Bernese Oberland Highlights Trail
Self-Guided Walking Holiday
Holiday Type:
Inn to Inn
When:
July to September
Start:
Meiringen, Switzerland
Finish:
Mürren, Switzerland
Distance:
43km (26.5 miles)
Length:
6 to 9 days
Grade:
Easy
2024 Price:
from £ 1,210.00
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Experience quintessential Switzerland in just one week
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Stay in comfortable hotels in quaint mountain villages
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Walk beneath iconic peaks such as the Eiger & Jungfrau
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Enjoy mountain trains and cable cars for shorter walking days
Trek through the best mountain scenery the Bernese Oberland has to offer, in this Highlights Inn to Inn Tour. Here you’ll find quintessential Switzerland - peaceful Alpine pastures, in the shadow of the famous Eiger and Jungfrau, the sound of cowbells in the distance.
You’ll start off from the town of Meiringen, and almost immediately pass the amazing Reichenbach Falls, location of Sherlock Holmes’ death in the Conan Doyle stories. As the route meanders up the Reichenbachtal valley to Schwarzwaldalp, you’ll pass through numerous quiet farming hamlets, with the rock faces of the Wellhorn and Wetterhorn dominating the skyline. Then it’s over Grosse Scheidegg pass to Grindelwald, the famous and bustling mountain resort which sits beneath the mighty Eiger.
Next you’ll skip some ascent by taking the mountain train from Grindelwald to Alpiglen, from which a straightforward hike brings you to Wengen, a car-free village perched high on the side of the dreamy Lauterbrunnen valley. And on your final day, hike past the famous Staubbach Waterfall to Mürren, which challenges Wengen for the title of “most picturesque Swiss mountain village”.
This trail is designed for easy hiking each day, with limited mileage and ascent. There is always a train, cable car or bus available to shorten or skip the walking. Accommodation is entirely in quality hotels, adding an extra layer of comfort to this trek, along with luggage transfers available between every location.
Photo Gallery
Bernese Oberland Highlights Trail - Itinerary & Price Options
We offer two suggested itineraries on the Bernese Oberland Highlights Trail, which are set out below. However, we are also happy to create a tailor-made itinerary based on your preferences - please just get in touch. From solo walkers to groups of friends, we are happy to help with all requirements.
BOHT-1 Itinerary
Length: 6 Days / 5 nights
Difficulty: Easy
Price: from £ 1,210.00 per person (GBP)
▼ Find out more...
2024 Prices in GBP (for 2 persons sharing a room)
Classic: £ 1,210.00 per person
Comfort: £ 1,650.00 per person
Classic: £ 1,520.00 per person
Comfort: £ 2,200.00 per person
Please see accommodation section below for details on our different accommodation levels.
Day 1
Arrive Meiringen
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Day 2
Meiringen to Schwarzwaldalp
10km & 860m ascent (6 miles & 2820ft)
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Day 3
Schwarzwaldalp to Grindelwald
12.5km & 510m ascent (8 miles & 1675ft)
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Day 4
Alpiglen to Wengen
15km & 780m ascent (9.3 miles & 2559ft)
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Day 5
Wengen to Mürren
9.1km & 865m ascent (5.6 miles & 2838ft)
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Day 6
Depart from Mürren
BOHT-2 Itinerary
Length: 9 Days / 8 nights
Difficulty: Easy
Price: from £ 1,750.00 per person (GBP)
▼ Find out more...
2024 Prices in GBP (for 2 persons sharing a room)Classic: £ 1,750.00 per person
Comfort: £ 2,350.00 per person
2024 Prices in GBP (for 1 person)
Classic: £ 1,990.00 per person
Comfort: £ 3,100.00 per person
Please see accommodation section below for details on our different accommodation levels.
Day 1
Arrive Meiringen
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Day 2
Meiringen to Schwarzwaldalp
10km & 860m ascent (6 miles & 2820ft)
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Day 3
Schwarzwaldalp to Grindelwald
12.5km & 510m ascent (8 miles & 1675ft)
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Day 4
Rest Day in Grindelwald
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Day 5
Alpiglen to Wengen
15km & 780m ascent (9.3 miles & 2559ft)
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Day 6
Rest Day in Wengen
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Day 7
Wengen to Mürren
9.1km & 865m ascent (5.6 miles & 2838ft)
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Day 8
Rest Day in Mürren
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Day 9
Depart from Mürren
What’s Included?
