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  The Jungfrau from Männlichen near the Kleine Scheidegg.


July 21-27, 2011
Plan your arrival in Switzerland for July 20, 2011
Plan your departure for July 28, 2011

 Printable version of itinerary


 Although less than fifteen percent of the Alps lie within Switzerland, this small country is arguably the very essence of the Alpine experience. The mention of its name brings to mind sweeping alpine meadows punctuated by gem-like tarns back-dropped by towering peaks. You’ll discover that Switzerland lives up to its sometimes mythical reputation. On this inn-to-inn adventure you’ll traverse a portion of the renowned Alpine Pass Route, one of the premier long-distance hiking routes in Switzerland's Berner Oberland. Encounter a fantasy of quintessential alpine landscapes on this trek across the Swiss Alps!
Arrival Day
Overnight in Meiringen
Dinner included
Arrive in Switzerland and travel on your own by train to the town of Meiringen in the Berner Oberland. The Berner Oberland (the name given to the higher portions of Bern Canton) encompasses a scenic jumble ice-encrusted peaks and the finest high country landscapes in Switzerland! Nearly three hundred twenty square miles of the Berner Oberland has been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List as the Jungfrau-Aletsch World Heritage Site recognized as  an "outstanding example of the formation of the High Alps, including the most glaciated part of the mountain range and the largest glacier in Eurasia."


  The peaks of the Berner Oberland rise over the waters of the Bachalpsee above Grindelwald.
Day 1
Overnight in Grindelwald
Breakfast & dinner included
Begin your trek across the Berner Oberland on the hike from Meiringen to Grindelwald via Grosse Scheidegg, a broad meadow-cloaked mountain pass at the base of the Wetterhorn. Continue to the Bachalpsee and ride a cable car down to Grindelwald where you'll spend the next two nights.


  Sunrise sets the summit of the Eiger aglow.

  The Schreckhorn. Photo: S. Zimmermann		 Day 2
Overnight in Grindelwald
 Breakfast & dinner included
 Stunning views of the Wetterhorn and the well-known Eiger greet you as day breaks in Grindelwald. Ascend via the First cable car where you'll begin a trek along the Faulhornweg, one of Switzerland's classic day-hikes. The trail follows ridge lines and open meadows for the entire distance from First to Schynige Platte, and the views never quit. For those who love the high country, this is a "dream-walk." Across the valley, the summits of the Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn, and Eiger will be your constant companions! As you approach Schynige Platte, the views of the massive peaks of the Mönch and Jungfrau become more and more impressive. Just before reaching Schynige Platte you’ll enjoy a ridge walk that offers bird’s-eye views down to the waters of the Brienzer See and town of Interlaken, 4,700 feet below! At Schynige Platte, catch the cog railway to Wilderswil from where you can connect with a train back to Grindelwald.


  The meadows of Schynige Platte.

Day 3
 Overnight in Lauterbrunnen
 Breakfast & dinner included
 From Grindelwald town, hike up past Alpiglen to the pass of Kleine Scheidegg. From the Kleine Scheidegg, ascend by cog railway to the icy Jungfraujoch (11,333 ft above sea level) which offers an introduction to a world of rock, ice, and perpetual snow--an environment usually reserved for mountaineers. Return to the Kleine Scheidegg and set off on foot through the Wengernalp en route to the valley of Lauterbrunnen where you'll spend the night.


  The steep-walled valley of Lauterbrunnen.

Day 4
 Overnight in Muerren
 Breakfast & dinner included
 Travel from Lauterbrunnen by "post bus" via a spiraling road tunnel to the village of Isenfluh perched on a shelf of land 1,300 feet above the valley floor. Walk to the "lost" tarn of Sulsseeli and on to Lobhorn Hut just above the lake where a stunning mountain panorama unfolds. From the Lobhorn Hut, the path descends to the upper terminus of the Grutschalp funicular. The village of Mürren, your destination for the evening, is a short train ride away. Or you can continue on foot to Mürren enjoying magnificent vistas of the renowned trio of Berner Oberland peaks—the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.


  The picturesque Rotstockhutte nestled below the peaks.
Day 5
 Overnight in Griesalp in Kiental
 Breakfast & dinner included
 The car-free village of Mürren is spectacularly situated at the top edge of an immense cliff that drops over 2,500 feet to the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Today's route departs Muerren and climbs to the Rotstock Hut in high alpine meadowlands surrounded by massive peaks. Continue ascending to the high mountain pass called the Sefinenfurke from where the trail descends to reach the remote village of Griesalp set in the scenic upper Kiental.

