SWITZERLAND. Gentle walking in the shadow of the Eiger Travel to Europe s highest railway station Breathtaking views of Switzerland s best peaks

Transcription

1 SWITZERLAND Beneath the Eiger Gentle walking in the shadow of the Eiger Travel to Europe s highest railway station Breathtaking views of Switzerland s best peaks SELF-GUIDED Departures for a minimum of 2 persons travelling together Tour Grade B Tour Code - TEIG For dates and prices visit:

2 Introduction The region around Interlaken with the two lakes of Brienz and Thun, are situated at the foot of the mighty trip of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, which are part of some the most spectacular landscapes in the world. The immense black North Face of the Eiger looms as an icon to rock climbers as you walk in its shadow, and is as beautiful and stunning as it s legend portrays. Within this itinerary you have the opportunity to take the train from Grindelwald through the mountains to Europe s highest railway station on the Jungfraujoch at 3,454 metres. The leisurely pace of this itinerary gives you time to marvel at the grandeur of the massive giant mountains in the Bernese Oberland. The Holiday Routine As this is a self-guided holiday you can start your walk when it suits you. However we recommend that you start walking after breakfast and so that you can thoroughly enjoy being in the mountains and if time allows take one of the detours offered or relax with a leisurely picnic. options). There is also a good bus service in Switzerland and at some places you have the option to hop on a bus if you don t want to undertake a particular days walk. On most days your main baggage is transferred to your next overnight halt, leaving you free to walk each day with just your usual daypack to carry. This is one of our easiest walking holidays, although no mountainous walk is entirely easy and does require effort. However in comparison with other Alpine, Himalayan, Andean treks etc this particular holiday does reward with outstanding alpine views without being challenging. A full explanation of the trip grading can be found in our brochure or online at You should ensure you are comfortable walking at this level of grading and are physically prepared for the trip. Walking conditions This hike is over mountainous terrain, but any regular hill walker who is reasonably fit will find this walk relatively easy by Alpine standards. The walking times are mostly between 4 to 6 ½ hours walking; see each day for more details. On many days throughout this itinerary there are also short cut options (or more challenging Self-Guided Holiday As the name suggests, self-guided holidays are for those that prefer to be independent. Within reason you are able to dictate your own schedule, as well as walk at your own pace with the aid of route notes and maps. All your accommodation has been reserved in advance and unless otherwise stated within this trip dossier, your main baggage is transferred between each accommodation along the way, so there s no need to worry about carrying heavy loads and having to back pack. This means you only need to walk each day and carry your usual lightweight daypack. However, it is important that you are entirely comfortable with being independent whilst on a walking holiday. For detailed information as to what a selfguided holiday entails please read the selfguided walking holidays section at Types of Trip section on before booking your self-guided walking holiday. Switzerland Beneath the Eiger 2

3 Route Notes- Help keep them up to date Things can and do change along the routes that self-guided walking holidays follow. A sign may have been changed, or even removed, a path may have been obstructed, even rerouted, a landmark the route notes refer to may simply no longer exist. It is clearly impossible to keep track of all the changes that may occur outside the local tour operators control and knowledge. It may be the route notes translation can be improved (they are translated into several languages by the local operator after all) too. Clearly a case of last person to walk the route has the most up to date information. In the spirit of camaraderie amongst walkers and in an effort to constantly keep route notes updated and improved upon, the local operator (contact details in your final joining instructions) will always welcome notification of any changes along the way/recommendations for improvement if you would care to forward any useful and specific information to them. Alternatively, send to Walks Worldwide and we will forward accordingly. What you need to provide Your personal equipment as detailed in the clothing and equipment list later in this trip dossier. Itinerary IMPORTANT- Before booking you should read our Types of Trip and Essential and Useful information sections on including our Important Warning. Due to the specialist nature of our holidays, day to day itineraries should be taken as a guide only, and as statements of intent and not contractual obligations. We regularly update our trip dossiers to take into account changes to trekking routes, accommodation, local transport etc. Such changes are a factor of this type of holiday and when made are out of necessity. Other factors such as adverse weather, unforeseen circumstances and other matters entirely out of our control etc can also lead to enforced changes during the course of the holiday. It is not possible to guarantee that any of our holidays will operate exactly as per the anticipated itinerary. The most current trip dossier will be made available on our website. We will also send you the most up to date trip dossier with your Final Joining Instructions approx. 2 weeks before departure and you should carefully check this for any changes that may affect your plans. We also recommend you read the Useful Information section on our website and in our current brochure. Outline Itinerary Day Itinerary Overnight Accommodation Meals 1 Arrive Interlaken Interlaken Hotel 2 Walk Interlaken to Faulhorn. 4 1/2 hrs walking. Faulhorn Guesthouse BD 3 Walk Faulhorn to Grindelwald., 6 hrs walking Grindelwald Hotel B 4 Walk Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg. 4 1/2hrs Kleine 5 walking Scheidegg Guesthouse BD Kleine Scheidegg Guesthouse BD Day Kleine Scheidegg - walking options 6 Walk Kleine Scheidegg to Murren. Approx 6 1/2 hrs walking Murren Hotel B 7 Day walk Murren - walking options Murren Hotel B 8 Depart Murren B B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner. Switzerland Beneath the Eiger 3

