8 Days & 7 Nights

4.8

Best of the Bernese Oberland

Flexible alpine walking amidst a backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau
The villages of Mürren, Wengen & Grindelwald, staying at chalet-style hotels
The classic Swiss Alps—jagged peaks, crystal clear lakes & alpine meadows
Working up an appetite for delicious raclette, fondu, rösti and apfelstrüdel
The freedom to extend/shorten your walk by cable car, funicular, bus or train!

Explore the iconic peaks of the Bernese Oberland on foot, with a choice of classic walks between Mürren, Wengen and Grindelwald; Swiss chocolate-box alpine villages framed by the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The network of mountain transport gives you easy and flexible access to the Jungfrau region’s 500km of walking trails. You’re in control of how easy or challenging you want your walks to be, or simply relax and let the train, funicular, cable car or bus whisk you up and down the mountains!

From £1,459.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive Mürren

Immerse yourself in a traditional Swiss alpine village; Mürren’s car-free streets are lined with chocolate-box wooden chalets, adorned with colourful flowers. Listen out for the tinkling of cowbells as you settle into your chalet-style hotel for a 2 night stay.

The best way to reach Mürren is by train; just 55 mins from Interlaken, 2hrs from Bern, 3hrs from Zurich or Basel, 3h45 from Geneva.

Overnight Mürren

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Blumental | 3 Star | Hotel

Hotel Blumental is located in the very heart of Mürren. The property was built in 1870 and then complertely renovated in 1957. The impressive breakfast room dates from 1928. There is a cosy lounge area and a lovely restaurant, as well as an outdoor seating area which is perfect for watching passers by wandering through the peaceful village in the evening. The hotel has 20 rooms; 14 in the main building and 6 in the annex which is just to the rear of the property.

Hotel Edelweiss | 3 Star | Hotel

3-star superior Hotel Edelweiss is surrounded by the fantastic mountain world with Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, Breithorn, Birg and Schilthorn. All rooms are equiped with TV/Radio, safe and hairdryer. Free WiFi is available in the entire hotel.

Hotel Alpenruh | Hotel

Chalet Hotel Alpenruh is located adjacent to the Schilthorn cable car station, just minutes from the heart of Mürren. Dine in the popular restaurant or relax in the cosy small bar. There is a sauna which you can hire on a private basis (1 hr duration, free) – please make a reservation with the front desk.

Day 2 Schilthorn/choice of walks from Mürren 4 miles / 6.5 km

Mürren is nestled amidst a backdrop of iconic peaks; the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The Jungfrau region is a hiker’s paradise, with around 500km of superb way-marked trails. You can make good use of the cable cars, railways and funicular services to shorten or lengthen your hike as you wish! Each day we offer a variety of suggested walks to get you exploring the alpine meadows and mountain slopes.

Another option for today is to ride the cable car to the top of the Schilthorn, where you can admire 200 other peaks from the Skyline viewing platform at 2970m. There’s also a 360° restaurant and interactive Bond World 007 exhibition; paying homage to the thriller ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’.

Grutschalp to Muerren via the Mountain View Trail: 6.5km, ascent/descent: 450m/300m

Overnight Mürren

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Blumental | 3 Star | Hotel

Hotel Edelweiss | 3 Star | Hotel

Hotel Alpenruh | Hotel

Day 3 Choice of walks/travel to Wengen 3 miles / 5 km

You’ll find Wengen just across the Lauterbrunnen valley from Mürren, perched at the top of vertical cliffs springing with waterfalls. You have a choice of rewarding walks at your fingertips, which you can combine with mountain transport to adjust your walk as you wish.

Trains run from Mürren to Grütschalp, from where you can descend by cable car to Lauterbrunnen. The railway from here winds its way up to the car-free alpine village of Wengen, situated on a sunny plateau with outstanding views to the Jungfrau. Spend your next 2 nights here.

