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Please review our Alsace-Berner Oberland-Luzern daily plan

Here is our general plan, assuming the weather cooperates. I've planned one or sometimes two hikes/walks each day in the Berner Oberland, but have some backup easy walks to add if we have time. Please let me know if there are easy additions to any day that I've missed.

One other question: Is it worth going up to Schynigge Platte for the alpine gardens and views if we have a free half-day, or is that trip only worth it for serious hikers (which we are not, and I don't like trails with steep drop-offs). We will have the Berner Oberland Pass.

Day 0 Tuesday, June 4: Fly SFO to Zurich

Day/Night 1-5: Alsace: based in Strasbourg (we like cities) in an Airbnb near the Cathedral
The order of the following might change depending on weather and our mood, but I thought it would be best to avoid Colmar and the wine villages on the weekend.

Day 1 Wednesday June 5: Arrive Zurich 10:20 am, train to Strasbourg arriving around 3 or so, visit TI and Cathedral, do the RS walk or the boat tour if time.

Day 2- Thursday June 6: Day trip to Colmar, dinner in Colmar or back in Strasbourg.

Day 3- Friday June 7: Day trip to wine villages, using Kützig Hop-On-Hop Off bus or an Ophorus tour, evening boat ride in Strasbourg if we return on time. Main villages of interest: Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim.

Day 4- Saturday, June 8: Day trip to Gengenbach, Germany.

Day 5- Sunday, June 9: See Strasbourg, including one or two museums (Strasbourg and/or Alsatian). Possibly book a walking tour.

Day/Night 6-11 Berner Oberland: 3 nights Wengen, 3 nights Mürren
Final decisions about hikes depend, of course, on weather and opening of trails. We have the Bartons’ Walking in Switzerland’s Berner Oberland book. Here is a rough idea of what we would like to do. We plan to have the Swiss Half-Fare Card and the 6-day Berner Oberland Pass.

Day 6- Monday, June 10: Transfer to Hotel Edelweiss in Wengen, try to leave Strasbourg by 9:30 to get there by 2:00 or 2:30. Check in and walk around: possibly hike #7 Kleine Scheidigg to Wengernalp or #9 Mönchblick walk in Walking in Switzerland’s Berner Oberland.

Day 7- Tuesday, June 11: Hike such as #3 First to Grosse Scheidegg or #4 First to Bachalpsee.

Day 8- Wednesday, June 12: Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidigg hike if open.

Day 9- Thursday June 13: Move to Chalet Fontana in Mürren, followed by an easy Mürren hike such as Grutshalp to Mürren and/or the RS Gimmelwald walk, make a reservation at Stager Stubli restaurant.

Day 10- Friday June 14: Morning: Schilthorn if weather allows. Afternoon: Almendhubel to Winteregg or to Mürren via the Flower Trail.
Day 11: Saturday June 15: Open day for whatever we missed, or one of the following:
1) Lake Brienz and Ballenberg Open Air Museum, 2) Lauterbrunnen Valley/Trummelbach Falls, 3) day trip to Bern if it’s likely to rain all day.

Day/Night 12-14 Lucerne

Day 12: Sunday June 16: Transfer to Boutique Hotel Schlüssel in Lucerne, take the RS Introductory walk, visit the Lion Monument and possibly the Rosengart Collection.

Day 13: Monday June 17: Lucerne area mountain trip if weather favorable—Mount Rigi (I think this would be my 1st choice) or Pilatus.

Day 14: Tuesday June 18: Leisurely day in Lucerne (maybe including the Transport Museum, etc.) or Mount Pilatus if did Rigi previous day.

Day 15: Wednesday June 19: Train Lucerne to Zurich for 1:30 pm flight home.

Posted by
3125 posts

Is it worth going up to Schynigge Platte

Just a note that the train to Schynigge Platte does not start running until June 15th. I’m not sure opening day would be a good time to go. I’ll be in Murren and Wengen around the same time as you and am tracking all the opening/start dates.

https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/schynige-platte/

I’m hopeful that the Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidigg hike will be open. If not when you first get there, by the time you leave for Lucerne. So, be sure to keep checking. You can do that here:

https://www.maennlichen.ch/en/summer/experiences/panorama-trail.html

I like that you’re staying in both Murren and Wengen. I’m doing the same. :)

For Lucerne, you might want to look at Stanserhorn as a possible alternative to Pilatus.

https://www.stanserhorn.ch/en/

I plan to take repeat trips to Rigi (for the third time) and Stanserhorn (for the 2nd time). Pilatus just does not appeal to me. But I know it’s a favorite of many here.

It looks like a great trip and a well thought out plan. Here’s hoping for great June weather and no crowds. :)

Posted by
881 posts

Thanks, Carrie! I've read all your trip reports for Switzerland and beyond!

Posted by
612 posts

As said above, Schynige Platte doesn't open until June 15. I don't think it's a big deal to go opening day and if the weather is nice, it's a beautiful place, even without major hiking. For the Murren hike from Allmendhubel, I recommend the North Face hike counterclockwise from Allmendhubel or if you want something short, then do the Flower trail, as you're walking towards the views with these hikes vs. away from the mountains by hiking to Winteregg.

Posted by
1529 posts

Sounds wonderful to me! We've done the same split (Wengen/murren) and really enjoyed it!

Posted by
881 posts

Edited to add that the Hotel Schlüssel in Lucerne has changed owners and I'm not sure they are even going to honor our reservation, so I've booked the Altstadt Hotel Krone Luzern instead.

Posted by
881 posts

Thanks, Christine! I decided on the Berner Oberland 6-day Pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card.