Walking Holidays in Switzerland - Meiringen

Meiringen is the most prominent settlement in the Haslital Valley which stretches from the Grimsel Pass to the peaceful waters of Lake Brienz at the eastern end of the Bernese Oberland.

The valley is ideal for walking holidays exhibiting a rich variety of landscapes with lush pastures dazzling cascades tight gorges and several tributary valleys equally worthy of exploration.

Haslital has been used as an important route for centuries as no fewer than five passes feed into the valley: the Brunig Grimsel Grosse Scheidegg Susten and Jochpass. These provide easy access to the environs of the towering peaks adorned with snow fields and bright shining glaciers found in a great arc to the south.

Amongst them stand Titlis (3290m) the Sustenhorn (3560m) and the Wetterhorn (3760m) There’s enough here to keep the enthusiastic walker content for many a day! The Haslital also offers the Aare gorge and the impressive Open Air Folklore Museum at nearby Ballenberg.

The Centre

Meiringen a typically Swiss market town lies on the River Aare whose white glacial waters briskly flow into Lake Brienz a few kilometres west. It is well served by banks shops hotels and restaurants and as its name might suggest is the birthplace of the meringue. Its people are welcoming kind and hospitable.

The impressive Reichenbach Falls nearby provided the scene of the fictional death of Sherlock Holmes at the hands of arch enemy Professor Moriarty. A statue of Holmes (complete with deerstalker and pipe) stands in the tree lined square by the former English church now the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

A special feature of Meiringen as a walking centre is the access afforded to the very extensive and varied walking opportunities both in the locality and further afield. A superb integrated network of cableways post buses and trains can take you in all directions to reach spectacular locations quickly and easily. Meiringen is a perfect base for walks and excursions both in summer and winter.

The Walking

Meiringen really has something for everyone ranging from gentle alpine meadow strolls to demanding summit ascents. There are leisurely walks through flower strewn meadows of the Hasilberg with the high peaks of the Bernese Oberland as a backdrop.

Take a walk that includes the Rosenlaui Glacier, the melting waters of which cascade down the valley in swirling torrents, cutting spectacularly through a deep gorge before reaching the renowned and spectacular Reichenbach Falls. Walk through pretty hamlets whilst enjoying views of the famous Eiger.

This walker’s paradise can be approached on foot directly from Meiringen but most walkers choose to travel part way by post bus to gain height.

Nearby lies the enchanting Engstlenalp at the foot of the Joch pass, giving access to the Marmot trail (where you might also see wild goat and ibex) and which is the start of the ‘Paradise Way’ a magnificent contour route to Meiringen famed for its flowers and butterflies.

Visit the wild Grimsel Pass giving access to the Grimsel glaciers, including the Rhone glacier where you can explore the lateral moraines. Here you can make the relatively easy ascent of the Sidelhorn (2745m) in about 2 hours. We could go on and on and on!

The potential for walking is limitless, hence many clients return year after year.

Winter Walking - Our Speciality

See our dedicated page.

A White Christmas Or New Year Walking Holiday

Why not flee the stresses and strains of this commercially demanding time of year at home and take a relaxing Christmas and/or New Year break with us?

We also offer guided walking over the period. See our guided walking program for dates. An experience you will not easily forget! You choose your arrival and departure dates within this period.

See our dedicated page.

Family Holidays

This is an excellent area for family walking holidays and includes, especially for the children, the two Muggestutz walks celebrating the local gnome folklore, great for both young and old!

A fascinating crystal trail can be explored on the Grimsel Pass; visit the Gelmer Funicular, the steepest in Europe, and as thrilling as many a theme park ride!

Local bike rental is easily arranged for day cycling on various terrains including the valley floor. Try an exhilarating Trotti ‘scooter’ run down the mountain from Magisalp.

Visit the open air folklore museum at Ballenberg which offers entertainment for children from 5 years upwards. Take a lake steamer trip; travel on a steam railway; try the open air swimming pool with its water slide or one of the many other sporting and recreational activities suitable for children.

