The High Route

Bernese Oberland - The Eiger, Münch & Jungfrau
 
With the dramatic peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau as your breathtaking backdrop, cross verdant slopes and thrilling passes, and stay in welcoming Alpine hotels. This self-guided walking holiday includes luggage transfers on most days, so you can explore the UNESCO-protected landscapes at leisure.
The High Route. 7 nights
The High Route. 7 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in the Bernese Oberland

In the whole Alpine region, no ridge of mountains can boast such romance as that combining the awe-inspiring peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, all around 4,000 metres. On the verdant slopes nestle idyllic, quintessential Alpine villages such as Wengen and Mürren which deservedly attract numerous hikers. Walking from these to Kandersteg takes you on a classic route through high mountains and over splendid passes, amid some of Europe's grandest and most humbling landscapes within the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Following well-established paths recognised for their outstanding vistas, the route is among the most challenging in our selection, with demanding ascents and descents each day, though the magnificent panoramas from the high passes also make it one of our most rewarding walks.
 
Gallery

 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights. We include a half-fare card which gives discounts on public transport if you need to shorten a walk or use a poor-weather alternative.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    The best time for flowers is late June and early July.
     
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 0 1 4 8 12 16 19 18 15 10 4 1
    mm 84 80 80 99 119 142 130 153 108 85 100 86
  • Arrival in Wengen
    Night 1: at Hotel Alpenrose (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Choice of walks around Wengen: 16.5km or 12km

    Linear walk from Wengen: 16.5km, 6.5hrs; ascent 905m/descent 1235m
    This walk starts with a train ride to Alpiglen (included), where you pick up the dramatic Eiger Trail which runs along the foot of the classic rocky north face. You also pass the Mönch and Jungfrau, with wonderful glacier views, before descending over glacial moraine, and later through pastures and woodland, back to the beautiful village of Wengen.

    Mannlichen and Kleine Schiedegg: 12km, 4hrs; ascent 85m/descent 980m
    For some of the best vistas of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, the Männlichen cable car whisks walkers 1,000 metres above the village of Wengen, from where an easy walk heads south directly towards the main peaks, before gently descending to Kleine Scheidegg. From here you can descend by train, or on foot.
    Linear walk from Wengen: 16.5km
    Mannlichen and Kleine Schiedegg: 12km
  • Wengen to Mürren: 11km, 3.5hrs; ascent 505m/descent 765m
    Today's route winds down from Wengen, initially leading through forest to the valley floor at Lauterbrunnen. Ascend by gondola to Grütschalp (pay locally), from where you pick up the Mountain View Trail, aptly named as it provides a splendid backdrop of the mighty trio of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Your destination is Mürren, where you spend two nights at the Drei Berge Hotel.
    Wengen to Mürren: 11km
    En route to Mürren
  • Circuit from Mürren: 10km, 4hrs; ascent/descent 485m
    With its fantastic views, the delightful, traffic-free village of Mürren is the perfect spot for a day of relaxation. You might like to take the cable car (pay locally) to the revolving restaurant at the top of the Schilthorn, where scenes from the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service were shot. But if you would prefer more walking, we suggest a route along the nearby Sefinental, gently climbing into the atmospheric amphitheatre of the Chilchbalm. Huge rock walls, glacial ice and waterfalls give a cathedral-like sense of scale and calm, and the kind of mountain experience you’d normally have to work hard to find.

     
    Circuit from Mürren: 10km
    Along the Sefinental
  • Choice of walks from Mürren to Griesalp: 13.5km or 15.5km

    Mürren to Griesalp (high-level route): 15.5km, 6hrs; ascent 1040m/descent 1240m
    This is the most challenging walk of the holiday so far, but is rewarded by spectacular views of the north faces of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Your target for the first leg is the Sefinenfurke Pass, which means a long ascent, gentle at first but then steeper as you ascend to an altitude of 2,612 metres. Linger at the pass to drink in the panorama before the long descent through an unspoiled valley to the settlement of Griesalp and the Berggasthaus Golderli. Due to the remote location of the guesthouse, you'll need to bring an overnight bag with you.