4 Day 1 Arrive Interlaken. See Joining arrangements and transfers later in this trip dossier. On arrival in the picturesque town of Interlaken, situated between the shores of two lakes you check into your hotel where your route notes and maps will be waiting for you. Hotel, Interlaken Day 2 You start your day with a spectacular train ride from Interlaken via Wilderswill to the top of the Schynige Platte. From here you have extraordinary views to the snow-covered gigantic trio of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. You enjoy these views all day on your quite challenging walk as you ascend steadily to the basic mountain guesthouse at the peak of the Faulhorn. The berghotel is literally situated right on the summit of Faulhorn itself at 2681m. Constructed way back in 1830 it was an incredible achievement at the time. The views from the summit (and the berghotel too for that matter) are outstanding, a 360º panorama. There is no access to your main baggage tonight so you will have to carry an overnight pack with your personal belongings for overnight. Your main baggage will be transferred from Interlaken to Grindelwald to await your arrival the following day. Walking distance 11km, estimated walking time 4 hrs Guesthouse (Berghotel), Faulhorn help of a cable car, and the most challenging will extend the walk to 6hrs. Walking distance (challenging walk) 20km, estimated walking time 6 hrs. Hotel, Grindelwald Day 4 Walking from Grindelwald you follow the direction of the train to Kleine Schiedegg. The walk will take you around the base of the mighty Eiger towering above your head. You overnight in the village of Kleine Scheidegg which is the base for rock climbers who are taking on the vertical cliffs of the Eiger. Walking distance 10km, estimated walking time 4 ½ hrs. Guesthouse, Kleine Scheidegg Day 3 After a hearty high alpine breakfast, you have the choice of several walk options from the top of the Faulhorn down to Grindelwald. The most leisurely will take you down the slopes with the Day 5 You have a day here in Kleine Scheidegg where you can either relax or you can choose a walk of varying difficulty from the options you ll be provided with. One of these walks, which is certainly the most spectacular, takes you along the foot of the Eiger and up to the Eigergletscher station, from where you can travel back to Kleine Scheidegg or make the very rewarding detour by train to the top of the Jungfraujoch. Guesthouse, Kleine Schiedegg. Switzerland Beneath the Eiger 4

5 Day 7 Today you have another day with a selection of walks. One option is to climb up the Schilthorn (2,969 metres) for some more wonderful alpine panoramas, a mountain which has become famous all over the world when part of James Bond s On Her Majesty s Secret Service was filmed here. There are also shorter walks around the area with fantastic low-level views of the high mountain peaks and deep glaciated valleys. Walking distance 7 km, estimated time taken 4 ½ hrs Hotel, Murren Day 8 Depart Murren. See Joining Arrangements and Transfers section later in this trip dossier. Practical Information Joining Arrangements and Transfers You should join this trip on day 1 of the trip itinerary at the hotel in Interlaken. The trip ends on day 8 with the train transfer from Murren back to Interlaken. Day 6 There are two walking options today to reach your destination at Murren. The first option is slightly longer but easier, the second is shorter and should only be attempted in good weather. From Kleine Scheidegg you descend to the village of Wengen and further down again to Lauterbrunnen at the bottom of the valley. You can take a detour to view of the highest waterfalls in the region, before you start the ascent to Murren. The harder alternative is to descend steeply down the side of the Trummelbach falls into the Lauterbrunnen valley and then ascend to Murren. The village of Murren is small and cosy and one of Switzerland s eight villages which are totally motor traffic free. Walking distance 18 or 20 km), estimated time taken 6-8 hrs. Hotel, Murren Transfers from your Swiss arrival/departure airport to/from Interlaken are not included and you should make your own transfer arrangements to join/depart this holiday. The nearest airports are: Zurich and Geneva. The easiest way to reach and depart Interlaken from your chosen Swiss arrival airport is by using the excellent Swiss rail system. You can find the train times at: and you need to arrive/depart into Interlaken West. Times are usually only in their system for 3 months ahead. The train tickets will cost around 150 CHF return per person. The journey by train to Interlaken from Zurich takes around 2 hrs and from Geneva around 3 hrs. Switzerland Beneath the Eiger 5

