A hike to the Boval Hut is one of the most beautiful walks in eastern Switzerland

The Boval Hut at sunrise in the Upper Engadine.

A really nice introduction to the Upper Engadine region of eastern Switzerland is a hike to a Swiss Alpine Club hut called the Chamanna da Boval (Boval Hut) situated at an elevation of 2,495 meters / 8,186 feet. Every Swiss Alpine Club hut has its own character and the characteristic that makes the Boval hut unique is its incredibly scenic perch next to the sparkling Morteratsch glacier. The views of the glacier from the terrace of the hut are huge. In addition to the outstanding glacier scenery, hiking to the Boval Hut offers front row seats to the giant mountains of the Bernina range including the Piz Palü, Piz Zupo, Piz Morteratsch, and the Piz Bernina (4,048 meters).

A convenient way to do an out-and-back hike to the Boval Hut is to start at a rail stop called Morteratsch which is just a six minute train ride from the nearby village of Pontresina, or a 25 minute ride from St. Moritz. Spend a couple of hours hiking up the Morteratsch Valley to the Boval Hut. Have a delicious lunch at the hut then retrace your steps back to Morteratsch. On sunny days, the views of the glistening glaciers encircled by the tallest peaks of the Rhaetian Alps makes the Boval hike one of the most beautiful walks in the Upper Engadine.

You can enjoy the Boval Hut hike as an optional walk during our eight night Engadine inn-to-inn hike. You can also add it on to our four night Engadine inn-to-inn hike. Would you like to hike the Swiss Alps? Please contact us. 

Thinking about hiking Mount Rigi? Here are two great ways to reach the summit

Mount Rigi is a great place to stretch your legs or simply grab a seat and admire the views over Lake Lucerne and the Swiss Alps.

Mount Rigi, located on Lake Lucerne, is one of the most accessible mountains for hiking in the Swiss Alps. With a well-developed hiking trail system, an abundance of on-mountain restaurants and easy-to-use public transport ferrying visitors up and down the slopes, Rigi makes a wonderful place to walk for hikers of all ages and abilities.

There are a bunch of ways to access the lower slopes of Mount Rigi, but if you want to hike from the very top then you’ll need to get there under your own power (hiking, walking, biking, etc.) or use public transport.

There’s an easy way and a harder way to walk to the summit of Mount Rigi. Can you guess which is which?

From nearby Luzern, there are two convenient options for reaching the summit of Mount Rigi using public transport. The first option is the Vitznau-Rigi Kulm cog railway (Europe’s oldest mountain rack railway) which departs from the lakeside village of Vitznau on the west side of the mountain. The second option is the Goldau-Rigi Kulm cog railway which departs from Arth-Goldau on the east side of Mount Rigi. Both options are great and each journey has its own charm.

The Vitznau option offers big views of Lake Lucerne (try to snag a seat on the left side of the train as it climbs Mount Rigi). The Vitznau option is also the most romantic choice because it includes a boat ride across Lake Lucerne before changing to the cog railway. Because of the fun and excitement of the boat ride paired with the Lake Lucerne views, the Vitznau option can be very busy during high season. Pro tip: Boats departing Luzern from 9:12 am to 12:12 pm during high season are usually steamships.

A historic steam ship at the Vitznau dock. Guests staying in Luzern usually take a boat to Vitznau where they change for a cog wheel train to the summit of Mount Rigi.

Historical side note: The railway line from Vitznau to a mid-mountain station called Staffelhöhe is Europe’s oldest mountain rack railway. The line opened on May 21, 1871, making Mount Rigi the first mountain in Europe, and only the second mountain in the world, to feature a cog railway. Today the Vitznau line operates state-of-the art equipment in addition to its historic rolling stock. The Jewel of the fleet is Locomotive No. 7 (LOK 7), a steam locomotive built in 1873 that features a unique vertical boiler. A team of steam enthusiasts restored LOK 7 to running condition and today she carries passengers up Mount Rigi during special events.

One of the nostalgic trains of the Goldau-Rigi Kulm cog railway at the summit station of Mount Rigi.

