On land, at sea and in the air: Region Bern has it all

We explore the Jungfrau Region (especially Grindelwald) and the holiday region of Interlaken. Two of the most popular destinations for tourists. The massive mountains Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau dominate the landscape. These regions have everything to offer and reach far beyond all expectations. Charming (mountain) villages, Swiss chalets, farms, it is truly magical.

Discover with us what you can experience in one of the most beautiful regions of Switzerland!

Switzerland is the leader when it comes to sustainable destinations and the typical Swiss sustainability strategy "Swisstainable" highlights sustainable travel. Creating more depth and especially enjoying the trip longer is what this strategy stands for.

In this day and age, it is important to leave and preserve our nature as unspoilt as possible. And the most sustainable way to travel is by train; less C02 emissions. Train journeys are also cheaper. Your adventure starts as soon as you board the train. It is flexible, you can take as much luggage as you want, you can enjoy the view and you arrive at your destination relaxed. So plenty of reasons to choose the train. So we did and we loved it.

From Amsterdam, you can be in beautiful Switzerland in just one day by train (about 6.5 hours). The train takes us directly to Basel. Indeed, from the Netherlands, Basel is very easy to reach by train. There is a direct train daily. And from Basel, trains run to almost all major Swiss cities. For this reason, Basel was chosen as the starting point of this trip.

Basel is a city of contrasts, with historic buildings next to modern architecture. A place of cosmopolitan atmosphere and vibrant traditions. It is Switzerland's third-largest city. The city lies on the Rhine, which in summer is a real enticement to take a cooling dip or a pleasant boat ride. Going into the Rhine and letting the current carry you away is a must do in Basel. It is something of a tradition not to be missed.

To then enjoy a delicious fresh lunch at "Le Rhin Bleu". This restaurant is truly a local tip, built high above the Rhine River with stunning views over the river and city. You imagine yourself in the Mediterranean atmosphere for a while. And have you finished eating? Then take a walk along the Rhine and enjoy other views.

If you want to see the city from a different perspective, you should definitely take a boat trip on a traditional Weidling (a so-called flat boat, traditionally built of wood). This kind of boat was built by the Celts more than 2,000 years ago. And you can only find it in Basel, extraordinary right? You can book a Weidling all year round.

We spend one night in Basel and sleep at the Gaia Hotel, a sustainable 4-star boutique hotel. This warm and friendly hotel is ideally located right opposite Basel's main train station, just a 10-minute walk from the historic centre. The hotel serves only organic food and most products are locally produced.

From Basel, you can easily travel on to Grindelwald. Depending on which train you take, you can be there within 2 hours.

Once you enter Grindelwald by train, you will see how fairy-tale-like the village is. Grindelwald is one of the most picturesque villages in Switzerland's Jungfrau Region. Characterised by unique contrasts between the charming, rolling and green meadows full of cows (with bells) and the towering cliffs Eiger north wall and the "home-mountain" Wetterhorn. With its wooden cottages, it forms a beautiful backdrop. This picturesque village is located in the canton of Bern. The air here is super clean and the most enticing thing about this region is its amazing nature. Not for nothing is it called the 'most scenic village'. The beauty of Switzerland is that you can be in a completely different environment in just 2 hours.

Grindelwald is a region with many possibilities for activities, whether you want to take it easy or take a brisk walk through the mountains, everything is possible.

To discover more of Grindelwald's history, it is fun to take a historical and culinary city tour through the village with a local guide. The tour takes you into the stories and legends of Grindelwald with stops along local shops to taste typical Swiss products such as cheese and bread.

Did you know that Grindelwald consisted mainly of forest and stone in the ^11th century? Hence the name Grindelwald (Grind = stone and Wald= forest). And did you know that it was also once called '"Gletcherdorf" because it consisted mostly of ice?

Insider tip: take an e-bike tour from Grindelwald to the surrounding mountains in the early morning and enjoy the sunrise and all the peace and quiet before the trains and cable cars.

As our local guide Margritt says so beautifully, "all good things take time". This certainly applies to Grindelwald but actually to everything.

Want more adventure? Then take a ride on the cable car to the Pfingstegg. This is Grindelwald's viewpoint. The ride is quite an experience in itself with stunning views over the valley and the view only gets better once you reach the top. In summer, you can enjoy tobogganing on the Toboggan Run here. At a decent speed of up to 45km/h, you race down the 725-metre-long track down the mountain. And if you can't get enough, there is also a unique 350-metre-long Fly-Line that you can go down. Fun for young and old and only to be experienced in Pfingstegg! Want to take it a bit easier? Then you can hike different routes from Pfingstegg.

Please note! Pfingstegg is not open in winter.

