In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From Interlaken via Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and the Lötschberg car shuttle into the Rhône valley, on to the Aletsch Glacier and Täsch beneath the Matterhorn, then down the valley to Villeneuve on Lake Geneva: around 500 kilometres of waterfalls, Valais vineyard terraces and 4,000-metre peaks.
The spirit of the route
The Bernese Oberland begins with water: the turquoise Lake Brienz, the Staubbach, which drops almost 300 metres in a single free fall at Lauterbrunnen, and the sound of cowbells above Grindelwald, where the Eiger North Face fills your window at breakfast. With the Lötschberg car shuttle you change worlds in 15 minutes: Valais is drier, the slopes carry vines and dry-stone walls, and in the Rhône valley the evening breeze smells of apricots and warm rock. Up at Aletsch the longest river of ice in the Alps flows through ancient stone pine forests, and in Täsch, at the end of the road, the train to Zermatt awaits, with the Matterhorn as its backdrop. This route rewards early starts, booked campsites and a willingness to take cable cars rather than mountain passes – the motorhome stays down below, but the view comes with you anyway.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen (via Brienz and Giessbach) (approx. 50 km)
- The drive
- From Interlaken, take the main road along the north shore of Lake Brienz to Brienz, wide and well built, slow only through the villages. Return to Interlaken and continue via Wilderswil into the Lauterbrunnen valley: the valley road is narrow but two lanes throughout, with lay-bys and heavy bus and cycle traffic. Pure driving time is about 1.5 hours; with stops, allow half a day.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Giessbach Falls on Lake Brienz: a tiered waterfall with a historic funicular and a footpath running behind the falls.
- Brienz, with the steam rack railway up the Rothorn and the woodcarving craft in the village centre.
- The Staubbach Falls in the centre of Lauterbrunnen and the Trümmelbach Falls with their cascades inside the rock (according to Interlaken Tourism, accessible from early April to early November).
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: In Lauterbrunnen, Camping Jungfrau (on the valley floor, with grass pitches and views of the Staubbach Falls and the Jungfrau) and Camping Schützenbach are two classic sites, joined at the head of the valley near Stechelberg by Camping Breithorn. Electricity, sanitary facilities and waste disposal are standard; check the season and reserve early for July and August.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Bernese Oberland camping outside campsites is prohibited in many places; the municipalities decide. For Lauterbrunnen, the Beobachter cites fines of up to 200 francs. Swiss practice distinguishes between parking and camping: a single night in your vehicle in a permitted car park is sometimes tolerated, without chairs, table or awning. In the Lauterbrunnen valley, with its protected zones and heavily used car parks, there is hardly any room for this.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill up with fuel and water near Interlaken, close to the Interlaken Ost exit; petrol stations and shops are scarce in the Lauterbrunnen valley. Car parks in the village are tight, so it is better to leave motorhomes at the campsite. There is no road to Wengen or Mürren; you take the train and cable car.
2Stage 2: Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald (approx. 30 km)
- The drive
- First to Stechelberg at the head of the valley with the Schilthorn cable car, then back to Zweilütschinen and along the road up the Lütschine valley to Grindelwald. The road is decently built, but at the entrance to Grindelwald it is often taken up by buses and tour groups. About 45 minutes of pure driving time; the onward route over the Grosse Scheidegg to Meiringen is closed to private vehicles between Schwarzwaldalp and Grindelwald (postal buses and agricultural and forestry traffic excepted).
- Highlights & must-sees
- Stechelberg: valley station of the Schilthorn cable car via Gimmelwald and Mürren (Piz Gloria, views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau).
- First: take the gondola up from Grindelwald, then walk to the Bachalpsee, where the Bernese peaks are mirrored in the water.
- The Eiger North Face and the Lower Grindelwald Glacier from the footpath near Pfingstegg.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Grindelwald has several campsites on the edge of the village with views of the Eiger North Face: Camping Eigernordwand, Camping Sand, Camping Holdrio and Camping Gletscherdorf, down the valley towards the glacier. Electricity, sanitary facilities and service points are mostly available; reserve for the season.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Grindelwald does not designate any free-standing pitches, and the large car parks at the cable car are meant for day parking. Overnighting in a vehicle outside campsites is not provided for and can lead to fines; check the rules in advance with the municipality or tourist office.
