Switzerland by Motorhome - Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald & Oltschibachfall | Part 5
In the fifth and final part of our motorhome trip through Switzerland, you can once again expect some of the most beautiful landscapes of the Bernese Alps. Together, we visit the famous Lauterbrunnen Valley with its imposing waterfalls, explore Grindelwald, and enjoy the view of the impressive glacier world.
Along the way, we discover a free drinking water source, treat ourselves to delicious ice cream with a fantastic view, and visit the Grindelwald Glacier Gorge. To conclude our journey, we enjoy the view of the Upper Grindelwald Glacier and take a short hike to the impressive Oltschibachfall waterfall.
This video concludes our five-part trip through Switzerland in spring 2023. Once again, we experience the impressive nature of the Swiss Alps before preparing for our next big adventure – the road trip to the North Cape in autumn.
📍 Highlights & Chapters:
- 🚐 Drive to Lauterbrunnen
- 💧 Drinking water source in the mountains
- 🏔️ Through the Lauterbrunnen Valley
- 🏡 Discover Grindelwald
- 🍦 Ice cream break at Aspen Hotel
- 🪨 Grindelwald Glacier Gorge
- 🧊 View of the Upper Grindelwald Glacier
- 🚜 Campsite on the farm
- ✈️ Observe departing jet planes
- 💦 Hike to Oltschibachfall waterfall
- ✅ Conclusion of our Switzerland trip
🚐 Drive to Lauterbrunnen
After a peaceful night at our farm campsite, we started the last day of our Switzerland trip feeling relaxed. This time, we left the motorhome Wickie parked, as we wanted to explore the region around Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald with our quad. This allowed us to enjoy the winding mountain roads and the impressive landscape even more intensely.
The drive towards Lauterbrunnen itself was an experience. With every turn, the mighty peaks of the Bernese Alps drew closer, and our anticipation for the famous Lauterbrunnen Valley grew. The combination of rugged cliffs, green alpine meadows, and numerous waterfalls makes this region one of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Switzerland.
Along the way, we repeatedly made short photo stops to capture the impressive mountain scenery. The closer we got to Lauterbrunnen, the clearer it became why this place attracts visitors from all over the world every year.
It quickly became clear to us that the last day of travel would hold some real highlights. In high spirits, we continued our journey, looking forward to everything that awaited us that day.
The drive to Lauterbrunnen leads right through the impressive mountain world of the Bernese Oberland. Already en route, spectacular views of snow-capped peaks, green valleys, and numerous waterfalls await you – a perfect start to an eventful day.
💡 Good to know:
The Lauterbrunnen Valley is considered one of the most famous valleys in Switzerland and even inspired writers like J. R. R. Tolkien. With its up to 72 waterfalls, steep cliffs, and imposing three-thousand-meter peaks, the region is one of the most popular excursion destinations in the Bernese Oberland. From here, numerous hikes and excursions to Wengen, Mürren, and the Jungfrau Region begin.
Our Switzerland Highlights as a Video 🎬
💧 Drinking water source in the mountains
Even before we reached Lauterbrunnen, we discovered a small drinking water source right by the road. Such fountains are found frequently in Switzerland and are simply part of the experience for many hikers, cyclists, and motorhome travelers.
Of course, we didn't miss the opportunity and made a short stop. The ice-cold water came directly from the mountains and was a welcome refreshment on this sunny day. At the same time, we used the beautiful scenery for some souvenir photos before continuing our journey.
It's precisely these unplanned stops that make a motorhome trip so appealing to us. Often, it's the small moments away from the well-known sights that remain in our memory the longest.
Refreshed, we then continued towards the Lauterbrunnen Valley, where the next impressive landscapes awaited us.
The numerous drinking water fountains are simply part of Switzerland. In many places, fresh spring water flows directly from the mountains, inviting hikers and travelers to a free refreshment.
💡 Good to know:
In Switzerland, most public fountains originate from natural springs and provide high-quality drinking water. If a fountain is not marked as "No drinking water," the water can generally be drunk without concern. Especially in the Alps, these fountains are a practical way to refill water bottles with fresh spring water for free.
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🏔️ Through the Lauterbrunnen Valley
After our short stop at the drinking water source, we finally reached the famous Lauterbrunnen Valley. Although it was already noon and accordingly many visitors were out and about, the unique landscape immediately impressed us.
With our quad, we drove leisurely through the village and initially left the hustle and bustle behind us. For our photos, we deliberately sought out quieter spots where we could enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery and the numerous waterfalls in peace.
