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TITLIS
Snowball fights are guaranteed year-round on Mount Titlis and the
permanent glacier is the big attraction.
Nearest village:
Engelberg.
Height:
3,238 metres.
Accommodation:
The Berghotel at Trubsee (halfway up at 1,800m)
is a handy base for summer hiking and winter skiing. There’s also lots of
accommodation in pretty Engelberg.
Food:
Try the Berghotel or the bustling buffet dining area at Titlis station.
Getting there:
Catch the regular Zentralbahn train from Lucerne to
Engelberg, a scenic 47-minute journey. Walk five minutes from the train
station and take the gondola to Trusbee station. Then take a cable car to
Stand station. Change onto the Titlis rotating gondola, for 360-degree
views all the way to the top.
Cost:
Lucerne to Engelberg is about 18 Swiss francs return (S$25).
Engelberg to Titlis is SFr89 return. The IceFlyer chairlift is SFr12; other
activities are at additional cost.
Adventure opportunities:
You’ll need to hurry to do everything
in one day. Everyone can do the grotto walk through an icy-cold tunnel
20 metres below the glacier, and there’s a 150-step cliff walk on a steel
suspension bridge 500 metres above the snow. There are snowy walks,
and the IceFlyer chairlift for fabulous views. The more adventurous can try
tubing down the snowy slopes and abseiling. Thermal underwear, a good
coat and warm shoes are a must for this day out. On the descent, there
are mountain bikes for hire at Trusbee station so you can complete the
downhill stretch with the wind in your hair. Just avoid the cows.
engelberg.ch | titlis.ch
The beautiful old Swiss town of Lucerne is
an access point to an incredible number of
mountains for recreation and leisure activities.
On any day at Lucerne train station there are
dozens of hiking-shoe-clad, walking-stick-
carrying adventurers on their way to walk the
trails or, in winter, ski. Here are two easily
accessible mountainous day-trips from Lucerne
that don’t require any preparation or exertion.
SKY-HIGH
IN SWITZERLAND
BY KATIE ROBERTS
164
Travel Guide 2014
Farther Afield