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Trip Overview
Hike in the mountains of Heidi, past sparkling lakes and green pastures |
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Hiking in the Swiss Alps: Frequently-Asked Questions about Grindelwald Hike in the Alps of chocolate-box covers and calendar illustrators. Using the mountain village of Grindelwald as a base, we'll explore the mountains and glaciers, the pastures and meadows, of this picturesque valley. This FAQ page is intended to accompany other pages about this trip and about our company (see links at left). Some of the answers below may include links to other other sites; please use the BACK key of your browser to return to this page. Contents:
When does the trip start and end?
This is called a 7-day trip. Exactly what does that mean?
Our "7-day" trip thus consists of 6 full days and two partial days. Some companies promote a trip of this length as being 8 days since it includes pieces of 8 different days. We feel it's more accurate to refer to this as 7 days. I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
You don't need to pay the single supplement if you're traveling alone. We'll be happy to match you with a roommate. Pay the single supplement only if you want a bedroom to yourself. Can I talk to someone who's been on this trip?
Our website includes a full page of comments from past travelers. Most of them have volunteered to talk about their experiences with future potential travelers. Please call for the names and phone numbers of references in your area. How do your various Swiss hiking trips differ?
Each is designed so that those wanting shorter or easier hikes can have a good time, while avid hikers will never run out of new trails to explore. However, there are differences that may help you select the best holiday for you. Edelweiss was the first hiking trip we ever offered, and we designed it to accommodate all levels. An inexperienced hiker, or someone with less energy, can use the trams to enjoy a variety of hikes and terrain while hiking just two or three hours a day - or, for that matter, not hiking at all. Typically, most of our group heads out together in the morning, and during the day, our guide suggests options for those who want a shorter, or longer, day. Grindelwald, too, easily accommodates both lower and higher levels of hiking energy and enthusiasm. It's notably well situated for anyone who hopes to take several day trips that don't involve hiking. From Grindelwald, it's simple to catch a train to the medieval town of Thun, to nearby Interlaken, or for a steamship ride on Lake Brienz. Alpenglow, our newest Swiss hiking trip, was planned to take advantage of trails around Zermatt that go further from the cog-rail and tram lines. The hiking routes we plan each day will be most fun for those able to hike five or six hours a day, with plenty of stops. If you want shorter hikes, however, that's not a problem. Some days you can start out with the group and our guide will suggest ways to easier routes. Other days, our guide will help you plan a shorter but scenic hike you can do independently. Will I need good map-reading skills for this trip?
However, the more popular hiking trails in the Alps are generally well marked, with clear signs that indicate distances in walking hours (Std.=stunde, German for hour.) Yellow signs mark a wanderweg, a relatively easy trail. The more difficult Bergwegs (mountain trails) are marked with white-red-white blazes at the top. These may involve scrambling over rocks occasionally, or narrow trails that occasionally wind near a vertical drop. Swiss trails occasionally cross onto private property. You’re welcome to hike here, but close the gates after you, to keep the sheep or cows in. You’ll see signs that say, Bitte die Tur Schliessen, which means literally Please the gate close. Some fences are electrified. You’ll see the telltale plastic or glass insulators. Gates on such fences have plastic latches for you to use. What's the difference between Zermatt and Grindelwald?
Grindelwald, in a more central part of Switzerland known as the Bernese Oberlands, is our base for third hiking holiday: Grindelwald. Here, it's the mighty Jungfrau and Eiger mountains that rise above us. Both of these alpine locations offer varied and dramatic mountain scenery, while also providing the amenities of a small, attractive alpine villages. Grindelwald is some 2000 feet lower, however, so your lungs will acclimatize faster. That also puts it well below the treeline, and we'll spend more time in forests and walking alongside pasturelands. On the trails above Zermatt, on the other hand, you'll more often get to enjoy sweeping views from mountain peaks and ridges. Where is Grindelwald? How do I get to it?
The most direct way to get there is to fly into Zurich, Geneva, or Milan, then connect by train. But many other European cities also have convenient connections. If you want to visit Paris, or Munich, or Berlin, for example, you may choose to fly into one of those cities instead. What's weather like in the Oberlands this time of year?
Mountain weather anywhere tends to be unpredictable, and the Bernese Oberlands are no exception. This is a moister climate than, for example, the Zermatt region of our Edelweiss hiking trip. That's why the pastures are so green, and the wildflowers so lush! We had only a few hours of rain during our entire first week-long Grindelwald trip in 2001, and a t-shirt will often be all you need. However, it's quite possible we'll have a day or two of rain, and you should always carry a sweater and light waterproof top. Should I get a Swiss rail pass?
If you are not doing additional travel within Switzerland, we recommend the Swiss Card (not to be confused with the Swiss Pass), which will (as of this writing -- subject, but not likely, to change), get you from your entry point (the Swiss border, or any airport in Switzerland) to most destinations (including Zermatt and Grindelwald), and back; it also gives you a 50% discount on additional travel (including some of the lifts and railroads from Zermatt.) You can find out more about various passes from RailEurope. But please remember: We never promised that this was simple. What language do they speak in this part of Switzerland?
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