Best of the Bernese Oberland
- Flexible alpine walking amidst a backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau
- The villages of Mürren, Wengen & Grindelwald, staying at chalet-style hotels
- The classic Swiss Alps—jagged peaks, crystal clear lakes & alpine meadows
- Working up an appetite for delicious raclette, fondu, rösti and apfelstrüdel
- The freedom to extend/shorten your walk by cable car, funicular, bus or train!
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive MürrenImmerse yourself in a traditional Swiss alpine village; Mürren’s car-free streets are lined with chocolate-box wooden chalets, adorned with colourful flowers. Listen out for the tinkling of cowbells as you settle into your chalet-style hotel for a 2 night stay.
The best way to reach Mürren is by train; just 55 mins from Interlaken, 2hrs from Bern, 3hrs from Zurich or Basel, 3h45 from Geneva.
Hotel Blumental is located in the very heart of Mürren. Hosts Heidi and Ralph von Allmen are 4th generation of the family running the hotel; Ralph’s grandfather built the property in 1870 and it was complertely renovated in 1957. The impressive breakfast room dates from 1928. There is a cosy lounge area and a lovely restaurant, as well as an outdoor seating area which is perfect for watching passers by wandering through the peaceful village in the evening. The hotel boasts 20 rooms; 14 in the main building and 6 in the annex which is just to the rear of the property. Guests enjoy free entry to the village sports centre, where you will find a pool and Jacuzzi.
3-star superior Hotel Edelweiss is surrounded by the fantastic mountain world with Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, Breithorn, Birg and Schilthorn... All rooms are equiped with TV/Radio, safe and hairdryer. Free WiFi is available in the entire hotel.
Chalet Hotel Alpenruh is located adjacent to the Schilthorn cable car station, just minutes from the heart of Mürren. Dine in the popular restaurant or relax in the cosy small bar. If you would like to dine in the restaurant but have not opted for half board, please ensure you talk to the front desk in advance regarding a table reservation as the restaurant is very popular. There is a sauna which you can hire on a private basis (1 hr duration, free) – please make a reservation with the front desk.
Mürren is nestled amidst a backdrop of iconic peaks; the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The Jungfrau region is a hiker’s paradise, with around 500km of superb way-marked trails. You can make good use of the cable cars, railways and funicular services to shorten or lengthen your hike as you wish! Each day we offer a variety of suggested walks to get you exploring the alpine meadows and mountain slopes.
Another option for today is to ride the cable car to the top of the Schilthorn, where you can admire 200 other peaks from the Skyline viewing platform at 2970m. There’s also a 360° restaurant and interactive Bond World 007 exhibition; paying homage to the thriller ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’.
Flexible Walking: 4-14km
Hotel Blumental is located in the very heart of Mürren. Hosts Heidi and Ralph von Allmen are 4th generation of the family running the hotel; Ralph’s grandfather built the property in 1870 and it was complertely renovated in 1957. The impressive breakfast room dates from 1928. There is a cosy lounge area and a lovely restaurant, as well as an outdoor seating area which is perfect for watching passers by wandering through the peaceful village in the evening. The hotel boasts 20 rooms; 14 in the main building and 6 in the annex which is just to the rear of the property. Guests enjoy free entry to the village sports centre, where you will find a pool and Jacuzzi.
3-star superior Hotel Edelweiss is surrounded by the fantastic mountain world with Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, Breithorn, Birg and Schilthorn... All rooms are equiped with TV/Radio, safe and hairdryer. Free WiFi is available in the entire hotel.
Chalet Hotel Alpenruh is located adjacent to the Schilthorn cable car station, just minutes from the heart of Mürren. Dine in the popular restaurant or relax in the cosy small bar. If you would like to dine in the restaurant but have not opted for half board, please ensure you talk to the front desk in advance regarding a table reservation as the restaurant is very popular. There is a sauna which you can hire on a private basis (1 hr duration, free) – please make a reservation with the front desk.
You’ll find Wengen across the Lauterbrunnen valley from Mürren, perched at the top of vertical cliffs springing with waterfalls. You have a choice of rewarding walks at your fingertips, which you can combine with mountain transport to adjust your walk as you wish.
Trains run from Mürren to Grütschalp, from where you can descend by cable car to Lauterbrunnen. The railway from here winds its way up to the car-free alpine village of Wengen, situated on a sunny plateau with outstanding views to the Jungfrau. Spend your next 2 nights here.
