Day 7: Thursday -Jungfraujoch Top of Europe / Highest Railway Station in Europe

 Jungfraujoch Top of Europe / Highest Railway Station in Europe

View of Aletsch Glacier and Peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau

Thursday was all about Jungfraujoch. We left early from the hotel, as the first three trains offer discounted tickets, and going to the mountain in the morning is always the best idea. (Check out early morning ticket options and leave early.)

The ride was as usual scenic, breathtaking, and amazing, involving both train and cable car journeys. The final ride in the cable car was through a tunnel. I heard that this is the biggest difference between Jungfraujoch and Matterhorn: apparently, the train at Matterhorn is in the open between the mountains. There is always a comparison between these two mountains, and having been to one, I think I will go to Matterhorn next. Jungfraujoch was too busy and a lot more expensive.

Altitude sickness is real, so take some medicine with you. Bring something to eat as well since there are long lines in the restaurant on top. We visited the Ice Palace (ice sculptures carved under the glacier) and walked out on the snow. One can also go to Sphinx Laboratory, We didn't know that. We saw the structure from the glacier area. 

Our Loop:

Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen: 

Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg: Wengernalpbahn cogwheel train to Kleine Scheidegg (45-50 minutes).

Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch: Jungfraubahn cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch (50-55 minutes). The train has two stops in between to offer views of the Eiger and Mönch mountains.

On the way back, we did:

Jungfraujoch to Grindelwald:

 Jungfraubahn train from Jungfraujoch to Kleine Scheidegg.

Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald:  Eiger Express (gondola) to Grindelwald and then returned to Interlaken.Lesson learnt 

 It is not terribly cold at the top unless it is windy. Check the weather and go as early as you can in the morning.

Wear Sunglasses and a Hat: 

Stay Hydrated and Carry Snacks: This helps avoid mountain sickness. Many people got sick.I carried mint/gum and Fennel.

 Keep around 2+ hours for one way, an hour or more at the top, and then 2+ hours to get back. Make sure to stop at Lauterbrunnen. 

https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfraujoch-top-of-europe/

A couple from Australia - celebrating their 50th Anniversary , were too afraid to come out because it was too slippery for her. I helped them to come out and see the Glacier. 

A line outside Indian restaurant - Two floors and fully packed 

Day 6: Wednesday, June 12th – an engagement ... Schilthorn, Mürren, Wengen, and Lauterbrunnen

As we traveled like backpacker nomads, we didn’t have much of a plan. Information centers have always been my go-to, so that's where I went to check for a mountain excursion. I'll never be able to remember those German names; it will forever be known to me as the James Bond mountain, AKA Schilthorn—a stunning peak in the Bernese Alps known for its panoramic views. There is a  revolving restaurant too .the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" was shot here. (I've added it to my watch list).

This was our first mountain excursion, so we had to get used to taking various modes of transport: train, cable car, bus, funicular, and gondola. The SBB app makes it very easy to navigate. If you want to remember later, make a tiny note and keep track of departure times. On our way back in Brig we did the thrill walk.

We did the following route: Interlaken - Gimmelwald - Stechelberg - Birg - Schilthorn - Mürren - Wengen - Lauterbrunnen - Interlaken. The loop trip is suggested for obvious reasons. We made one mistake by hurrying to the summit and not stopping in Gimmelwald. If I do it differently next time, I will start earlier and stop in Gimmelwald to walk around the town before heading to the top. We stopped at all the villages we could.

Leave very early so you can enjoy the day. The cable car to Schilthorn runs between 7:55 AM and 3:55 PM. The last cable car departs from Schilthorn at 4:55 PM.

During these journeys, you often meet the same people taking the same boats, trains, and cable cars. We met a young couple from Israel, and at the top, the guy asked me to take pictures and a video—he was about to propose! It was such an experience to witness a milestone in someone’s life.

