Bernese Oberland Tour (Inn-to-inn hiking tour)
Meet: Meiringen
Depart: Gasterntal
Length: 11 days
Hike Rating: Strenuous, 5-8 hours/day, 2500'-4500' elevation gain/loss
| 2008 Departure: | Aug 11-21 |
| Tour Cost: | $3195 (double) |
| $300 (single supplement) |
This tour covers the most scenic and challenging sections of the Alpine Pass Route across the Bernese Oberland. Our tour differs from other tours of the Bernese Oberland by adding a couple of memorable detours to areas that should not be missed. The Bernese Oberland tour is a beautiful collection of supreme alpine scenery, remote inns, and quiet trails. On our hut-to-hut tours we'll move to a new location nearly every day, crossing many passes, and we'll stay in a combination of 3-star village hotels and traditional country inns. We'll have two nights without our luggage when we will need to carry a few extra things, and on other days it is transported separately, so you can hike unencumbered.
Our typical day starts with a continental buffet breakfast at our inn - delicious fresh baked bread, local cheeses, cereal, fruit, coffee and juice - which gives us the energy needed for a full day of hut-to-hut hiking.  Soon we'll be out on the trail for 6-8 hours, where often you'll get to choose between an easier or more strenuous hike for the day and we explore the Alpine Pass Route. Each morning, you'll be handed a lunch to carry, and at a mid-point along the way we'll choose a beautiful spot to stop and enjoy our picnic. We get a lot of compliments on our imaginative lunches - making them something to look forward to as well!
We should finish our hike around 4-5 pm, giving you time to wash up and relax. You'll have your own room every night, often with private bathroom. Each evening we'll enjoy dinner together at our inn. These are multi-course feasts, featuring local specialties like bratwurst, rösti, or cheese fondue, and will definitely be hearty, filling, well-earned and very delicious.
Day 1 Arrive in Switzerland, and transfer by train to Meiringen to start the Bernese Oberland tour. We'll meet there, and a short and scenic bus ride takes us up to the quiet farmhouse at Schwarzwaldalp. Waterfalls and imposing mountains watch over us in this relaxing corner of the Alps. (Schwarzwaldalp Inn)
Day 2 After a hearty breakfast, we'll hike over the Grosse Scheidegg pass and enjoy our first views of the Eiger and of the Grindelwald valley. With 10,000 vertical feet separating valley from peak, Grindelwald sits at the base of one of the most impressive vertical mountain walls in the world. Perhaps we'll detour via the postcard-perfect Bachsee lake before winding down to the glacier village of Grindelwald and our lovely 3-star hotel. (Hotel Wolter or Derby)
Day 3 Today we'll explore the Grindelwald valley and hike to the famous Kleine Scheidegg pass. The entire day is dominated by great close-up views of the Eiger North Face - perhaps the most notorious climb in the Swiss Alps. We'll descend to the quiet village Wengen for a restful night. (Hotel Bären)
Day 4 We'll enjoy spectacular views of the Jungfrau and surrounding mountains on the way down from Wengen. Our trail winds through flowery meadows and dense woods to the lush Lauterbrunnen valley floor. After a break for lunch, we'll hike to a wild and isolated corner of the Lauterbrunnen valley for a memorable night in a remote mountain inn in one of the most spectacular corners of the Bernese Oberland. (Obersteinberg Inn)
Day 5 We can take an optional morning hike to small glacial lake in the back of the valley. Afterwards, a beautiful wooded hike brings us through sleepy Gimmelwald to the car-free village of Mürren, with its unparalleled cliffside views of the surrounding mountains. Stay in a 3-star hotel. (Hotel Jungfrau)
Day 6 There are numerous dayhike possibilities around Mürren. One beautiful trail leads up to the local peak, Birg, for superb all-around views, and past a small glacial tarn. Or feel free to just unwind in one of the most scenic and relaxing villages in the Alps. (Hotel Jungfrau)
Day 7 Our trail meanders back into the deep recesses of the Sefinen valley. There we'll hike over the first of two major passes, Sefinenfurke, into the tiny hamlet of Griesalp. A moderate but long climb past Rotstock hut and over the pass, followed by a very steep descent, is rewarded by a friendly welcome at the lovely pension Waldrand. (Pension Waldrand)
Day 8 We'll need an early start for our most challenging day of the tour. Crossing our second major pass, Hohturli, we'll hike past glaciers and high mountain peaks to the jewel-like Oeschinen lake (which has to be seen to be believed!). We stay in a 3-star hotel in the quiet village of Kandersteg for the night. (Hotel Adler)
Day 9 We'll quickly escape town on a quiet path leading south towards the Klus gorge. The power of the Kander river is impressive as we climb through this narrow gorge into the hidden Gasterntal valley. This is a picture-perfect hideaway - a small, U-shaped valley, carpeted with wildflowers and guarded by savage cliffs. Waterfalls bursting from the sides of cliffs add to the scenery. (Steinbock Inn)
Day 10 For our grand finale we'll choose from a couple great hikes. One of our favorites is a strenuous climb to the nearby Lötschen pass. Old Roman trails lead us through meadows and woods, with a short stretch across a glacier, to the small hut at the pass where the views to the south are superb! We'll return to the same inn at the bottom of the valley that night. A fitting way to end a great tour. (Steinbock Inn)
Day 11 Today we say good-bye to the Bernese Oberland and depart for Kandersteg and our post-tour destinations.
