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Across the Berner Oberland 2008

Inn-to-Inn

The Trip

This 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.

The small Swiss villages of Lenk, Adelboden, Kandersteg, Griesalp, Murren, and Wengen will become our destinations and the mountains Wildhorn, Wildstrubel, Blumlisalp, Doldenhorn, Wetterhorn, Eiger, Jungfrau, Monch and Schilthorn will become part of our vocabulary. In exchange for your efforts, the mountains will share their power and simplicity, their wildflowers, their breathtaking views and the satisfaction of arriving on foot.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Individual transfer to our hotel in Gstaad. Welcome dinner and orientation.

Day 2: A short group transfer to the village Lauenen (4,100') just up the valley from Gstaad, will bring us to the starting point of our hike. Here we begin our hike up to Triuttlisberg Pass. From here we will continue to climb until just below the Stubleni. Following a rocky ridge through an area of mini-craters, we then descend to Lenk via the cable car.

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

Day 4: As we hike east of Adelboden the landscape takes on a different character as the mountains become steeper, more rugged, and more glaciated. From Adelboden we transfer to Bunderalp. The trail continues up the valley, passing through a beautiful boulder pasture and then climbing steeply to reach to the Bunderschride. Descending we have 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: We 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 our packs at the hotel, we will 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 and offered only if the weather is good.

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 our first spectacular view of the Jungfrau. Our 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: Our 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. From Lauterbrunnen another hour and a half climb will bring us to the resort town of Wengen.

Day 9: We are now in the heart of the Berner Oberland and our route converges with the tourists that come to view the famous trio of peaks, the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, which dominate the landscape. Our 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:

All accommodations, all buffet breakfasts, all dinners, the cost of one baggage transfer from the start of the hike to Wengen, group transfers on ski lifts, buses and trains as described in the itinerary, guides, great hiking and memories.

Not Included:

Air fare, lunches, individual transfers, optional excursions, unexpected or unscheduled transfers, additional luggage transfer costs, items not on set dinner menu, beverages, insurance, tips to leaders/guides, items of personal nature.

Luggage:

This hike is not van 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 or belonging you may have will meet you at your last nights' accommodations.

Accommodations:

Three and four-star family run hotels are very comfortable, accommodating and reflect the local character. The rooms are double occupancy with private baths. One night mountain lodge with shared facilities. Breakfasts buffets 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.

Meeting point:

At the hotel on day 1.

Ending point:

At the hotel in Wengen the last morning.

For a more detailed itinerary or to register please call.