Not only from the Pfingstegg you can hike different routes. In fact, Grindelwald has more than 80 kilometres of hiking trails. Another great hike is from the "Grosse Scheidegg" to the Rosenlaui glacier gorge. How do you get to the Grosse Scheidegg you ask yourself? It can only be reached by mountain bike or the yellow Grindelwald bus. The bus takes you quickly and easily (within 35 minutes) to the Grosse Scheidegg. Above all, enjoy the ride as it will once again show you amazing views.

A walk from the Grosse Scheidegg to Rosenlaui takes about 2 hours. This hike is really worthwhile through the impressive nature reserve. The whole way is fairly flat, without too much descending and climbing which makes the hike very pleasant.

Stop along the way at Restaurant Schwarzwaldalp and enjoy a delicious lunch. Also visit the 100-year-old sawmill at Schwarzwaldalp which is not far from the restaurant. The old sawmill is the only water-powered sawing machine in Switzerland. Definitely fun to take a look!

You feel small because of the impressive natural phenomena such as splashing waterfalls, glaciers and steep mountain walls. You will encounter all this when you hike at the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge. The gorge starts at an imposing waterfall. Very fascinating to see how this rock formation formed over a thousand years.

To maintain the wow-effect, be sure to take an overnight stay at the Schweizerhof Hotel. A luxurious 5-star Spa Hotel that is centrally located yet far from the hustle and bustle of downtown Grindelwald. The location is overwhelming with the famous Eiger as the view.

Interlaken is a beautifully located city between two clear blue lakes, Lake Thuner and Lake Brienzer, with old and new influences. Also, this city is a good base to visit other places in Switzerland, including Grindelwald, as it has a perfect train connection to the area.

The Interaken holiday region begins with Interlaken, the region's largest city, surrounded by the three great mountains Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Due to its central location, Interaken is not only popular with tourists but also locals love it. With the many facilities this town has to offer, it really is a paradise to be here and an absolute bucket list destination! The two intermediate lakes; Lake Thuner and Lake Brienzer are surrounded by romantic villages, castles and the insane Bernese Alps. A view you can keep staring at. There is plenty to do and see in Interlaken, both for the active and the quiet nature lovers. We stay in Interlaken at the Carlton-Europe Hotel.

An absolute must-do when in Interlaken is a visit to Harder Kulm (Interlaken's nearest mountain). Reached by cable car, you'll arrive at 1322 metres and enjoy spectacular views of Interlaken and its lakes. Head there in the evening and enjoy a snack and drink at the Panaroma Restaurant where the cable car also stops. Take in the views. At the Harder Kulm viewpoint, you can take amazing sunset photos. A highlight not to be missed!

The first thing you see when you are in Interlaken and look up are the large numbers of paragliders in the sky. You can admire them or if you are a dare-devil, it is recommended to take the flight yourself. Because if you are in for an unforgettable adventure and want to discover Interlaken in a unique way, paragliding is an adrenaline rush you must have experienced once. We are those dare-devils. Fly with the instructor and enjoy the amazing views over Interlaken. Afraid of heights? We have that too, but once you are floating in the sky, all your worries seem to disappear for a moment. An experience for the books.

Looking for more relaxation? Then a boat trip on Lake Thuner is a pleasant activity. The boat sails past several exit points with infinitely beautiful views. You can choose where and when you want to get out. If you want to go up the Niederhorn, you can get off the boat in Beatenbucht and then take the cable car to Niederhorn.

Tip: the boat trip costs nothing if you travel with the Swiss Travel Pass.

Located high above Lake Thuner, Niederhorn has the best views of the mountain peaks Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. If you are lucky, you may spot a mountain goat. The cable car from Beatenberg takes you to the top of Niederhorn in a few stops. From here, you can spend hours enjoying the overwhelming views. Even in less good weather, it is beautiful here. Set your own pace and should you want to go down the mountain a bit faster, it's great fun to rent a scooter bike.

Above all, enjoy all that clean and clear water in Interlaken. Take a kayaking trip on the turquoise blue Lake Brienzer. Such a trip will leave indelible impressions. There is also sailing in winter.

We travelled very comfortably by train, bus and boat the entire trip with the all-in-one Swiss Travel Pass.

Advantages of the Swiss Travel Pass:

• Unlimited travel by train, bus and boat
• Using public transport in more than 90 cities and towns
• Free access to mountain excursions to the Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos
• Free admission to more than 500 museums in Switzerland
• Discount on mountain trains and cable cars
• Free apps for planning your trip: Grand Train Tour of Switzerland app and Swiss Travel Guide app

Did you know that Switzerland has the best public transport network in the world? So take advantage of it and enjoy sustainable travel!

Love,

Ngoc