Lauterbrunnen to Wengen: 2.6km, ascent/descent: 450m/10m

Wengen- Leiterhorn Loop: 5km, ascent/descent: 285m/275m

Overnight Wengen

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Schoenegg | Hotel

Hotel Schönegg dates from 1903, and was fully renovated in 2012. Although not strictly a chalet-hotel, the interior and furnishings with their rich wooden patina are typical of a Swiss chalet. The have a restaurant on site, Restaurant 1903, with a cosy wooden decor. The rooms have charming wooden touches and guests can enjoy the sauna and massage bed (fee payable for the latter).

Hotel Bären | 3 Star | Hotel

This lovely 3-star chalet hotel is located just a short walk from the village centre. Rooms are simply furnished and there is a lovely restaurant serving delicious local cuisine.

Day 4 Männlichen cable car, walk to Kleine Scheidegg/Wengen 7.5 miles / 12 km

A must-do walk is the aptly named Panorama Trail, reached by the Männlichen cable car (2342m). The trail traces the foot of the Männlichen chain, through woods and alpine pastures with views of the mighty rock walls of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and untouched Trümmelbach Valley to Kleine Scheidegg (2061m).

Reward yourself wth a cold beer, steaming plate of rösti and melting raclette at this celebrated mountain pass, with breath-taking views to the Eiger, Lauberhorn and their glaciers. From Kleine Scheidegg you can also ride the railway up to the Jungfraujoch, the highest point reachable by rail in Europe (also see Days 6 & 7).

You can board the Wengernalp railway back to the village or continue your walk further.

Maennlichen-Kleine Scheidegg - Wengen: 11.5km, ascent/descent: 950m/50m

Overnight Wengen

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Schoenegg | Hotel

Hotel Bären | 3 Star | Hotel

This lovely 3-star chalet hotel is located just a short walk from the village centre. Rooms are simply furnished and there is a lovely restaurant serving delicious local cuisine.

Day 5 Eiger Trail/Travel to Grindelwald 8.5 miles / 13.5 km

One of our favourite Swiss walks is the Eiger Trail from Eigergletscher (a short train ride from Wengen) to Alpiglen. This high route brings you right in front of the famous North Face itself; look up and right to see the metal ladders and perhaps even a climber or two setting off on an adventure.

Soak up the views over the Wetterhorn and the Grosse Scheidegg before continuing on a zig-zag trail down to Alpiglen. Here you can jump on board the train, or walk further via Gletscherschlucht to Grindelwald, your base for the next 3 nights.

Remember, you can also take cable cars or the train all the way from Wengen to picture-postcard Grindelwald, and there are easier/shorter walks to choose from.

Eiger trail via the Gletscherschlucht to Grindelwald: 13.7km, ascent/descent: 250m/1500m

Overnight Grindelwald

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Gletschergarten | 3 Star | Hotel

Chalet Hotel Gletschergarten has been family-run since 1899, and is currently run by the 4th generation of the Michel-Breitenstein family. There is a sauna, steam bath and relaxation room. All rooms have a balcony or terrace.

Hotel Alpenhof | 3 Star | Hotel

Hotel Alpenhof is located in a stunning elevated position above Grindelwald village. There are 17 rooms, with balcony or garden access. They also have a traditional cosy Swiss restaurant, which specialises in catering for special diets (gluten and lactose free for example).

Hotel Hirschen | 3 Star | Hotel

Hotel Hirschen is a centrally-located 3* hotel in Grindelwald, in the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland. Close to the train station, and with local ski and bus stops right outside the door, this hotel is the perfect starting point for excursions and walks.

Day 6 Jungfraujoch optional excursion or choice of walks

A must-do optional excursion during your stay in the Bernese Oberland is the ‘Top of Europe’ Jungfraujoch, easily reached by rail from either Wengen or Grindelwald. From Kleine Scheidegg, the cog-wheel railway climbs steeply up to the Jungfraujoch (3454m).

At the very top you’ll find an ice palace with ice sculptures, a viewing plateau, restaurants and panoramic “Sphinx” observation terrace with views over the Aletsch glacier, the longest alpine glacier at 23km.

