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Please help with route Kandersteg - Montreux - Engadine

Niagara Falls...
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Please help with route Kandersteg - Montreux - Engadine
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Hi Everyone! I am just starting to plan a second trip to Switzerland (soooo excited!) for next May/June and am struggling to figure out the best route.... I really want to spend some time in Montreux area but also want to make it over to the Engadine. I missed both areas on my first trip as I stayed in Lucerne (really liked it) Wengen (loved it) and Lugano (didn’t love it should have gone to the Engadine). It’s a small country with a lot of beautiful regions!

Nothing is set in stone yet - all accommodations can be changed so I am open to ideas/redirection... but I think I would like to finish in the Engadine as last time I finished in a city and it was kind of disappointing after being in Wengen for a week... I’m traveling by train/bus everywhere. I can fly in to either Geneva or Zurich.

First I booked 4 days in Kandersteg because I really, really loved the Bernese Oberland but didn’t do as much as I wanted when I stayed in Wengen because I was pretty happy just wandering around the beautiful area! From Kandersteg I would like to get up to Oeschinensee and do some hiking in that area, but I also want to get over to Thun to visit the castle, and maybe the Beatenburg caves, and if possible on the same day continue on to Bern... is that too much in one day??? I also didn't make it to Ballenberg last time but that might be too far?

Next I have booked 5 nights in Montreux, from there I will visit the Lavaux Vineyards (had no idea you can walk around in them unescorted how amazing!!), Gruyeres, Sion and possibly Martigny. I hope to do each as a day or half day trip. Also I hope 5 days gives me enough time to explore Montreux and maybe get out on a boat trip, the lake looks so beautiful... Zermatt is on my radar too but I’m not sure how to fit it in. Maybe a day trip if the weather there looks clear? I thought perhaps I could do a day visit on my way from Kandersteg to Montreux? Weather pending of course... I’d either forward my luggage (love this!), or store it in a locker which I assume they have in Zermatt train station?

Then after Montreux I want to head to the Engadine. There are so many really pretty towns over there I don’t know how to pick. I’d like to be somewhat central I guess, I want to do some easy/moderate hiking, and also do the Bernina line hopping on and off wherever I feel like, I assume that’s ok?? So I guess this area is where I need the most guidance. Towns I have looked at on past recommendations at are Pontresina, Sils Maria, Silvaplana, and Soglio (pretty far out of the way but really beautiful views). St Moritz is a little too much city for me I think, though I will do a a day visit there... Is it best to just stay in one place and zip around by train? Or split between two locations? I do like a home base that I can get comfortable in...

So as it is now, I would fly into Zurich, train to Kandersteg for 4 days then to Montreux for 5 days then on to somewhere in the Engadine, I think for 5 or 6 days? Or switch around Montreux and Kandersteg flying into Geneva? Then fly out of Zurich back to Toronto...

Sorry this is really long I'm super excited right now and rambling lol - but I just want to get a plan in place then I can look at each area a bit closer... how does this sound so far? Thanks for any feedback!!

United Kingdom
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1. Re: Please help with route Kandersteg - Montreux - Engadine
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Take a deep breath and calm down!

All of your ideas are possible, but do not try to do too much in any one day.

You have been to Switzerland before, and have a fair idea of how things work.

Why not look at a few guide books, then come back with some less excitable questions?

You will have a good time whatever you do, you have chosen a lovely time to visit.

Niagara Falls...
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2. Re: Please help with route Kandersteg - Montreux - Engadine
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Your contribution is to tell an excited traveler to calm down? Nice...

Adelaide, Australia
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3. Re: Please help with route Kandersteg - Montreux - Engadine
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I am returning next year, too, and have had to pare back my wishes. Funny, I am kind of sad I can't fit in the Ticino!

Anyway, we stayed in Sils Maria last time and I love it. We will go back for another 5 nights, a great base with good access by bus.

I think May and June are probably nice for hikers, but not many cablecars open yet. We are going later in our trip so cablecars will be operating.

