our family (2 teens)is dreaming of a hiking trip to the Alps for the 2 weeks prior to labor day.We are thinking of flying into Paris( staying for 2 or 3 days) then taking the train to somewhere that would be a good base in the alps (planning to stay for a week to hike )finally 2 or 3 days somewhere in Germany before heading home. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
Michael is absolutely right, the Berner Oberland is the perfect place. It's the most amazingly beautiful area I've ever been. It's heaven on earth.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Berner Oberland region of Switzerland is what you're looking for: Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Murren, Gimmelwald. Easy to reach via TGV high-speed train from Paris. Lots of hiking and other activities to fill a week. Get a copy of Rick's Switzerland Guidebook for all the details:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xbYCZNmY5k
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Because you mentioned Germany, I'll recommend Garmisch-Partenkirchen. There's many day hikes you can take in the area. The most difficult takes you all the way to the summit of the Zupsptize. There are other easier options available, including the Partnach Gorge and a hike to the Schachem King's House, which is King Ludwig's elaborate Arabian-themed mountain chalet, only accessable by hiking.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17442 posts
With 2 teens and a week-long stay, you could stay in an apartment or Ferienwohnung (FeWo). Search engines like this one will help you find one:
http://www.myjungfrau.ch/de.cfm/unterkunft/
That one covers Wengen, Mürren, Lauterbrunnen, and Grindelwald. My kids love Mürren, and I see the very popular Chalet Böbs has good availability at the end of August. (I tried a search for a 5-night stay beginning 17 August). Chalet Fontana in Mürren also has an aparmtnet that works well for a family of four, but it lacks a living room. It has a nice big kitchen, though.
And while you could easily spend a week in that area without covering all the possible hikes, you might also consider a few days in another region, to sample different scenery in a less well-known (at least to Rick Steves fans) part of Switzerland. We always include a stop for a day or 3 in these places on our Swiss hiking trips:
www.oeschinensee.ch (a lovely glacial lake with Rodelbahn nearby)
Bettmeralp is a car-free village perched high above the Rhone valley, with great views to the south. From there you hike up the ridge to stunning views of the Aletschgletscher, the longest in the Alps. The glacier actually originates at the Konkordiaplatz, below the Jungfrau.
Our favorite hike is one that traverses along above the glacier for several miles, ending at a mountian hut where you have lunch and then continue back to Bettmeralp via a tunnel thru the ridge, with a stop at Kühboden ("cowland"") for blueberry milkshakes.