For us, the Lauterbrunnen Valley is one of the most beautiful regions in all of Switzerland. The almost vertical cliffs, lush green meadows, and countless waterfalls give the valley a very special atmosphere. No matter which way you look – impressive views are everywhere.
We followed the road to the end of the valley and enjoyed every kilometer of this unique landscape. It was one of those places where you would have loved to stay much longer.
The Lauterbrunnen Valley is one of Switzerland's most famous natural regions. Mighty rock faces, green alpine meadows, and numerous waterfalls make the valley one of the most impressive excursion destinations in the Bernese Oberland.
💡 Good to know:
The Lauterbrunnen Valley is about eight kilometers long and is often referred to as the "Valley of 72 Waterfalls." Among the most famous are the almost 300-meter-high Staubbach Falls and the impressive Trümmelbach Falls, whose meltwater rushes through narrow rock crevices inside the mountain. The valley is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch and is a starting point for excursions to Wengen, Mürren, and the Jungfrau Region.
🏡 Discover Grindelwald
After our drive through the Lauterbrunnen Valley, we continued to Grindelwald – one of Switzerland's most famous mountain villages. The journey itself offered wonderful views of the imposing peaks of the Bernese Alps, making us eager to explore the village.
Grindelwald captivates with its unique location at the foot of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Despite the many visitors, the mountain village has retained its special charm. Cozy hotels, traditional chalets, and the impressive mountain scenery make the place a popular destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Before heading to our next destinations, we took in the special atmosphere and once again enjoyed the view of the snow-capped peaks. For us, Grindelwald is definitely one of the places not to be missed on a trip through the Bernese Oberland.
Grindelwald is one of Switzerland's most famous holiday resorts and a popular destination in every season. In summer, numerous hiking trails and viewpoints beckon, while in winter, skiers and snowboarders from all over the world come to the region.
💡 Good to know:
Grindelwald is located at an altitude of about 1,034 meters in the Bernese Oberland and is the gateway to the famous Jungfrau Region. From here, among other things, the Eiger Express gondola, the Jungfrau Railway, and numerous hikes to glaciers, mountain lakes, and viewpoints start. Particularly impressive is the view of the legendary Eiger North Face, which is one of the most famous rock faces in the Alps.
Our Highlights as a Video 🎬
🍦 Ice Cream Break at Aspen Hotel
After exploring Grindelwald, we treated ourselves to a small break at the Aspen Hotel. With the fantastic weather, it was quickly clear that a delicious ice cream was just the thing.
Even the hotel's terrace is special. As we enjoyed our ice cream, we had an unobstructed view of the impressive mountain world around Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. We could hardly have wished for a more beautiful setting for a short break.
It's precisely these small moments that make a journey unforgettable for us. Simply pausing for a moment, enjoying the fresh mountain air, and letting the impressive panorama sink in – sometimes that's all it takes.
After our little refreshment, we continued our tour and made our way to the Grindelwald Glacier Gorge.
The Aspen Hotel is one of the most beautiful viewpoints above Grindelwald. The sun terrace offers a fantastic view of the surrounding mountain world and invites you to a relaxing break.
💡 Good to know:
The Aspen Hotel Grindelwald is located above the village at an altitude of approximately 1,100 meters. From the terrace, an impressive panoramic view of the famous peaks Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau unfolds. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, you can stop by the restaurant and enjoy the view with coffee, cake, or an ice cream.
🪨 Grindelwald Glacier Gorge
Refreshed, we then set off for the Grindelwald Glacier Gorge. This narrow rock gorge is one of the region's most famous attractions and had long been on our wish list.
Upon arrival, we first inquired about the admission fee. However, at 20 Swiss francs per person, the price seemed a bit too high for a short visit. Therefore, we deliberately decided against taking the tour and instead explored the impressive surroundings around the gorge.
Even from the outside, it's easy to imagine the enormous forces that the glacier's meltwater has unleashed here over thousands of years. The steep rock faces and the roaring water already convey an impressive impression of this extraordinary natural landscape.
For us, the journey continued towards a viewpoint from which we could enjoy a fantastic view of the region's glaciers.
The Grindelwald Glacier Gorge is one of the most famous natural attractions in the Bernese Oberland. The circular trail leads deep through the gorge shaped by the glacier, over footbridges and paths, offering impressive insights into the power of nature.
