An Alpine Vacation to Switzerland

After an exhilarating three days spent exploring Jungfrau - Top of Europe, we headed to our next stopover, another quaint village, Lauerz, close to Lucerne City. After settling into our Airbnb in Lauerz, we drove an hour to reach Lucerne City. One of the most visited cities in Switzerland and Europe, this stunning city is surrounded by the Alps mountain range and lakes and has a lively ambience. We wandered around the city admiring its well preserved medieval architecture. We then took a 30-minute cruise on Lake Lucerne. We were spellbound by the beauty of this exotic city. Lucerne is also a central point for travelers who want to explore Ebenalp mountains.

A cruise on Switzerland's Lake Lucerne offers an amazing perspective of this beautiful town

Float with TITLIS Rotair

Lucerne is a wonderful place for kids, and my daughter enjoyed it very much. The next day, we were up bright and early, excited about our visit to Mount Titlis. After our visit to Jungfrau, we knew that something spectacular was in store for us. There are several ways to reach Mount Titlis. One can go to Grindelwald Station and then go to Mount Titlis or drive to the base of Mount Titlis and board a cable car from there. We drove to the base of Mount Titlis from where we boarded the cable car, an advantage of road trips. The cable car ride (Mount Titlis Rotair) was an incredible experience because of its unique revolving feature. This is exclusive to Mount Titlis which offers us a 360 degree view of the stunning surroundings.

Mount Titlis Rotair is the world's first revolving cable car which offers the most unique experience

We then reached the first station where we alighted and stepped out of the station to enjoy the splendid views of Alpine mountain. We spent a good 20 minutes there captivated by the view. We then boarded another cable car to reach the summit of Mount Titlis, at an incredible height of 3,238 m above sea level, our final destination. The ride took us over scenic views of mountains and lakes. Alighting from the cable car, we entered into yet another winter wonderland.

That's my little daughter completely fascinated by the snow in Mount Titlis

The weather in Mount Titlis was beautiful, chilly because of the snow but there was sunshine as well. While wandering around in the snow, we spotted some familiar life-size cutouts. Getting closer, we realized that they were of the star cast of the iconic Bollywood movie "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge"! A significant part of this movie was shot in Switzerland and these were reminiscences of it. We learned from some Indian visitors there that many Indians from across the world apparently plan a Switzerland-DDLJ Trip. This trip covers most of the beautiful locations showcased in the movie, offering a complete package. Mount Titlis is famous for the "Ice Flyer" chairlift that takes you over the glacier for a once-in-a-lifetime view of the majestic landscape. We were unlucky as this ride was closed when we visited.

The incredible Mount Titlis left us in awe of nature's grandeur

There is a Glacier Cave here as well, similar to the one in Jungfrau. My daughter was especially excited to explore this cave. There were exceptional ice carvings and showpieces that highlighted the skill of the ice artists which were fascinating. We also ventured on the Titlis Cliff Walk which was scary and exciting all at once. This out-of-this-world suspension bridge on Mount Titlis is over 100 meters long and takes about 5 minutes to cross. We were distracted with the spectacular view around us but there was an occasional skip of a heartbeat at the sheer height of the bridge. After this heart-racing experience, we spent some time playing in the snow and immersing ourselves in the natural beauty before heading back to the base of Mount Titlis.

My daughter and me walking along the Mount Titlis Cliff Walk believed to be the highest elevation suspension bridge in Europe

We had worked up an appetite by the time we reached the base and were thrilled to spot a fabulous Indian restaurant there. This restaurant has been there for ages and serves some amazing Indian cuisine. Having experimented with European food for a better part of the trip, we were thrilled to indulge in some authentic Indian food. It was the perfect meal in the perfect ambience. We then drove back to our Airbnb in Lauerz, one of the most gorgeous villages I have seen. The next day we planned to visit Interlaken, a well-known place in Switzerland. A 1.5 hour drive from Lauerz, we reached Interlaken City by 11.30 am.

I could not miss the chance to take a picture against this picture perfect view at Interlaken in Switzerland

The peak of heaven - Interlaken

Known to have some of the fanciest hotels in Switzerland, Interlaken City is sauve. After wandering around for a while, we boarded the tram to the peak. It is the only tram in Europe that runs at an angle of almost 180 degrees, making it a horizontal climb. This was one of the many first-times during our trip to Switzerland. The 10-minute ride to the top was a thrilling journey. As was at Jungfrau and Mount Titlis, there were restaurants and other activities to indulge in here. Again, the view from the top was gobsmackingly incredible.

This view from Interlaken peak is a spectacular sight of a piece of heaven on earth

Paragliding in Interlaken

Interlaken is specially known for adventure sports like paragliding or skydiving and is one of the most recommended places for these activities in the world. There are several companies that curate these activities. They organize a bus which takes you to another mountain which is a 30-40 minutes' drive. From there you can skydive along with an instructor. When you do paragliding or skydiving, you land at the same place that you take off. So your family can meet you at the same place. I could not give up this rare opportunity so I signed up for paragliding. It was a truly exhilarating experience, something I will remember for the rest of my life.

Yours truly enjoying an exhilarating paragliding experience in Interlaken

A dream destination

After a restful night at Lauerz, we set out early the next morning, back home to Brussels. What an incredible 7 days it was! As we started on our 7-hour drive back home, we were reminded about the gorgeous vistas of the Alps, the quaint villages and amazing winter wonderland that we experienced. While we all know that the first thing that comes to our mind when we say "Switzerland" is chocolates, for my family it will be images of majestic snow-covered mountains, incredible landscapes sprinkled with gorgeous lakes and nature in all its splendor.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where is Interlaken located?

Interlaken is located in the Bernese Highlands of Switzerland, between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. The town is a popular tourist destination, due to its scenic location and easy access to outdoor activities. Many visitors come to Interlaken to take advantage of the nearby mountains, which offer excellent opportunities for hiking, climbing, and skiing.

Why is Lucerne so famous?

Lucerne is a picturesque city in central Switzerland famed for its preserved medieval architecture and its position on Lake Lucerne. Visitors can explore the old town, stroll along the river or take a cable car up to one of the many surrounding mountain peaks.

Is the Alps the most famous mountain range?

The Alps mountain range is one of the most famous mountain ranges in the world. The Alps stretch for over 1,200 miles across eight countries, including Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The Alps are home to some of the tallest mountains in Europe.

Are the Alps still rising?

The Alps are one of the world's most iconic mountain ranges, and they continue to rise even today. Geologists believe that the Alps continue to slowly rise at a rate of about 1 cm per year. As a result, the Alps are some of the youngest mountains in the world, and they are still growing taller every day.