My WayAlpine tour.. how difficult would it be to go to Switzerland afterwards

This link is to a RS Forum discussion from November 2019 that answers that question. Rome2Rio.com also has information which may be the same.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/getting-from-chamonix-france-to-murren-switzerland

Chamonix to Interlaken Ost is 3:30 by train and bus, but with 5 changes needed.

Right now, it is 4 hours and 5 minutes from Chamonix Mont Blanc to Lauterbrunnen with 5 train changes, at Valorcine, Martigny, Visp, Spiez, and Interlaken Ost. Expect will be the same next summer.

in one of Rick's latest episodes he's hanging out in Chamonix, might give you some ideas

And don't forget the return trip to your departure airport.
After watching several TV and yootoobs about riding the train system in Switzerland, it looks like a great way to travel. You just need to relax, enjoy the scenery, and assume you will arrive on time. Other recent posts about traveling in the region suggest spiffing for first class train passage is worth it.

Thanks for the information on getting to Lauterbrunnen.. my husband would never be agreeable to so many train changes. Sounds very difficult.. what if we started in Lauterbrunnen area before the Alpine tour .. then how hard would it be to get to Salzburg? If we didnot go to Switzerland where would you suggest?

As Don suggested, Rome2rio is your friend. Just type in the names of the two towns (or cities) you are interested in traveling between and bingo, you have your answer.

Janet, Thanks.. I downloaded the app. It was so easy to use and see that going to Lauterbrunnen /Murren afterwards may be long travel days.. I haven’t given up hope but may consider other ideas. 😢
My sister did the tour afew years ago and went to Annecy France for a few days.. still dreaming of Lauterbrunnen. Can’t hurt to dream.

Re your idea of going to Lauterbrunnen first: check it out on Rome2Rio as a first guide. Once you are in Lauterbrunnen, you can travel to Zurich and break overnight. The next day, you can take a scenic ride on the Arlberg trainline through Innsbruck to Salzburg in about 5 hours. Some of the times appear to be direct (same train) and some change at Innsbruck, which is not a hardship.

I have only taken a cursory look at this on Rome2Rio and have not checked the actual schedules, but this might be amenable to your husband because, while long-ish, it is fairly painless and scenic.

Conceivably, you could do this in one longer ride of 7+ hours without an overnight in Zurich. I have not checked the specific times.

Thanks for asking the question. The logistics from Chamonix by train do seem convoluted.

Why use a secondary source like Rome2rio, when the people who actually operate the trains are at www.sbb.ch/en

Lauterbrunnen to Salzburg is at least 8 hours and 3 to 4 train changes. I'd take Chamonix to Lauterbrunnen any day. Your husband obviously doesn't understand how easy and seamless train changes are in Switzerland.

Agreed. Never use Rome2Rio as a final source. Still, using SBB, it appears that Zurich to Salzburg can be done non-stop in about 51/2 hours. Sue, I am just sharing in case you really want to explore options, but yes, use the real trainline websites for the most accurate timetables (fyi, I only looked a few days out from now so those time may also change).

Good luck. I really enjoyed this tour and hope to repeat it.

You can take a shuttle (we used AlpyBus but there are many) to the Geneva Airport from Chamonix. Avoids several trains and saves time.

From GVA, here is a sample schedule:
10:32 Train to Bern arrive 12:26
12:34 Train to Interlaken OST arrive 13:28
13:35 Train to Lauterbrunnen arrive 13:55

If you want to go to Mürren you probably know you need to take the gondola up and the little train to the village.

The three trains above are a piece of cake if you pack light as I am sure you would on a R.S. Tour.

ViaMichelin gives a 1 hour and 21 minute road travel time from Chamonix Mont Blanc to GVA, then it is 3 hours and 23 minutes by train with 2 changes. Given that changing from the bus to the train at GVA will take some time to unload, go into the airport and find your way to the airport train station, that 5-change route in 4 hours and 5 minutes is looking better and better.

Yes, Chamonix to Lauterbrunnen is not as bas as it sounds!
In particular, the connection in Vallorcine barely counts - you walk perhaps 100 ft from one train to the next, in a very tiny border station.
Martigny, Visp, Spiez are also quite compact stations. Interlaken is a bit larger and busier.
You may encounter stairs to change platforms, though (typically, 1 flight down and 1 flight up), so bear that in mind if you have difficulties carrying luggage up/down stairs.

at Interlaken Ost no stairs are required, one way down to the tunnel is a short staircase, the other side (better with luggage) is a ramp. Very easy. As you've done previous tours in Switzerland you'll have seen how easy train connections are - the timings are good and it is very easy to find your next train....

I second Laurel’s “piece of cake” shuttle and trains. I have done that backtrack years ago when the tour only spent 2 nights in Lauterbrunnen and I wanted to go back on my own. I’ve stayed at the Hotel Oberland in Lauterbrunnen and the Hotel Jungfrau in Murren, both on RS tours.

I did this tour in 2019 and added a weekend on Lake Geneva and stayed in Vevey, explored Chateau Chillon, Montreux, and the vineyards. Pretty easy think was two trains from Chamonix to Vevey.