The Grimsel and Susten are two high passes in central Switzerland that open only in summer, both starting from Innertkirchen near Meiringen in the Bernese Oberland. The Grimsel climbs past reservoirs to the Valais, the Susten past a glacier to the canton of Uri, and with the Furka they form one of the classic scenic loops in the Alps. From Geneva the loop is a full-day excursion, and AirportsTransfers.ch offers chauffeur-by-the-hour services for exactly this kind of trip.
- Grimsel: Innertkirchen – Guttannen – Grimsel Hospiz – summit – Gletsch (Valais)
- Susten: Innertkirchen – Gadmen – Steingletscher – summit – Wassen (Uri)
- Season: summer and early autumn only; closed in winter
- Classic loop: Grimsel, Furka and Susten via Andermatt
- Best for: scenic day trips and unhurried journeys between regions
Starting from the Haslital
Both passes begin in the Haslital, the upper Aare valley above Meiringen. Meiringen is reached from Interlaken along Lake Brienz, or from Lucerne over the Brünig. At Innertkirchen the road divides: right for the Susten, straight on for the Grimsel. Because they share a starting point, it is easy to drive one in each direction and return to the Bernese Oberland the same day.
The Aareschlucht, a narrow limestone gorge between Meiringen and Innertkirchen, is a short stop worth considering before or after the drive.
The Grimsel: granite and reservoirs
The Grimsel road climbs through Guttannen into an increasingly bare landscape of polished granite slabs, shaped by the glaciers that once filled the valley. Hydroelectric development defines the upper section: the Räterichsboden reservoir appears first, then the larger Grimselsee, held back by dams with the old hospice building standing on a rocky knoll between them. The water is often a striking milky turquoise from glacial silt.
At the summit, the small Totensee lies beside the road, and the view opens towards the Valais and the Furka. The descent to Gletsch on the far side is a well-known sequence of hairpins, with the Rhône valley stretching away to the south-west. The Grimsel is the high road linking the Bernese Oberland directly with the upper Valais, so in summer it is also a practical route, not only a scenic one.
The Susten: a glacier beside the road
The Susten feels quite different. Its road was built in the mid-twentieth century and has generous curves, tunnels and stone walls, more like an engineered parkway than an old mule track. From Gadmen it rises through forest to Steingletscher, where the Stein glacier and its lake sit just below the road. This is one of the easiest places in Switzerland to see a glacier from a car park.
A short tunnel at the summit leads to the eastern side, where the road descends through the Meiental to Wassen in the Reuss valley, on the Gotthard axis. From there the motorway leads north to Lucerne or south to Andermatt and Ticino.
The three-pass loop via the Furka
The classic way to see both passes is the loop from Innertkirchen: over the Grimsel to Gletsch, up the Furka to Realp, down to Andermatt, and back over the Susten from Wassen. It is a long day with three high summits, many hairpins and frequent photo stops. Driven by a chauffeur, passengers can concentrate on the views of the Rhône Glacier, the Grimsel reservoirs and the Stein glacier rather than on the road.
For travellers based in Geneva, Lausanne or Montreux, the loop can also be joined from the Valais side via Brig and the Goms, entering at Gletsch. In practice a hired car with chauffeur for the day suits groups who want flexibility over where to stop.
Seasons and conditions
Both passes close for the winter and reopen in late spring or early summer once snow and avalanche debris have been cleared; the exact timing depends on the snowpack each year. Even in July and August the weather at the summits can turn cold and wet, and fog may sit on the Grimsel when the valleys are sunny. Weekends bring motorcyclists and cyclists, so mid-week departures are calmer.
Before setting off, chauffeurs check the official pass status and adapt the route if one of the roads is temporarily closed.
Organising the drive with AirportsTransfers.ch
A pass day works well as a chauffeur-by-the-hour booking, with a minimum of two hours and the vehicle at your disposal for the whole route. The price is fixed and displayed before you pay online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. If you are arriving by air, the chauffeur meets you at Geneva Airport with a name sign, tracks your flight and waits if it is late. Child seats are available on request; bicycles, skis or large luggage should be declared when booking so the right vehicle, such as a Mercedes V-Class, is assigned. To plan a route, call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77.
