Berner Oberland Transportaion

When are you going? The Jungfraubahnen regional pass is a summer-only thing, mainly designed for hikers. It would not cover your travel to and from Gimmelwald so you would have to add that. I can't find the website right now, but as I recall it doesn't cover boat trips either. . . If you get a Flex Pass (Saver) for the two adults, any travel will "count" as a day IF you choose to use it for that day. Otherwise you can use it to get 50% off the fare. From Gimmelwald to Grindelwald, the fare is not enough to justify using up a pass day, unless you plan to ride some other lifts (Firstbahn, for example) that day. but remember that most of the lifts are only covered 50% even if you are covered that day on the pass. . . . Unless you have some longer daytrips planned, your best bet might be a 3-day Flex, using the first and last days for your travel to and from Gimmelwald. You'll have one more "fully covered" day to use for a long daytrip, and all other travel (including most cablecars and gondolas, but not the train up the Jungfraujoch) will be half-price. . . . If you have 2 longer daytrips planned, then the 4-day Flex might be better.

Ricardo, that's one impressive trip. I have great admiration for a family trip like that, and to spend such a long time in such a compact hamlet.

I love Gimmelwald to bits but are you aware how isolated it is? For 11 nights it might become familiar. YMMV of course.

In order to go into or out of Gimmelwald you have to either hike the cliff face up or down, or hike up to Murren; or you have to take the cable car up, down, or across. Cable car rides are the most expensive type of transportation in a very expensive part of the world (except the Jungfraubahn which is so expensive it is really expensive) so I hope you will be doing the hiking.

On the other hand, I can only dream of 11 nights in the Alps. We usually use more convenient bases and have shorter trips up the mountain.

Hi,
This trip will be next summer, so the Jungfrau Region Pass will be an option. It sounds like we may want to do the three day flexi (one day in, one day out, and one day trip) and then use the Jungfrau Region Pass to get around the region. If I'm not mistaken the Swiss Pass with family card will get us up to Gimmelwald and Murren and back down to Stechelberg,as well as the bus to Lauterbrunen unlimited times for free. the Jungfrau Region Pass will then get me unlimited trips (for 6 days)to Grindelwald, Interlaken, and to the base of the Jungfraujoch. Maybe I'm naive, but I think I can fill 11 days really 9 (if you say arraival and departure days are shot) with plenty of activities. After Gimmelwald we're flying to Hydra in Greece (another isolated car-less destination). Thanks for the replies. I'd love to hear any additional suggestions and recommendations.

Thanks,

Ricardo

Sounds like a wonderful trip! Yes, the Swiss Pass (or Flex Pass) will get you on the bus to Stechelberg and on up to Gimmelwald (or up to Mürren and down to Gimmelwald if you want to go that way) all for free if you are using a covered day on your pass. Remember that the Jungfraubahnen Pass is six consecutive days, not "[INVALID]" days like a Flex Pass, so plan your travels accordingly. . . . Your kids will enjoy the Rodelbahn at the Pfingstegg lift from Grindelwald.

So, if I have the Jungfrau Region Pass, we can get up to Murren during the 6 days it is active, but it doesn't appear to get you to Gimmelwald, so other than the arrival and departure day (and one additional day that Gimmelwald are covered by the Swiss pass), it appears we would have to pay 1/2 cable fare from Murren to Gimmelwald (and vice versa) or else walk. I also see there is an Berner Oberland Pass, that includes Gimmelwald, but it is 3 days unlimited travel and 4 days 50% reduced fares in the region. I guess we have a little time to sort things out. I appreciate the advice and welcome more!

Thanks,

Ricardo

I'm having trouble finding time tables for the Stechelberg to Gimmelwald and/or Murren Cable way. What I have found seems to indicate that the cable ways stop running at 5 or 6 pm, could that be true. Seems awfully early to have to get back to the Inn.

The cable car stops running around 1am. You can check the schedule at the Swiss Rail site:

rail.ch

The Jungfraubahn Pass does not cover the Schilthorn cable car, so you are correct, it does not get you to Gimmelwald. but it is a pleasant walk to and from Muerren. Or you can pay the half fare price for the cable car; I recall the full fare between Gimmelwald and Muerren is about 5CHF. If you do get this pass,be sure to ride the cable car down from Gimmelwald to Stechelberg (using one of your covered Flex Pass days), as that ride is spectacular.

Thanks! Will do.

I absolutely love this area, and I've been several times...most recently June 2010. We most always stay in Mürren although one time we chose Wengen. However, I could NEVER spend 11 nights in Gimmelwald. It's a beautiful little hamlet with absolutely nothing to do except sit and look at the scenery...for 11 nights.

I would strongly encourage you to break up your trip to a least a couple of different locations. Lucerne and/or Weggis is not too far away - beautiful scenery and wonderful little medieval old city center. Weggis is on the lake and well connected with the Swiss Transport system. Mt Rigi and Mt Pilatus are easily accessible.

Also I would probably be more inclined to choose a pass such as the Swiss Card or the Half Fare card...especially if you're going to be stuck in Gimmelwald for so many days - you're going to want to get out and about on the trains and gondolas. The Swiss Card will get you from Geneva to Gimmelwald (100%) and also back from Gimmelwald to Geneva for your flight home (100%). For the travels you undertake between your first and last dates everything is discounted 50%. Of course your kids will travel free with you since you have the Free Swiss Family Card.

Thanks Tim, I've been hearing & reading similar cautions, but I'm not sure we're ready give up on our plans to spend the duration in Gimmelwald. When I say we're staying in Gimmelwald, I'm just talking about sleeping there and spending 3-4 days out of the trip really staying close to town (day hikes from Gimmelwald). But we see it more of a base (maybe not the most efficient) from where we will explore the valley and surrounding towns and peaks. We actually will probably have to spend our last night in Geneva close to the airport and our first and last day in Gimmelwald will probably be fairly brief or lost to settling in and demobilizing. So we're realistically looking at eight days (which probably still sounds like a lot to some). But if we have to move between lodgings in an eight day period, I think it will detract from the quality of the visit? Rather, we'd like to arrive at one spot and settle in and explore from there for the duration. We live in the Washington Baltimore metro area and have plenty of commotion around hear, we are looking forward to escaping the hubbub and spending time together as a family in the quiet calm of Gimmelwald. I've already driven my wife crazy with the list of activities that I'd like to do (I'm sure we wont be able to do them all. Hiking, Trummelbach Falls, Jungfrau, Schilthorn, Bike Ride, Fishing, Lake Cruise, Tobaggan, Ballenberg Open Air Museum, maybe Birgbad Water Park, Local cheese dairy farm. I would love to hear any other suggestions for sites and activities in the area.

Thanks,

Ricardo