Day One: Zurich Flew from SLC to Zurich on Delta/KLM. Connection in Amsterdam. Missed our connection so we ended up spending night in Zurich at the Fred Hotel near the train station.
Day Two: Gruyeres
Took the train to Gruyere early at 6 am. (2 1/2 hour ride)
Hotel: Hotel de Gruyeres. Took a bus from the train station to the hotel or could do a 15 minute walk (uphill).
Checked into hotel (Cali was already there the night before)
Took bus and then walked to Callier chocolate factory for tour. (no reservation needed) Back to Gruyere for lunch at Restaurant des Ramparts (Raclette and Cheese Toastie. Meringue with fruit and double cream for dessert)
Spent afternoon exploring town, toured castle, church and shops. Walked some of the walking trails around town. Went to the ramparts. Dinner at the hotel restaurant (cheese fondue)
Day Three: Gruyeres & Interlaken
Breakfast at hotel. Checked out. Took bus down to La Maison du Gruyeres Cheese Factory in Gruyere (no reservation) Brought our luggage with us and left it in a room while we did the tour (very short tour) It’s right by the train station.
Got train to Interlachen. Only needed a train ticket to Bern and then our Berner Oberland pass covered the rest of the way.
Hotel: Hey Hotel Guesthouse.
Left our luggage at hotel and picked up picnic food at Coop, had picnic by the river. Walked a bit around the town.
Rented bikes and biked along Brienzersee Lake and over to Istlewald (hilly) Took the boat (BLS Schiff) back (covered by pass)
Biked more down by river.
Took funicular up to HarderKulm. Great views!
Dinner at Fondue Villa and Garden (loved the spicy cheese fondue) Make a reservation.
Walked back to hotel.
Day Four: Lauterbrunnen
Took train/bus to Lauterbrunnen. (left luggage in locker at train station, must have coins)
Took bus to Staubbach Falls and hiked up (be sure and go behind the falls).
Did the Lauterbrunnen Valley Walk.
Took bus from Lauterbrunnen to Trummelbach Falls. Glacial waterfalls inside a mountain. May be a line. Ticket required.
Lunch in Lauterbrunnen at the corn dog food cart. Yum!
Took bus to Schilthornbahn and then rode cable car up to Gimmelwald (free with pass)
Hotel: Esther’s Guesthouse
Took cable car to Murren, explored Murren and had dinner at Cafe Edelweiss (Rosti, pasta and meat that cooks on a hot cast iron pan. Apple strudel for dessert)
Picked up some groceries for breakfast and picnic lunch at Coop in Murren.
Walked back to Gimmelwald, the walk is beautiful and easy. You can also take the cable car back.
Day Five: Chilchbalm hike out of Gimmelwald
Chilchbam hike is moderate and beautiful. We had a picnic lunch on hike. It is one way in and out. 5.8 miles long round trip. 570 foot elevation gain
After hike took tram to Murren. Rode the train from Murren to Grutschalp view point and walked back into Murren.
Dinner at Tham Chinese Restaurant (only takes cash)
Rode tram back to Gimmelwald.
Day Six: Wengen
Checked out of hotel in Gimmelwald and took tram/bus/train to Wengen. Left luggage at Falken hotel and hiked up to Kleine Scheidegg. Great views of Eiger, Jungfrau and Monch but it is a steep (2,500 elevation gain) hike. Most people take the train up to Kleine and then walk or take the train back down. We hiked up. Took a picnic lunch with us,
Girls went to a neighboring hotel pool and I sat on the hotel patio and enjoyed the view.
Dinner at hotel (4 course meal, set menu, very good)
Day Seven: Wengen
Breakfast at hotel (included)
Had another hike planned but fog rolled in and weather wasn’t great (rain and flooding in area) so we took the train to Thun and explored the local castle and area. Had lunch at an Italian restaurant on the river. Train back to Lauterbrunnen for dinner at Hotel Oberland. (Cheese fondue)
Day Eight: Back to Zurich
Breakfast at hotel (included)
Took train to Brienze to ride the Brienze Rathborn Bahn. A steam engine train that takes you up the mountain. Views are great if the weather is good. We had rain and a cloudy day and lost the view about half way up. Recommend only doing it on a clear day as it is expensive. You get half off with your Berner Oberland Pass.
Had planned to go to Ballenberg to the living museum but was pouring rain so went straight into Zurich where we had dinner and got a good night sleep before our early flight out. Stayed at the Fred Hotel again.