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 Rhône 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 offer self guided walking over the New Year and at Christmas. An experience you will not easily forget!

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.

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

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 ***Superior - 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 who offer a warm and cosy atmosphere. 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
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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 £18 per bag per direction.

Switzerland- Internal travel

The Swiss transport system has a well earned reputation for being the best in the world. The trains are modern clean and run to schedule (late trains make the news in Switzerland!). We provide a personal timetable for all customers showing the relevant train times (including platforms) for transfers between airport/international rail gateway and the hotel for both arrivals and departures. We help to make the journey very much part of your holiday by providing helpful notes offering advice on changing trains and selecting the best seats to enjoy the stunning panoramic views. During your stay you will have the opportunity to experience travelling on the distinctive yellow post buses the lake steamers and many cable cars and funicular railways which will whisk you to high alpine meadows and mountain tops.

Swiss Card

A Swiss Card is included* in your holiday price if purchasing air or international rail travel through us. This can be bought separately, from us, by those making their own transport arrangements to Switzerland. The Swiss Card provides transfers between airport/international rail gateway and the hotel and enables you to enjoy most of your local travel at a 50% discount. There are a number of other travel cards listed below. If you wish to purchase separately £148** upgrade to first class £66**

* Not included for Hotel to Hotel Treks, Davos and Lower Engadine. For both Davos and Lower Engadine centred holidays we provide a rail ticket to/from Zurich airport as local transport is free.

Swiss Transfer Card

Gives free transfers between airport/international rail gateway and the hotel. Any reasonable route is permitted. Useful for very short stays and on hotel to hotel treks where you plan to walk all the way. Cost £99** upgrade to First Class £60**

Swiss Half Fare Card

Gives 50% discount during your stay for all rail and post bus services plus discounts on most funicular railways, chair lifts, gondolas and cable cars. Useful for those arriving by car. £85**

** subject to change

Family Card

Free travel on most transport for all children under 16 years traveling with their parents; provided free of charge with any of the travel cards listed above.

Two & Multi Centre Holidays - Switzerland

Clients often want to enjoy more than one area and find that traveling even a couple of hours on the train leads to a totally different walking experience. We are extremely happy to put these together for you. We will make all hotel reservations and provide the rail ticket between the centres free of charge** if the total stay is over 11 nights. For holidays over 13 nights we upgrade all the rail travel to First Class free of charge**. For example why not combine Zermatt with Davos having 7 nights in each resort in 4* hotels and journey between the two on the ‘Glacier Express’?

** As long as a Half Fare or Swiss card has been purchased