Organizing a mountain holiday with children can become a logistical nightmare: traffic, impossible parking lots, children who are bored during hours of car. But there is an alternative that transforms the journey itself in part of the holiday: the Green train of the Alps that connects Domodossola to the Swiss Lauchernalp.
The journey: simple how to get on a train
Departure: Domodossola (easily accessible by car or train)
Frequency: every 2 hours
Destination: Laucchernaalp (2000m altitude)
Total duration: About 3 hours of panoramic travel
The system is designed to eliminate any stress: from the train you move on to a coordinated bus to Willer, then the cable car leads directly to the panoramic terrace of the Laucchernaalp. A single ticket, perfectly synchronized vehicles, zero tailing tails.
How much it really costs
SPECIAL BLS Trenino Trenino Green Trenino LaucchernaLP – 2 days: 54CHF (58 €) Where you buy: Online on www.bls.ch/it What includes: train + bus + cable car for 2 days
Considering that a full of petrol to reach Switzerland costs about 80 € (from Milan), more tolls and parking lots, the train is more convenient. And the children have fun crying by car.
What to do once arrived: activities for all ages
If you have small children (3-8 years)the AlperLebnisweg adventure path is perfect for them. It is a 2-3 hours route dotted with fourteen interactive stations where children can milk a wooden cow, toasize the lawn with traditional tools and recognize alpine plants. It is not a simple walk, but a real outdoor laboratory where they learn playing. Children remain involved from start to finish, and for once you don’t have to hear you say “when we arrive?”.
For families with older children (6-12 years)Loichi Kugelweg represents the ideal experience. This five kilometer thematic path from Laucchernaalp through the Bosco Baanwald to Wiler hides ten slopes for wooden marbles made by local craftsmen. The marbles cost 5chf each and buy on site, but they become much more than a game: they are a souvenir that works and a way to combine trekking and fun. The route requires half a day and is perfect for that age group that starts to want to do “big things” but still needs playful elements.
The sportiest parents They can try their hand at the Rundwanderung LötschenPasshütte, a circular excursion of twelve kilometers that leads to the LötschenPass refuge at 2,690 meters above sea level. It is an experience for when children are with grandparents or for families with children already trained. The difficulty is medium, but the satisfaction of reaching that share and enjoying the panorama repays every step of the climb.
Practical information to organize yourself
The best time to visit the Lauchernalp goes from May to October, but it is always advisable to check the openings on www.loetschental.ch/en before leaving. The weather in the mountains changes quickly, so always check the predictions of the day. For clothing, bring trekking shoes, a windbreaker and sun cream: at 2000 meters the sun burns much more than in the plains. For lunch you have several options between shelters and restaurants on the Lauchernalp, or you can organize a picnic.
As for the accommodation, the Lötschen valley offers traditional chalets for those who want an authentic experience, cheap and atmospheric shelters, or more comfortable Wiler hotels for families with young children who need more services.
Why choose the train instead of the car
The main difference lies in safety and comfort: no mountain curves with children who could suffer the car sickness, and parents can finally enjoy the landscape instead of concentrating on the road. From an environmental point of view, a train that transports 200 people has an infinitely lesser impact of 200 cars that travel the same road. But above all, the journey becomes part of the holiday instead of being a necessary evil to bear to reach the destination.
Tips tested on the field
Book the ticket online to avoid surprises, especially on summer weekends when the question is high. Starting early in the morning: children are more collaborative and you will have more time to enjoy the day. Prepare a light backpack with water, snacks and some travel game for the train. Make sure you have comfortable shoes because you will walk a lot, even just to explore the area. And keep a certain flexibility: if it should rain, you can always fall back on the Wiler Blue Room Experience, an interactive museum dedicated to the local carnival involving children with multisensory installations.
The verdict
The green train of the Alps is not only a means of transport but an intelligent solution for families who want to live the mountain without the anxiety of the organization. The children have fun, the parents relax, the environment thanks.
For € 58 for two days of full access, it costs less than a full of petrol and offers an experience that children will remember much more than one afternoon spent by car complaining.