6 International Travel Zurich and Geneva Airports are the nearest for International flight arrivals and to make your way to the joining point. For total flexibility and choice, the price of our holidays often excludes flights. However, as an ATOL bonded agent we are able to arrange competitively priced tickets with the majority of international airlines. Where low cost airlines offer a better option, we are also able to arrange these, subject to a small booking fee. Only by arranging your flights with us can we offer you the peace of mind and 100% financial protection that booking with a licensed tour operator brings. Contact us to discuss your regional flight options for this holiday. If you would prefer to make your own International travel arrangements you can book this holiday as Land Only. You will need to book flights that enable you to arrive in Zuruch or Geneva, no later than the morning of Day 1 of the trip itinerary in order to subsequently arrive in Interlaken no later than early evening by train on the same day. Return flights should be booked to depart from Zurich or Geneva Airport no sooner than the late afternoon of Day 8 of the trip itinerary. Please note if you are booking Land Only it is your sole responsibility to ensure you arrive at the joining point for the contracted arrangements in good time before these commence. No refunds will be provided in respect of any unused services contracted as a result. Similarly our contractual obligations cease at the end of your contracted arrangements. IMPORTANT- MAKE SURE YOUR CHOSEN HOLIDAY IS GUARANTEED TO RUN BEFORE YOU PURCHASE AIR TICKETS AND MAKING ANY OTHER TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS. Please contact the Walks Worldwide office to check the status of your chosen holiday BEFORE purchasing your International Air ticket. You should not book your International flight tickets or make any other travel arrangements until your chosen holiday is guaranteed to run. If you are purchasing your own air ticket, you should be aware that most of the cheaper airline tickets available for sale on the internet or from low cost carriers are non-refundable in the case of cancellation. For this reason we strongly advise you check the rules of the ticket when you make a flight booking, and check the limitations of any cancellation insurance policy you have. We cannot be held liable, for losses incurred relating to any flight bookings or subsequent travel arrangements you have made yourself. Travel by Train If you would prefer to travel by train provides an online booking service for European rail services, including Eurostar. You should not book your International rail tickets or make any other travel arrangements until your chosen holiday is guaranteed to run. Baggage Please make sure that your baggage is clearly marked with your name, inside as well as outside, in case the labels get detached. We request you limit your luggage whilst on trek to 15-20kg, and one piece each. As your main baggage will be transported by vehicle (often the Postbus service) a normal suitcase can be used for your main baggage. Passports and Visas British passport holders (and other EU passport holders) do not require a visa for stays up to three months (please ensure your passport has at least 6 months validity). Accommodation Accommodation will be reserved for you on a twin share basis unless you have already requested a single room. On this trip the accommodation will be in a variety of guesthouses and small family run hotels. At the simple and relatively basic old guesthouse on the summit of the Faulhorn, you will not have access to your main luggage, however you do not need a sleeping bag as blankets are provided, however we do recommend that you take a sheet sleeping bag (silk ones are the best). You will also need a towel. There is no running water in the rooms at the Faulhorn Berghotel. For the nights of 2, 4 and 5, ensuite facilities may not be available and cannot be guaranteed. Food Breakfast is usually a simple continental affair with bread, cereal and jams. Sometimes porridge will be provided. You should purchase your own lunches throughout. This can either be done at the shops in the village that you are in, or prepared from the guesthouse if you tell them the previous night that you require a picnic lunch. Dinners are usually wholesome and hearty mountain food, including traditional soups, stews, potato rosti, and, cheese and meat platters. Switzerland Beneath the Eiger 6

