Traverse the “Top of the Alps” Through the Bernese Oberland
Hiking Switzerland’s Via Alpina
Overview
Hike the high trails of the Via Alpina in Switzerland's Jungfrau region, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage area that includes the legendary massifs of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau and the mighty Aletsch Glacier, the largest in the Alps. Amid this mountain glory, we hike on the famed Eiger Trail (as close as hikers can get to the awesome North Face of the Eiger), explore the Aletsch Glacier between the massive Jungfrau and Mönch massifs, and pass through some of the most gorgeous settings in the Alps. One special overnight is at the historic Hotel Bellevue des Alpes, right at the foot of the Eiger and brimming with mountain-climbing lore. If you love exhilarating hikes and Swiss mountain splendor, this is the adventure for you!
Arrive: Lucerne, Switzerland
Depart: Kandersteg, Switzerland
Highlights
- Challenging hikes and stunning views of the Bernese Alps
- Hike the famous Eiger Trail below the North Face of the Eiger
- Explore mountain-ringed villages, from Engelberg and Mürren to Kandersteg
- Cross Hohtürli Pass to descend past icefalls to majestic Lake Oeschinensee
- Enjoy the ancient alpine heritage of the Jungfrau region
- Overnights in lovely hotels, including the historic hotel right below the Eiger
Itinerary
From the village of Engelberg, we hike to Surenenpass for a magnificent view of fjord-like Lake Uri and the Reuss Valley. We'll stop for refreshments at a mountain refuge in high pastures. Our hike up to Planplatten (7,254') brings us 360-degree views far into the peaks of the Bernese Oberland, and we descend by cable car to the charming village of Meiringen.
We hike a balcony trail above Grosse Scheidegg Pass, with an overnight at Grindelwald, a Swiss town with a stunning location below the Eiger. Taking the train to Alpiglen, we head out on the famed Eiger Trail, one of the top walks in Europe, leading along the foot of the infamous North Face of the Eiger. Views are phenomenal, stretching across the Grindelwald Valley and to the Wetterhorn. Afterwards, we'll overnight at the turn-of-the-century hotel below the Eiger to soak up alpine history in a special setting (The Eiger Sanction was filmed here).
An unforgettable ride on a century-old cogwheel train brings us to Jungfraujoch (11,371'), Europe's highest railway station, set on the saddle between Jungfrau and Mönch. Here we'll hike on the great Aletsch Glacier flanked by 12,000-foot peaks. Hiking options the next day are in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, with its towering granite walls and 72 thundering waterfalls.
Vistas are breathtaking as we hike from lovely Murren up to dramatic Sefinenfurke Pass (8,600'), with a spectacular descent into the end-of-the-road hamlet of Griesalp. Our last hike brings us up to Hohtürli Pass and past glaciers to Oeschinensee, a surreal blue lake encircled by mountain ramparts, with a descent to the village of Kandersteg. Depart on Day 10.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 5+, Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 11 miles a day for several days in a row, being on your feet for up to 9 hours a day, and hiking on narrow, uneven, and exposed surfaces. While no climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, all trip members should have ample hiking experience and be able to keep up with the group as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 9 miles; 7 hours
- 2,500-3,500 feet gain/loss
- Altitudes range from 7,000-11,500 feet
- Day 8: 14 miles, 8-9 hours, 4,500 feet gain, and 4,250 feet loss
At lower elevations, the trails are usually packed dirt, but at higher elevations they are often much rockier, with occasional sections of glacial snow, loose scree, and large boulders. On some days, you will encounter sections of narrow, exposed trails with steep descents and chain handrails. Your experienced mountain guides are there to assist you if needed.
Temperatures are likely to reach the 60s°F and 70s°F during the day, with cool breezes and occasional rain. At night the temperature will drop quite a bit, depending on the altitude. The months we run these trips have the optimal weather conditions, but still can be fickle. It can range from blue skies to cloudy, wet, and cold conditions, making rain gear and warm garments necessary items to carry with you on every hike.
We spend our nights in alpine inns and hotels. Some are more traditional hotels and some have very small rooms, but they all have their own private bathroom with a shower or bathtub. Please note that the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Many hotels also do not have an elevator or porter service, so be prepared to carry your luggage up the stairs. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Lunch will be in a mountain lodge, at a local restaurant, or in a picnic spot amidst the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Most evenings we will have dinner at our hotel. Some of the items you may see on the menu include hearty soups, a variety of cheeses and dry meats from the region, cheese fondue, raclette (melted cheese served with jacket potatoes), cocktail gherkins and onions, pickled fruit, älplermagronen (a kind of gratin with potatoes, macaroni, cheese, cream and onions), rösti (a flat, hot cake made of grated, cooked potatoes and fried in hot butter), zürcher geschnetzelte (a veal dish, sometimes also containing veal liver and mushrooms, served with a cream sauce), and bratwurst served with onion sauce.
Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our support vehicle will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transfering that day). We will experience the efficient Swiss network of public transport from cable cars and chair lifts to cogwheel trains, funiculars, and the Post Bus which travels along marvelous, scenic roads to tiny mountain hamlets while delivering bread, salad, the newspaper, and letters to the locals.
Client Testimonials
"Well seasoned trip leaders, great company, and a excellent Swiss experience."
Jorge A.
Council Rocks, IA
"Great trip, with an excellent variety of experiences. Hikes were all interesting, challenging enough and beautiful. Hotels varied nicely from simple to more luxurious, each appropriate for the time and place. GREAT trail snacks and the meals were delicious."
Marilyn H.
Barnstable, MA
"The entire trip was impressively well-run. In particular the level and timeliness of communication from the trip leaders was outstanding; I realized whenever I reached a point where I wanted to know something about where we were staying the next night, or where we would have dinner, etc., a trip leader would already be answering the question to the group."
Matt P.
Orinda, CA
"An outstanding trip with excellent hikes and incredible scenery."
Michelle J.
Irvine, CA
"The itinerary was excellent—wonderful hiking day by day, great views of the Alps, nice hotels every night, optional rest days were perfect. Our trip leaders were excellent, knowledgeable, responsive to us, technically very capable, and nice people."
Rick C.
Portland, OR
"The trip exceeded my expectations, and I was able to see the Alps for the third time and be in awe of the mountains. The food and accommodations overall have to be some of the best on any of my trips."
Terrell N.
Los Angeles, CA
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Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.