My husband and I are spending 10 days hiking in the alps, ending in Chamonix. We would then like to spend 2 days in Gimmelwald before flying out of Geneva. We are initially taking an airport transfer to Chamonix from Geneva, but I am uncertain of the best way to get from Chamonix to Gimmelwald. Looking at the train, there are 5 transfers needed and we will have 1 large duffel each plus a small backpack, so this seems tricky. Renting a car only seems feasible if the car is returned to the french side of the Geneva airport (since it would be rented in Chamonix), but we would be coming from the Swiss side and the directions seem confusing and stressful the day you are trying to catch a flight. It does seem straightforward to take the train from Gimmelwald to the airport, so I really only need to figure out how to get from Chamonix to Gimmelwald. Are there any other options? Is it possible to hire a shuttle or taxi? Should we just take the airport shuttle from Chamonix to Geneva then take the train up to Gimmelwald? (This would take a good part of the day, so prefer to go direct if possible.) Thanks for the help!
Posted by
Chicago
8164 posts
Take the airport shuttle from Chamonix to Geneve Airport then from there take the trains, bus, and then the gondola up to Gimmelwald.
The route is outlined on https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html
You are going to wish you had more time given how far you have to go
Posted by
Paris
7301 posts
I think there's no need to backtrack to Genève, it won't make the journey much simpler (you still have four changes from Geneva to Gimmelwakd).
Instead, I would take the train from Chamonix to Martigny, and then work your way towards Gimmelwald (Martigny Visp Spiez Interlaken Lauterbrunnen Gimmelwald) . OK, it's five or six changes, but in Switzerland these are well planned and most stations aren't huge. If you can hike through the Alps, I'm sure you can carry your bags from one train to the next.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
If the trip to Gimmelwald will take too much of the available time traveling, are there recommendations for where to spend 2 days near Chamonix/Geneva? (We will have already spent 10 days in Chamonix/Mont Blanc.) Thanks!
Posted by
Paris
7301 posts
Zermatt is much closer than Gimmelwald, if you want Switzerland. Right at the foot of the Matterhorn. Only 3 changes (Vallorcine, Martigny, Visp), and one of them is just crossing a platform at Vallorcine. Then, to Geneva Airport it's only 1 change
Or in France, you could head to Annecy by bus, it's perfect for two nights, the lake is beautiful and there is some hiking too.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17427 posts
We would go to Bettmerslp, a car-free village near Brig. Beautiful hikes with views of the Aletschgletscher.
Posted by
Paris
7301 posts
Oh, that's a great shout out! Been there in winter but never thought of it as a summer destination.