The Grimsel, Furka and Susten passes form a triangle of high Alpine roads in central Switzerland, and from Geneva Airport the loop is best done over two days, or as one very long summer day. You follow the Rhône valley through Valais to Gletsch, climb the passes one after another and return the same way or through the Bernese Oberland. With a chauffeur from AirportsTransfers.ch at the wheel, everyone in the car can look at the glaciers rather than the hairpins.
- Season: early summer to autumn, while the passes are open
- Ideal length: two days with a night in Andermatt or Meiringen
- The three passes: Grimsel, Furka and Susten, linked by Gletsch, Andermatt and Innertkirchen
- Approach from Geneva: motorway past Lausanne (61 km) and Montreux (91 km), then up the Rhône valley
- Suggested vehicle: sedan for two or three, Van for families and small groups
How the loop fits together
The three passes connect three valleys. The Grimsel links the upper Rhône valley in Valais with the Hasli valley in the Bernese Oberland. The Furka runs east from Gletsch to Realp and Andermatt in the canton of Uri. The Susten closes the triangle, climbing from Wassen, just below Andermatt, and dropping down to Innertkirchen, at the foot of the Grimsel. Gletsch, a tiny hamlet below the Rhône Glacier, is where the Grimsel and Furka roads meet, so it becomes the natural turning point of the trip.
From Geneva the logical approach is along Lake Geneva and up through Valais, past Sion and Brig, into the Goms valley with its dark timber villages. A practical two-day plan: on day one, climb the Grimsel from Gletsch, descend to Innertkirchen, cross the Susten and spend the night in Andermatt. On day two, take the Furka back to Gletsch and return down the Rhône valley to Geneva. Alternatively, finish via Meiringen, Brienz, Interlaken and Bern for a change of scenery on the way home.
Grimsel: granite, dams and dark lakes
The Grimsel is the most austere of the three. The upper section crosses bare, glacier-polished granite, and the summit area is dotted with lakes, including the small Totensee right at the top. On the northern side the road winds past large hydroelectric reservoirs, whose turquoise water and massive dam walls are a striking contrast to the rock. There are several places to pull in and walk a few minutes to a viewpoint, and the old hospice area on the northern slope makes a good coffee stop.
Looking south from the top of the Grimsel you see the Furka road zigzagging up the opposite slope above Gletsch, which gives a clear idea of what lies ahead. The descent towards Innertkirchen is long and steady, passing waterfalls and forested sections before the valley opens out near Guttannen.
Susten: glaciers and long, open bends
The Susten feels more generous than the Grimsel. Built as a scenic road, it has wide sweeping bends, several tunnels and a series of viewpoints over the Stein Glacier and its lake near the top on the Bernese side. The eastern descent into the Meiental valley towards Wassen is greener and quieter, with small hamlets and pastures. In good weather, this is the pass where passengers tend to ask for the most photo stops, so allow time.
Near Innertkirchen, the Aare Gorge is a short walk through a narrow limestone canyon, and nearby Meiringen is known for the Reichenbach Falls, linked to the final Sherlock Holmes story. Either makes a pleasant break before or after the climb.
Furka: the Rhône Glacier and a famous film road
The Furka is the highest of the three and probably the best known. On the Valais side, just below the summit, a viewpoint looks over the Rhône Glacier, the source of the river that later flows through Lake Geneva and past the airport you started from. Its retreat over recent decades is visible to the naked eye, which makes the stop thought-provoking as well as scenic. The western ramps of the road appeared in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, and fans still stop at the bends to recognise the scenes.
On the eastern side, the road descends to Realp and Andermatt, a village at a crossroads of Alpine routes, close to the Schöllenen gorge and the Devil's Bridge. In summer, a heritage steam railway runs on the old mountain line over the Furka, and some travellers combine a short ride with the drive.
Season, timing and comfort on the passes
All three passes close in winter, and opening dates depend on snowfall each year, so the loop is a summer and early autumn project. Always check road status a few days ahead; your chauffeur will do the same. Weather at the top can change quickly, and temperatures are much cooler than in Geneva, so bring a warm layer even in July.
- Expect motorcyclists, cyclists and yellow postbuses on the narrower sections, especially at weekends.
- Passengers prone to motion sickness should sit in front or by a window and take breaks at the summits.
- A single-day loop is feasible but long; two days leaves time for walks and lunch at altitude.
- Overnight options exist in Andermatt, Meiringen, Brienz and the Goms villages.
Booking your chauffeured pass loop
The simplest arrangement is to book a chauffeur by the hour (minimum two hours) for each day, or a one-way transfer to your overnight stop with a return the next day. AirportsTransfers.ch, based in Geneva and available 24/7, shows a fixed price per vehicle before you pay, and you can settle online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. If you are starting straight from a flight, your driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign and follows your flight, waiting if it lands late. Child seats are available on request, and bulky items such as bikes or skis should be mentioned when booking. For a tailored two-day plan, call or message +41 78 346 56 77.