  The Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau en route to the Sefinenfurke.


  The Blumlisalp Glacier as seen from the trail to Kandersteg.

Day 6
 Overnight in Kandersteg
 Breakfast & dinner included
From Griesalp, begin your trek across the lofty mountain pass known as Hohtürli ("High Door") which has been used for generations. The hike is challenging, but the scenic glories of the trip more than compensate for the effort! A mountain refuge just above the Hohtürli offers shelter, food and a place to take in the splendor of this high mountain setting. From the pass, the trail begins its long descent past impressive views of glaciers spilling from the peaks of the Blümlisalp. Eventually, the trail enters the green meadows above the lovely Öeschinensee, a turquoise mountain lake reminiscent of the Canadian Rockies, before making its final push to the town of Kandersteg.


  The lovely Oechinensee, an icon of the Swiss Alps!


  Hay rakers at Kandersteg.
Day 7
 Overnight in Leukerbad
 Breakfast & dinner included
 From Kandersteg, ascend by cable car up to Sunnbüel from where you follow a trail leading to the Gemmi Pass, a trans-mountain route used for centuries to connect the Berner Oberland with the Rhone River Valley and the Valais region. From the upper station of the cable car, the path traverses meadows known for their profusion of wildflowers and skirts the limestone-ringed lake called Daubensee before reaching the Gemmi Pass. From the pass, weather permitting, the view south across the Rhone Valley is punctuated by the peaks of the Valaisian Alps including the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa. A cable car descends from Gemmi Pass to the village of Leukerbad, or you can descend on foot via a switchbacking, step-filled path that was constructed in the early 18th century. Celebrate the conclusion of your trekking adventure at a farewell dinner. Your breakfast tomorrow morning is included in the trip price.

View from the Gemmipass by user Woudloper, Wikimedia Commons. This is a public domain image.
  View of the Valaisian Alps from the Gemmi Pass. Photo by Woudloper

Other Details about this Trip
Trip Dates: July 21-27, 2011
Price: $3,895 (6-10 participants); $3,695 (11-15 participants)
Single Room for entire trip: $300
Meeting Point: Meiringen, Switzerland on the morning of July 21. Plan to arrive in Meiringen by the evening of July 20. Note that the cost of lodging for the evening of July 20 is included in the trip price. We suggest you arrange your air transportation so that you arrive in Zurich, Switzerland (airport code ZRH) on July 20 at the latest. You can catch a train from the Zurich Airport terminal building to Meiringen (a journey of about 2.5 hours).
Departure Point: Leukerbad, Switzerland. Tour services conclude after dinner on the evening of July 27. We suggest you arrange your air transportation so that you depart from Geneva, Switzerland (airport code GVA) on July 28 at the earliest. From Leukerbad you can catch a bus to Leuk (35 minutes) where you can connect to a train traveling directly to Geneva Airport’s terminal building. Total travel time from Leukerbad to Geneva Airport is approximately 3 hours.
Accommodations: Eight nights at hotels with private bath. Eight breakfasts and eight dinners are included.
Notes: Though the day by day descriptions of the route above assume that you will complete the entire route on foot, please note that shorter options that make use of Switzerland’s excellent network of cable cars, chairlifts, post buses and cog railways are available on a daily basis.
Swiss Card Option: For slightly more than the cost of a second class train ticket from/to your point of entry in Switzerland we can purchase a Swiss Card rail pass for you at an additional fee. The Swiss Card entitles you to a 50% reduction in fares for many transportation services in Switzerland for a period of 30 days--a good deal if you plan to travel in Switzerland before or after your inn to inn adventure. It also entitles you to a round trip journey by train from a Swiss airport (or border crossing) to a single destination in Switzerland.

Printable version of itinerary


  The Eiger (left) and the pass of Kleine Scheidegg (right). Photo by S. Zimmermann

Everything was wonderful--the accommodations, food, and especially the company... By far one of the nicest times I have ever spent on vacation.

--KAREN WADE

Other Resources
Can you see the Matterhorn today? Find out if you can see this elegant peak with this view from the Gornergrat above Zermatt.

Enjoy the view from First above Grindelwald.

All photos by John Osaki unless otherwise credited.

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