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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
7 DAYS
COMFORT
STYLE
LANGUAGE
RATING
  • Putting on crampons to go glacier-walking
  • Riding trains, trams, funiculars, cable cars and lake steamers
  • Learning how to mush with a team of sled dogs
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Walking Tour
Other: Mountain Biking, Waterfalls, Arts & Crafts, Glaciers, Historical Sites, river rafting, castle, Wildlife, sightseeing, Trains, nature, picture, boating, agricultural, Local Food
$3995USD
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8 SPOTS AVAILABLE
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ONGOING PROMOTIONS
"Get 5% off when you book with AdventureLink before May 31st, 2012!"
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Applies to Departures Between:
4/25/2012 and 1/1/2013
Promotion lasts :
From 4/25/2012 To 6/1/2012
TRIP MAP
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Swiss Alps Family Walking Tour

You've probably known families who vacation in "the mountains." But never like this! In fact this is one of our most active (and fun) Family Journeys.
We go glacier walking, dog-sledding, river rafting, llama trekking and bike riding. We eat lunch in a revolving mountaintop restaurant, meet farmers and cheese-makers, and discover a town so high it can’t be reached by car. This being Switzerland, we take a lot of cool train rides and stay in fantastic chalet hotels, complete with swimming pools and other amenities. Throughout, we arrange lots of kid-pleasing activities like a chance to try silhouette cutting with a local artisan. And the adults have their moments too, with time to stroll in a wildflower meadow, among other options. On several evenings we'll entertain the kids so you can dine on your own or attend a local concert.
Day 1: Bern / Lenk
We meet in Bern, Switzerland's capital city, for a guided afternoon stroll that includes the Old Town, and the famous bear pits, occupied for centuries by the namesakes of the city, and often the highlight of the day for the kids. Bern's Old Town is listed by the UN as a world cultural site, and its cobbled streets are lined with row after row of 13th century sandstone arcades, the world's longest. We explore the arcades, as well as the elegant patrician houses, sculpted fountains, clock tower built in 1191, and the west gate built in 1256. The walk covers a compact area of the city and is fun for adults and kids. 

Our travels this week give us the full range of experiences, including trains, trams, funiculars, cable cars and lake steamers. Later in the afternoon, we journey by the ever efficient—and fun—Swiss rail to Schönried. Our hotel here is right out of a movie – a beautiful and very comfortable chalet that looks and feels just the way Switzerland is supposed to! Overnight: Schönried Meals: D
Day 2: Färmelvalley
We hop a train for a ride to St. Stephan en route to Färmelvalley. It’s a beautiful and remote place off the tourist track. We visit a small school there – so small that one teacher handles all 9 grades! Afterward, we wind through the classic Alpine landscapes dotted with grazing Simmental cattle. In the high valley of Iffigen, we’ll see an awesome 267-foot high waterfall that practically bursts from a mountain and foams its way down to our feet. 

After lunch, adults and kids have the chance to explore their creative sides. We've arranged for a local craftsperson to spend time with the kids in a silhouette cutting class. Not to be outdone, adults are invited by a local expert for a nature walk on a trail through the lush green upper Simmental Valley along the Simme River. Amidst thick patches of forest and seasonal flowers, you'll feel like a typical mountain villager ambling below spectacular peaks as cowbells echo from the hillsides. 

Back in Lenk we hop on mountain bikes. But we’re not crossing any mountains. Instead, we take an easy, slightly downhill path along the scenic Simme River! The sounds of the river, the fresh air, and the sites along the way make it a perfect afternoon – especially because a train takes us back upriver to Lenk. While the adults go into the village for dinner this evening, the kids enjoy eating their own culinary creation at the hotel and prepare a special dessert the whole family can enjoy upon their parents' return! Overnight: Schönried Meals: B, D (kids)
Day 3: Glacier Diablerets
Today is a very cool multi-sport day. So fill up on a delicious breakfast of hot chocolate, yogurt, fresh croissants and fruit. A morning train ride through Gstaad ends with a spectacular cable car ride up to Glacier Diablerets where we meet with our licensed mountain guide. Geared up with crampons and rope we take an exciting (and safe) walk on the glacier. 

Then, by chairlift, we soar up to the mountaintop for a picnic lunch with 360- degree views that include the Matterhorn, Jungfrau and Eiger peaks. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, we introduce you to our friend René – an authentic musher! He introduces us to teams of Siberan Huskies and Grönland dogs. We learn about the unique relationship between animal and man, then head out for a dogsled ride on the glacier. We may spot the marmots, eagles and chamois that live around the glacier. And on a tastier note, we’ll end the day by visiting a local bakery and confiserie to stock up on chocolates! 

