Across the Berner Oberland: Self-Guided Hike
Hiking Trip Details
- Location: Berner Oberland, Switzerland
- Length: 5 to 10 days, this is very flexible
- Grade: Strenuous and strenuous plus
- Accommodations: 3 and 4 star hotels, one night mountain lodge
- Group size: 5 – 12
- Dates: Mid June – mid September
- Land Cost (US$): From $2,195 for 10 days; land cost will vary depend on final itinerary
Hiking Trip Summary
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 Lauenen, just up the valley from 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.
Itinerary
Day 1: Individual transfer to your hotel in Lauenen, Switzerland.
Day 2: From the hotel in Lauenen you begin your hike up to Triuttlisberg Pass. From here the route continues climbing until just below the Stubleni. Following a rocky ridge through an area of mini-craters, you then descend to Lenk via the cable car.
Day 3: Leaving the village of Lenk, the day begins with a climb through wooded hillsides that open onto high mountain pastures on the way to Hahnenmoos pass. Hiking along the crest of Sillere on a clear day, you may get your first glimpse of the distant Jungfrau as you make your way 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. From Adelboden, you 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, you 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: Today begins with a spectacular mountain bus transfer to the isolated hamlet of Griesalp. The bus passes through idyllic Swiss villages and then begins climbing; switch-backing through forests and between waterfalls until it reaches Griesalp perched on a high alpine plateau. Leaving your packs at the hotel, you can hike up to Bundalp for lunch at a classic mountain hut.
- For those who want a more challenging hike and the weather is good, 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, your route climbs across barren glacial cirques before ascending steeply to the pass, Sefinenfurke (8,620′), which reveals our 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. Your day ends in the pleasant car-free village of Murren resting dramatically on the western rim of the Lauterbrunnen valley.
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. From Lauterbrunnen another hour and a half climb will bring you to the resort town of Wengen, also car-free.
Day 9: You are now in the heart of the Berner Oberland and your route converges with that of other tourists that come to view the famous trio of peaks, the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. As you climb to the Kleine Scheidegg through picturesque forests and alpine meadows, these amazing peaks and glaciers feel a breath away. 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. Please allow for travel time when making plans.
- Our self-guided itineraries can range in length from 5 to 10 or more days and are based on our guided itinerary of our 10 day Berner Oberland route. We are happy to customize your trip to suit your time frame, interests and abilities.
Additional Information
Included
Two hours of general consulting regarding hiking dates and abilities, travel information to Lauenen 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. We make and prepay all overnight accommodations, which include all breakfasts and all dinners. All hotels with private baths except one night.
- The Swiss Card allows for one round trip on the Swiss Rail System: an “inbound trip” from a Swiss Airport or the Swiss border to a location in Switzerland. The Swiss Card also includes an “outbound trip” from Wengen or your another ending point to any destination in Switzerland, normally back to the airport or nearby city. It also allows for up to 50% reduction on most cable cars and other lifts within Switzerland. Once validated it is good for 30 days.
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 typically 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 or belonging you may have will meet you at your last nights’ accommodations.
It is possible to transfer luggage between most villages on this route using the Swiss Rail service. Please contact us for more information on how this work.
Accommodations and Facilities
We use three and four star family run hotels that are comfortable, accommodating and reflect the local character. The rooms are double occupancy with private baths. One night is spent in a mountain lodge with shared facilities.
Breakfasts buffets and dinners are served at the hotels and lunches are picnic style along the trail.
Travel
It is possible to fly into and out of either the Geneva Airport or the Zurich Airport; however, Geneva is nearest to the starting point of this trip is the Geneva Airport and Zurich is the nearest to our ending point.
Who would like this trip?
Our Across the Berner Oberland trip offers a nice mix of moderate and strenuous hiking with some long days. This is a great route for those who enjoy full days in the mountains and comfortable evenings in classically Swiss villages.
Starting point
Our Across the Berner Oberland: Self-Guided starts in village of Lauenen. Lauenen can be reached easily by bus or taxi from town of Gstaad.
Ending Point
This itinerary generally ends in the village Wengen.
For a more detailed itinerary that includes elevation gains, loss and distance, or to register please call.