- Insider tip for campers
- For getting to the Jungfraujoch railway, the Grindelwald Terminal with its multi-storey car park and gondola link is recommended; according to the Jungfrau Railways the car park is open around the clock. Ask the operator in advance about entry height, suitability for motorhomes and overnight rules, as the operator's website says nothing on this. Campsite guests often receive a guest card that brings bus and rail discounts in the valley – ask for it.
3Stage 3: Grindelwald to Kandersteg (approx. 65 km)
- The drive
- Down the valley to Interlaken and along Lake Thun via Spiez into the Kander valley, past Frutigen to Kandersteg. Mostly well-built main roads, but many village throughways and slow traffic in summer. About 1.5 hours of driving; views of the Niesen and the Blümlisalp accompany this section.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Spiez Castle above the bay on Lake Thun, with vine terraces on the south-facing slope.
- Blausee near Kandergrund: a clear mountain lake in spruce forest, with admission paid at the car park.
- Oeschinensee: take the cable car from Kandersteg, then a short walk to the lake beneath the Blümlisalp.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Camping Rendez-vous in Kandersteg, in Kandersteg, with electricity and sanitary facilities. As a motorhome-pitch alternative, the OSM database lists the Stellplatz Lämmlis; we could not confirm its facilities, status or opening times, so check in advance.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Kandersteg lies in a strictly protected valley landscape, and to our knowledge camping outside the sites is not provided for; the municipality decides. The car parks at the cable cars are meant for day visitors; anyone staying overnight risks fines. In Spiez and Thun there are a few motorhome pitches by the lake – check their current status in Campercontact or park4night beforehand.
- Insider tip for campers
- Before the car shuttle, drive to Kandersteg and buy provisions there – in Valais, beyond the tunnel, the choice is not wide again until the Rhône valley. The Stellplatz Gwatt on Lake Thun and the TCS sites by the lake are suitable as a waste and water stop.
4Stage 4: Kandersteg to Leukerbad (with the Lötschberg car shuttle) (approx. 55 km)
- The drive
- In Kandersteg, drive onto the BLS car-shuttle ramp for about 15 minutes by train through the Lötschberg tunnel to Goppenstein. Then follow the valley road down to Gampel, through the Rhône valley to Leuk and up to Leukerbad (about 1,400 m; a good, winding approach with tunnels). Total travel time including the shuttle is about 1.5 hours.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Lötschberg car shuttle: vehicles drive onto the train and passengers stay in the vehicle; the Kandersteg–Goppenstein shuttle generally runs all year.
- Leukerbad: thermal baths and the Gemmi cable car up to the Gemmi Pass, with views of the Valais 4,000-metre peaks.
- Gemmi Pass trail: a historic hiking route from the pass to Kandersteg via the Daubensee and Sunnbüel.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Camping Sportarena Leukerbad on the edge of the village, with sanitary facilities, electricity and access to the baths and cable cars; further sites in the Rhône valley near Leuk, such as Camping Bella-Tola in Susten and Camping Gemmi in Agarn (check opening times in advance).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Valais the municipalities regulate camping outside campsites; in many places it is prohibited. In Leukerbad the car parks at the cable cars are meant for parking, and you should check with the municipality in advance about overnighting in a vehicle.
- Insider tip for campers
- BLS car shuttle Kandersteg–Goppenstein: no reservations; the ticket is not valid for a particular train and is bought at the staffed loading stations (according to BLS, currently not online). Motorhomes up to 5 t travel on the normal trains, with a maximum width of 2.5 m including mirrors; the permitted height depends on the width (BLS table, include roof loads). Motorhomes over 5 t and up to 12 m in length travel only on the large-capacity trains, roughly hourly. According to BLS the price is currently 28 francs (Mon–Thu) or 31 francs (Fri–Sun and public holidays) per car or motorhome, and 25 francs for a trailer; check the fares on bls.ch before travelling. On gas systems, read the BLS loading instructions beforehand; we could not confirm any requirement.
5Stage 5: Leukerbad to Fiesch (Aletsch Arena) (approx. 70 km)
- The drive
- Back to Leuk and along the cantonal road through the Rhône valley via Visp and Brig, then up the Goms to Fiesch. A wide, well-built valley road with roundabouts and village throughways, growing gradually quieter in the Goms. A good 1.5 hours of driving; the climb to Fiesch is moderate.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Fiesch: gondola to the Fiescheralp and on to the Eggishorn, the viewpoint above the Aletsch Glacier.
- Aletsch Glacier and Aletsch Forest: a trail from Riederalp through ancient stone pines with a view of the ice.