Finding bases that work for you is key. Last year we had 8 nights in Wengen and could easily have stayed longer, but it is too long for daytrips out of the region, in my opinion. So in our case, this time we are splitting our bases between Wengen and Thun, just so our daytrip options out aren't so consumed by train rides.

Agree, so many lovely regions 😀

Niagara Falls...
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4. Re: Please help with route Kandersteg - Montreux - Engadine
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Thx Ozzie I appreciate the reply. I agree Wengen was amazing and I would go again in a heartbeat if there weren’t so many other magnificent areas to check out. Btw I may have liked Lugano better if I hadn’t just come from Wengen, also the weather was not great clouds hung over the mountains the whole time I was there. But the castles/fortress in Bellinzona made up for it... absolutely stunning...

So I’m committed to Montreux and the Engadine this time just can’t figure out which village but I’ll just do more research I guess. I have something booked in Sils Maria which looks to be right near where the two lakes meet and near route 3... seems to be near the bus stop... I also have something in Silvaplana. And I’m looking at Pontresina which is right on the train route - a big plus... I am looking at second week of June so am hopeful cable cars will be open by then. Are there any stores or anything in Sils Maria? Areas to hike to without having to take the bus?

Adelaide, Australia
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5. Re: Please help with route Kandersteg - Montreux - Engadine
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There is a Volg store in Sils and some restaurants. It is a small place, I found it utterly charming.

I didn’t get to see anything of Pontresina, which was my original choice, so can’t compare.

Lots of great hikes, the area is a hikers dream. And there is a TI there, very helpful, I didn’t realise they were in a most beautiful building I kept photographing 😀 Walks along either side of the lake, to little hamlets, into valleys, up those huge mountains...The bus system is actually very convenient, but there are trails right there from Sils.

We are adding Vevey this time, new for us. I like mixing up favourite places with something new.

Niagara Falls...
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6. Re: Please help with route Kandersteg - Montreux - Engadine
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Well with a little more research it appears that the hotel I booked in Sils Maria (Hotel Chesa Grischa) does not include the mountain cablecar summer pass so that is something to consider. The Hotel Albana in Silvaplana which I also have booked does include it so perhaps a better option. I think I will need the STP for travel around Kandersteg and trips outside of Montreux and to/from the airport however... I loved having it last time it just makes travel so simple.

Vevey looks beautiful also and I plan to visit there when I'm in Montreux. Also Sion looks amazing but I have a real weakness for castles :) . I need a month at least lol...

Pennsylvania
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7. Re: Please help with route Kandersteg - Montreux - Engadine
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I felt the same way about Lugano after staying three nights in Soglio. Soglio ruined Lugano for me. :)

Niagara Falls...
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8. Re: Please help with route Kandersteg - Montreux - Engadine
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Hi Stormbird I must tell you that I was considering staying in Soglio based on your trip report you made it sound so magical!! I love Trip Advisor for that, hearing what actual visitors to an area think is invaluable in my planning. I'm not sure if it's a bit remote for me to stay, and that Maloja Pass and all its hairpin turns just looks terrifying lol... maybe i'll get my nerve up and take the bus in for a day trip....

I'm trying to plan my trip so that the city (Montreux) is in the middle of two mountain/lake areas so as to avoid the Lugano letdown.... but I feel like Montreux is going to be spectacular.

Pennsylvania
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150 reviews
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9. Re: Please help with route Kandersteg - Montreux - Engadine
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People on here love Sils Maria from what I have read. I passed through it on the bus from St. Moritz to Soglio.

Soglio was magical, but very remote and quiet. Which was exactly what I was looking for, for a couple of days.

I was there in September, Spring might be rather wet and damp.

The Maloja Pass was amazing! A day trip to Soglio, weather permitting, would be very nice.

I also highly recommend Ballenberg! You can easily spend an entire day there!

Edited: 5 years ago
Adelaide, Australia
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91 reviews
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10. Re: Please help with route Kandersteg - Montreux - Engadine
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....well, lunagirl, I have got a month, ......and it's not enough, LOL

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