This page contains reports on our trip to Switzerland.
Adelboden is situated at an altitude of 4600ft at the end of a steep winding valley in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. It is all you would expect of a Swiss mountain village.
On the 21st-30th July, our Chomolungma Explorer Unit went on a trip to Switzerland. We did various activities such as visiting the Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch mountains, visited Lake Oeschinen and went on hikes, went tobogganing, white water rafting, mountain biking, scooters, swimming, went to the Trummelbach Falls, to the Wood Carvers.
On one of the nights we went to a Swiss Evening where we had to perform on stage an act along with other Scouts from different areas.
Our favourite activity was white water rafting because it was fun and something different because we have never done it before. We had a fantastic time, we would recommend going to Switzerland.
A party of 30 Young people (aged 14 – 18 years), Adults and a 5 month old baby from Chomolungma Explorer Scout Unit have just returned from a very enjoyable 10 day excursion to Adelboden in Switzerland.
Fundraising started last year with a Table Top Sale in the Stamford Arms Car Park on the August Bank Holiday, followed by Bag Packing at Marks & Spencers (Fosse Park) and Morrisons Supermarket (Leicester) and car windscreen washing before culminating in a Sponsored Abseil of Everest down a local climbing tower.
This supplemented the £400 paid by each individual and provided the diverse range of activities undertaken during our trip and a hooded Chomolungma Unit sweatshirt for everybody. The price also included travel, accommodation, food and travel / mountain rescue insurance.
The journey from Groby in an air-conditioned coach, took 22 hours crossing by ferry and passing through France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany.
We had our own chalet “Sonnenrain” with 4 floors which could sleep 43 people and had ample washing facilities with 8 showers and 6 toilets. The kitchen with its dish washer was on the same floor as the dining room and balcony – where several people often ate their breakfast whilst enjoying the scenery. Plenty of games facilities were also available with a table tennis table and table football game inside and outside was basketball and volleyball. The village centre was a short 10 mins walk away.
Food was delivered daily and the group took it in turns to prepare, cook and wash up.
The weather was usually very hot and sunny so sun cream was often being used. However as is typical in an alpine area, short thunder storms with heavy showers were also experienced.
On our return home, at our next meeting, we enjoyed our annual post camp barbecue where we showed everybody’s photographs and videos on a big screen.
|
Daytime |
Evening | |
| Fri 21st | Depart Groby midday / early afternoon | Ferry from Dover |
| Sat 22nd | Travel, Journey time from Calais
to Adelboden is approximately 12-13 hours.
Arrive in Adelboden early afternoon |
|
| Sun 23rd | Cable cars. scooters, and hike | Swimming |
| Mon 24th | Schilthorn and Trummelbach falls | |
| Tues 25th | Kandersteg and tobogganing | |
| Wed 26th | Jungfraujoch | |
| Thurs 27th | Rafting & shopping | Swiss evening |
| Fri 28th | Biking / wood carvers & Choleren Gorge (half day bike, half day wood carvers & Choleren Gorge) | |
| Sat 29th | Vacate chalet by 12:30pm. Leave Adelboden. | Travel overnight to Calais |
| Sun 30th | Early morning ferry (around 6-7am) from Calais. Arrive Groby around lunchtime |
All times in the above itinerary are approximate.
| Choleren Gorge Known as one of the most spectacular wonders of nature in the Bernese Oberland, this wild, rocky gorge with waterfalls, water mills and polished rocks is accessible via steps and bridges. Wood carvers |
| Chairlift Oeschinen & Dry Toboggan Situated near Kandersteg and therefore ideally combined with a visit to Kandersteg. First there's a double chairlift to the start of the Rodelbahn/Toboggan run which is great fun for all ages, then afterwards there's a pleasant 30-minute walk down to the breath-taking Lake Oeschinen. |
| Micro scooter ride Available from the top station of the Sillernbuhl cable car and take the road down to Berglager. |
| Swimming There is a 50 metre outdoor pool in Adelboden with panoramic views of the Lohner and Wildstrubel mountains. It is heated (22C) at all times and is open from 9am until 9pm. The nearest indoor pool is in Frutigen at the sports centre. |
| Swiss Evening Available every Thursday evening. Programme involves taking the Sillernbuhl cable car up the mountain to the Silleren mountain restaurant for Swiss-style buffet meal, all you can eat! Menu features a salad bufet, then raclette (melted Swiss cheese) with boiled potatoes, rosti (Swiss pan-fried potatoes) and a choice of meat from the grill - drinks are not included. All this together with some Swiss traditional style music and yodelling guarantees a fun evening for all. |
| White Water Rafting Rafting on the River Simme (White Water Class 2-3) from Boltigen to Erlenbach |
Trummelbach Falls (Lauterbrunnen)
These impressive waterfalls are deep inside the mountains near Lauterbrunnun,
where you can see up to 20,000 litres of water per second come down from the
Monch, Eiger and Jungfrau. An underground funicular takes you up to tunnels,
galleries and bridges which make the falls accessible. These are the only falls
if their kind which are accessible to visitors.
Schilthorn Cable car (2970 metres, 9750ft)
www.schilthorn.ch
A fabulous cable car system travelling through 3 mountain stations to the top of
the Schilthorn (9750ft) which was featured in the James Bond film "On Her
Majesty's Secret Service". Reached from Stechelberg via the charming
villages of Murren, the summit has a large revolving restaurant, a sun terrace
and offers outstanding panoramic views over the "roof of Switzerland".
Ideally combined with a visit to the Trummelbach Falls and/or Interlaken.
Jungfraujoch Mountain Railway "Top of Europe" (3454 metres, 11,329
ft)
www.jungfrau.ch
Towering majestically above the Bernese Oberland is the glistening snow-clad
peak of the Jungfrau, together with its equally famous neighbours the Eiger and
the Monch, it forms one of the most spectacular mountain vistas in the world.
One of Switzerland's most famous attractions, its probably the most expensive
mountain ascent and requires an early start to make the most of the day.