- Stockalper Palace in Brig, the largest private palace in Switzerland, on the way to the Goms.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Camping Eggishorn in Fiesch lies at the foot of the gondola, with electricity and sanitary facilities. Alternatives in the valley are Camping Tunetsch near Mörel according to OSM data (check opening times and status in advance) and Camping Brigerbad by the thermal baths.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Aletsch area camping is protected: the Jungfrau-Aletsch area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and camping and bivouacking there are possible only to a limited extent; clarify the rules of the area and the municipalities on site. The car parks at the cable cars are meant for day parking; overnighting in a vehicle is not provided for.
- Insider tip for campers
- No cars run on the Riederalp and the Bettmeralp; if you would rather plan the Riederalp–Aletsch Forest walk, start in Mörel with the cable car to the Riederalp. Brig is a convenient place to fill up and shop before the Goms.
6Stage 6: Fiesch to Täsch (Matterhorn Terminal) (approx. 70 km)
- The drive
- Back through the Goms to Brig, via Visp into the Mattertal and along the valley road through Stalden and Randa to Täsch, at the end of the public road. As far as Randa it is partly narrow, with galleries and tunnels; between Visp and Täsch expect rockfall and avalanche protection structures and occasional closures after storms. About 1.5 hours of driving.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Zermatt: rack railway from the Täsch terminal in about 12 minutes, a car-free village centre with a view of the Matterhorn.
- Gornergrat Railway: a panoramic ride to about 3,100 m with views of Monte Rosa, the Gorner Glacier and the Matterhorn.
- Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge near Randa, one of the longest pedestrian suspension bridges in the Alps.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: In Täsch you will find Camping Alphubel and Camping Attermenzen, both with electricity and sanitary facilities and a short walk to the station. Near Randa the OSM database lists the Stellplatz Wildi (status not confirmed). According to zermatt.swiss the Matterhorn Terminal car park is open around the clock; the operator's website does not state suitability for motorhomes, height or overnighting in a vehicle, so clarify these in advance with the terminal or Zermatt Tourism.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Täsch and the Mattertal you should not assume you can camp freely outside the sites; the municipalities decide. Zermatt itself does not allow private cars; motorhomes must stay at the terminal or at a campsite.
- Insider tip for campers
- Do not drive on to Zermatt in the motorhome: from Täsch the road is closed to private vehicles. The terminal in Täsch charges a fee; check prices and access rules for motorhomes with the operator in advance. In changeable weather the access road can be closed because of rockfall – check road conditions before you travel.
7Stage 7: Täsch to Sion (approx. 75 km)
- The drive
- Down the valley to Visp and through the Rhône valley via Leuk, the Pfynwald and Sierre to Sion. Mostly cantonal road and at times the A9 motorway, flat and fast; vines stand on terraces on both sides. About 1 hour 15 minutes of driving.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Pfyn-Finges: a nature park in the dry Rhône valley with pine forest, dry grassland and rare insects.
- Valère and Tourbillon: a basilica with the oldest playable organ in the world and a castle ruin above Sion.
- Lac Souterrain near St-Léonard: Europe's largest underground lake, reached by boat.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: TCS Camping Sion and Camping Sedunum lie on the valley floor near Sion, with electricity and sanitary facilities. Near the Lac Souterrain the OSM database lists the Stellplatz Lac Souterrain; we could not confirm its facilities, status or opening times, so check in advance.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Valais the municipalities regulate camping; do not plan on free-standing, and check in advance about overnighting in car parks as well. The Pfyn-Finges nature park has protected zones, where camping and bivouacking are allowed only under the park's rules.
- Insider tip for campers
- Valais winegrowers sell directly from the farm; a short detour is worthwhile, especially in September at harvest time. In Sion you will find large supermarkets on the edge of town, while the old town has narrow lanes and hardly any room for motorhomes.
8Stage 8: Sion to Villeneuve (Lake Geneva) (approx. 90 km)
- The drive
- From Sion through the Rhône valley to Martigny, then via Saint-Maurice and Aigle to Villeneuve at the eastern end of Lake Geneva. A short detour leads past Vevey, Lavaux and Montreux. Wide roads, with slow traffic along the lakeshore. About 1.5 hours of driving; with stops, a whole day.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Cascade de Pissevache near Vernayaz: a waterfall right beside the road, with access to the Gorges du Trient.
- Chillon Castle near Veytaux: a water castle on the lakeshore, one of the most visited castles in Switzerland.