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| Arrive: | Plan to arrive the day your tour begins at the latest (flights from the US would depart the day before). The closest airport is Zurich, where there is a train station at the airport that will take you to Meiringen. |
| Depart: | Plan departure for the day after your tour finishes at the earliest. Plan on one night at a hotel in your departure city if you have a morning flight (we can set this up if you like). The Swiss Card rail pass is recommended only if you have extra travel in Switzerland planned before or after this tour. |
Bernese Oberland, Parts A and B
Length: 6 days
Hike Rating: Strenuous, 5-8 hours/day, 2500'-4500' elevation gain/loss
For those without the time to devote to the full Bernese Oberland Tour, you are welcome to join us for half the tour. Part A starts in Meiringen, and crosses two moderate passes on the way to Mürren. Part B picks up in Mürren, with two strenuous passes on the way to the Gastern valley near Kandersteg.
Part A has more easier hiking options, with larger villages and more famous mountains. Part B is more challenging with quieter trails and destinations. Both stand alone as a beautiful tour in their own right, with plenty of great hiking, wonderful views, and pleasant surprises along the way.
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| 2008 Departure, Part A: | Aug 11-16 |
| Tour Cost: | $1895 (double) |
| $150 (single supplement) |
| 2008 Departure, Part B: | Aug 16-21 |
| Tour Cost: | $1895 (double) |
| $150 (single supplement) |
| Arrive: | Plan to arrive the day your tour starts at the latest (flights from the US would depart the day before). The closest airport is Zurich. There is a train station at the airport. |
| Depart: | Plan departure for the day after your tour ends at the earliest. Plan on one night at a hotel in your departure city. The Swiss Card rail pass is recommended only if you have extra travel in Switzerland planned before or after this tour. |
Bernese Oberland Self-guided: $1890 (11 days), $1190 (6 days)
If you're an independent hiker and prefer to go at your own pace, or have travel dates that don't match up with our guided tours, you may prefer to do the Bernese Oberland tour as a self-guided hiking tour. We offer a 11-day tour at a price of $1890 per person, or a 6-day tour at $1190 per person, based on two people sharing a double room. This tour can also easily be lengthened or shortened to fit your schedule.
Our self-guided tours include prepaid hotels with breakfast and dinner, a Swiss Transfer Ticket for rail travel to and from the airport or border, 
hiking maps, detailed route descriptions (including longer, shorter, and rainy day options), instructions for independently sending luggage ahead, and lots of useful information that will help your trip run smoothly.
Not included are lunches, drinks with your meals, extras (such as laundry, phone calls from the room, etc), transportation not covered by your rail pass, or the cost of luggage transport.
In addition, customized guided and self-guided hiking tours are available at surprisingly affordable prices. If you'd like to lengthen or shorten an existing tour, upgrade hotels (or go rustic), or create a customized tour of the Swiss Alps from scratch, let us know. We have extensive experience in many parts of the Alps, and will be happy to work with you to build the hiking vacation that best suits your needs.
Learn more about custom and self-guided tours
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