My husband tends to get awful headaches when ascending to high altitudes too quickly, so I am nervous about paying all the $$ to go to Schilthorn just to have him be miserable. However the stop on the way, Birg, looks like it also has fantastic views, and a thrill walk which looks fun. On the Schilthorn website I can only find tickets all the way to Schilthorn. Does anyone know if it's possible to just pay for the cable car up to Birg and back - and what the approximate cost might be?
We may not be able to go further upwards than Murren anyway, since it's about 3000 ft altitude change to Birg in only 10 min or so... that still may not work with the headache issue. Still, I'd like to know our options.
Thanks!
Posted by
Grand Rapids, MI
768 posts
I don't recall them asking to see tickets again from Birg onwards to the Schilthorn, so to me that means they don't sell a Murren to Birg only ticket. Also, "Birg" doesn't appear on the SBB.ch train schedule, while Schilthorn is, which is another clue.
However, practically speaking, here are your altitudes:
Murren: 5400 feet
Birg: 8800 feet
Schilthorn: 9700 feet
So Birg doesn't look like a 'halfway up to adjust' place. If he makes Birg ok, then Schilthorn isn't much more.
But even if it is his limit, Birg still has good views.
I'm as frugal as anyone, so I'm sympathetic to your goal of saving money. So if you want to try it, get the earliest morning Schilthorn ticket ("good morning ticket") which is about 30% off.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8912 posts
You're saying its the speed of the altitude change, not the altitude itself. How about getting off in Birg for awhile, acclimating, then catching a later car to continue up the mountain? As I recall, you can get on and off there.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32344 posts
Just to confirm, Yes, you can "get on and off" at Birg as you have to change Gondolas there. If your husband can tolerate the altitude at Birg, he should be able to tolerate the Schilthorn (at least for a short period of time). Ask the local ticket agents about the cost of a ticket only to Birg.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
According to this official document: http://schilthorn.ch/cmsfiles/Tarif-Flyer_2017_1.pdf the price just Murren to Birg is 44.60 roundtrip without any discounts. It takes about 13 minutes on the Schilthornbahn from Murren to Birg: http://schilthorn.ch/cmsfiles/Fahrplan_2017_4.pdf
Posted by
18 posts
You could try going from Murren to Allmendhubel (6256 ft.) on the way and hanging out there for a while. There is a restaurant and a wildflower trail. You would have to go back down to Murren briefly in order to continue on to Birg or the Schilthorn, but the time at an intermediate altitude might help, or at least allow you to see whether there will be a problem with going higher.
Posted by
OP
Oregon, USA
23 posts
Thank you all! This was very helpful, especially the "Tarif-Flyer" PDF, Tim.
Very good point that if he is OK at Birg, he'll likely be fine at Schilthorn. He says himself he will suffer through it for the views regardless. :P
CoralReef, I love the idea of going first to Allmendhubel. I think we'll plan on that! shoe, thank you for the tip about the morning ticket. That will be perfect for us to save some $$.
Posted by
OP
Oregon, USA
23 posts
And this may be a stupid question, but will there be many wildflowers still blooming in July?
Posted by
Los Angeles
4795 posts
You might find that Murren is fine, it's a pretty town to walk through and has views both up and down. Look at photos on the internet to see the town.
And yes, after 20 or 30 minutes at the top my wife said it was time to descend. After an overpriced even for CH meal in the spinning restaurant.
Posted by
Minnesota
74 posts
Yes, there will be wild flowers blooming in July in the fields above Murren. The Blumental trail is quite lovely.