From Grindelwald you’ve a choice of walks; explore the Grosse Scheidegg plateau, the sparkling Bachalpsee or First with its cable car station. Mountain cafés dotted around Grindelwald will tempt you to relax in the sunshine with a large slice of Apfelstrüdel or Mövenpick ice cream sundae— you need to keep your energy levels up after all!

First - Bachalpsee - Grosse Scheidegg: 16.0km, ascent/descent: 850m/1050m

Grindelwald - Grosse Scheidegg: 8.5km, ascent/descent: 950m/80m

Overnight Grindelwald

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Gletschergarten | 3 Star | Hotel

Hotel Alpenhof | 3 Star | Hotel

Hotel Hirschen | 3 Star | Hotel

Day 7 Jungfraujoch optional excursion or choice of walks

First - Bachalpsee - Grosse Scheidegg: 16.0km, ascent/descent: 850m/1050m

Grindelwald - Grosse Scheidegg: 8.5km, ascent/descent: 950m/80m

Overnight Grindelwald

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Gletschergarten | 3 Star | Hotel

Hotel Alpenhof | 3 Star | Hotel

Hotel Hirschen | 3 Star | Hotel

Day 8 Onward Travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 5kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 5kg is equivalent to 1 Neapolitan margherita pizza. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

Thanks to a flexible choice of walks, you’re free to enjoy this alpine hikers’ playground as you wish—whilst making good use of the superb network of mountain railways to shorten or lengthen your walks. Stay in authentic family-run chalet-style hotels in traditional mountain villages.

Trip Type:

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Activity:

Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Accessible by Rail

Alpine Walking

Grade & Terrain

This trip is graded ‘easy to moderate’ overall, as the walks are around 4-14km, but many you can shorten with mountain transport (payable locally or you can opt to purchase a Jungfrau Travel Pass in advance) or skip altogether.

The routes and footpaths are not technically difficult, but a good level of fitness is recommended so you can relax and enjoy the scenery. Our routes follow wide tracks, paths and sometimes narrower mountain paths occasionally with steep slopes above and below—as with most Alpine walking a good head for heights and sure-footedness is required. Cable cars and trains can be used to avoid the steepest ascents and descents, but some steep sections are unavoidable— the Eiger Trail and the First to Bachalpsee hikes are the most demanding days, with ascents and descents ranging up to 1050m of ascent/descent, in your route notes we have detailed how these days can be made easier.

Please be aware that earlier in the season there may be some residual snow lying in patches, but this will not require any special equipment or skills; walking poles are recommended.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

7 Nights in 3-star family-run chalet-style hotels
7 Breakfasts
Baggage transfers between accommodations (days 3, 5)
Information Pack, maps, route notes, GPX tracks, access to our smartphone app
24-7 Emergency telephone support

Excluded

Travel insurance (required)
Travel to Mürren and from Grindelwald
Entrance fees (eg. Jungfraujoch excursion)
Public transport (eg. railways, cable cars, chairlifts, funiculars, buses)
Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
Personal equipment

Extras

Additional nights before, during or after the walk

When to go Travel & Transfers

Getting to the Start

The best way to reach Mürren is by train; just 55 mins from Interlaken. You can fly into Bern (2 hrs away), Zurich or Basel (3 hrs), or Geneva (3h45). Train timetables and details of public transportation in Switzerland are available via the excellent travel planner at www.sbb.ch.

Getting from the End

From Grindelwald most train connections are via Interlaken Ost (35 mins). Travel times are as follows from Grindelwald to city train stations (Hauptbahnhof/HB): to Bern (1h40), Zurich (2h40), Basel (2h40), or Geneva (3h30); Again, please see SBB’s website for timetable planning. Further information regarding travel advice will be in your comprehensive pre-departure information pack.

Baggage Transfer

Your bags will be transferred via train between your accommodations as per your itinerary. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person. Please note that, if heavier than the limit, your bags might be refused by the luggage handlers.

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

Info & FAQ

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.