Grindelwald, Switzerland

Day 1 | Arrival in Grindelwald

With your 3 day Swiss Rail Pass, you can arrive anywhere and make your way to Grindelwald. From Zurich or Geneva you have many options that pass through Interlaken. From Interlaken you change to reach Grindelwald. You have a choice of hotels in Grindelwald, see details in the price section below. Once you arrive at the hotel, you will receive your Jungfrau pass and can start your week long hiking odyssy.

Day 2 | First Hiking Day - 4 hours

Take the gondola lift right out of Grindelwald to First and follow the Flower Trail to Bachalpsee and then the two lakes and on to Waldspitz. This part is 2 hours and is one of the most scenic and popular hiking routes. You can choose to do a short hike to Bort and return by gondola to Grindelwald or hike to Grindelwald for a total of 4-5 hours. Or, from Waldspitz go on to Bussalp adding a solid 2 hours hiking and then return by bus to Grindelwald. Places to eat or picnic possible. Breakfast included at the hotel, dinner and lunch on your own. (B)

Day 3 | Hiking Alongside Grindelwald Glacier -3-5 hours

From Grindelwald, take the gondola lift Pfingstegg up to your hiking point. A spectacular hike along side the Grindelwald Glacier with picnic spot and return takes 3 hours. Return by Gondola, or add a hike along the mountain side down toward Grindelwald, meet the bus to return to town center. Back to your hotel, dinner on your own. (B)

Day 4 | Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe + Hiking 3-6 hours

Start on the Mannlichen cable car and hike for an hour along a famous trail that puts all 3 peaks (Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau) in view throughout. At Kleine Scheidegg you can hike a little further up along the Eiger Glacier. Board the Jungfraujoch at either point and enjoy a spectacular view. (jungfraujoch.ch) Return down to Eigergletcher and take the option to hike down 3 more hours or return all the way on trains/lifts. Jungfraujoch: by train through the Eiger North Face up to 11,000+ ft. See the Sphinx Terrace, Husky Dogs, Ice Palace, Plateau, Toporama Cinema. Return to hotel, dinner on your own. (B)

Day 5 | Off the Beaten Path - 6-7 hours

After breakfast take the first train to Wilderswil and up to Schynige Platte. Then its off along a fantastic view route of 6 hours to First. The trail overlooks a tall ridge above Interlaken and Lake Brienzersee. At First you can descend to Grindelwald by gondola. Return to hotel, dinner on your own. (B)

Day 6 | Get High on the Marmot Trail - Option to Schwarzhorn at 2928 meters - 6-7 hours

Take the bus up to Grosse Scheidegg to start this hike, from here you have several options. With a pair of binoculars you can spot game on this route, mostly marmots, but possibly the elusive chamois. An optional route to climb up to the highest point in this tour adds several hours of hiking but is worth it. Return to First or Bort and descend to Grindelwald by gondola. (B)

Day 7 | Departure Day

All good things come to an end! With your rail passes, it is time to leave but not without some great souvenirs of classic Switzerland!

Options: we provide some options/suggestions for days you may want off due to bad weather or other which include going to Interlaken, riding the train to Lauterbrunnen, and visiting the water falls at Stechelberg.