Lauterbrunnen to Wengen: 2.6km, ascent/descent: 450m/10m
Wengen- Leiterhorn Loop: 5km, ascent/descent: 285m/275m
Hotel Schönegg dates from 1903, and was fully renovated in 2012. Although not strictly a chalet-hotel, the interior and furnishings, with their rich wooden patina, are typical of a Swiss chalet. Your hosts are Caroline & Sylvain Stefanazzi Ogi. Restaurant 1903, with its cosy wooden decor, is inspired by Sylvain's Italian roots. Rooms have charming wooden touches and guests can enjoy the sauna and massage bed (fee payable for the latter). If you have chosen to take the half board option, then this is a set 4-course menu (however can be changed due to preferences/dietary requirements). Packed lunches are available for CHF 15 per person.
This lovely 3-star chalet hotel is located just a short walk from the village centre. Rooms are simply furnished and there is a lovely restaurant serving delicious local cuisine. Rooms have balconies and the bathrooms have a shower (no bath).
A must-do walk is the aptly named Panorama Trail, reached by the Männlichen cable car (2342m). The trail traces the foot of the Männlichen chain, through woods and alpine pastures with views of the mighty rock walls of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and untouched Trümmelbach Valley to Kleine Scheidegg (2061m).
Reward yourself wth a cold beer, steaming plate of rösti and melting raclette at this celebrated mountain pass, with breath-taking views to the Eiger, Lauberhorn and their glaciers. From Kleine Scheidegg you can also ride the railway up to the Jungfraujoch, the highest point reachable by rail in Europe (also see Days 6 & 7).
You can board the Wengernalp railway back to the village or continue your walk further.
Flexible Walking: 5-12km
Hotel Schönegg dates from 1903, and was fully renovated in 2012. Although not strictly a chalet-hotel, the interior and furnishings, with their rich wooden patina, are typical of a Swiss chalet. Your hosts are Caroline & Sylvain Stefanazzi Ogi. Restaurant 1903, with its cosy wooden decor, is inspired by Sylvain's Italian roots. Rooms have charming wooden touches and guests can enjoy the sauna and massage bed (fee payable for the latter). If you have chosen to take the half board option, then this is a set 4-course menu (however can be changed due to preferences/dietary requirements). Packed lunches are available for CHF 15 per person.
This lovely 3-star chalet hotel is located just a short walk from the village centre. Rooms are simply furnished and there is a lovely restaurant serving delicious local cuisine. Rooms have balconies and the bathrooms have a shower (no bath).
One of our favourite Swiss walks is the Eiger Trail from Eigergletscher (a short train ride from Wengen) to Alpiglen. This high route brings you right in front of the famous North Face itself; look up and right to see the metal ladders and perhaps even a climber or two setting off on an adventure.
Soak up the views over the Wetterhorn and the Grosse Scheidegg before continuing on a zig zag trail down to Alpiglen. Here you can jump on board the train, or walk further via Gletscherschlucht to Grindelwald, your base for the next 3 nights.
Remember, you can also take cable cars or the train all the way from Wengen to picture-postcard Grindelwald, and there are easier/shorter walks to choose from.
Flexible Walking: 5-13km
Chalet Hotel Gletschergarten has been family-run since 1899, and is in the 4th generation of the Michel-Breitenstein family. There is a sauna, steam bath and relaxation room. All rooms have a balcony or terrace. Chef François Rollot prepares 4-course dining at the restaurant. Packed lunches are available if required, they are charged at CHF 12.- per person, alternatively there is a bakery shop located across from the hotel.
Hotel Alpenhof is located in a stunning elevated position above Grindelwald village. There are 17 rooms, with balcony/garden access. There is a traditional cosy Swiss restaurant. This is a pet-friendly property. Those opting for half board will have a 5-course menu. The restaurant specialises in catering for special diets (gluten and lactose free for example).
Hotel Hirschen is a centrally-located 3* hotel in Grindelwald, in the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland. Close to the train station, and with local ski and bus stops right outside the door, this hotel is the perfect starting point for excursions and walks.
A must-do optional excursion during your stay in the Bernese Oberland is the ‘Top of Europe’ Jungfraujoch, easily reached by rail from either Wengen or Grindelwald. From Kleine Scheidegg, the cog-wheel railway climbs steeply up to the Jungfraujoch (3454m).
