Dates: June – September
- 8 hiking days along the Via Alpina and other great trails
- walk from one mountain village to the next
- taste local food
- stay in traditional, small Hotels or Guesthouses
- carry only your day pack
- discover some of Switzerlands most scenic but hidden spots
- See how the farmers make cheese, learn about Switzerlands only Safran plantation and taste the regional wines and specialities
On our Best of the Swiss Alps hiking tour we hike each day from one little Swiss mountain village to an other. During our Best of Switzerland hiking tour we walk over passes that have been used already hundreds of years ago by the locals to bring and sell goods from one valley to an other. The animals like cows and sheep used this trails to get to their summer pastures.
We start the journey of our Best of Switzerland hike in the canton of Bern and end it in the canton of Wallis. Not only architecture but also dialects and culture change as we go from one mountain region to the next. Some of our hikes follow the Via Alpina trail. A trail network that crosses whole Switzerland.
The Best of Switzerland hiking tour is an unforgettable experiences with fascinating contrasts. Immerse yourself in the unique natural landscapes. Leave everyday life behind you. Simply switch off, forget and let your soul dangle. This is best done on foot, beyond all habits and constraints, in mountain landscapes, most of which you only know from your dreams.
We’ll be able to eat local specialities, learn about the different culture, traditions and flora and don’t have to worry about carrying our luggage. It will be transported for us. We only walk with a small day pack.
Itinerary Best of the Swiss Alps, Bernese Oberland / Wallis
Arrival Day
Meet your certified hiking guide near Interlaken for a welcome dinner and orientation about the tour.
Day 1: Interlaken – Schynige Platte – Faulhorn – Bussalp
We start our trip with one of the most beautiful hikes in Switzerland. To get to Schynige Platte we can first relax and sit back in a traditional cogwheel train that takes us from Wilderswil 1420m higher up to Schynige Platte. Pure Nostalgie in front of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Our hike has exceptional views over deep blue lakes, the famous Eiger mountain range as well as many other famous mountains. We end our hike in a traditional cheese making place where we get a chance to taste local cheese.
- 16.9kn, + 825m, -789m, 6hrs
Day 2: Grindelwald – Kleine Scheidegg – Wengen – Mürren
Gentle ascent over undulating mats to little Sheidegg, close and mighty the rock and ice wall of the Eiger north face. Sunny high trail to Wengen, then descend into the Lauterbrunnen Valley with its vertical walls and spectacular waterfalls. A cogwheel train brings us up to the car free Mürren. A village exactly opposite of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau – a quiet paradise.
- 12km, + 1200m, – 270m, 4,5hrs
Day 3: Mürren – Rotstockhütte – Sefinenfurgga – Kiental
The sun terrace of Mürren lies directly opposite the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Over alpine meadows, panoramic terraces such as the Bryndil, and sturdy huts such as the Rotstockhütte where we stop for a snack. The route continues to the Sefinenfurgge, the impressive passage into the Kiental.
- 16km, +1050m, -1200m, 6,5hrs
Day 4: Griesalp – Blüemlisalphütte / Hohtürli – Oeschinensee
Royal stage over the 2779m high Hohtürli. A challenging, steep ascent before we get to our Pass today. We will take a rewarding short detour to the Blüemlisalphütte where we stop for lunch and can visit the eternal glacier ice. Over moraine downhill to the deep blue, spectacular Oeschinensee, One of the most beautiful mountain lakes of the Alps, surrounded by steep rock faces.
- 14km, + 1150m, – 1450m, 7hrs
Day 5: Hiking or relaxing in Kandersteg
After 4 days of hiking you might just want to relax at the Spa at the Hotel or take a leisurely walk to town. The Kandersteg valley was formed by glaciers and lies in a beautiful alpine setting. It’s surrounded by majestic mountains. We can also go for a short walk or swim in the beautiful Oeschinensee.
Day 6: Kandersteg – Gasterntal – Lötschenpass – Lötschental
A fantastic stage from the idyllic Gasteretal up to the Lötschenpass. Scenic route with spectacular views of the Bietschhorn and the Mischabel group. Descent to Lauchernalp through glacier-cut terrain interspersed with small lakes.
- 11km, +1400m, -740m, 5.5hrs
Day 7: Lötschental – Ahnenhütte – Lötschental
Glacier experience at the far end of the primal Lötschental. This hike leads to Lake Anensee and the hut of the same name, from where you have a view of the entire valley. With magnificent views of the Lang Glacier, the hike follows the Lonza back to Fafleralp.
- 11km, +680m, -680m, 4hrs
Day 8: Mund – Belalp
In Mund we learn about the only location in Switzerland where the priceless spice saffron is still grown according to centuries-old traditions. The valuable crocus sativus is cultivated over approximately 18,000 square metres on a beautiful, sunny high plateau. Between 30 and 1000 flowers are harvested every day during the season between October and November. The costly spice is extracted from the flowers’ pistils. The Mund saffron guild produces between one and four kilograms of saffron every year, working painstakingly by hand. No wonder everyone is crazy about the ‘red gold’ coming from Mund. After the Safran tour we hike up to Belalp, one of our favourite spots only reachable by foot or cable car.
- 12km, + 1100m, 4hrs
Day 9: Belalp – Hanging bridge – Riederalp
We walk from one carefree village to an other carefree mountain village today.
We can enjoy impressive views over part of the biggest glacier in Switzerland from a suspension bridge during our hike today.
The 124 m long suspension bridge is one of the hiking highlights in the Aletsch region. At a height of 80 m, it leads you across the Massa Gorge directly in front of the glacier snout of the Great Aletsch Glacier.
With authentic, unspoiled nature all around you, switching off and letting go could not be easier. Surrounded by unique, UNESCO – protected nature, the rustic, car-free mountain village of Riederalp (up at 1925 m) offers visitors a warm welcome
- 12km, +646m, – 841m, 5hrs
Day 10: Brig, End of trip
We take a cable car down to the valley and a train into Brig for a snack and a stroll in the historical town. Brig has a great location as you can quickly access Zürich and Geneva Airport by the Swiss train system. Also Milano is very easy to reach from here thanks to the tunnel into Domodossola, ITA.
Map Best of the Swiss Alps hiking tour
How to get to Interlaken and how to get back from Brig
Interlaken can be reached easily by train from Zürich or Geneva Airport. You can find the train time table here. Brig, where we end our trip has very good train connections to all directions like Geneva airport, Zürich airport or also towards Milano.
Where do we stay
Depending on your budget we can stay in handpicked, beautiful small Hotels or in dorm style guest houses.
Costs
Costs depend on the style of accommodation. Please let us know in what kind of accommodation you would like to sleep and we can customise the costs for you.
Included in the costs:
- Organisation, local UIMLA-hiking guide, all accommodations with half board, all cable cars and transfers during the trekking tour
Not included in the costs:
- Picknicks and lunches, drinks, personal insurance, personal equipment, travel to Interlaken and back from Brig, extra activities not mentioned in the program
Level for Best of the Swiss Alps hiking tour
This is a demanding trekking tour where you should be able to hike for 6hrs each day on well maintained mountain trails. We climb about 1000m up each day and often descend the same distance. Each day we walk between 10 – 17 km. The trails can be rocky, lead over grassy meadows and there are sections with many steps. In June we might find some snow fields on the higher passes.