Dinner together tonight is followed by a bowling competition pitting kids versus adults, with a trip for ice cream hanging in the balance as the prize. Overnight: Schönried Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Grindelwald
Many of the treats we have at our big daily breakfasts start on local farms. We’ll get a look at one this morning. A wandertaxi delivers us to an old farmhouse, where we see how our hosts make their cheese and butter at this private working Simmental cheese farm. At the farm, our hosts demonstrate their daily production of different cheeses and invite us to sample their favorites. 

Like the Swiss neighbors who used footpaths to pay social visits to their friends for centuries, we cross the meadows to another nearby farmstead. But this one has a real difference. There, among the typical goats and cattle and chickens, is a herd of llamas! They belong to our friends Hugo and Angelika. After they cook us an outdoor lunch over a wood fire, they’ll harness up the llamas so we can lead them on a mini-trek. It’s so much fun – and a perfect photo op! 

Back to the wandertaxi, we’re dropped in Grindelwald, one of Europe’s oldest mountain resorts. Our chalet hotel is famous for its beautiful setting and warm hospitality, and you’ll all instantly feel at home. Overnight: Grindelwald Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Castle of Spiez
You understand by now why the Swiss love their clean and efficient trains! This morning, we chug off again; this time to Interlaken West, the initial staging point for a river rafting expedition. We’ll get an expert lesson to make everyone comfortable with the raft, then head to the River Lütschine for a lively 9-mile ride. With its beginning at the foot of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks, the Lütschine is one of Switzerland’s premier rafting adventures. Energetic white water combines with magnificent scenery to make this a must-do experience. 

Then we shift to a completely different style of watercraft for a steamboat ride on Lake Thun. It’s really hard to imagine a more beautiful place – amazing blue water, criss-crossing sailboats, a shoreline dotted with castles and little villages, and everywhere a backdrop of snow-capped peaks of the Bernese Oberland. 

We disembark at the small lakeside town of Spiez, known for its striking 12th century castle on a promontory that juts out into the lake. The adults wonder how it would have been to have lived here like 17th century nobility, while the kids wonder what it would be like to battle intruders with body armor and spears found in the courtroom and armory. After our castle exploration, we board a train back to Grindelwald. Overnight: Grindelwald Meals: B, D
Day 6: Mürren
Alpenglow is the term for how the sun lights up the tops of mountains in the morning, before it rises high enough to illuminate the valleys. You may see it this morning as we make an early trip to Lauterbrunnen. Here we are whisked by funicular to Grutschalp for a spectacularly scenic walk to the nearby village of Mürren. The first thing you notice about this village is that there are no cars! Mürren is the highest village in the Bernese Oberland and sits on a shelf high above the valley, offering unrivaled views of the Jungfrau massif and the Breithorn. In the winter, it is a traditional ski resort, while in the summer, it's a botanist's paradise. 

After our walk, a two-stage cable car takes us to the summit of the Schilthorn (at 9,000 ft.). Here we enjoy lunch in the revolving restaurant Piz Gloria (with 360 degree views), made famous as the mountaintop lair for the villainous Blofeld in the James Bond movie “On Her Majesty's Secret Service”. This afternoon, we ride down the funicular to Lauterbrunnen for a visit to Trümmelbach Falls, the most impressive falls in the Bernese Oberland, and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The falls are caused by the Trümmel River as it forces its way through a narrow gorge, resulting in spectacular plumes of water. Overnight: Grindelwald Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: Interlaken
After breakfast, we pay a visit to the Swiss Open-Air Museum. Following our visit, we return to Interlaken where you can connect on trains to Zurich or other parts of Switzerland. Meals: B
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Philip M. and family covering three generations, Minneapolis, MN
"Marco was wonderful—we would go on another trip with him anywhere. He went above and beyond the call."
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TRIP INCLUDES
  • First class accommodations 
  • All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners 
  • Full-time experienced guide(s) who are with you throughout the trip, handle behind-the-scenes logistics and are there to help with anything from haggling for a rug to buying a tube of toothpaste 
  • Support vehicle(s) 
  • Admissions to tastings, historic sites and other scheduled events as noted in the detailed daily itinerary 
  • Gratuities for hotels, meals and baggage 
  • Trip literature 
  • All land transportation during the trip, whether by bus, boat or train
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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