If you don’t like crowds then we recommend the Goldau-Rigi Kulm option (the second option) because it tends to be less busy. The Goldau-Rigi Kulm line also runs historic train cars every day which is a bonus for guests who enjoy the nostalgia of “Old Switzerland.” Most of the rail cars are least 50 years old. We love them! If you choose the Goldau-Rigi Kulm option then sit on the right side of the train for the best views. You’ll enjoy peek-a-boo views of nearby Lake Zug as your cute little cog train chug, chug, chugs its way uphill through the meadows and trees.

Please contact us if you have questions about the Swiss Alps. Would you like to hike on Mount Rigi? Check out our Swiss Alps Rail + Hike | Luzern, Wengen & Zermatt. 

A hike to the Faulhorn offers one of the grandest views in Switzerland

View to the Eiger (left), Mönch and Jungfrau peaks from the Faulhorn (2,681 meters).

The Faulhorn (2,681 meters) is a mountain in Switzerland which offers one of the grandest vantage points in the Berner Oberland region of Switzerland. Even more, the summit is very accessible to hikers (no climbing experience necessary*), and there’s a historic hotel perched on the top. What more could you ask for?!

There are a number of ways to hike to the summit of the Faulhorn. Here are five popular options.

Hiking from Schynige Platte to the Faulhorn

This is the classic, and arguably the most scenic, way to reach the Faulhorn. Not only do you get HUGE views of the famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks to the south, but you ALSO get the wide panoramic spectacle of Lakes Thun, Brienz and their abuting peaks to the north. This hike takes approximately four hours one way not including breaks.

Hiking from First to the Faulhorn

This hike begins with a gigantic boost by gondola from the village of Grindelwald to a mountain cable car station called First. From First, the busy but oh-so-gorgeous trail carries you past the glimmering Bachalpsee, one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland. From the lake, an uphill climb delivers you to the Faulhorn. The walk takes approximately two and-a-half hours one way.

Grosse Scheidegg to the Faulhorn

As the name suggests, this hike begins at Grosse Scheidegg, passes by the Bachalpsee (see First-Faulhorn above) and continues to the Faulhorn. This hike stays high so it’s incredibly scenic on a clear day. It’s also a longer hike than the walk from First. Plan on walking approximately four hours one way not including breaks.

Hiking from Iseltwald to the Faulhorn

You don’t hear about this hike very often because it’s pretty much straight up. This hike also begins at the village of Iseltwald located on the south shore of Lake Brienz which is somewhat secluded and takes extra effort to get to. Iseltwald doesn’t experience the same amount of touristic traffic that Schynige Platte and Grindelwald do so the trail is generally quieter. If you’re looking for a strenuous, and somewhat sneaky, backdoor to the Faulhorn, this is it. Plan on hiking approximately five hours one way..up, up, up.

Bussalp to the Faulhorn

Hopping on a bus in Grindelwald will deliver you to a mid mountain meadow called Bussalp. Descend the bus, then hike uphill for three hours to reach the Faulhorn. Remember to look behind you as you climb. The views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau are sublime.

Of course there are some other creative ways to reach the Faulhorn. You can also skip the cable cars and buses if you’d like a full day of climbing. That said, no matter how you hike to the Faulhorn, the views across the Berner Oberland when you get there are splendid. As we mentioned previously, there’s a hotel/restaurant up there too, so bon appetite and sweet dreams!

Would you like to hike to the Faulhorn? An inn-to-inn hike through the Berner Oberland is a great way to do it! Check out our:

9 Night Berner Oberland Inn-to-Inn Hike

5 Night Berner Oberland Inn-to-Inn HIke

Or request info for our 7 Night Jungfrau Wanderweek.

*Note: While climbing experience is not necessary to reach the Faulhorn, hikers should have the knowledge, experience and fitness to travel above tree line in mountainous terrain. Please contact us if you have questions about hiking in the Swiss Alps.

Looking for a cool way to travel from Interlaken to Luzern? Check out the uberly scenic Luzern-Interlaken Express

The Luzern-Interlaken Express passes through the village of Lungern on the shores of the Lungerersee in the Swiss canton of Obwalden.

