ALPINE

Today being shorter, take time to enjoy your sumptous breakfast and a last stroll along the lakefront.

We’ll begin our climb out of Thun on the “Col de Schallenberg” to gain around 650 meters. You’re now in the region of Emmental.
During the last ice age, this region was one of the few uncovered areas of Switzerland and the water erosion of the period has formed an intricate system of hills and valleys.
You’ll see hilltop fields with flowered chalets, foggy forests in the clouds and rows of hills stretching one after the other like an army of turtles.

Of course, you know the cheese: Emmental. This is the mild hard cheese with all the holes, the variety we all know as “Swiss cheese”. Although you’ve probably tasted pale imitations at your local deli, it’s here that you’ll see small local “Kaserei” producing massive wheels of the “real deal”. Let’s make sure to stop and buy a slab.

After lunch we’ll be passing into a “biosphere reserve” recognized by UNESCO. The designation confirms what you might suspect: You are in a region whose cultural and natural landscape has changed little over the centuries. The locals voted to become a reserve over ten years ago, and in doing so have made a commitment to promoting their own regional products, cultivating the natural resources (grass, wood, and landscape) and developing ecotourism.

We’ll be staying in the village of Fluhli, in the heart of the biosphere. Our hotel, the Kurhaus, has a long and celebrated history.
Many famous guests have made their way to this isolated hotel to enjoy the healing waters above the village. It’s been a short day, so walk up the “Schwandalp” path to enjoy the views and the refreshing springs up on top.

Images of today