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Bernese Highlights - Trek |
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Hotel to
Hotel Trek in Switzerland |
The Trek
 This
trek takes you through some of the most beautiful mountain scenery that
Switzerland has to offer crossing two major passes and combining stays
in small Swiss towns and villages with hotels high on the passes. You
walk within sight of some of Switzerland ’s most stunning peaks, Titlis,
Jungfrau and Eiger to name but a few. You will view magnificent glaciers
as you walk which feed many of the mountain streams you cross. At the
end of a day’s walking you are assured of a friendly welcome at each of
our hotels with meals prepared from fresh local ingredients.
The Walking
The route crosses
alpine meadows and skirts crystal clear lakes set high amongst the
mountains. It passes through beautiful green valleys with rushing
mountain streams and waterfalls tumbling from high above. The paths are
all of good quality and are well way marked. The route has many options
for shortening by taking a cable car or post bus to
 take
the strain out of the climbs or pressure off the knees for the downhill
sections. This makes the walk especially suitable for families, as some
members can cut their day’s walking short while others continue on.
Self Guided
Our Bernese
highlights trek is offered on a self guided basis. We provide full
walking notes and all the relevant maps as well as transport timetables.
The Route
Day 1 Arrive
in Engelberg. This mountain village is just 2½ hours from Zurich
airport, and we can arrange rail passes or tickets. It is a good idea to
add an extra day or two in Engelberg before starting the Bernese
Highlights trek, getting used to walking at high altitudes. We have
several walks in our walk booklet based here.
Day 2
Engelberg to Engstlenalp. Highest point Jochpass (2207m). Not the longest
walk of the tour but a demanding first day because of the total ascent
involved. However, this can be reduced by using one or more cablecars.
Our route takes us up past the Trubsee Lake. from where we climb to the
Jochpass before descending to Engstlenalp. 7.5 miles +1,240m - 400m 4½
to 5½ hours
Day 3
Engstlenalp to Meiringen. Highest point Engstlenalp. This is a superb
walk, firstly above the Gental, a wonderland for lovers of wild flowers
and butterflies early in the season, then facing the quite different
Hasliberg region. 10.5 miles + 50m - 1,260m (820m if fini shing
at Rueti) 6 to 7½ hours.
Day 4 At
leisure in Meiringen There is a choice of day walks exploring this
amazing walking area. Or take a day off from walking and visit
Ballenberg, Switzerland’s greatest open air museum, take the steam
railway to the top of the Rothorn or just cruise on Lake Brienz.
Day 5
Meiringen to Schwarzwaldalp. A short day, albeit energetic early on,
with opportunities for diversions. You walk up past the Reichenbach
Falls famous for the death of Moriaty and Sherlock Holmes in the Sir
Arthur Conan-Doyles classic, before walking the stunning Rosenlaui
valley. 7 miles + 860m - 0m 4 to 5 hours
Day 6
Schwarzwaldalp to Grindelwald A steady ascent to the pass at Grosse
Scheidegg is followed by a leisurely descent, with magnificent mountain
views before you including the Eiger, making a fairly easy day. This
shorter day allows you to spend time in Grindelwald. 7 miles + 510m -
890m 4 to 5 hours
Day 7
Grindelwald to Mürren. Today, you get fantastic views of the peaks of
the Eiger, the Monch and the Jungfrau among others as you cross the pass
of Kleine Scheidegg. Or walk under the North Face of the Eiger. It is
possible to reduce both ascent and descent today. 13 miles + 1,120m -
1,410m 6½
to 8 hours.
Day 8 Travel
home. The rail journey to the airport on the efficient Swiss railway
network through superb Swiss scenery is still very much part of the
holiday.
The hotels and food
 A
variety of accommodation is used on this trek, ranging from mountain
inns to 3 star hotels. All hotels have rooms with private
bathroom except one mountain inn where you only have a wash basin in the
room and share the shower and WC. Half board is
included on all nights.
Baggage transfer
On most days your
baggage is transported from hotel to hotel, so it will not be necessary
to carry more than a light pack containing items you will need during
the day. For the overnight stays at Engstlenalp (night 2) and
Schwarzwaldalp (night 5) you will also need to carry spare clothes and
washing kit as your luggage cannot be transported to these remoter
hotels.
Extension
Why not extend
to 11 days and continue walking to Adelboden for a tougher challenge
Murren - Griesalp 8-11 miles +350 m or 1090m - 1920 or 1330, 6 to
7 hours
Griesalp - Kandersteg 9-10 miles +1370 - 1610, 7-8 hours
Kandersteg - Adleboden 7½
miles +930 - 1300, 6 hours
Contact us for details
Variations
This trek can be varied to suit your needs, just tell us how long you have
and difficulty of walking you wish and we will make a recommendation.
How to get there
By Air: Zurich is the closest
airport to Engelberg at 2 hours 40 minutes with one change in Luzern.
Basle is just under 3 hours and Geneva Airport just over 4 hours away
each with a change of train in Bern.
Transfers from airport to centres are by rail. Zürich and Geneva have integrated rail
links with regular services to all our centres.
By Car: Dover - Calais - Rheims - Strasbourg - Basel (allow 2 days)
By Train: Eurostar to Paris with onward connections to Switzerland. It is possible to
reach most centres in one day.
When to go
Available from Mid
June to the beginning of October with a stronger chance of snow
affecting the walking on some days in June and October. In this period
there are local transport alternatives that operate close to the walking
route. Extension from Murren from mid-July only.
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