I am planning to hike the Via Alpina from Engelberg to Kandersteg with my family of four. We need to ship half of our luggage directly to Kandersteg so we can hike with only the essentials and less weight. I am currently considering the use of the Swiss Rail station to station shipping services. I would purchase a ticket and check two bags at the station in Engelberg. I would not use the ticket since we are hiking. We would pick up our luggage a week later at the end of the hike. This would cost about 70CHF for the train ticket, bag fee, and extra storage cost. Is this a reasonable plan? Is there a better solution?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17422 posts
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
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17422 posts
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?
Posted by
OP
Portland, Oregon
4 posts
Hi Lola,
We are hiking for 6 different days. Stops in Engstlenalp, Meiringen, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Griesalp, Kandersteg.
Posted by
Boulder, CO
2 posts
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!!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17422 posts
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.
Posted by
Bern, Switzerland
1043 posts
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
Posted by
Boulder, CO
2 posts
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.
Posted by
OP
Portland, Oregon
4 posts
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.
Posted by
OP
Portland, Oregon
4 posts
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.