Luggage Forwarding Options for Switzerland

You want the standard station to station luggage forwarding service. No need to buy a train ticket (they don’t check bags anyway).

https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/before-your-journey/luggage/luggage/station-to-station.html

That should be a great hike, by the way. I have done parts of it—-from Mürren up toward Sefinenfurka ( stopped at Rotstockhütte), and from Kandersteg up to Höhturli (Blumlisalphütte) at the other end. How many days will you take to cover that distance?

Hi Lola,
We are hiking for 6 different days. Stops in Engstlenalp, Meiringen, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Griesalp, Kandersteg.

Hi Todd, I am planning the same hike at the end of August! Do you have the link to book this luggage shipping/ storage service?
Thanks!!

I posted the link above.

But I have a question for Todd myself: from Lauterbrunnen to Griesalp, are you hiking the whole way, or do you take the cablecar from Lauterbrunnen up to Grutschalp/Mürren and start hiking from there? I am trying to help my son plan a shorter section, from Mürren to Oeschinensee, with his 11-year old twins, and wonder if they need one night at Griesalp, or two ( Rotstockhütte and Blumlisalphütte). The kids are strong hikers.

You can send packages to yourself at a Swiss post office - the service is called: Poste restante and is free. See this link:

https://www.post.ch/en/receiving-mail/receipt-locations/poste-restante-consignments

Here are the domestic package rates:

https://www.post.ch/en/sending-parcels/domestic-parcels

And if necessary, you can buy the packaging at the post office as well:

https://shop.post.ch/shop/en/search?q=packaging%3Arelevance&page=0

Thank you, Jim!

Lola- I am using Cicerone guide for Via Alpina (among other sources) and if you start in Murren you will save ~2-2.5 hours and a steep uphill from Lauterbrunnen.

Luggage Transportation
We used the Swiss Rail luggage forwarding option. We shipped ahead the majority of our luggage to the final destination’s train station and carried only the bare hiking essentials. The process was very easy and we did not need a train ticket to ship the luggage.

There are other companies which will forward your luggage to your hotel each night (and book the hotels). These are a more full service option.
I could not find a company which acts as a luggage shuttle for each day. That would be awesome!

Hiking
We attempted to hike 6 stages of the Via Alpina in 6 days. However, the trail was much more difficult than expected and the July heat and the weight of our packs made it too tedious to call a vacation. So, we used as many lifts and post buses as possible to alleviate much of the elevation change. And, there is LOTS of elevation change. It’s a bit discouraging climbing up a steep trail when a lift is effortlessly zipping above your head. Overall, it’s an amazing trail and I would do it again in a second, without climbing 3000 feet a day. Its also nice to see some towns that are not listed in many guide books. They are equally beautiful and less crowded.

Lola, the hike from Mürren to Oeschinensee is two LONG days. There are no lifts to help bail you out. Make sure your 11 year old kids are in good shape, and their packs are really light.
The hike from Griesalp to Oeschinensee is stunning. The highlight of my trip. The climb is very steep. So steep, that someone was nice enough to build a seemingly endless amount of stairs to keep people from slipping. Griesalp is very nice and I can’t wait to return.

Tip: The Swill Half Fare Card is an amazing deal for kids. The kids travel free and the parents travel for half price. Essentially every bus and lift were covered.