Guided Walking

They will be led by a guide who knows the area very well. The walks will be of easy and moderate grade, 5 – 6 hours a day and up to 600m in climb but often shorter in winter.

Guided walking dates -click here for dates

Self Guided Walking

Our summer self guided Walk Booklet has a total of 23 walks, many with variations, and they are being added to constantly. They range from 4-5 hours and 60m ascents to 7-8 hours and over 1000m ascents.

Our winter Walk Booklet has a selection of walks suitable for the time of year. They tend to be shorter because of walking on the snow and the shorter day.

Walk Grading

Guided - Easy & Moderate

Self Guided - Easy, Moderate & Challenging

For information about walking grades please click here

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Hotel Adler ** - 2 Star The Hotel Adler is situated in a quiet street but is well placed for the station cable car and shops. Rooms are comfortable with satellite TV WC and shower. VIEW MORE INFORMATION

Hotel Meiringen *** - 3 Star The Hotel Meiringen is a modern hotel with light and well appointed rooms each with WC shower or bath, cable TV and telephone. VIEW MORE INFORMATION

Hotel Baer *** - 3 Star The Hotel Baer is a modern hotel with large rooms each with en suite facilities. Most have baths TV and telephone.  VIEW MORE INFORMATION

Hotel Victoria *** - 3 Star The Victoria is owned and run by Franziska and Simon Anderegg. It has a contemporary style throughout the public rooms and in the bedrooms creating a calming opulent atmosphere. The rooms have satellite TV telephone and bathroom. The standard rooms have a shower and the superior rooms have a bath as well as being south facing and more spacious. VIEW MORE INFORMATION

Hotel Alpbach *** Superior - 3 Star The Alpbach is owned and run by the Gerber family and they are proud of their ‘superior 3*’ category the only one in Meiringen. The hotel is located in a quiet street convenient for the railway and cable car stations. VIEW MORE INFORMATION

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Walking in Meiringen is available most of the year. However it is not recommended from the end of October to the middle of December as this is when fresh snow is common closing the winter paths. All the high paths are generally open from July to end of September. We offer guided walking in early summer when the flowers are most abundant and also at Christmas New Year and February for Winter walking. We have separate Walk Booklets for winter and summer for our self guided guests.

When to book your walking holiday in Switzerland - Meiringen
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Best	Best	OK	N/A	OK	Best	Best	Best	Best	OK	OK	Best

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Flights

Zurich is the closest at 2 hours 40 minutes. From Zurich there is a direct train to Luzern then change on to the narrow gauge Brunig Pass line to Meiringen. Basle and Geneva a more distant 3 hours 40 minutes away.

Zurich non stop from Heathrow Gatwick London City Luton Birmingham Manchester Edinburgh and Dublin. Connecting flights from most UK airports.

Geneva non stop from Heathrow Gatwick London City Luton Stansted Southampton* Bournemouth* Jersey Exeter* Newquay* Bristol Cardiff* Birmingham East Midlands Norwich* Doncaster* Liverpool Manchester* Leeds Newcastle* Glasgow*, Edinburgh, Aberdeen* Belfast and Dublin. Connecting flights from most UK airports.

Basle non stop from Heathrow, London City, Luton, Liverpool, East Midlands and Manchester. Connecting flights from most UK airports.

* Winter only

Train

You can travel by train from London to Meiringen utilizing Eurostar and TGV it takes about 11½ hours

We can book rail travel on Eurostar and onwards on SNCF/TGV to Switzerland. You can reach most resorts on the same day.

Straight there and back

Rail travel on Eurostar, TGV and SNCF and all seat reservations:

2nd class £60 per person supplement on with air prices
1st Class £130 per person supplement on with air prices

With a stop in Strasbourg

You may care to break the journey in each direction in a 3 star hotel, B & B, in Strasbourg. We will book you into a 3 star hotel very close to the station and the historic old town, and you will have time to explore this beautiful and famous city.

