It’s not hard to understand why Grindelwald has been a tourist attraction since the early 1900s. Nestled in one of most stunning valleys of the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, impressive glaciers and waterfalls can be spotted in every direction.
We took the relaxing and eco-friendly option of the train to Grindelwald. Once there, the summer cable cars and regular yellow ‘postbus’ services offer transport to places you can’t access with your own car.
Our hideaway was the friendly Berghuas Bort www.berghaus-bort.ch, situated half-way up the mountain, away from the hustle and bustle of Grindelwald. It’s a 1.5 hr hike, or 10 min cable car ride up the Firstbahn. You can book a double or family rooms (four, five or six pers). There are also two very comfortable 10 person dormitories. The young chef serves up delicious dishes while you dine on the terrace with a breathtaking view of the north face of the Eiger.
There are plenty of activities for the whole family nearby. A 700m2 alpine playground next to the hotel will keep the younger kids busy. Older kids can get their thrills on the 'First Flyer' – an 800m long zipline from the top of the Firstbahn. ‘Trottibike’ scooters from the cable car station next to the hotel are another fun way to get down into the village.
Other active options:
Glacier Gorge (easy)
Try a gorge walk over wooden walkways. To get to the Glacier Gorge, take the bus or walk 35 mins (2km) on foot from Grindelwald. Starting at the Gletschershlucht hotel restaurant the trail leads through exciting tunnels and galleries about 1km into the gorge. A crystal museum with minerals from the area is at the entrance.
Bachalp Lake (medium)
Make a scenic loop hike by taking the First cable car to the top. A 45 min hike takes you to a postcard-perfect spot with the Schreckhorn reflected in the blue waters of the Bachalpsee (lake). From here, hike back down 2 hours to the Berghaus Bort.
Mountain bike tour (medium)
Get your (rented) bike hooked to the outside of the First cable car. From the top, enjoy the great views as you ride on gravel roads. Two short climbs take you to Grosse Scheidegg. From here follow the signs back down to the centre of Grindelwald (1110m descent!). More information and maps for the bike tour can be found at bikearena.ch.
Plan your trip details with the official website:
http://grindelwald.ch/en/Welcome
Get inspired with this image brochure: http://www.grindelwaldferien.ch/grindelwald/ImageBroschure/Grindelwald_Imagebroschuere2014.html#p=16
Check the Grindelwald weather forecast
We’ll start up our regular activities again in August. Check our website on www.fraicheair.ch, and like our page on facebook.com/fraicheair. Email Yvette This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be added to the mailing list for our newsletter.
Bio
Yvette Evers grew up camping, hiking and skiing in the Swiss Alps. A Canadian with Dutch roots, her career in international development allowed her to explore mountain areas around the world. Since moving to the Geneva area in 2009 with her husband and two teenage daughters, she also works as a sustainability consultant specialising in tourism.
Yvette is the founder of ‘fraiche air’ - an outdoor club that fills a gap in the market for global locals who are looking for information about outdoor recreation and tourism in English. The outings in small groups provide a wonderful opportunity to discover new activities and join an active community of like-minded sporty friends – powerwalks, hiking, snowshoeing, ski-touring, and family days.