At the very top you’ll find an ice palace with ice sculptures, a viewing plateau, restaurants and panoramic “Sphinx” observation terrace with views over the Aletsch glacier, the longest alpine glacier at 23km.
From Grindelwald you’ve a choice of walks; explore the Grosse Scheidegg plateau, the sparkling Bachalpsee or First with its cable car station. Mountain cafés dotted around Grindelwald will tempt you to relax in the sunshine with a large slice of Apfelstrüdel or Mövenpick icecream sundae— you need to keep your energy levels up after all!
Flexible Walking: 7-14km
Chalet Hotel Gletschergarten has been family-run since 1899, and is in the 4th generation of the Michel-Breitenstein family. There is a sauna, steam bath and relaxation room. All rooms have a balcony or terrace. Chef François Rollot prepares 4-course dining at the restaurant. Packed lunches are available if required, they are charged at CHF 12.- per person, alternatively there is a bakery shop located across from the hotel.
Hotel Alpenhof is located in a stunning elevated position above Grindelwald village. There are 17 rooms, with balcony/garden access. There is a traditional cosy Swiss restaurant. This is a pet-friendly property. Those opting for half board will have a 5-course menu. The restaurant specialises in catering for special diets (gluten and lactose free for example).
Hotel Hirschen is a centrally-located 3* hotel in Grindelwald, in the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland. Close to the train station, and with local ski and bus stops right outside the door, this hotel is the perfect starting point for excursions and walks.
A must-do optional excursion during your stay in the Bernese Oberland is the ‘Top of Europe’ Jungfraujoch, easily reached by rail from either Wengen or Grindelwald. From Kleine Scheidegg, the cog-wheel railway climbs steeply up to the Jungfraujoch (3454m).
At the very top you’ll find an ice palace with ice sculptures, a viewing plateau, restaurants and panoramic “Sphinx” observation terrace with views over the Aletsch glacier, the longest alpine glacier at 23km.
From Grindelwald you’ve a choice of walks; explore the Grosse Scheidegg plateau, the sparkling Bachalpsee or First with its cable car station. Mountain cafés dotted around Grindelwald will tempt you to relax in the sunshine with a large slice of Apfelstrüdel or Mövenpick icecream sundae— you need to keep your energy levels up after all!
Flexible Walking: 7-14km
Chalet Hotel Gletschergarten has been family-run since 1899, and is in the 4th generation of the Michel-Breitenstein family. There is a sauna, steam bath and relaxation room. All rooms have a balcony or terrace. Chef François Rollot prepares 4-course dining at the restaurant. Packed lunches are available if required, they are charged at CHF 12.- per person, alternatively there is a bakery shop located across from the hotel.
Hotel Alpenhof is located in a stunning elevated position above Grindelwald village. There are 17 rooms, with balcony/garden access. There is a traditional cosy Swiss restaurant. This is a pet-friendly property. Those opting for half board will have a 5-course menu. The restaurant specialises in catering for special diets (gluten and lactose free for example).
Hotel Hirschen is a centrally-located 3* hotel in Grindelwald, in the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland. Close to the train station, and with local ski and bus stops right outside the door, this hotel is the perfect starting point for excursions and walks.
After breakfast check-out of your traditional chalet-style hotel and make your onward journey. If you’re planning a longer European tour then the Italian Lakes combines perfectly with the Swiss Alps.
This trip has a carbon score of 5kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 5kg is equivalent to 1 Neapolitan margherita pizza. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?Thanks to a flexible choice of walks, you’re free to enjoy this alpine hikers’ playground as you wish—whilst making good use of the superb network of mountain railways to shorten or lengthen your walks. Stay in authentic family-run chalet-style hotels in traditional mountain villages.
Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.
Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This trip is graded ‘easy to moderate’ overall, as the walks are around 4-14km, but many you can shorten with mountain transport (payable locally or you can opt to purchase a Jungfrau Travel Pass in advance) or skip altogether.
The routes and footpaths are not technically difficult, but a good level of fitness is recommended so you can relax and enjoy the scenery. Our routes follow wide tracks, paths and sometimes narrower mountain paths occasionally with steep slopes above and below—as with most Alpine walking a good head for heights and sure-footedness is required. Cable cars and trains can be used to avoid the steepest ascents and descents, but some steep sections are unavoidable— the Eiger Trail and the First to Bachalpsee hikes are the most demanding days, with ascents and descents ranging up to 1050m of ascent/descent, in your route notes we have detailed how these days can be made easier.
