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A largely botanical trip to the Swiss Alpine area, plenty of insects, amazing scenery, good food and a few interesting animals (alpine salamander, red squirrel, fox and very unusually close views of chamois)... We used train and cable cars to reach the summits of the Schilthorn, Mannlichen and Niederhorn... including a ferry across Lake Thun....and had plenty of free time in Murren. Other enjoyable trips included Allmendhubel meadows (above Murren), Trummelbach underground waterfall & Schynige Platte via rack & pinion train. Naturetrek arranged a "Go Slow" trip with two botanical experts to guide us.... so we didn't have to worry about transport or food...just enjoy the sights...as we rambled amongst the alpine meadows. The hotel was well-run and had superb views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau from most of the rooms.... I wasn't too bothered about all the different sorts of plants... however, the overall spectacle of the flowers, scenery, butterflies etc were stunning... and we even saw a few mammals.
R.H. Middlesex, June 22
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Go Slow in the Swiss Alps
Tour Code: CHE05An 8-day holiday to the traffic-free village of Mürren, high in the Swiss Alps, to enjoy the region’s fabulous flora and fauna and some spectacular mountain scenery.
£3,495 (Inc flights)
£3,095
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Based in the picturesque village of Mürren, in the heart of the Bernese Oberland, we’ll enjoy daily excursions and easy walks in search of carpets of wild flowers in lush, botanically rich alpine meadows, all the while enjoying spectacular views towards the famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. We will make full use of the efficient network of cable cars, trains, cogwheel mountain railways and funiculars to access a wide altitudinal range in search of such high-altitude gems as trumpet gentians and snowbells, plus an array of orchids (including Lady’s Slipper Orchid), saxifrages, primulas and violets among other specialist flora. We’ll also enjoy the region’s birds and butterflies, with plenty of time to relax and soak up the scenery too.
- Spectacular mountain scenery of the Bernese Oberland
- Based in the traffic-free village of Mürren with journeys by train, cable car and funicular
- Explore a range of habitats from forest and meadow to high mountain pasture, enjoying carefully selected walks with an in-built flexibility
- Stunning displays of mountain flowers including gentians, primroses, pasqueflowers and orchids
- Birds including Alpine Chough, Alpine Accentor, Snow Finch, Nutcracker and Red-backed Shrike all likely
- Visit the unique Schyinge Platte Alpine Garden
The traditional Swiss village of Mürren, situated high in the Bernese Oberland, boasts charming, 'chocolate-box', Swiss mountain chalets and stunning views across the valley to the towering peaks of the famous Mönch, Eiger and Jungfrau mountains. Mürren is a car-free village, making it a quiet, idyllic base for this ‘Go Slow’ holiday, and the final leg of our journey here will be by cable car! Our daily programme will consist of one or two half-day excursions, either on foot from our hotel, or using the excellent network of cable cars, funiculars and mountain railways that provides such good access throughout this whole region. Our walks will always be conducted at a leisurely pace, and almost always begin or end at a mountain restaurant or café where we can relax, have a drink and enjoy the stunning mountain vistas.
We will be staying for the week at the extremely comfortable and centrally located Hotel Jungfrau, just a 5 minute walk from the Mürrenbahn cable car station, or a 10 minute walk from the Schilthornbahn cable car station. Although any holiday in the Swiss Alps will include some degree of walking, this ‘Go Slow’ itinerary has been carefully designed to ensure that those wishing to enjoy shorter days with minimal walking are able to do so, whilst anyone that would like to spend longer in the field and stretch their legs will be equally well catered for.
We begin our holiday with a direct flight to Zurich, and then transfer by train and coach to Stechelberg. From here, we complete the final leg of our journey to Murren by cable car, arriving in time to settle into our rooms and enjoy dinner together this evening. On at least two days we will enjoy walks around Mürren and the Allmendhubel Mountain above the village, which we reach by funicular railway. Following the Flower Trail and the Mountain View Trail, we are likely to see Alpenrose, Globeflowers, Mountain Pansies, Broad-leaved Marsh Orchids and White False Helleborines. Walking the village trail near our hotel, we can look for Black Redstart, Citril Finch, Alpine Chough and Ring Ouzel, plus the Crag and House Martins flitting between the chalets. Depending on the spring, there may even be Lady’s Slipper Orchids flowering within walking distance of our hotel!
On one day we will cross the valley to the village of Wengen and spend our day on the Männlichen above, searching for Alpine Pasqueflower, Alpine Snowbell, Small White Orchid, Moss Campion, Mountain Avens and Alpine Bartsia, as well as several species of saxifrage, gentian, violet, primrose, campanula and pedicularis.
On another day we will descend into the Lauterbrunnen Valley, an area rich in butterflies and birds, as well as flora we may not yet have seen. Here, we will visit the dramatic Trümmelbach Falls, where meltwater from the mountain glaciers corkscrews down inside the vertical valley walls. We will then continue to the beautiful village of Zwiesimmen, which is a delight for any flower enthusiast, with a multitude of pretty gardens, facades, balconies and kitchen gardens.
Of course, no holiday to this region would be complete without a visit to the famous Schynige Platte. Reached via a delightful cogwheel mountain railway that first began operation in 1893, this stunning alpine garden and the rich surrounding limestone flora will be an undoubted highlight of the holiday for many.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
This is a single-centre holiday, based in the very comfortable Hotel Jungfrau in Mürren. All rooms are en suite, with free Wi-Fi access and hairdryers in the rooms.
- Food:
All food is included in the price other than one lunch during the week in Mürren, giving you the opportunity to try one of the mountain restaurants or local cafés. Please also note that British Airways no longer provides in-flight meals, though a buy-on-board service is available.
