Grindelwald First: Switzerland's Ultimate Mountain Adventure
Imagine walking on an iron bridge 7,200 feet above sea level with nothing below it? Sounds exciting, right? That’s the magic of Grindelwald First.
The gondola ride up to Grindelwald First in Switzerland was surprisingly smooth, giving us plenty of time to take in the gradually changing views as we climbed higher. We could see the village of Grindelwald getting smaller below us, and the mountain peaks becoming more prominent with each passing minute.
Twenty minutes later, we found ourselves standing at the edge of the Grindelwald First Cliff Walk, both eager to experience what we’d heard so much about. The suspended metal walkway stretched out before us, jutting dramatically from the mountainside with the entire valley spread below.
Suneela strode confidently ahead, Insta360 in hand, ready to capture every angle. Meanwhile, I found myself walking much more carefully, gripping my phone tightly and making sure nothing could slip through the gaps in the metal grating.
Romancing the Alps
This wasn’t our first visit to Switzerland, we’d fallen in love with the country on our previous visit and decided to spend more than a couple of weeks here this time. And honestly, we wanted to stay more than what we planned.
You know what people always say when we tell them about our extended Switzerland stays? “But isn’t it expensive?” Here’s the thing: staying longer actually gets progressively cheaper. We invested in transport passes that saved us lots of money, got weekly discounts on our Airbnb, and could stock up on groceries to cook our own meals. Plus, Switzerland’s incredible public transport system (seriously, their transport app ↗ even auto-charges you the cheapest fare based on your actual journey), makes getting around a breeze.
But the real reason to stay longer? The mountain experiences. Switzerland isn’t just about ticking off the famous spots - it’s about having time to truly soak in moments like this one at Grindelwald First.
Grindelwald First Experience
Getting to Grindelwald First was an adventure in itself. We took two gondolas from the village. The first one lifting us up through the forest, and then a second one that carried us higher into the alpine zone. From the comfort of the gondolas, we could watch the entire mountain landscape unfold around us, with each minute bringing new perspectives of the peaks and valleys below.
Lake Bachalpsee Hike
After the adrenaline rush of the cliff walk, we decided to do something we’d planned - a small hike to Lake Bachalpsee. We’d picked up some fresh salad from a supermarket beforehand (it’s affordable and surprisingly filling for a proper meal), and set off on the well-marked path that many other tourists were taking.
The walk takes about an hour and crosses mountain ridges. It’s very easy and fun, honestly one of the easiest hikes in this region and doable by anyone with basic fitness. And what’s waiting at the end? Lake Bachalpsee, also known as the ‘blue jewel’ of the Alps.
Once we reached the lake, we sat down and admired this beautiful alpine lake at the height of 7,500 feet, whose waters perfectly reflect the snow-peaked mountains of Jungfrau. We chilled for a bit, ate our salad, and spent an entire afternoon just lazing around. It was the perfect end to our hike.
Adventure Activities
After walking back from the lake, we had some time to explore the other activities at Grindelwald First. We watched paragliders taking off from the cliff into the valley below. It was quite surreal seeing the expressions of these adventure enthusiasts as they waited for their pilot to take them from the slopes down to the valley.
The adventurous among us decided to try the Trotbike, a free-wheel bike without pedals that only has a brake, letting you slide down the 10-kilometre mountain road. It was quite an adventure, and I had to jam the brakes pretty hard multiple times just to ensure I didn’t slip off the path. What made it even more amusing was watching a 7-year-old kid on his trotbike, racing confidently ahead of his dad down the mountain - clearly much braver than I was!
If there was one place that anyone going to Switzerland should not miss, it’s always Grindelwald. We know Jungfraujoch gets all the fame, but honestly? We say ditch it and go to Grindelwald instead. Whether you’re confidently capturing every angle with your camera or just want to have a fun day in the mountains, Grindelwald delivers those heart-stopping moments that remind you why you fell in love with travel.
Yeswanth
Yeswanth
Technologist. Driven by the need to travel to every interesting nook and corner of the world! Loves adventure activities including paragliding, snorkelling, scuba diving and more.
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