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Across the Berner Oberland: self-guided 2008

Self-Guided Inn-to-Inn

The Trip

Our self-guided itineraries, ranging in length from 5 to 10 or more days, are based on our guided hike or our 10 day Berner Oberland route, though we are happy to customize your trip to suit your time frame and abilities. The self-guided option offers the seasoned hiker and confident traveler flexibility, independence, and opportunity to experience their surroundings more closely.

Hiking in the Berner Oberland region is a very popular and with good reason: the hiking is excellent and staying in the villages along the way a wonderful way to explore these mountains on foot and travel in a way that is simple and traditional.

The Berner Oberland is Switzerland the way you've always imagined it, glacier carved valleys, breathtaking peaks cloaked in shawls of massive ice and snow, wood chalets adorned with flowers, lush green meadows ringing with the chime of cow bells.

Beginning in Gstaad and ending at the foot of the Eiger, Monch, and Jung Frau, this trek across the Berner Oberland will not disappoint anyone who has dreamed of hiking through the Alps. The richness of the rural mountain landscapes captured in the breadth of this 10-day route conspires to create the quintessential Swiss alpine experience.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Individual transfer to hotel in Gstaad.

Day 2: Begin the hike up to Triuttlisberg Pass. From here continue to climb until just below the Stubleni. Following a rocky ridge through an area of mini-craters, descend to Lenk via the cable car.

Day 3: Leaving the village of Lenk begin the climb to the pass at Hahnenmoos. Descend along the crest of Sillere, before dropping down into the town of Adelboden.

Day 4: As you hike east of Adelboden the landscape takes on a different character as the mountains become steeper, more rugged, and more glaciated. The trail continues up the valley, passing through a beautiful boulder pasture and then climbing steeply to reach to the Bunderschride. Descending there are wonderful views down to the Kander valley and across to the mountain lake of Osechinensee and towering peaks of the Blumlisalps.

Day 5: Rest day in Kandersteg. This is an opportunity to rest sore hiking muscles or explore a little of Switzerland beyond Kandersteg.

Day 6: Begin the day with a spectacular mountain bus transfer to the isolated hamlet of Griesalp. The bus passes through idyllic Swiss villages and then begins its climbing; switchbacking through forests and between waterfalls until it reaches Griesalp perched high on an alpine plateau. Leaving your pack at the hotel, hike up to Bundalp for lunch at mountain hut.

Optional: For those wanting a more challenging hike, it is possible to reach Griesalp via the high pass of Hohturli. This option is a strenuous plus hike.

Day 7: The route from Griesalp up to Sefinenfurke is another demanding mountain hike, but well worth the effort. Leaving the pastoral landscape behind, our route climbs across barren glacial cirques before ascending steeply to the pass, Sefinenfurke (8,620'), which reveals the first spectacular view of the Jungfrau. The descent from the pass to Murren is long and pleasant, dropping quickly at first and traversing through broad open grasslands with imposing views of the Monch, Jungfrau, and Eiger.

Day 8: The hike from Murren to Wengen is comparatively easy and so allows for a more leisurely day. The descent from Murren into Lauterbrunnen is pleasant, passing through the village of Gimmelwald, and concluding with a valley walk beneath sheer rock faces etched with magnificent waterfalls.

Day 9: Now in the heart of the Berner Oberland, the route converges with the tourists that come to view the famous trio of peaks, the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, which dominate the landscape. The destination today is the Kleine Scheidegg. From the Kleine Scheidegg there are options for afternoon excursions, including continuing down to the well-known village Grindelwald or up to the famous Jungfraujoch.

Day 10: Depart Wengen.

Additional Information:

Included:

2 hours of general consulting regarding hiking dates and abilities, travel information on getting to Gstaad and from Wengen, travel suggestions, the area and route, hiking maps covering the route, detailed trail notes, which include additional information covering various aspects of your trip (i.e. lunches, laundry, water, alternate transportation, etc.). 2nd Class Swiss Card, which covers portions of trains, lift and bus transfers. We make and prepay all overnight accommodations, which include all breakfasts and all dinners. All hotels with private baths except one night.

Not included:

air fare, lunches, travel to and from Switzerland, transfer of luggage, transfers or excursions on trains, lifts, buses, taxis, extra charges due to changes in itinerary, items not on set dinner menu, beverages except what is served at breakfast, insurance, items of personal nature.

Luggage:

This hike is not luggage supported. You will need to carry a small to moderate sized pack with only the clothing and accessories you will need for the duration of hike. (See our sample packing list.) With advances in synthetic clothing and other travel gear, it's possible to keep your pack weight to 20 lbs. including lunch and water. Any extra luggage can be sent to meet you about mid way through your hike in Kandersteg and then to your hotel in Wengen.

What if weather is a problem or I get delayed en route?

In the final information we offer detailed directions and instructions about what to do if you must skip a day of hiking due to bad weather or for some other reason and how to rejoin your itinerary.

Accommodations:

three-star family run hotels that are comfortable, accommodating and reflect the local character. The rooms are double occupancy with private baths. One night mountain lodge with shared facilities. Breakfasts and dinners are served at the hotels and lunches are picnic style along the trail.

Travel:

Nearest airports to starting point: Geneva. Nearest airport to the ending point: Zurich.

How to register for a self-guided trip:

Call or email us to discuss location, dates and level of difficulty. We can modify the above itinerary to meet your time frame and abilities. Once we agree on an itinerary and the dates we require a $375 deposit per person. Please see the information on how to book your self-guided trip.

For a more detailed itinerary, to discuss dates or to register, please call.