Activity note: Hotel check in at 3:00 PM.
Afternoon: Depending on the arrival time, a light lunch or tea and cake is served. If time permits, you will take an introduction stroll through the village. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Indicated times are approximate. Program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At the hotel. Water is included in the program cost at all meals. Unless otherwise noted dinners on this program are typically a three course set menu.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Up to 5 miles of walking for 3.5 hours on mountain trails.
Breakfast: At the hotel. On this program, breakfasts will offer a typical European style breakfast buffet with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.
Morning: Begin today’s field trip by taking the cogwheel down to Lauterbrunnen and the funicular to Gruetschalp (4875 feet), and then walk to Murren (5373 feet). The Bernese Alps will appear right in front of your eyes.
Lunch: At a local restaurant in Murren. The mountains provide a stunning backdrop as you relax and enjoy your lunch.
Afternoon: Continue by cable car down to the Lauterbrunnen valley. On the return, view the most impressive Truemmelbach waterfalls (the only waterfalls in Europe inside a mountain). Hear a field lecture titled “Lauterbrunnen Valley & Truemmelbach Falls."
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Up to 4 miles of walking for 4 hours on mountain trails.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Today take the cogwheel and train to the famous resort of Grindelwald, located at the foot of the Eiger Mountain. In Grindelwald, the local bus takes us on a spectacular drive to Bussalp (6625 feet). Walk along the Hoehenweg (contour of the mountain), with breathtaking views of the Bernese mountains, and on to Bort. Today's field lecture is titled “Grindelwald and Its Famous Mountain."
Lunch: In an Alpine hut.
Afternoon: Depending on the weather, enjoy the new summit trail consisting of a 40 meter long suspension bridge, climbing stairs, and an observation platform. Enjoy views of Alpine pastures, lakes, and the waterfall. From First, take the cable car back down to Grindelwald. Enjoy a short visit of the village and then way back to Wengen by train or cable car. Take in spectacular close-up views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountain peaks.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Up to 3 hours of walking and standing through the open-air museum.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Take the cogwheel, train, and local bus to the open-air museum in Ballenberg. Covering an area of 660,000 square meters, learn about centuries-old buildings from all over Switzerland (reconstructed from their natural state) and traditional gardens during a field lecture. The museum presents over 100 buildings from the 14th-19th centuries and 250 farmyard animals.
Lunch: Help prepare a typical Ballenberg picnic with homemade delicacies, including fresh bread, cheese, and sausages prepared according to traditional Ballenberg recipes.
Afternoon: On your own to see and do more of what interests you most at the open-air museum in Ballenberg. Observe local craft demonstrations and explore at leisure. From Brienz, cruise on the lake from Brienz to Interlaken and enjoy fabulous views of the mountain scenery. Continue to Wengen via public transportation.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Up to 3.5 miles of walking for 4.5 hours on mountain trails. This walk has the possibility of being shortened. In the afternoon, you can either continue the walk to the Wengernalp station or you can take an optional train ride from Eigergletscher to Jungfraujoch for an additional CHF 59.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Walk from the hotel to the cable car station and ride up to the Maennlichen (7315 feet). This field trip is over an alpine moor to the bottom of the Jungfrau mountain, Kleine Scheidegg (6760 feet). From this location, there is an excellent view of the majestic Jungfrau mountain range. Take in a field lecture about these mountains.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: After lunch continue walking down to the first station, Wengernalp (6146 feet). Either board the train or walk all the way back to Wengen.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Up to 4 miles of walking for 3.5 hours on mountain trails.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Cogwheel to Lauterbrunnen, train to Wilderswil, and then an attractive little cogwheel takes visitors up to the Schynige Platte with its unique mountain views of the Eiger, Moench, and Jungfrau. Another attraction is the botanical Alpine Garden, nearly 6560 feet above sea level with over 500 various plants. The circular trail is about 2.5 hours. Enjoy a field lecture on the Alpine Garden.
Lunch: Picnic on the trail.
Afternoon: Ride back to the historical village of Wilderswil and return to Wengen via public transportation.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Up to 1.5 miles of walking for 1.5 hours on cobblestones and concrete.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Private coach via the Grimselpass to Bettmeralp (4 hours). At Betten take the cable car to Bettmeralp. A short walk from the station to the Hotel Waldhaus. Enjoy a field lecture called “Energy Resources in Switzerland."
Lunch: En route to the hotel.
Afternoon: Check in at the hotel and then take a stroll through the village to stretch your legs after a day's journey. Welcome drink and briefing before dinner.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Up to 7.5 miles of walking for 4 hours on cobblestones and natural trails.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Following breakfast, walk to the neighboring village, Riederalp, and up to the Villa Cassel, a stately home built by an English banker at the turn of the 20th century. The villa is now the property of the Swiss League for the Protection of Nature, and the first Swiss ecological center for the study of the environment. Take in a field lecture about the Villa Cassel.
Lunch: Picnic on the trail.
Afternoon: Continue the walk to the Aletschwald, “Forest of all Forests," then on to Blausee (blue lake) Bettmer Lake and back to the hotel. Hear another field lecture on the Aletschwald.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Up to 5.5 miles of walking 3 hours on mountain trails.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Today discover the pristine Lötschental (tal means 'valley') with its majestic mountain backdrop of the Valais and Bernese Alps. This largely unspoiled valley with its picturesque villages offers an off-the-beaten-track experience. Take the cable car down to Betten Station, train to Brig for a short visit of this historical town. Ride by train to Goppenstein, and then by postal bus to Wiler (4655 feet). Ride the cable car to Lauchernalp (6460 feet), situated on a sunny terrace overlooking the Lötschental. Walk from Lauchernalp to Fafleralp (6120 feet). Just opposite the mighty Bietschhorn (one of the most spectacular mountains in the Valais), the trail leads past the tiny Schwarzsee lake, timber houses, rushing mountain streams, and Alpine meadows carpeted with flowers. Today's field lecture is on the Lötschental.
Lunch: Picnic lunch en route.
Afternoon: Enjoy coffee or tea and a piece of fruit cake at Fafleralp, a charming village with a wealth of natural beauty. Return by postal bus to Goppenstein and by train to Betten.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking distance and time depends on individual activities. In the afternoon, there is an optional train ride from Zermatt to Gornergrat for an additional CHF 90.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Today take a cable car and train to Brig, change trains and continue through the Matter Valley ending in Zermatt (5256 feet). This morning's lecture is entitled “Insight on Zermatt and the History of Mountaineering."
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own in Zermatt.
Afternoon: On your own to see and do more of what interests you most this afternoon. You may wish to take one of the different funiculars to the major peaks. Return by local transportation to Bettmeralp.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Up to 8 miles of walking for 5.5 hours on mountain trails and the glacier.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: The final walking field trip is on top of the Bettmerhorn (8720 feet), reached by gondola from the Bettmeralp. See breathtaking views of the Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps, and take in a field lecture on this incredible glacier.
Lunch: Picnic on the trail.
Afternoon: The walking field trip is on the famous glacier trail, which winds along the glacier to Riederfurka and then back to Bettmeralp. Return to the hotel.
Dinner: Farewell dinner at the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Approximate transfer time: 4 hours.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Transfer by cable car and private coach to Zurich airport hotel (4 hours).
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon: On your own to see and do more of what interests you most in Zurich. Your program staff will give you additional ideas of what to see and do and can advise you on how to easily take public transportation into the city.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning: Independent airport shuttle transfers from the hotel to the airport for the return flight home. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures.