Reviews
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The guides were experts, both very approachable, They knew where to look for interesting flora and fauna, and were always ready to answer questions. We stayed in a comfortable and friendly hotel, from where we enjoyed varied day trips travelling by cable car and mountain railways. Naturetrek specializes in guided tours for those interested in plants and animals. They cater for people with a wide range of interests and levels of prior knowledge.
R.H. London, June 19 -
We stayed in a very comfortable and well located hotel in the centre of the attractive village of Murren. Our botanical leader had done careful research before we arrived, so he was able to lead us to interesting and productive areas. Our expeditions each day were smoothly arranged on a variety of local transport: cable car, train, cogwheel railway, bus etc.
O.V. Kent, June 19 -
Paul was amazing and so knowledgeable and we learnt so much from him. Tim was also a huge asset to the group. The location and hotel were wonderful and we made some very good friends. We were very lucky with the weather. We were celebrating our golden wedding anniversary and we couldn’t have chosen a better holiday.
C.N. West Midlands, June 19
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Paul Harmes
Paul has always lived in the south of England on the Downs near Brighton in East Sussex. Many of his early years were spent in exploring this area. His interest in the natural world gradually developed from about the age of eight and he began to take a special interest in plants, although reptiles and amphibians, mammals and insects are also a passion. Paul is a Fellow of the Linnean Society, an active member of the Sussex Botanical Recording Society and the Botanical Society of the British Isles, which he represents as the county recorder for East Sussex. In 2003, he took voluntary severance from the National Grid Company plc and started his own botanical and ecological survey company. Paul enjoys sharing his knowledge of the natural world with other like-minded and interested people.
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There are few more pleasing sights in the natural world than a meadow filled with wildflowers. Seeing plants in their native habitat is always exciting and our flower tours offer you an incredible choice, from dazzling tropical blooms and the thrill of finding elusive orchids or delicate alpines, to seeing island endemics or British flora. Our tours range from week-long holidays focusing on the ‘Alpine flowers of the Swiss Alps’, the ‘Italian Dolomites’ and the ‘Alpine Flowers of Slovenia’s Julian Alps’, to orchid-hunting on Italy’s Gargano Peninsula and searching for the Autumn Plants of Greece’s Peloponnese. We also visit more remote areas of the world in search of plant-life, from the Tien Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan where we look for wild tulips, to the rainforests and spiny deserts of Madagascar where over 80% of the flora is endemic.
Many of us want to know more about the plants we see around us. Whether inspired by an appreciation of the aesthetic appeal of flowers, or a more focused desire to identify individual species, everyone with an interest in botany will derive pleasure from joining one of Naturetrek’s flower tours.
Why choose Naturetrek’s botanical holidays?
- All our botanical holidays are led by expert botanist guides
- All levels of interest and expertise are catered for, from hobby gardeners and complete beginners to keen botanists who wish to explore a new area with the help of a knowledgeable leader
- We keep the overall focus on flora, though expert guidance is also given on other wildlife
What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek botanical holiday?
- Travel with a group of like-minded people
- Stay at a comfortable hotel or lodge, close to an area of outstanding botanical interest
- Enjoy a series of leisurely day excursions with ample time to appreciate the local flora
In addition to our dedicated flower tours, we also offer holidays with a wider theme to encompass birds, butterflies and other aspects of natural history as well as the flora. Our spring tours to 'Crete' and ‘The Island of Cyprus’ are both timed to allow us to enjoy the botanical highlights as well as the spring bird migration, whilst ‘Croatia and Slovenia – Spring in Istria’ also allows time to enjoy a little of the local culture. ‘Romania – the Wildlife of Transylvania’ combines an appreciation of the flora of the Carpathian Mountains with birding, butterflying and a trip to look for Brown Bears from a purpose built hide, and our holidays in both the ‘French Pyrenees’ and the ‘Spanish Pyrenees’ combine birds, butterflies and botany throughout the week.
Our specialist recommends...
David Tattersfield - Tour Leader
Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists
The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Relaxed Wildlife Holidays
Our programme of Go Slow wildlife holidays allows guests to enjoy the natural world at a more leisurely pace than on one of our conventional wildlife holidays. There will be more time to relax, more time to potter, excursions will be optional and we hope you will return, not only having enjoyed a fascinating mix of birds, plants and other wildlife, but also feeling refreshed and relaxed!
Our Go Slow tours range from week-long holidays that offer warm spring sunshine and gentle natural history excursions in Portugal, the Camargue and Mallorca, to tours which take on a more cultural air each afternoon, such as Go Slow … in Istria in Autumn and Go Slow … in Southern Spain. Our Go Slow holidays in the Swiss Alps and Cyprus both combine the best of the region’s botany and birdlife, or, if you would like to travel a little further afield, why not join us for a leisurely-paced exploration of India’s Tiger Country, Kenya’s Masai Mara, or South Africa’s Western Cape?
What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek Go Slow holiday?
On each Go Slow holiday we aim to offer as many of the following as possible:
- A single-centre holiday
- Direct flights with sociable timings
- Comfortable hotel of high quality (with swimming pool if possible), serving meals of a high standard
- Leisurely paced walks on gentle terrain
- Expert leaders, as ever, with more time for interpretation & explanation
- A maximum of 6 hours in the field each day (9.30am-3.30pm with picnic lunch or two 3-hour excursions)
- Morning and afternoon toilet/comfort stops
- Minimal long drives
- Back in time for afternoon tea
- All excursions optional
- All-inclusive cost (except bar drinks & laundry)
- Time to relax, read, paint, potter, swim or enjoy anything else that you might wish to do!
Our specialist recommends...
Andy Tucker - Operations Manager
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
