the views, especially with Riffelsee lake view of the Matterhorn. Having taken many photos off we go up the mountain. 

We look around Gornergrat with views across the Alps, of the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa, in the distance. This is the highest Swiss Mountain.

A great day trip out and enhanced by walking through Zermatt.

The Glacier Express - one of the Worlds great train journeys, which is a panoramic journey through the heart of Switzerland - Zermatt to Davos

Today we take the Glacier Express, one of the Worlds great train journeys to Davos. This fabulous train panoramic journey goes through the heart of Switzerland to Davos, via Visp, Brig, Chur, and Davos. During the trip we crossed 291 bridges, went through 91 tunnels and over the Oberalp pass at 2033 metres.

Below is a range of photos from this memorable days train trip, through beautiful and sectactular scenery. 

Davos

We are now staying in Davos, a pretty town on the eastern side of Switzerland . Davos is located on the river Landwasser, in the Rhaetian Alps, between the Plessur and Albula Range at 1,560 m (5,120 ft) above sea level.

We enjoy walking around the town and below are a few photos of this town, which nowadays is famous for World Economic Forum

Weissfluhjoch

Our first day in Davos we take the Funicular railway to Weissfluhjoch, changing at Höhenweg. We enjoy the views on this mountain across the Rhaetian Alps and make our way back down to Davos

Jakobshorn

We then make our way up the mountain on the other side of the town firstly Ischalp lift station change and onto Jakobshorn, both trips by Gondola. Again scenes over the Alps and looking back at where we were in the morning. 

Two good trips as well as exploring Davos, made for a good day in and around this town.

The Bernina Express one of the Worlds great train journeys, from Davos to Tirano.

Today we take another of the Worlds great train journeys, this time from Davos to Tirano, Italy on the Bernina Express, via San Moritz.

It was a rather wet day as you can see from the photos, although the train journey was spectacular, along the high mountain passes and the tunnels.

On the journey we called into San Moritz, so it was just a quick look at the famous town, for the rich and famous, then we were off again. 

One of the most spectacular areas was a set of tunnels into the mountainside, where you go in, loop around and come out looking in the wrong direction and confused which way you are going!! Great fun and it did allow for a descent in height in a “limited” space. We then went on the incredible Brusio spiral viaduct, a very special experience. 

Once we crossed the Italian boarder, we were soon in Cantiniera, although amazingly the tracks were in the middle of the Main Street, which we carried on down with cars and people all around! after this town we were soon in Tirano.

We had a couple of hours to look around Tirano, a colourful place, and get lunch. We had ice cream and later pizza for lunch to celebrate we were in Italy. Soon it was back to the train again.

On the way back the weather had not improved unfortunately, but we did enjoy the day and looking around Tirano

The Bernina Express to Tirano.

Tirano, Italy.

Back to Davos

Klosters

Gotschnagrat

Kandersteg

In 2013 we took a group of Triple X Explorer Scouts (Boys & Girls 14 - 18 years of age) on their Summer Camp to Kandersteg and then onto Interlacken. In April of that year we did a pre camp visit to Kandersteg, and saw the site in it full snowy glory!

So in July we went back to Kandersteg with the Explorers and had a fabulous time in the area. Below are a few photos of the village and local areas we visited.

Kandersteg village

Allmenalp Cable Car and views

Sunnbuel

Oeschinensee and Toboggans 

Geneva

In April 2013 we had a couple of really good days, although cold and windy, in Geneva.

We enjoyed many of the attractions, including the Late, Water shoot, Gardens, 3-legged chair, UN building and much more. We used the local trams to get about the area, including one ride just to warm up.

Geneva is a lovely city, and we are pleased to have visited and hope to go back one day.

Switzerland 2012 & 2013