From Mountain Peaks to Local Life: Our Swiss Adventure in Muri

A hike worth remembering

"I don't know if I can do this," Suneela whispered, gripping her Insta360 camera like a walking stick at 6,000 feet on Klingenstock, a mountain near Stoos village in Switzerland.

We stood at the edge of a narrow ridge with steep mountain slopes dropping away on either side. The path ahead was breathtaking, terrifying, and absolutely irresistible.

"Let's just walk for a bit and see," I said. "If it gets too much, we can always turn back."

The Stoos ridge hike was unlike anything we'd ever experienced. We were literally walking on a narrow ridge with dramatic slopes on both sides. The path was well maintained but required steady footing and a strong stomach for heights. As we walked, we witnessed panoramic views of valleys on one side and pristine turquoise lakes on the other. The landscape stretched endlessly with green mountains, crystal clear lakes, and vast blue sky. It was like walking through a postcard.

Our biggest challenge was to convince our mind to go on. And after a point, we just had to keep moving forward.
For three hours, we navigated the ridge, climbing up and down through several steep sections. Suneela used her Insta360 as both a camera and walking stick, capturing a few moments while maintaining her balance on the narrow path. Her longest hike to date, and it really turned out to be one of our best experiences.

Our stay in a Swiss town

After conquering the Stoos ridge, we decided to stay longer in Switzerland and immerse ourselves in local life. What people don't understand is that the longer you stay, the cheaper the daily cost becomes, often half the price of staying in main cities.

We chose a homestay near Muri, a less-known village near Zurich. We met Yvonee, our host who graciously picked us up from the station. She's in her early 70s and has lived in Switzerland all her life. She showed us to our homestay and we were surprised to see the fridge well-stocked with chocolates, oats, milk and eggs, enough for some light cooking. We also had access to a nicely maintained garden outside our homestay. Even though Muri was a little remote, it was still very well connected by public transport.

We had a lovely time at our homestay. As you might know, we love to travel for longer periods, which means we have our off days. On one of our off days, Yvonee asked if we wanted to join her for swimming in the lake. We were quite excited and immediately said yes. She took us to a lake near a vineyard and showed us a spot where only the locals swam. Yvonee also showed us shallow places to swim to ensure we were comfortable. She mentioned that she has an Indian daughter-in-law and understands our culture a little. Later, we had discussions about her experience visiting Mumbai and how she felt anxious with the crowds.

The town of Muri was quite pleasant with very little activity, peaceful and calm. It could definitely be considered a retirees' town. In general, other than the cities, people from Switzerland don't socialize much with new people and only spend most of their time with their families and kids. This way, this country sounded a little more reserved than the cities.

Supermarkets close early across Switzerland and are also closed on weekends. As we were staying at Muri, we had to stock up on our groceries beforehand and plan our meals accordingly. Food in Switzerland is expensive, and locals themselves don't go to restaurants unless for special occasions.

Europe’s most powerful waterfalls

During our stay in Muri, we also explored one of Switzerland's most spectacular natural wonders, Rhine falls. We took a train to reach the Rhine Falls station, then walked across a castle near the falls to find a ledge where we could feel the force of the water without getting wet. The force of the water was incredible. We could feel the thunderous roar and the mist on our skin. Another thrilling experience was standing on the platform on the island in the middle of Rhine Falls, surrounded by the cascading water. Rhine Falls is in the same league as Niagara Falls in the USA. It's a must-do activity if you're staying near the Zurich area.

Reflections

Our time in Muri taught us that Switzerland's true beauty lies not just in its landscapes, but in the quiet moments of connection with locals and the personal challenges we overcome. From the adrenaline rush of the Stoos ridge to the warm hospitality of Yvonee, we discovered that the best travel experiences come from stepping outside our comfort zones.

Have you been to Switzerland? What was your favourite experience? Let us know in the reply and we'll showcase the best ones in our next post!

In Case You Missed It

• Breath taking views from the ridge hike [Link to Instagram post]

• Swiss Unique experiences [Link to Instagram Post]

• Want to learn about the train network in Switzerland? [Link to Instagram Post]