The Luzern-Interlaken Express is a premium Swiss panoramic train that connects the world-renowned mountain destination of Interlaken with the sparkling lakeside city of Luzern. The ride is beautiful, and we recommend taking it if you plan to travel between these two gorgeous towns.

Here’s what you need to know.

From Interlaken, the journey to Luzern takes 1h 51 minutes with no changes. Departures leave hourly throughout the day. If you were to leave Interlaken at 09:04 am, then you’d arrive in Luzern at 10:55 am. You could walk the Chapel Bridge, explore the market square, and still have time to snag an early seat for lunch!

The Luzern-Interlaken Express is considered a “Premium Panoramic Train” so there are panoramic windows in first and second class. Unlike other Swiss panoramic trains, there is no surcharge to your standard ticket and reservations are not mandatory. In our opinion, the Luzern-Interlaken Express is an understated gem. 

What about those views? 

The train heads east and follows the north shore of Lake Brienz after departing Interlaken, so you’ll want to sit on the right side of the train for the best views. You’ll go around Lake Brienz, then turn north to head over the Brünig Pass. Five more sparkling lakes await. The first, on the left side of the train is the Lungerersee. Next is the Sarnersee (also on the left). The slender Wichelsee passes by the right hand side in the blink of an eye. Then comes the Alpnachersee and finally the Vierwaldstättersee, commonly known as Lake Lucerne.

Luzern is a really great choice if you’d like to visit an interesting Swiss city either before, or after, your inn-to-inn hike through the Berner Oberland. The perfectly preserved old town is a joy to explore following a romantic dinner on Lake Lucerne. Or how about a dinner cruise on the lake? The possibilities are endless. From Luzern, the Zürich airport is just a little over an hour away.

Would you like to ride the Luzern-Interlaken Express. How about an inn-to-inn hike in the Berner Oberland? Please give us a shout. Switzerland is our specialty! We’re also Rail Europe Rail Experts. We can set you up with an outstanding vacation in Switzerland.

Want to bring your family to Switzerland? Children under 16 travel for free

The pint-sized mountain train that runs between Grütschalp and Mürren in Switzerland’s Berner Oberland offers incredible views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks.

Yes, you read that correctly. Children under 16 travel for free on the Swiss Travel System when accompanied by a parent. Here are the details: 

Children under 6 years of age always travel for free if no reservation is required. 

Children from 6 to their 16th birthday travel free of charge when accompanied by at least one parent (including step and foster parents) holding a Swiss Travel System Rail Pass (Swiss Half Fare Card, Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex) and a Swiss Family Card. The Swiss Family Card, which is free of charge, is available upon request and valid for one month. Seat reservations, which are not always required, are additional, and some mountain top and special excursions may incur a surcharge. 

Traveling with someone else’s kids?

Children from 6 to their 16th birthday but not accompanied by at least one parent receive a 50% discount on the gross rate of Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Travel Pass Flex.

What is the Swiss Travel System? 

We’re glad you asked! The Swiss Travel System (STS) is Switzerland’s public transportation network, and it’s the envy of the world. High speed InterCity trains, express regional trains, cog wheel mountain trains, street trams, and the world’s most scenic panoramic trains carry passengers anywhere they want to go throughout Switzerland. When the tracks end, a finely woven network of Swiss PostBuses, motor-powered passenger boats, paddle-wheel lake steamers, arial tramways, and funiculars continue the journey, penetrating even the remotest destinations. The entire network is seamlessly integrated by a perfectly synchronized scheduling system. The Swiss Travel System is a fun, safe, comfortable, convenient, and incredibly easy way to travel through Switzerland. There’s no need to drive. The Swiss Travel System is really that good! 

Would you like to bring your family to Switzerland? It’s our speciality! Inn-to-inn hikes in Switzerland; village based hikes; ski and snowboard vacations; cheese tasting; chocolate tasting; wine tasting; scenic trains. We can do just about anything you’d like in Switzerland, so please do give us a shout.