Travelling to Switzerland – Part 1

Trip planning

We are easy travellers, so planning the trip was not difficult. We borrowed a van, took all the necessary camping equipment and bought most of the food already in Slovenia. As the organiser of the trip, I made a tentative plan and the journey began. Our aim on the trip was to make swimming possible every day, as this is fun for the children. Swimming was indeed possible every day, but sometimes the water temperatures were extremely low, but the children proved that this was no obstacle for them. On the trip itself, there were some deviations from the plan, but we adapted as we went along and carried out the trip in such a way that we were all satisfied with it. As we are all nature lovers, hikers and cave enthusiasts, most of the trip was in the countryside. Of course, we also visited a few towns and villages, but the focus was more on the natural beauty. We had almost no previous reservations, although we could use that in some campsites. Our travel time was at the end of June, which was not yet the peak tourist season and made it easier to travel without prior bookings.

Tyrol

Tyrol is certainly considered the most beautiful part of Austria, at least in terms of natural beauty. The mountainous landscape with beautiful secluded farms and indescribably beautiful views is undoubtedly worth any visit. Our journey through Tyrol was through the hills, into a part of the landscape of the renowned Bergdoktor, past Innsbruck, and into the wonderful world of Swarovski.

Tyrol is known around the world mainly for hiking, mountain climbing, mountain biking and winter sports. The Austrians are very good at enhancing the natural environment with additional tourist and catering facilities. In many places, prices are very high, but you can still travel around Tyrol in a fairly affordable way. Sleeping in camps, and especially if you do your own cooking, can make such trips even more fun, and certainly quite affordable. We especially like to remember our breakfasts and late lunches or dinners that we prepared ourselves at the tents. For us and for the children, these are indescribably beautiful experiences that will certainly be more memorable than going to restaurants every day and having to sit at a table, possibly waiting a long time for a meal because of the crowds. For children, these were even such fun events that there was often an argument after a meal about who would be able to do the dishes. Tyrol is a highly developed tourist region, so there are many camps available. Advance bookings are recommended, as campsites can be quite busy during the tourist seasons.

Der Bergdoktor (The Mountain Doctor)

The TV series, which we all know very well, Der Bergdoktor, attracts visitors from all over the world. The landscape depicted in the series is not embellished in the slightest, but even more beautiful in person. This popular series was filmed in the midst of mighty mountains, gentle meadows and secluded farms. We also visited the home of the famous "mountain doctor". Of course, it is a typical wooden homestead, which was his home only in the series. They only allow access to the house on foot, as there is not enough parking space in front of the house. So you have to park in a marked car park, from where you climb up a steep road in 10 minutes to a typical Tyrolean house, the mountain doctor's house. In front of the house, there is a board with the appearance of the main actor, next to which most visitors want to be photographed. We could also see the house from the inside.

The Krimml Waterfalls

The mighty waterfalls, which are the highest in Austria and are also considered one of the five largest waterfalls in the world, are certainly also some of the most fascinating waterfalls in the highlands. They tumble over a rocky mountain range into a wooded valley. Their total height of falling water is 380 metres. There is a pleasant hiking trail along the waterfalls, which allows you to get so close to the falls that you can even get completely soaked. There are several viewpoints offering truly spectacular views of the waterfalls. It takes at least an hour and a half of moderate walking to reach the highest part of the falls. Along the way, you will also reach a cosy mountain hut with a wide range of food and drinks. If you are at the waterfalls at the right time and in sunny weather, with a bit of luck you can witness beautiful rainbows that really brighten up the view of the mighty waterfalls.

A large car park is arranged under the foot of the waterfalls and has a parking fee, of course. Walk the first few metres along the pavement by the road, then arrive at the wooden house, where you buy tickets and continue along the marked trail. The path is wide, but in some areas it is quite steep. It is only suitable for strollers in the lower part, where you can also see the waterfalls. Only the bravest and strongest went a little higher with baby strollers. When you buy tickets to get in, you also get a map to help you navigate your way to the top. We decided to explore every marked lookout point, and we have to confirm that it was well worth it. From each viewpoint, there is a different view of the mighty waterfalls. The return to the valley is along the same route.

The magical world of crystals

The Swarovski Kristallwelten Museum is located in the heart of beautiful Tyrol. Inside, it hides works of art by various masters that take visitors into the world of magic and sound. In front of the entrance to the museum stands a green giant, a 17-metre-tall statue that has become the museum's trademark. The sculpture connects water with greenery, inviting visitors into a magical world of crystals. The artist who designed the statue also designed the story behind it. A testament to the giant's journey around the world to explore all the wonders and art on our planet. After travelling the world, he returned to the heart of Tyrol and settled there, where he guards the treasures of the museum. Over time, the museum has housed a wide variety of works by artists from around the world. The museum is fun for both adults and children. The latter is especially well taken care of in the game tower, which is a delight even to adults. The play tower offers four floors of fun for children and others alike. Even if at first we did not even think about adults playing, we changed our minds as soon as we entered the play tower. For all the visitors, even more fun awaits in the labyrinth and outdoor playgrounds.

Throughout the tour of the museum, you will experience an incredible variety of wonders created from crystals. Everywhere we looked, there was something shiny. The acoustic crystal room is a lot of fun, where we sang and confirmed the acoustics. The snow room, where temperatures are below freezing, was also a special experience. It was interesting when we entered this room on hot summer days. We were in the middle of a cold winter in the "real" snow. The museum also has a cosy restaurant with seasonal delicacies and a pastry shop. And of course, to finish off the visit, there is also a shop where you can buy all kinds of crystal products as souvenirs.

Innsbruck

Innsbruck is the capital of Tyrol and lies along the Inn. The city is surrounded by mighty mountains. Due to its pleasant location, the city is popular for visitors in all seasons. While winter sports enthusiasts go there in winter, hikers go there in summer and culture lovers go there all year round. Innsbruck's Old Town, known as Mariahilf, is like a magnet for visitors. The mighty historic buildings, museums and many cafés are a great place to visit. One of the most famous buildings has a small golden roof, which is one of Innsbruck's most distinctive features. It is a roof covered with 2,657 gilded copper bricks, made for Emperor Maximilian I so that he could watch and enjoy the events taking place in the square in front of him from the balcony under the roof.

Travelling through Tyrol was a wonderful experience and made us realise that we must return to see the many other wonders the region has to offer. In particular, it would be interesting to hike the mighty mountains, where there are an endless number of hiking trails.

The next part of the trip was to Liechtenstein, the sixth-smallest country in the world, then to the eastern part of Switzerland to Lake Constance, where we also reached Germany, and then back to Switzerland, where the main part of the trip has only just begun.