- Lavaux: UNESCO vineyard terraces between Vevey and Lausanne, with fine viewpoints along the coast road.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Camping Les Grangettes in Noville on the edge of the Rhône delta and Camping Les Horizons Bleus in Villeneuve; further west lies Camping de la Pichette near Vevey. In addition, the OSM database lists the Stellplatz Villeneuve; we could not confirm its status and facilities.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the cantons of Vaud and Valais the municipalities regulate camping outside sites; do not plan on free-standing. Lakeside car parks charge a fee in many places; check in advance with the municipality about overnighting in a vehicle.
- Insider tip for campers
- The Corniche in Lavaux is narrow and we could not confirm any limits; for large motorhomes the A9 motorway or the main road along the lake is the safe choice. Car parks at Chillon Castle are scarce, so arrive early. The Montreux promenade is best reached by train.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- Switzerland has no uniform rule: wild camping is a cantonal matter and is handled differently from one municipality to the next. The usual distinction is between parking and camping – a single night in the vehicle to restore fitness to drive is often tolerated, camping behaviour (table, chairs, awning, grill) is not.
- The Bernese Oberland and Valais contain protected areas (Jungfrau-Aletsch, Pfyn-Finges, protected zones on Lake Geneva) in which camping and bivouacking are only restricted or not possible at all. Fines depend on the canton and municipality: the Beobachter cites up to 200 francs for Lauterbrunnen and up to 2,000 francs for the city of Bern. For Valais and Vaud we could not confirm any uniform amounts.
- Campsites, municipal motorhome pitches and farm pitches offer reliable places to stay overnight. Useful sources: the TCS camping guide, Camping.ch, park4night, Campercontact and the regional motorhome pitch guides.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Service points: you will find stations on campsites and at individual motorhome pitches; many municipalities provide disposal stations at rest areas or campsites. Empty grey water and cassettes only there.
- Tap water in Switzerland is of very good quality almost everywhere; fountains are often explicitly marked as drinking water (“Trinkwasser” or “eau potable”).
- Gas: German exchange cylinders generally cannot be swapped in Switzerland. Campingaz cylinders are widespread; for other cylinders and gas tanks, bring an adapter and arrive with full cylinders. In Switzerland, gas systems must be inspected every three years (TCS).
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Vignette: the motorway vignette is compulsory on motorways and expressways for vehicles up to 3.5 t (40 francs, valid from 1 December of the previous year to 31 January of the following year, also available as an e-vignette linked to the number plate). Trailers need their own vignette. Vehicles over 3.5 t pay the heavy vehicle charge (LSVA/PSVA) instead of the vignette; check the terms in advance with customs (BAZG). Without a vignette you face a 200-franc fine plus the cost of buying one.
- Dimensions (TCS): trailers max. 4.00 m high, 2.55 m wide and 12 m long, combination max. 18.75 m. For the motorhome itself, TCS gives no height; 4.00 m is usual. Additional weight and length restrictions apply on individual mountain roads.
- Speed limits (TCS): motorhome up to 3.5 t motorway 120, expressway 100, outside built-up areas 80, in built-up areas 50 km/h; over 3.5 t motorway 100. Cars and motorhomes up to 3.5 t with a trailer have also been allowed to drive 100 on motorways and expressways since 2021 if the trailer is approved for it (vehicle registration document), otherwise 80. Dipped headlights or daytime running lights, including in daytime.
- Winter: winter tyres are not required by law but can lead to shared liability in wintry conditions; snow chains are compulsory where signposted. Snow can fall early in autumn on the passes.
- Alcohol limit 0.5 per mille (0.1 for new drivers); mobile phones at the wheel only with a hands-free system. There are no low-emission zones as in Germany. A warning panel is not required in Switzerland for rear carriers (overhang up to 20 cm per side, maximum width 2 m); other rules apply in neighbouring countries. Dogs need a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Warm layers, a hat and a rain jacket: at the Jungfraujoch and the Gornergrat temperatures hover around freezing even in summer.
- A gas adapter and full cylinders: German exchange cylinders are not swapped in Switzerland.
- Walking poles and a head torch for long day hikes, in case the last train is tight.
- Hiking boots with good tread for glacier-edge trails and the Gemmi Pass: the paths cross scree, steps and rock ledges.
- Printed campsite reservations for high season (Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Täsch), as pitches book up quickly in July and August.
- Buy the e-vignette online in advance (linked to the number plate); check the plate number carefully.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
