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.

Looking for a Short Hike in the Swiss Alps? Our 4 Night Berner Oberland Inn-to-Inn Hike is a Wonderful Choice

The village of Lauterbrunnen and Staubbach Falls—Berner Oberland, Switzerland.

Our four night inn-to-inn hike through Switzerland's Berner Oberland region is a perfect trip for hikers that would like to experience the very best of the Bernese Alps but don’t want to spend a full week on the trail.

This hike through the Swiss Alps delivers the most scenic highlights of the Berner Oberland paired with upgraded deluxe accommodations in cozy Swiss inns with mountain views along the way. Following well-maintained trails with incredible views, you’ll connect the idyllic Swiss villages of Interlaken, Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren. You’ll also hike beneath a trio of stunning glacier covered mountains, the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, and you’ll walk through the magical valley of Lauterbrunnen (pictured above), nestled between stunning precipitous cliffs and 72 ethereal waterfalls. Tranquil mountain footpaths also lead to the timeless village of Gimmelwald where cute wooden chalets adorned with colorful flower boxes (and Swiss flags) huddle around perfectly manicured mountain pastures. Luggage is transported, and breakfasts and multi-course epicurean dinners are included during this hike. 

Click here to read more about our four night inn-to-inn hike through the Berner Oberland. We can also customize this hike to suit any desire. Please inquire!

Vintage Swiss Alps: Kleine Scheidegg and the Wetterhorn

I love historic images of the Alps, so I was really excited when my friend Denny, owner of Second Story Used Books in Durango, CO, gifted me this vintage postcard from the Berner Oberland region of Switzerland. Denny knows that I lead trips in the Alps, so he squirrels away interesting alpine books and photographs that he thinks I might enjoy. When he handed me the postcard he said, “You probably know where this is, right?”

I replied, “Boy, DO I EVER!” I’ve led a lot of trips over this spot during the years, including a celebratory honeymoon hike with my lady!

This is Kleine Scheidegg, one of the most popular destinations in the Swiss Alps.

Kleine Scheidegg means “little watershed” in German which makes perfect sense given its position on the top of a mountain pass above two gorgeous valleys. Standing on the pass, it’s easy to imagine water flowing eastward toward the village of Grindelwald (nestled in the valley in the background of the postcard) and westward (off the bottom of the postcard) toward the Lauterbrunnen valley. 

During the winter, Kleine Scheidegg is a cornerstone of the world famous Jungrau Ski Region that links the resorts of Grindelwald-Wengen, Grindelwald-First, and Mürren-Schilthorn. During the summer, Kleine Scheidegg is a popular waypoint on the famous Berner Oberland Traverse and Via Alpina inn-to-inn hikes. It’s also the final jumping-off point for the world-famous and ridiculously scenic Jungfraujoch, the highest rail station in Europe.

The large hotel that you see in the photo is called the Hotel Bellevue des Alpes which enjoys a privileged position at the foot of the famous Eiger. You can see the Eiger’s shadow entering from the right hand side of the postcard. To read more about the Bellevue and to see a photo of the dramatic north face of the Eiger, click here. 

The little train that you see in front of the Hotel Bellevue is called the Jungfraubahn. People travel from all over the world to ride this train to the “Top of Europe.” Click here for a view from the top. And click here for more good stuff. 

The mountain in the background of the postcard is called the Wetterhorn. It’s one of my favorite mountains in the Swiss Alps. The Wetterhorn looks like one mountain, but the individual summits on top have names. From left to right, the three prominent peaks are the Wetterhorn (3,690 meters), the Mittelhorn (3,701 meters), and the Rosenhorn (3,688 meters). 

Dropping off the face of the Wetterhorn (the second ridge below the crease in the postcard) is a mountain pass called Grosse Scheidegg. Grosse Sheidegg means “large (or major) watershed” which is ironic because it’s actually lower in elevation than Kleine Scheidegg. Hike, bike, or ride a Swiss PostBus over the Grosse Scheidegg and you’ll end up in the Reichenbachtal (Reichenbach Valley) which drains to the village of Meiringen. Sherlock Holmes fans should recognize the word Reichenbach. Reichenbach Falls in Meiringen is the place where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional hero, Sherlock Holmes, fought to the death with Professor Moriarty at the end of "The Final Problem." The story was first published in 1893.

There is no date or photographer’s information on the back of the postcard, nor is it stamped or addressed. Judging by the style and color of the train, I estimate this photo was taken in the late 1950s to early 1960s. Today’s trains are modern, but Kleine Scheidegg has lost none of its charm or beauty since the day this postcard was printed. 

Would you like to experience Kleine Scheidegg and the heart of the Swiss Alps for yourself? We can set up a tailor-made (just-for-you) hiking trip, train adventure, or ski and snowboard getaway. How about a fondue tasting? Please contact us to build your own trip.

Boom! Behold this Amazing View of the Mönch

This is what the Mönch looks like as seen from the Jungfraujoch in the Swiss Alps. Please see our previous post about the Jungfraujoch.