💡 Good to know:
The Grindelwald Glacier Gorge was formed by the retreat of the Lower Grindelwald Glacier and is up to 300 meters deep. Visitors walk on footbridges through the narrow gorge, past crystal-clear glacial water, smoothly polished rocks, and spectacular rock formations. Particularly popular are the Spiderweb net bridge and the illuminated passages, which impressively showcase the mighty nature.
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🧊 View of the Upper Grindelwald Glacier
After our stop at the Glacier Gorge, we drove a bit further up the mountain. Our destination was a viewpoint with an unobstructed view of the impressive Upper Grindelwald Glacier.
Even during the ascent, the views became increasingly spectacular. The snow-capped peaks drew closer, and finally, the mighty glacier lay directly before us. Despite the sunny weather, the ice and snowfields were clearly visible – an impressive sight that we took our time to absorb.
From up here, one realizes how immense the mountain world around Grindelwald is. The combination of rock, ice, and the green alpine meadows in the valley forms a landscape rarely seen. For us, this viewpoint was one of the most beautiful photo opportunities of the day.
After an extended break, we finally made our way back. Our last stop for the day was already waiting for us.
The Upper Grindelwald Glacier is one of the most impressive glaciers in the Bernese Oberland. From several viewpoints around Grindelwald, a fascinating view of the mighty ice fields and the surrounding four-thousand-meter peaks opens up.
💡 Good to know:
The Upper Grindelwald Glacier lies at the foot of Schreckhorn and Wetterhorn and is part of the impressive glacier world of the Jungfrau region. Although the glacier – like many Alpine glaciers – has receded significantly in recent decades, it still ranks among the most famous natural attractions around Grindelwald and offers spectacular views of the high Alpine landscape.
🚜 Stellplatz on the farm
After an eventful day, we returned to our pitch at the farm. We had already found a beautiful spot here the day before and decided to stay another night. The quiet location and the impressive mountain scenery made this place the perfect starting point for our excursions to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. Directly from our pitch, we had an unobstructed view of an impressive waterfall that continuously plunged down the steep rocks. While we enjoyed the evening relaxing in front of our motorhome, we could fully savor the tranquility of nature. However, a special surprise awaited us very nearby. The farm is located not far from a military airfield, which allowed us to repeatedly observe jet fighters taking off. The contrast between the peaceful alpine landscape and the powerful aircraft was extraordinary and provided an unexpected highlight of our last day of travel. For us, this pitch was the perfect place to reflect on the many impressions of our Switzerland trip one last time before heading home the next day. The pitch on the farm combines absolute tranquility with an impressive mountain backdrop. At the same time, its proximity to the military airfield offers an extraordinary experience as jet fighters take off over the Alps. 💡 Good to know: Many farms in Switzerland offer simple, natural pitches for motorhome travelers. These are often located away from well-known campsites and allow for overnight stays with fantastic views of the Alps. It is precisely these small, family-run pitches that make a tour through Switzerland particularly appealing for many motorhome travelers.After an eventful day, we returned to our pitch at the farm. We had already found a beautiful spot here the day before and decided to stay another night. The quiet location and the impressive mountain scenery made this place the perfect starting point for our excursions to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald.
Directly from our pitch, we had an unobstructed view of an impressive waterfall that continuously plunged down the steep rocks. While we enjoyed the evening relaxing in front of our motorhome, we could fully savor the tranquility of nature.
However, a special surprise awaited us very nearby. The farm is located not far from a military airfield, which allowed us to repeatedly observe jet fighters taking off. The contrast between the peaceful alpine landscape and the powerful aircraft was extraordinary and provided an unexpected highlight of our last day of travel.
For us, this pitch was the perfect place to reflect on the many impressions of our Switzerland trip one last time before heading home the next day.
The pitch on the farm combines absolute tranquility with an impressive mountain backdrop. At the same time, its proximity to the military airfield offers an extraordinary experience as jet fighters take off over the Alps.
💡 Good to know:
Many farms in Switzerland offer simple, natural pitches for motorhome travelers. These are often located away from well-known campsites and allow for overnight stays with fantastic views of the Alps. It is precisely these small, family-run pitches that make a tour through Switzerland particularly appealing for many motorhome travelers.
Discover more adventures
✈️ Observing jet fighters taking off
While we were enjoying the evening on the farm, we were suddenly surprised by a loud noise. Shortly after, two jet fighters ascended into the sky right before our eyes. We had not expected this sight at all in the peaceful mountain landscape.
