Need Advice on Travel Passes - Staying around Lumbrein Vitg

https://www.lumnezia.ch/de/tourismus/oeffentlicher-verkehr

on the official webpage talks about transportation. The place you mention is the name of a bus stop. There isn't a train for miles, about 30 minutes away on the Postbus which is the only transport there. Just the one bus line and a few mountain lifts.

I don't see anything about a pass for the buses - perhaps others have that info.

How will you be arriving?

What does your host have to say about transport?

There is a Graubuenden Pass, 2 days in 1 week or 5 days in 2 weeks within the Canton of Graubuenden. There is a 25% discount with the Half Fare Card.
https://www.swissactivities.com/en-ch/rail-pass/graubuenden-pass-all-regions/?ref=1&tm_medium=link&tm_campaign=product-link

Thanks Sam and Nigel, I'm not quite sure if you will be notified by my response. But thanks for your insights, I have edited my post for more information.

He told us to download the SBB app, he stated that our accommodation is a 5-min walk from the post office "Lumbrein, Vitg.".

So, it looks like all of your journeys will begin with taking the Postbus to Ilanz, which is where the train station is. It is Bus 441 and runs hourly during the main part of the day. This is your lifeline -- get to know it well!

Ilanz sits in the middle of a train line that runs between Chur and Disentis. Funny enough, we were just in Disentis yesterday -- cute town with a big Abbey on the hill. A lot of churches and a long religious history. This line is also a segment of the route that the Glacier Express uses, so it is definitely a scenic bit of rail travel. Another thing along this line is the Rhein River Gorge, which is beautiful. If you want to venture beyond this line you'd make another transfer in either Disentis or Chur -- just remember you have to come home in reverse -- train, train, bus. So don't get so ambitious that the returns don't line up for that all-important bus back from Ilanz to Lumbrein Vitg.

Bern to Lumbrein Vitg is about 100 CHF and Lumbrein Vitg to Zurich airport is about 70 CHF, so there are no passes or Half Fare Card that will save you money. The only thing is to buy a Saver Day Pass now for your 100 CHF trip. For April 29, they now cost 79 CHF. The Berner Oberland Regional pass will not help you because you really will not be traveling in the Berner Oberland. Fastest way from Bern to Lumbrein Vitg is Bern to Zurich HB to Chur to Illinaz to Lumbrein Vitg. The cost of the Swiss Travel Pass will be more than the cost of just buying tickets as you go.

Fastest way from Bern to Lumbrein Vitg is Bern to Zurich HB to Chur to Illinaz to Lumbrein Vitg.

OP, I'll just come out and say it...are you sure Lumnezia is where you want to stay? I applaud you for getting so far off the beaten path, but this seems really remote for first-time travelers to Switzerland. That itinerary just to get to your bus stop from Bern is a doozy! Is there a reason it is part of your very limited time in Switzerland?

@History Travel - Thank you so much for your insights and suggestions; I really appreciate them. Did you happen to purchase any famous or saver pass for your travel in Disentis and to ride the Glacier Express? Or did you just buy a regular pass? Also, do you know the earliest time the transport starts?

It just so happened that we saw an Airbnb post with a scenic view outside, which caught our attention. We didn't realize that it's very remote. However, we're really after the scenic view and comfort. It's just that Interlaken and Grindelwald are very famous, which piqued our interest in visiting the area.

However, of course, we are open to visiting areas that have a great view other than Interlaken and Grindelwald.

@Sam - Hi! Thank you also for your insights and suggestions! Got it, I think the BOR Pass is off our checklist.

How about the Swiss Travel Pass? I checked the map, and it covers unlimited rides for Ilanz, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that could also cover some of our travel if we use the Ilanz line (https://shop.swiss-pass.ch/assets/docs/Area_of_Validity_Swiss_Travel_Pass_2024_EN.pdf).

Here's our updated and tentative itinerary:

April 29th - Stay in Sum Vitg, Lumnezia
April 30th - Explore areas within the area and near Lumbrein/Lumnezia
May 1st - Wake up early and travel outside of Lumnezia.

Then on May 2nd, we will be traveling to Zurich, and since our flight is late in the evening, we still have 7 or 8 hours before departure. We are looking to explore Zurich with our little remaining time.

My question for you, You say you are going from Heidelberg, Germany to Bern, then to Lumbrein. Is that all on the same day, and if so, what is the reason to stop in Bern? It would be faster (and less expensive) to go from Heidelberg to Zurich to Lumbrein. The 4-day Swiss Travel Pass might work for you. Good on all trains and Postbuses.

Regarding your question to History Traveler, use regular trains going to Disentis/Muster and Andermatt and avoid the expensive seat reservation on the Glacier Express. Same tracks, same scenery, more frequent service.

@Sam - Hi! Yes, it's all on the same day. We'll be arriving in Bern by 2:55 PM on April 29th. We've already booked our ticket from Heidelberg to Bern before I posted here (which is one of my regrets, I should have known this page exists! Hahaha), while we would love to change the ticket to Heidelberg - Zurich, cancelling it isn't cost-effective.

Well noted on your advice regarding Disentis/Muster and Andermatt! Thank you :)

If you do decide to get Swiss Travel Passes, it will still behoove you to get off the train in Basel SBB station and change to a train Zurich there.
Assume you are arriving on the EC train from Germany that would normally arrive in Bern at 14:56. It arrives at Basel SBB at 13:33 on Track 5. Get off there and walk across the platform to Track 6 and take the IR train to Zurich HB, departing at 13:43 and arriving on Track 12 at 14:52 at Zurich HB. Then change to the 15:38 IC train to Chur, arriving on Track 9 at 16:52. The train to Illianz is on Track 12 at 16:55. While this is only 3 minutes, you should make it if you hustle. Down the stairs to the under passage, walk a few meters and up the ramp to Track 12. Re 7 arrives at Illianz at 17:30. Bus 441 is right outside the station, departing at 17:35 and that will get you to Lumbrein Vitg at 18:08. This is 30 minutes earlier than if you had stayed on to Bern.

The EC train from Germany may be running late, unfortunately German long distance trains have been doing that a lot lately. Download the SBB app on your phone so you can change plans quickly on the fly if that is the case. There are also trains to Zurich from Basel SBB at 14:06, 14:11, and 14:33 that will get you there in time to make your connection.

Did you happen to purchase any famous or saver pass for your travel in Disentis and to ride the Glacier Express? Or did you just buy a regular pass? Also, do you know the earliest time the transport starts?

So, just to clarify (as Sam already has), I wrote: "This line is also a segment of the route that the Glacier Express uses, so it is definitely a scenic bit of rail travel." That's not the same as riding the Glacier Express, which we have never done and would never do. Don't waste money (my opinion) on the train branded "The Glacier Express" when dozens of SBB trains use the exact same track, with the exact same landscapes out your window, everyday.

As for our pass -- we are here for a month and are using a month-long GA Swiss Travelcard. Not much use for you, I'm afraid. In the past we have used the Swiss Travel Pass (STP). I will say the less tangible benefit of the STP is just turning your brain off -- you can hop on trains and buses willy nilly, and it is fine.

If you more or less landed on the Disentis to Chur line randomly, I will say it is a gorgeous bit of Switzerland you picked. Definitely look into the Rhein River Gorge. If you like the Aliens movies go to the Giger Bar in Chur. Pick a couple villages on the line and hike between them. You'll fill your time!