Each summer the Swiss Alpine town of Gstaad is the setting for the Menuhin Festival, the inspirational legacy of one of the world’s greatest violinists, Yehudi Menuhin. The Festival, which has long been synonymous with musical excellence, is mostly held in the beautiful frescoed churches of the Saanenland region of the Swiss Bernese Oberland – during our week-long visit we attend 4 Festival concerts.
Based in an exceptional 5-star hotel in the south-facing village of Schonried, overlooking Gstaad, we enjoy gentle morning walks in the high pastures, accessed by using the excellent gondelbahns, chairlifts and the local mountain railway. In fine weather, the views are truly superb with a panorama of much of the Alps.
In the afternoons, there is time to relax on the terrace, swim in one of the 2 heated pools or shop in the world class boutiques of Gstaad. Before a concert performance, we have an early dinner then a short vehicle transfer to the concert venue, returning to the hotel for cheese and dessert. There are some delicious Swiss wines to try, such as light, flowery Fendant made with the Chasselas grape or Oeil de Perdrix AOC, a Pinot noir.
HIGHLIGHTS of our Gstaad Menuhin Festival and walking tour include:
We meet at Geneva airport and board the train in the airport for Montreux on the lake. We change onto the charming mountain railway that chugs up through a spectacular Alpine landscape to the village of Schonried – definitely the way to arrive! After settling into our 5-star hotel, noted for its Alpine chic and impeccable service, there is time for a swim or a stroll. Dinner is served in the pretty restaurant with a large open-air terrace - perhaps we shall try the sought-after fish Omble Chevalier, a delicate lake Char.
We walk from our hotel and take a chairlift to 1770 m. There are interesting Alpine plants and flowers and we contour around the Hornfluh mountain and onto a flat track with sweeping views (2 hrs). We have a light lunch on a terrace overlooking high snow-capped mountains and glaciers, followed by an optional 1.5 hr walk back down to our hotel.
A gondelbahn whisks us up the Rellerli mountain (1833 m) from where we take easy paths with astonishing views over to the Quille du Diable and les Diablerets (3209 m, 2.5 hrs). After a simple picnic, we return to swim in the delightful hotel pools, suitable for all weather use as they are heated and partly covered.
A short train ride to the Alpine village of Zweisimmen (948 m) enables us to access Rinderberg (2011 m) by gondelbahn. We gently walk to 1985 m on an easy track, traverse the meadows and return to the valley by another lift - glorious open walking with mountain vistas (2h 30). Tonight, we dine on the hotel terrace, perhaps sampling wild mushrooms and trout, followed by the spectacular cheeseboard including such cheeses as Höbelkase, Sbrinz and Appenzeller.
Weather permitting, we make an excursion by bus to the Col du Pillon and up to Glacier 3000 (2971 m) via the cable car to admire the astonishing view and walk for about 1 hr. We take a further walk from the Col du Pillon around a lake and picnic before descending by bus.
After another delicious breakfast on the sunny terrace we walk from the train station at Gstaad to the Wispile gondelbahn and ascend to the second station at 1911 m. There are truly beautiful views on each side and we walk along an easy, wide track following a rounded ridge, slowly descending through pastures and past a cheese-making farm. After a short ascent through scattered forest the views open out and gentians bloom. We picnic, then follow a landrover track that winds down to a lake at 1381 m (3.5 hrs). We return to our hotel for a delicious dessert – perhaps a raspberry and hazelnut confection and toast our memorable week together.
After a leisurely breakfast and a swim in the pool, we take the train back to Montreux and transfer to the Geneva airport rail service and our flights home.
Caveat
The performances described are (very rarely) subject to change by the organizers. Actual activities or their order may therefore vary from those described in the itinerary.
Per person sharing:
£2,858.25 until 28th October 2017
£2,935.50 until 28th January 2018
£3,012.75 until 28th April 2018
£3,090 after 28th April 2018
https://www.kudutravel.com/faq#discounts
£600 deposit per person
£680 double for single supplement or £ 0 single room supplement
Please note that the double room for single use supplement is imposed by the hotels and not by Kudu Travel. If you are willing to share but no other suitable guest books on the trip, we regret that the supplement will be payable.
All land transportation by train, gondelbahn, chairlift, hotel/festival bus and mountain railways as described
VALUE FOR MONEY - SO MUCH IS INCLUDED
On Kudu trips, you will only need money for postcards, presents to take home, the odd G & T or an irresistible ice cream. Festival and opera tickets, museum and gallery entrances, National Park fees, all meals (with a very few exceptions specified in individual itineraries), wine with lunch and dinner, access to specialist books carried by the guides, gratuities for porters and hotel and restaurant staff, boat rides, train trips, internal flights, wine tastings, 4WDs with drivers, the services of skilled local guides and trackers etc are ALL INCLUDED in the cost of your holiday.
We are confident that, like previous very satisfied guests, you will discover that our tours give you excellent value for money.
The performances described are (very rarely) subject to change by the organizers. Actual activities or their order may therefore vary from those described in the itinerary.
Visitors from the EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to Switzerland. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest Embassy of Switzerland.
At present, there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Switzerland. Residents of countries in the EU can only claim free (emergency) medical treatment in Switzerland by presenting their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You may also wish to check the advice given to travellers by the Department of Health and the FCO.
Insurance
It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. We can arrange comprehensive cover for UK residents. Follow this link for a quote for a policy available to UK residents.
If you are already insured, or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.
Size of party
This trip will run with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 14 guests.
Photos
Raphael FAUX/Gstaadphotography.com
Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus
