Untitled Document

INTERLAKEN

How to get there: Interlaken is accessible by train. You will probably first take a train to Spiez and then from there you'll take a local train to Interlaken west. From there everything in the city is accessible on foot because it is so small.

Where to Stay: A favorite of backpackers everywhere is Balmer's Herberage. The hostel has one of the friendliest atmospheres I've seen with foreign staff, a cozy lodge, movies every night, and adventure sports. Balmer's does not take reservations so just show up morning or early afternoon and put your name on their registration list. They have many beds and I've never heard of them being full. They usually distribute beds at 5pm. If you can't stay at Balmer's the funny farm is also supposed to be a good place to stay. They're both down the street from the train station… just follow the brown street signs from the center

View of the Swiss Alps.

Canyon site for Bungee and Canyon Jumping.

Where to Eat: Although Interlaken does have some good food the entire city is pretty expensive, as is the rest of Switzerland. The best thing to do, if you're staying at Balmer's or any place that has kitchens, is to bring groceries with you to Switzerland or to go to one of the stores in Interlaken. It's the cheapest way to eat and you'll make friends with the rest of the backpackers.

What to Do: Switzerland is so beautiful that you could just wander around looking at the Alps and be happy. If you're not so easily satisfied there is more than enough to do. During the winter most hostels have packages and vans to go Skiing and Snowboarding in the Alps. During the summer there's a wide range of adventure sports.

Me Canyon Jumping (definitly a thrill).

Go mountain biking, white-water rafting, hiking, or if you're looking for a little more adventure bungee jumping, canyon jumping, skydiving or canyoning. Just remember that most adventure sports have some element of danger so be careful and be sure you have insurance. Don't get scared off, all of the sports are exhilarating and you definitely will never forget your experience.

A waterfall in the Lauterbrennen Valley.

One hike that's especially worth taking is through the Lauterbrennen valley. Balmer's has all of the directions for the hike. Basically you take a train from Interlaken to Lauterbrennen. From Lauterbrennen you walk through the valley to Stechelberg. Once you get to Stechelberg you can either take a gondola/tam up to Gimmelwald or hike up. The hike is a bit strenuous and rises 1500 ft but is well worth it. Be sure to check out the view of the valley from the top and visit some cows. On this hike you'll see incredible scenery and probably meet some really nice people. Don't worry about water while walking through the valley, there are plenty of waterfalls and streams with incredibly clean water.

Getting drinking water from a stream.

BACK TO SWITZERLAND