Please be aware that earlier in the season there may be some residual snow lying in patches, but this will not require any special equipment or skills; walking poles are recommended.
Stay 7 nights in traditional Swiss chalet-style hotels (of a 3-star standard). The accommodation we normally use is detailed below, however is subject to availability and therefore alternatives of an equal standard may be offered.
Meals
Breakfasts are included each day. Most of your accommodations will more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
This trip is available to solo walkers and a supplement is payable as some of the costs are not shared. Single rooms are on request and a supplement is payable.
The network of paths and trails in the Bernese Oberland is comprehensively way-marked as are all the variations we suggest. We provide you with detailed route notes and maps so you will have no problem following the route suggested, or indeed if you wish to take alternative routes according to your wishes.
- 7 Nights in 3-star family-run chalet-style hotels
- 7 Breakfasts
- Baggage transfers between accommodations (days 3, 5)
- Information Pack, maps, route notes, GPX tracks, access to our smartphone app
- 24-7 Emergency telephone support
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to Mürren and from Grindelwald
- Entrance fees (eg. Jungfraujoch excursion)
- Public transport (eg. railways, cable cars, chairlifts, funiculars, buses)
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Additional nights before, during or after the walk
This trip is available to start daily, from the end of June to early October. The best months for walking are in the summer months between June and mid-September when the wild flowers are in bloom and the weather is generally fair.
Grindelwald is hosting the famous Eiger Ultra Trail race (12th to 16th July). We recommend avoiding the Via Alpina at this time as the area is extremely busy, and most accommodations are full.
The best way to reach Mürren is by train; it is just 55 minutes from Interlaken. You can fly into Zurich or Basel (3 hours) or Geneva (3h45). Train timetables and details of public transportation in Switzerland are available via the excellent travel planner at www.sbb.ch.
From Grindelwald most train connections are via Interlaken Ost (35 mins). Travel times are as follows from Grindelwald to city train stations (Hauptbahnhof/HB): to Bern (1h40), Zurich (2h40), Basel (2h40), or Geneva (3h30); Again, please see SBB’s website for timetable planning. Further information regarding travel advice will be in your comprehensive pre-departure information pack.
Your bags will be transferred between your accommodation as per your itinerary. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as the region is very popular, especially over the summer months. However we will always try our best to accommodate your plans.
The walking is graded easy to moderate so you will enjoy the holiday more if you already enjoy an active lifestyle. Most of the paths are easy to follow and although undulating in parts the paths are generally easy, and where they are tougher, there are alternative walks that day. Walking each day is between 4-14km. If you prefer not to walk each day, then you can take mountain railways or post buses between locations.
Your bags will be transferred between your accommodation as per your itinerary. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
You can fly into Zurich, Basel, Geneva or Bern Belp airports in Switzerland, check out the travel details section for more detailed information.
You will need good walking shoes/boots, comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a day pack, warm clothing in the early/late part of the year and hats etc during the summer. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.
The best months for walking are in the summer months between June and early October when the wild flowers are in bloom and the weather is generally fair.
The beauty of the Jungfrau region, is that there is an excellent network of mountain railways that you can use (cable cars, train, some postbuses) to shorten or lengthen your walk, or skip it altogether. If outside the car-free villages (eg. Grindelwald) then you can make use of local taxis where possible.
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Save %8 Days 7 Nights
Grindelwald Trail
Experience fantastic alpine scenery on this journey through the Bernese OberlandHighlights- Admire the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau peaks
- Exhilarating walking along mountain paths
- Alpine meadows and peaceful forests
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Save %8 Days 7 Nights
Best of the Bernese Oberland In Style
Stay in hotels with views to die for. Dine on classic dishes at the gourmet hotel-restaurantsHighlights- Stay in comfortable historic 4* hotels
- The villages of Mürren, Wengen & Grindelwald
- The iconic peaks of the Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger
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Save %10 Days 9 Nights
The Via Alpina East
Walk from Sargans to Grindelwald, ideal if you don't have time to complete the whole Via AlpinaHighlights- Complete the east section of the Via Alpina
- Views of the Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch
- Relax in comfortable hotels along the way