Many months ago, my friends and I planned a trip to a mountain village in Switzerland. It was daunting (and expensive), but last weekend, we finally got to go. These are the photos and stories of what became my favorite trip of study abroad.
Having arrived at our destination, we sat down, spread out every map we could find, and began to plan. It felt like we had been dropped right in the middle of a movie scene: our fingers tracing the mountain ridges, compass apps pulled out on our phones, and the myriad routes, paths, and hiking trails crisscrossing the wooden table in front of us. We hadn’t even been in Switzerland for more than an hour, but we already felt like true adventurers.
After waking up bright and early, our group took a train into Lauterbrunnen Valley, the very place that inspired J. R. R. Tolkien’s fictional valley of Rivendell! Stepping off the train platform, you are instantly greeted by Staubbach Falls, a gorgeous cascading waterfall that lines the sheer cliff face of the valley. It’s a fantastical site – no wonder Tolkien was inspired!
We began our time in Lauterbrunnen by hiking through the valley. It felt like peace in its truest form: passing by cows and pastures, fields of green and wildflowers, and creeks that glistened in the sun. All of this was surrounded by the most magnificent mountain range I have ever seen. Switzerland sure knows how to impress.
Our second activity of the day was a much more challenging hike from the mountain railway station of Grütschalp to the mountain village of Mürren. We began by taking a cable car up the mountain to a refreshing 4,800 feet in elevation. We then began to walk, and I must say, this panoramic hike was an unforgettable experience. We saw the most astounding mountain ranges while walking through what can only be described as a winter wonderland!
Finally approaching the village of Mürren, we were greeted with even more stunning views. The mountains rose up around us, a sight unlike anything I have seen before. Moments like this remind me of why I travel and why I love seeing new things, especially alongside the people that I love.
On our last night in Switzerland, I made the most spontaneous decision of my life: We booked tickets to go paragliding over the mountains the next morning. So at 8 am on Easter Sunday, we found ourselves staring down the slope of a mountain, with a paragliding pilot instructing us to “run!” before we really had a chance to second-guess our decision. Suffice to say, I’ve never been so happy to run off a mountain in all my life.
We finished off our time in Switzerland by relaxing at the beautiful Lake Brienz, one of two picturesque lakes in the region of Interlaken. We watched the ducks float by, saw the ferry make its rounds, and skipped rocks by the water. A tranquil end to a whirlwind of a trip.
Switzerland was perfect in every way, and I couldn’t have asked for a more amazing trip. I was quite sad to leave Switzerland, but I know I will be back one day. For anyone wondering if they should visit, it is not a matter of if, but when. And if you are given the chance, maybe book your paragliding tickets more than 12 hours in advance.