Rail travel on Eurostar, TGV and SNCF with 2 nights in a 3 star hotel in Strasbourg, 1 in each direction. Plus all seat reservations:
2nd class £150 per person supplement on with air prices
1st Class £220 per person supplement on with air prices

Prices are a guide and subject to availability.

Self Drive

If you wish to drive to Switzerland we provide advice on where to stay en route if you wish to break the journey as well as driving directions to find the hotel. We also advise on which hotels have car parks. Just use the ‘own travel arrangement’ prices and add a half fare card if required.

To drive on Swiss motorways you will need a motorway pass ‘Vignette’ we can obtain this for £26 which will save the queue at the border.

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Meiringen

Available all year round

2008 and 2009

Hotel Standard 7 Nights (half-board) With FLights Add on Nights (half-board) Single Supp. per night Other room supplements per person per night Own Travel arrangements 7 nights half-board at hotels Low High Low High Low High **Adler £579 £599 £42 £45 £5 Superior £5 £349 £369 ***Baer £639 £649 £48 £49 £9 £409 £419 ***Meiringen £639 £655 £48 £50 £9 £409 £425 *** Victoria £699 £719 £56 £59 £14 Superior £14 Xmas & New Year£13 £469 £489 *** SuperiorAlpbach £694 £719 £56 £59 £12 Superior £11 Xmas & New Year £13 £464 £489

Low Season 1st April - 30th June and 1st September to 19th December
High Season 1st January - 31st March 1st July - 31st August 20th -31st December

Guided Walking is available in Meiringen at a supplement of £155 per week which includes all travel associated with the walking

Important for details of our flight price policy click here

All holiday prices include 7 nights half board accommodation. 'With Flights' includes rail transfers between the airport and hotel and a half fare transport card and typical flight price from London to Switzerland. Also self guided walkers receive our unique walking booklet for your chosen area and best local walking map.

Guideline for other airports Birmingham £40 Manchester £40.

Own Travel prices does not include flight or Swiss card.

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For information on:

• Children
• Methods of payment
• Deposits and balance payments
• Holiday insurance
• Fuel supplements

Please click here

Additional information for holidays in Switzerland

Fly/Rail Baggage

Check in your bag at the airport and collect it at your resort avoiding the wait at the baggage carousel. This is a system unique to Switzerland. Many hoteliers will even collect the bags for you when they arrive and
deliver them to your room. On your return check in your bag in at the railway station and at some
stations receive your boarding pass. Your bag will then be transferred to your flight and you collect it from the baggage carousel on arrival.
These services are available to but not from all resorts (Meiringen is unavailable) or with all airlines. Timing limitations also apply please check. The cost is £12 per bag per direction.

Switzerland- Internal travel

Please note we include a Swiss Card in our Standard “with flight” prices for all our centered holidays except Davos where all local busses and mountain railways are free. For Davos we include return rail tickets only
to/from Zurich Airport other airports at a supplement.

Swiss Card

Gives free transfers by rail from the airport of your choice or international border crossing to your chosen resort. Any reasonable route is permitted. It also includes a 50% discount during your stay for all rail and postbus services plus discounts on most funicular railways chair lifts gondolas and cable cars.
To purchase separately £98. Upgrade to First Class £42.

Swiss transfer card

Gives free transfers by rail from the airport of your choice or international border crossing to your chosen resort. Any reasonable route is permitted. Useful for very short stays. £69 Upgrade to First Class £38

Swiss half fare card
Gives 50% discount during your stay for all rail and post bus services plus discounts on most funicular railways chairlifts gondolas and cable cars. Useful for those arriving by car. £55.

Family card
Free travel on most transport for all children under 16 years travelling with their parents.

Two & Multi Centre Holidays - Switzerland

We are able to put together any 2 or 3 centre holidays. For pricing just add the extra night price at the second location to the first location’s ‘base’ price.
For example 7 nights Zermatt (Europe) and 7 nights Davos (Morosani Post) low season £639 + £427 (7 times £61) = total £1066.
Or call us and we will happily prepare a quote. For total stays of more than 10 nights we include rail tickets between locations.
For more than 13 nights we upgrade them to First Class.