7 Climate It is of course impossible to predict the precise weather conditions you will encounter during the course of your holiday. However, we do schedule our holidays to coincide with what should be the most suitable weather periods for walking. Mountains are notorious for creating their own, localised weather conditions, so you should always be prepared for inclement weather conditions. For climate statistics visit Roughly speaking temperatures decrease by approx. 1ºC for every 200-metre increase in altitude. Altitude The altitudes gained on this trip are moderate and you should not anticipate any major problems. Local transport We include train tickets from Interlaken to Schynige Platte on day 2 and Murren to Interlaken on day 8. If you wish to take short cuts within your walking itinerary then this will either be by bus or train and is not included in the trip price. Any optional train journeys/cable cars, for example to the Jungfraujoch, are at your own expense. Vaccinations and medical precautions We always recommend visiting your doctor and dentist for a check up before travelling. Your doctor will also have access to the most up to date information on vaccinations and medical precautions for the country you are about to visit. In general, no vaccinations are necessary for Switzerland and health problems here are quite rare. A useful travel health online resource is Please make sure that you obtain form EHIC either online or from your local post office you will need to produce this if you have to see a doctor. First Aid You should always carry your own small, personal first aid kit. This should consist of the following: A general anti-biotic, throat lozenges, painkillers, plasters (band-aids), blister treatment, insect repellent (DEET), rehydration salts, antiseptic cream, diarrhoea treatment (e.g. Imodium). Currency. The Switzerland currency is the Swiss Franc CHF. Please refer to for up to date rates. ATM machines are common in towns as are credit cards. Most restaurants take cards and some shops do. However you will not be able to pay by card in the smaller places, cafes and stops you may wish to make, so you should carry cash with you as well. Language The local people here mainly speak German. However they will also understand French and they often speak English as well. It is fun and recommended if you don t speak the local language to bring a phrase book and have a go. Travel Insurance It is a condition of booking any of our holidays that you have comprehensive travel insurance. It is your to responsibility to ensure you are covered for medical and personal accident risks for the part of the world you intend to travel and the activities involved. This cover should include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue. It is also advisable to take out cancellation insurance as all deposits paid are non-refundable. You may arrange either single-trip or annual multi-trip travel insurance through Walks Worldwide. Please call us on or us- sales@walksworldwide.com for a quotation. Inclusions and exclusions Inclusions All meals as indicated in the outline itinerary All accommodation Route notes and guide books Luggage transfers as in the itinerary Train from Interlaken to Schynige Platte on day 2 Train from Murren to Interlaken on day 8. Exclusions International Flights and airport taxes Train to/from the airport to/from Interlaken. (approx 150 CHF) Drinks Souvenirs and personal items Insurance Meals not indicated in the outline itinerary Switzerland Beneath the Eiger 7

8 Clothing and Equipment Lists At least one set of casual / non-walking clothes will be useful for wearing in hotels on this holiday. Whilst walking you must not worry about how you look: comfort and protection against bad weather are of prime importance. Because mountain weather is so very variable, we recommend a number of thin layers rather than a few thick ones. The following list is our suggested guide to help you with your packing based upon our many years of travelling/walking. Using your own judgment for packing is of course important, especially with regard to casual clothing etc but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about packing for your holiday, or are uncertain as to the suitability of your clothing and equipment. CLOTHING Walking boots and spare laces Trainers/approach shoes Sandals (optional) Socks 3+ pairs (Walking and Casual) Underwear 3+ T-shirts 3+ Trekking Pants Short trousers 2+ Light fleece 1-2 Thick fleece 1-2 Thermal Baselayer shirt Thermal underwear Waterproof jacket with hood Waterproof trousers Thermal Gloves Sun Hat Warm Hat Gaiters (optional) Swimwear EQUIPMENT Daypack/rucksack (size 45 litres to carry your overnight gear on day 2) Sheet sleeping bag 2 Large water bottles ( 1 litre each) Towel quick drying pack towel is recommended Torch (and spare bulb and batteries) Camera & accessories Binoculars (optional) A variety of dry bag/plastic bags (kitbags are not waterproof) Sunglasses Trekking poles (highly recommended) Reading material (optional) Washing/Shaving kit & toilet paper Insect Repellent Small personal First Aid kit (see section above) Anti-Bacterial Handwash Water purifying tablets Sun Cream & lip salve Blister plasters i.e. Compeed Tickets/E tickets Passport Money Switzerland Beneath the Eiger Printed on 03/08/2011

9 The following items should also considered as being useful on a walking holiday Penknife/small scissors (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE) Moisturising cream Baby wipes Snacks/Energy bars Safety pins (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE) Padlock for your kitbag Small sewing/repair kit (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE) Small mirror Nail clippers (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE) Spare glasses/contact lenses Earplugs (against snorers) Cold water Travel Wash (preferably biodegradable) Travel adaptor Switzerland Beneath the Eiger 9