I am planning to come to the Vevey, Swinttzerland area on business and will have a full Sunday to take an excursion from my hotel in the La Tour-de-Peilz area between Vevey and Montreaux. I would like to find a direct train north into the mountain region to see either Lautenbrunnen or the North Face. Can anyone help me with the best way to set up the transit in advance and what would be the best route/destination? I plan to leave around 11am on a Sunday and dont need to be back until late in the evening. Thanks!
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
At which time of the year will that happen? Can you leave earlier? I think the easiest high mountain excursion from the place you will be staying is Zermatt.
Posted by
OP
Ridgefield, CT, USA
2 posts
the day that I am looking for a day-trip is July 7th.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
You don't need to buy ticket in advance as prices will be the same. You can still buy tickets online to save queuing up at ticket machines at train station (www.sbb.ch - check departure times as well). Vevey-Zermatt should take around 2h30-2h40 on the fastest connections with 1/2 trasnfers. For Lauterbrunnen you will need to transfer at least 3 times in Visp, Spiez and Interlaken. It will take slightly below 3 hours (more for travelling to higher altitude villages)
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33991 posts
Take your sunscreen. It's gonna be HOT tomorrow.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17559 posts
"North Face" generally refers to the Eiger. If you want to see that, you need to go to Grindelwald, which lies at the foot of the North Face, and/or Kleine Schedegg which is higher and closer. You could do a nice full day by heading first to Grindelwald (3 hours, no direct train, Montreuz to Visp to Spiez to InterlakennOst). Wall around a bit to see the Eiger and then take either the gondola up,to Mannlichennor the train to Kleine Scheidegg. Mthe train passes under the North Face but so close you may not be able to see it. The gondola should have a good view but I do not remember for sure. At Kleine Scheidegg you can walk the trail a short distance toward Mannlichen and there is a large display of the climbing routes on the North Face and the history of climbing it. From Kleine Scheidegg or Mannlichen you would ride the train or cablecars down to Wengen. This is a short train ride from Lauterbrunnen. Enjoy the waterfalls there, then head home to Vevey, either retracing your route from Interlaken Ost, or taking the slower scenic Golden Pass route via Zweisimmen and Gstaad. It will be expensive to do al this. You can see the routes and fares at www.sbb.ch or www.rail.ch.