It was fascinating to watch the fighter jets gain altitude between the mighty mountains and disappear into the sky within a few seconds. The contrast between the idyllic nature, the lush green meadows, and modern aviation made this moment a very special experience.
Naturally, we didn't miss this spectacle and watched the take-offs for quite some time. It's such unexpected experiences that often make a trip unforgettable and remain in one's memory for a long time.
After the jets disappeared, we made our way to our last excursion destination of this Switzerland trip – the impressive Oltschibachfall.
The region around Meiringen is not only known for its impressive mountain scenery but also for the nearby military airfield. With a bit of luck, regularly taking off or landing fighter jets can be observed here.
💡 Good to know:
The Meiringen military airfield is one of Switzerland's most important air force bases. From here, fighter jets regularly take off for training and surveillance flights in the Alps. Due to the spectacular mountain scenery, the region is also very popular with aircraft enthusiasts who watch the take-offs and landings from a safe distance.
💦 Hike to the Oltschibachfall
To conclude our trip to Switzerland, a small hike to the Oltschibachfall was on the agenda. After so many impressive mountain passes, mountain lakes, and glaciers, this was the perfect last stop to enjoy the nature of the Bernese Alps in peace.
The hiking trail leads through a beautiful landscape, and after a short time, you can hear the rushing of the water. With every step, the waterfall comes closer, until the Oltschibach finally reveals itself in its full size before us. The water plunges with impressive force over the steep rocks into the depths, offering a beautiful photo opportunity.
We took our time to let this special place sink in. The combination of the roaring water, the high rock faces, and the tranquil nature made this place a worthy conclusion to our journey through Switzerland.
With many fond memories, we finally made our way back. Five diverse parts full of impressive landscapes, mountain passes, waterfalls, and hikes lay behind us – a trip we won't soon forget.
The Oltschibachfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Bernese Oberland. The short hike and the impressive nature make it a worthwhile excursion for anyone exploring Switzerland by motorhome or on a round trip.
💡 Good to know:
The Oltschibachfall is located above Lake Brienz near Brienz and is one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Switzerland. The water plunges approximately 120 meters into the depths and is primarily fed by meltwater from the surrounding mountains. Especially in spring and early summer, the waterfall shows itself from its most impressive side.
✅ Conclusion of our Switzerland trip
This last day of travel once again impressively showed us how diverse a motorhome trip through the Swiss Alps can be. The drive through the famous Lauterbrunnen Valley, the visit to Grindelwald, the impressive view of the glacier, and the hike to the Oltschibachfall formed a perfect conclusion to our five-part Switzerland trip.
What will particularly remain in our memories are the mighty waterfalls, the majestic mountains, and the unique atmosphere in the Bernese Oberland. But also the small moments in between – refreshing at a drinking water source, delicious ice cream with a fantastic view, or the surprisingly taking off jet fighters at the farm – made this day something very special.
Looking back, our trip through Switzerland was full of unforgettable experiences. From spectacular mountain passes like the Klausen Pass, Grimsel Pass, and Furka Pass to impressive hikes, crystal-clear mountain lakes, glaciers, and thundering waterfalls – each stage had its very own character. It is precisely this diversity that makes Switzerland a perfect travel destination for motorhome travelers.
One thing is certain for us: this was certainly not our last trip to the Swiss Alps. There are still many regions, passes, and hikes that we would like to discover in the future.
With this post, our trip through Switzerland comes to an end. But the next adventure is already waiting for us: Soon we will take you on our great road trip to the North Cape. Look forward to spectacular fjords, endless landscapes, northern lights, reindeer, and many more unforgettable moments.
Thank you for accompanying us on this journey. We hope we could inspire you and perhaps even give you some ideas for your own motorhome trip through Switzerland.
Until the next adventure!
Kirsten, Robin, and Don
Wickie On Tour 🚐🐺
✨ Craving even more travel adventures?
Our journey continues, of course. Next, we're taking you on our big North Cape road trip. Look forward to spectacular landscapes in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, impressive fjords, the midnight sun, reindeer, and many more unforgettable experiences with our motorhome.
➡️ Read more: North Cape by motorhome – Part 1 (add link)
📍 Have you ever been to Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald?
Feel free to share it with us in the comments!
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What is your personal highlight in Switzerland?
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Which pass road or hike impressed you the most?
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Do you have a secret tip that we absolutely must visit on our next trip to Switzerland?
We look forward to your experiences and recommendations!
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