✔ Accommodation each night
✔ Breakfast every morning
✔ Dinner in Schwarzwaldalp
✔ Tickets for trains on the itinerary
✔ Luggage transfers hotel to hotel
✔ Detailed Itinerary, Map & Guidebook
✔ GPX Waypoints and online mapping
✔ 24/7 Emergency Phone Number
What’s not Included?
X Travel Insurance
X Flights to and from the trail
X Lunches
Optional Extras
? Rail Transport to and from the trail
? Taxi Transfers to and from the trail
Bernese Oberland Highlights Trail - Itinerary Detail
The below is based on our most popular itinerary on the Bernese Oberland Highlights Trail, BOHT-1 Itinerary (6 Days / 5 Nights).
▼ Day 1: Arrive in Meiringen
Easily Accessible by Train
Easily accessible by train from cities such as Zurich (2 hours) and Geneva (3.5 hours), where connections to airports and wider European rail networks are available.
Accommodation:
Hotel in Meiringen
▼ Day 2: Meiringen to Schwarzwaldalp
10km & 860m ascent (6 miles & 2820ft)
You’ll start off from the town of Meiringen, and almost immediately pass the amazing Reichenbach Falls, location of Sherlock Holmes’ death in the Conan Doyle stories. As the route meanders up the Reichenbachtal valley to Schwarzwaldalp, you’ll pass through numerous quiet farming hamlets, with the rock faces of the Wellhorn and Wetterhorn dominating the skyline.
Accommodation:
Hotel in Schwarzwaldalp
▼ Day 3: Schwarzwaldalp to Grindelwald
12.5km & 510m ascent (8 miles & 1675ft)
Head over the pass at Grosse Scheidegg, where the views become even more spectacular - the Wetterhorn now being joined by the Eiger beyond. Descend from Grosse Scheidegg into the vast bowl of the Grindelwald valley, views really developing to your left. You’ll pass through green fields and past wooden barns, and encounter a gradually increasing number of people as you enter one of Europe’s most popular outdoor resorts.
Accommodation:
Hotel in Grindelwald
▼ Day 4: Alpiglen to Wengen
15km & 780m ascent (9.3 miles & 2559ft)
Begin the day with a short journey on a mountain railway, from Grindelwald to Alpiglen, saving about 700m (2296ft) of ascent. At Alpiglen, there's an optional extra to take the “Eiger Trail”, a small but absolutely classic hike. The panoramic route traverses underneath the famous north face of the Eiger - the sheer rock wall looming constantly above. Upon reaching Kleine Scheidegg, it’s a very gradual walk down to Wengen - with views into the famous Lauterbrunnen valley opening up as you go. Wengen is a simply beautiful village perched high on the side of the valley - and a ban on cars keeps it quiet.
Accommodation:
Hotel in Wengen
▼ Day 5: Wengen to Mürren
9.1km & 865m ascent (5.6 miles & 2838ft)
Today is a traverse of the Lauterbrunnen valley. Descend through some quintessentially Swiss countryside - pastures punctuated with small wooden barns - to the valley floor. Here a small diversion to the Staubbach Waterfall could be made - the famous cascade dropping down the sheer valley side. Then, it’s an easy ascent up to the village of Mürren, which challenges Wengen for the title of “most picturesque Swiss mountain village”. Again, there are no cars allowed here, so it's just the sound of cowbells filling the air.
Accommodation:
Hotel in Mürren
▼ Day 6: Depart from Mürren
Easily accessibly by gondola and train
From Mürren, it’s a 3.5 hour journey by public transport to Zurich, or 5 hours to Geneva.
Bernese Oberland Highlights Trail - Route Map
Bernese Oberland Highlights Trail - Elevation Profile
Accommodation Levels
Generally, accommodation in villages will be booked on a Bed and Breakfast basis, whilst accommodation in more remote locations will be Half Board (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast). There may be exceptions to this, which will be detailed in your quotation.
Examples of accommodation we use are detailed in the itinerary above, and will be included in your quotation.
Basic
Not available on the Bernese Oberland Highlights Trail.
Classic
Accommodation will be in private rooms in 2 to 3* Hotels.
Comfort
Accommodation will be in private rooms in 4* Hotels.
FAQs
Do you take bookings for solo hikers? (spoiler - of course we do!)
What is a self-guided holiday? When is the best time to travel?
For all answers please head to our FAQs page. Alternatively, please don’t hesitate to send us an email or give us a call with any questions about our holidays.