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Travelling in June

Florida
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35 posts
14 reviews
10 helpful votes
Travelling in June
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Hello -

I am planning to travel in mid-June - probably the second week of June - and I am looking for someplace to hike in the mountains where there are also nice restaurants to dine at in the evening, and maybe some things to do when we're not hiking. I originally was thinking of the Jungfrau region, but I got the impression that there is really not much around there. So then I thought maybe Zermatt, but I am wondering if the town will still be shut down for the off-season. What do you think? When is Zermatt up and running for the summer season? Also, if anyone has any input about whether my impression of the Jungfrau region is correct - or if you have any suggestions of other mountain areas I might like - I am all ears!

Thanks!

Anchorage, Alaska
Destination Expert
for Anchorage, Zermatt
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1. Re: Travelling in June
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Hi, Zermatt like most of the mountain villages in Switzerland "re-opens" in June - most take their break in May after ski season ends and before the summer tourist season starts in June.

the hinking around Zermatt is world-class and you'll find wonderful food in the village in the evening as well as for lunch on the mountain. I suggest you take a look at the Zermatt website for more detailed information in English

http://www.zermatt.ch/en

Hope this helps!

Garmisch-Partenkirch...
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for Montreux, Oberammergau, Garmisch-Partenkirchen
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2. Re: Travelling in June
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Hi DigitalGhost,

Each of these areas has its own band of faithful followers; though I prefer other regions of the country, I do like the Oberland area more than Zermatt (my note for full disclosure, lol!). But I'll try to be objective with my comments here.

Zermatt does have excellent hiking and dining options -- it is a large-ish town. But the problem would be that it is a little isolated at the end of a valley, so you would have to travel for an hour or more to see other towns and villages.

One advantage the Oberland has is that there are a lot of villages, towns, and cities within a small area. You have the two big lakes, each with its own major town, plus many small villages that lie along the banks. Then you have the series of peaks, each with several small villages clinging to its ledges and hillsides, and each with its proud restaurant or mountaintop cafe. As a result, there are dozens of possible destinations in addition to all the hikes and walks through the mountains.

In mid-June, the Oberland will be hopping; just a month later, it will be totally mobbed by tourists and tour busses.

I'm not sure if I've addressed your concern that there is "not much" in the Jungfrau region; do you mean, not much to do, not many hikes, not many restaurants .. . ? If you have a further question, I hope you'll post it!

Anyway, I'm sure that you'll have a great time with whichever region you decide on!

s

Finland
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for Helsinki, Finland
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3. Re: Travelling in June
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Zermatt (at least) seems quite challenging for a hiker. Don't actually know the trails, but everything is pretty steep either down or up.

Services in Zermatt are fine. As said Zermatt is pretty far away from everything, Cervinia in Italy is just over the hill, but just about it.

Zurich, Switzerland
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4. Re: Travelling in June
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I doubt whether all hiking routes around Zermatt would be accessible first half of June. There might still be too much snow on higher altitude. Zermatt itself is already located on 1600 m.a.s. Hiking trails are from there upwards, until about 3500 m. In June I would rather stay in Jungfrau area, which is lower. There are plenty of hiking options there on different altitudes and more to to and see in case the weather will be bad or you will be tired of hiking, compared to Zermatt. I don't know what you mean with the expression 'there is really not much around there'.

Florida
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5. Re: Travelling in June
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Thanks for the input everyone! It is very helpful. It sounds like there is a strong argument to be made for choosing the Jungfrau region over Zermatt in early June, because of the altitude.

To clarify - when I questioned if there is "not much around" the Jungfrau region, I was primarily thinking in terms of really good dining options. I also wonder whether there are interesting shops to check out. And, if there are other activities to do if there is bad weather or we are sick of hiking.

Any input is most appreciated! Thanks!

Canton of Valais...
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for Switzerland
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6. Re: Travelling in June
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There are good places to eat around the lakes in the Oberland...I am thinking of the Belvedere in Spiez, the Victoria Jungfrau in Interlaken etc but there are oddles of nice little places where you can get a good meal.

Shopping is another matter. The resorts and small towns simply do not have great shops! My preference in the area is to go to Bern where there are lots and lots of boutiques, and several nice department stores. there is also the Heimatwerk which over the years has become rather a disease with me!

Even though I am a distinct Zermatt fan, I do agree wtih Swandav that once you are in Zermatt you pretty much stay in Zermatt whereas in the Oberland you can go from place to place. The hiking in Zermatt is not necessarily hard though. I am a 60-something and hiked there last summer and had a great time! ut Oller's remark that there still might be a lot of snow on the higher trails is very valid. The Oberland (I am thinking of the Lauterbrunnen valley, Wengen / Kleine Scheidegg / Grindlewald etc) is lower. Also there is very good walking around the lakes.

Zurich, Switzerland
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7. Re: Travelling in June
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There is a good choice of restaurants in each of the mountain villages of Bernese Oberland. I'm not familiar though with restaurants serving haute cuisine in this area.

I agree with Hambaghle that shopping isn't great in all of those villages (maybe a little bit better in Zermatt - but it's also not a shopping paradise!). Interlaken would already provide some better shops, but most of them tourist oriented. Thun is amazingly good for shopping, and of course Bern due its size even better. Anyway Bern is a good option for rainy days with its covered walkways, and also a visit of underground Trummelbach falls near Lauterbrunnen.

Germany
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8. Re: Travelling in June
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If you've never been to Switzerland before, Zermatt certainly has its advantages. But I've been vacationing in Switzerland with my Swiss husband for 14 years now and I personally thought it was completely overrun and kitschy.

Maybe think about some of the other car-free mountain villages in Switzerland. For instance I absolutely adore Bettmeralp - excellent range of moderate hikes and good restaurants - but it's tiny and the nightlife leaves something to be desired. Other activities include swimming, fishing, and, uh... mini-golf? Saas Fee might be an interesting option for you. In terms of touristy stuff, it's somewhere in between Bettmeralp and Zermatt I'd say.

Washington, DC
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2 reviews
9. Re: Travelling in June
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My fiancee and I took a trip to Zermatt in mid-June of 2008. There was no snow on the lower trails, but it was still quite cold and blustery at the Trockener Steg (which we took the cable car to with the intent to hike down, but it seemed dangerous to do so). Overall the hiking was gorgeous, though.

Restaurants were definitely not the best I had in Switzerland, and I'd agree with the assessment that Zermatt itself seems a little kitschy and touristy.

10. Re: Travelling in June

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