    Mürren to Griesalp (low-level route): 13.5km, 6hrs; ascent 950m/descent 260m
    For a lower level option, take trains and a cable car from Mürren to Reichenbach (pay locally) and walk through the Kiental Valley, past a number of waterfalls, to Griesalp. 
    The Sefinenfurke Pass
    Mürren to Griesalp (high-level route): 15.5km
    Mürren to Griesalp (low-level route): 13.5km
  • Choice of walks from Griesalp to Kandersteg: 14.5km or 17km

    Griesalp to Kandersteg via the Hohtürli Pass: 14.5km, 7hrs; ascent 1510m/descent 1265m
    To reach the Hohtürli Pass – which at 2,778 metres is even higher than the pass you walked over yesterday – you have another long, and at times steep, ascent, although the extensive panoramas which open up before you more than compensate for the effort! The ensuing descent takes you close to the Blüemlisalp Glacier, past remote farmhouses surrounded by huge boulders, and finally above the turquoise blue waters of Oeschinensee, set in an amphitheatre of mountains. From here you take the gondola (pay locally) down to your final destination, Kandersteg, where you spend two nights at the Belle Epoque Hotel Victoria.

    Griesalp to Kandersteg via Reichenbach (low-level route): 17km, 6.5hrs; ascent 655m/descent 1300m
    Alternatively, follow the Höhenweg (high path), keeping a high contour along the Kiental Valley before descending into Reichenbach, from where you catch the train to Kandersteg (pay locally). 
    The Hohturli Pass
    Griesalp to Kandersteg via the Hohtürli Pass: 14.5km
    Griesalp to Kandersteg via Reichenbach (low-level route): 17km
  • Choice of walks from Kandersteg: 12km to 14.5km

    Gasterntal 
    We highly recommend exploring the tranquil and secluded Gastern Valley. Now a nature reserve, it is renowned as the glacial valley in the Bernese Oberland. We have two options into the valley: 
    Kander Gorge and the Gasterntal – grade 2-3 option; 13km, 5hrs, ascent 580m/descent 250m
    A short bus ride from your hotel takes you to the lower end of the spectacular Kander Gorge, through which you climb to emerge into the Gastern Valley, known for the steep rock walls of its southern side, with spectacular waterfalls. Head up the valley to the remote hamlet of Selde before making a circuit of the upper river, enjoying views of the impressive head of the valley. Arriving back in the hamlet, you return to Kandersteg by minibus shuttle.

    Sunnbüel and the Schwarenbach Hotel – grade 2 & 2-3: 14.5km, 6hrs, ascent/descent 580m; shorter option: 13km, 4.5hrs, ascent/descent 470m
    Alternatively you can head towards the Gemmi Pass, which links the Bernese Oberland and the canton of Valais to the south. You start by taking a bus and a cable car to Sunnbüel, then make the relatively gentle climb of the high grassy plateau beyond. A dramatic rocky section then climbs to the Schwarenbach Hotel, a historic customs house and travellers' refuge from where you can continue to the high lake of the Daubensee, just below the pass, via a straightforward track or a more adventurous high-mountain path. From the lake you return to the Schwarenbach, for the descent to Kandersteg. 
     
    Gasterntal
    Kander Gorge and the Gasterntal; 13km
    Gemmi Pass
    Sunnbüel and the Schwarenbach Hotel: 14.5km
 

Accommodation

All your accommodation is friendly and welcoming.
 

Options to extend or shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel options
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  • 7 nights: 29 June 2024 - 30 September 2024 & 29 June 2025 - 30 September 2025

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    29 Jun - 31 Jul 2024 £1755 £230
    1 - 24 Aug 2024 £1615 £230
    25 Aug - 12 Sep 2024 £1660 £230
    13 - 23 Sep 2024 £1615 £230
    29 Jun - 31 Jul 2025 £1830 £240
    1 - 24 Aug 2025 £1660 £240
    25 Aug - 12 Sep 2025 £1710 £240
    13 - 23 Sep 2025 £1660 £240
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Included travel: a Half-Fare Card is included, providing you with half-price tickets for trains, bus and boat journeys and up to 50% reduction on private railways and cable cars.

    If you would prefer to drive from the UK, please contact us for self-drive prices.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

    7 nights: 29 June 2024 - 30 September 2024 & 29 June 2025 - 30 September 2025

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    29 Jun - 31 Jul 2024 £2090 £230
    1 - 24 Aug 2024 £1950 £230
    25 Aug - 12 Sep 2024 £1970 £230
    13 - 23 Sep 2024 £1910 £230
    29 Jun - 31 Jul 2025 £2175 £240
    1 - 24 Aug 2025 £2010 £240
    25 Aug - 12 Sep 2025 £2030 £240
    13 - 23 Sep 2025 £1970 £240
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes all elements in the 'walk price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to either Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, or Lille, with onward travel as described below.