Wengen is a beautiful town where we had our first fondue and raclette meal. Lauterbrunnen is known for Staubbach Falls. I wish I had the energy and time to walk three miles to see the 72 waterfalls area  (Trümmelbach Falls tour).

Thrill walk

Day 5 Tuesday Reichenbach Water fall and Interlaken

Meiringen and Reichenbach Waterfall

After a wonderful trip to the Italian side of Switzerland, it was time to move on to another region. The morning couldn’t come early enough; we were ready to start our day. We visited the Sleeping Lion monument and walked around downtown on a foggy and rainy morning. Since Tuesday is farmer’s market day in Luzern, it was fun to see people setting up their shops. Nothing stops in the rain. We had coffee and breakfast in a local cafe, packed, and left the hotel around 8:30. We took the 9:06 Panoramic Express train to Interlaken.

The Panoramic Express had huge windows, including some on the roof, providing beautiful views. It was supposed to be a two-hour-plus journey. While chatting with a teacher who was taking 25 of her students on a camping trip to Meiringen, she suggested we see the Reichenbach Waterfall. Apparently, Sherlock Holmes "died" in this town. Compelled enough, we decided to see the waterfall instead of going all the way to Interlaken. At the station, we asked a group of guys for directions. They must have been in their late 20s or early 30s from Tannasee, on a 15-day Europe trip that took eight months of planning. They were going to the waterfall too, so we walked along, chatting. It was very interesting to hear about their experiences traveling in Italy. It was a good 20-minute walk from the station. If I had known, I would have taken the lockers at the station.

At the waterfall, the cable car takes you halfway up the mountain, and then you walk 30 minutes up to the fall, and it’s a 20-minute walk back down. We walked around for probably 20 minutes (about 80% of the hike) before realizing it wasn't so easy for us. We enjoyed the view from a couple of spots and then decided to walk back. We had a few things in mind to do in Interlaken and didn’t want to overextend ourselves. We took the cable car back to the base and walked to the station. There is a Sherlock Holmes museum and two statues. I plan to read more about Sherlock Holmes' connection to this town and maybe watch some movies set here.

During this hike, we saw many backpackers and felt a kinship. It was our first trip traveling this way. I cannot imagine doing all these adventures, getting off the train wherever we wanted, and going anywhere if I had those carry-ons. I am grateful to Ajey for giving me this idea. It’s really liberating. We could hop on and off the train anywhere we wanted. Next time, I will do a few things differently: I will carry rain/snow pants and wash-and-wear shirts, and I will need hand wipes and a hand towel.

Missed seeing The Aare Gorge - https://aareschlucht.ch/en/welcome 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichenbach_Falls

Day -5 Second Half Interlaken

We took a train to Interlaken East (Ost). Interlaken has two stations: West, which is in a bigger city, and East, which is a larger station with more connectivity. There are plenty of buses connecting these two stations, about a mile apart (around a 20-minute walk).

For this trip, we didn't have any advance hotel bookings, but we found one near Interlaken West. The staff at SBB was not very helpful, possibly due to being overwhelmed by too many visitors. They gave us a bus number but forgot to mention that the route runs in two directions. We had a tour of Interlaken East and returned to the station, where the bus driver kindly explained the bus system to us.

Finally, we got to our hotel, dead tired, checked in, and after a bit of rest, walked back to the station area. It was bustling with energy and crowds, mostly Indians. I hadn’t seen this many Indians in the areas we had visited previously. Now it makes sense—Interlaken is a tourist hot spot, with everything happening here. Bollywood movies have made this region a fantasy land for Indians.

Things to Remember

• You don’t have to stay in Interlaken; hotels are expensive and it’s too busy. The nearby villages are better places to stay unless you are looking for crowds and busyness.
• Spend time planning this area; there’s a lot to do. Consider the crowd, mountains, routes, and pace while planning. 
• A morning in Luzern

 Meiringen and Waterfall 

Interlaken 

TV with indian Chanel in the room - Only happens in Interlaken :)