Allure of the Alps: Switzerland
When a planned trip to Africa gets cancelled for work reasons, you know the back-up, “round two” option better be pretty good. And that’s what happened to us last summer. So where did we go instead? To the beautiful landscapes and European charm of Switzerland.
We could have chosen most anywhere in the world, but I’ve always wanted to see Switzerland for the picturesque scenery, taste the fondue and chocolates, smell the Edelweiss and hear the soft din of the cowbells as the heads graze in the verdant fields. But mostly, I wanted to marvel firsthand at the majestic snow-covered mountains that make up so much of the Swiss landscape.
Let’s just say, we experienced each of those things and more! We started our journey in the storybook city of Lucerne. We loved our day with a private guide as we trekked Mount Pilatus and took a boat ride on Lake Lucerne. Our way up the mountain included boarding a cogwheel train and ascending the steepest rack railway in the world. Once we got to the top we hiked around and admired the breath-taking panoramic views of the Swiss Alps.
After a couple days in Lucerne, we spent three days in Interlaken...and we could have spent more! The day we spent with our guide, Jessica, was particularly special. She took us through small mountain villages, including Murren which was notable, back to hidden waterfalls and on numerous hiking trails in the region.
The following day in Interlaken we ventured out on own to hike in the Bernese Alps – experiencing Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. The top of Jungfraujoch was definitely a highlight. Known as the “Top of Europe,” this day remains one of our favorite memories from the entire trip.
We then moved on to Zermatt and St. Moritz. In fact, the eight-hour journey between the two cities was amazing. The Glacier Express took us over nearly 300 bridges, through 91 tunnels, across countless switchbacks and over the Oberalp Pass. I would recommend it to anyone. It was a great way to see unspoiled mountain forest, lush Alpine pastures, rushing mountain streams and mountain valleys.
When we arrived in St. Moritz, we were treated to a chauffeur in a custom Rolls Royce at the train station for our transfer to the Badrutt’s Palace. A memorable, unique experience.
There are far too many unforgettable moments to even recount. Each city was special in its own way and we maximized our time in each of them! Our guides were top notch and knowledgeable and then really helped us understand the history and significance of all the sites and experiences we were taking in.
We’re thankful to Liz at Pique Travel for planning this first class Swiss adventure!
Want to learn more about traveling to Switzerland? Email LizM@PiqueTravel.com.