    Included travel from the UK: UK-Paris (Eurostar), Paris–Wengen (TGV/regional rail), approx duration 9h40 plus 0h05 walk to the hotel. Home, Kandersteg–Paris (TGV/regional rail), Paris–UK (Eurostar), approx duration 10h30 plus 0h05 walk from the hotel.
    > More about 'by rail' prices
    > The 'rail experience': what to expect
    A Half-Fare Card is included, providing you with half-price tickets for trains, bus and boat journeys and up to 50% reduction on private railways and cable cars.

    If you book your holiday less than 6 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel Alpenrose, Wengen
    South-facing with balcony: 29 Jun - 30 Sep 2024 £33
    South-facing with balcony: 29 Jun - 30 Sep 2025 £34
    Belle Epoque Hotel Victoria, Kandersteg
    Mini-suite: 29 Jun - 30 Sep 2024 £48
    Mini-suite: 29 Jun - 30 Sep 2025 £50

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Hotel Alpenrose, Wengen (with dinner) Double room Single room
    29 Jun - 14 Sep 2024 £155 £178
    15 Sep - 30 Sep 2024 £131 £154
    29 Jun - 14 Sep 2025 £165 £189
    15 Sep - 30 Sep 2025 £140 £164
    Drei Berge Hotel, Mürren (with dinner) Double room Single room
    29 Jun - 11 Sep 2024 £185 £255
    12 Sep - 30 Sep 2024 £165 £235
    29 Jun - 11 Sep 2025 £195 £268
    12 Sep - 30 Sep 2025 £175 £248
    Belle Epoque Hotel Victoria, Kandersteg (with dinner) Double room Single room
    29 Jun - 04 Jul 2024 £150 £165
    05 Jul - 23 Aug 2024 £170 £183
    24 Aug - 13 Sep 2024 £150 £165
    14 Sep - 30 Sep 2024 £140 £155
    29 Jun - 04 Jul 2025 £160 £176
    05 Jul - 23 Aug 2025 £180 £194
    24 Aug - 13 Sep 2025 £160 £176
    14 Sep - 30 Sep 2025 £150 £166
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Zürich, Geneva or Bäsel
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Zürich or Geneva. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Zurich (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Aberdeen - Zurich (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Zurich Swiss 
    Birmingham - Zurich (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Bournemouth - Geneva easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Basel easyJet 
    Bristol - Geneva easyJet 
    Bristol - Geneva (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Bristol - Zurich Swiss 
    Bristol - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Basel easyJet 
    Edinburgh - Geneva easyJet 
    Edinburgh - Zurich Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Geneva easyJet 
    Glasgow - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Humberside - Basel (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Geneva easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Geneva British Airways,  Swiss 
    London City - Zurich British Airways,  Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Basel easyJet 
    Gatwick - Geneva British Airways,  easyJet,  Swiss 
    Gatwick - Zurich easyJet,  Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Basel British Airways 
    Heathrow - Geneva British Airways,  Swiss 
    Heathrow - Zurich British Airways,  Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Basel easyJet 
    Luton - Geneva easyJet 
    Luton - Zurich easyJet,  Vueling 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Basel easyJet 
    Manchester - Geneva easyJet 
    Manchester - Zurich Lufthansa,  Swiss 
    Manchester - Zurich (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Zurich (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Geneva easyJet 
    Newcastle - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Zurich (via Paris CDG) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Zürich or Geneva. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    If purchasing outward connecting travel through Inntravel, the homeward travel is at no extra cost.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Basel

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    bus Basel airport to Basel SBB (0h20), rail Basel SBB to Wengen (2h45), transfer station to hotel (0h02) £22-£23 1600
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    walk to Kandersteg station (0h05), rail Kandersteg to Basel SBB (2h10), bus Basel SBB to Basel airport (0h20) included in outward price 1330

    Connecting travel options - flying via Geneva

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Geneva airport to Wengen (3h40), transfer station to hotel (0h02) £22-£23 1530
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    walk to Kandersteg station (0h05), rail Kandersteg to Geneva airport (3h15) included in outward price 1300

    Connecting travel options - flying via Zürich

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Zürich airport to Wengen (2h40), transfer station to hotel (0h02) £22-£23 1600
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    walk to Kandersteg station (0h05), rail Kandersteg to Zurich airport (2h30) included in outward price 1300
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 6 dinners
    1 picnic
    7 breakfasts
  • luggage transported on most days (1 bag per person)
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • half-fare card
  • train Wengen-Alpiglen (day 1)
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Switzerland, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official languages are German, spoken in the majority of the country; French, spoken in the south-west; Italian, spoken in the south-east; and Romansch, mostly limited to the Engadine valley. The currency is the Franc. Swiss time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
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