Walking the Bernese Highlights West

Walking the Bernese Highlights West

47 Views
8 Days From

$2090

Walking the Bernese Highlights West

8 Days Starting in Murren and ending in Gstaad

Visiting: Murren, Mürren, Kandersteg, Adelboden, Lenk, Gstaad

Tour operator:

Exodus Adventure Travels

Tour code:

W07BW

Group Type:

Independent

Guide Type:

Self Guided

Physical rating:

Challenging

Age range:

18-99

From: $2090

NB: Prices correct on 05-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Walking high in the mountains on the Bernese Highlights West offers a more challenging route than the Bernese Highlights East. Amazing views are the reward for your efforts and at every turn in the way you will be greeted by some of the most dramatic mountain scenery to be found in Switzerland - if not the whole of Europe. However, if you wish to opt out of any day's walk or should inclement weather descend, it is possible to travel between all overnight stops by public transport.



Starting in perhaps the most beautiful village in the Bernese Oberland, perched high up above the Lauterbrunnen Valley is Murren. Above Murren rises the great peak of the Schilthorn, with its revolving restaurant made famous by James Bond. Walk up and over the high pass of Sefinenfurgge and continue to the remote valley of Griesalp, set against the backdrop of the Bluemlisalp massif. Continue through the Hohturli pass where views are utterly magnificent! Get up close to a number of glaciers in addition to the turquoise waters of Lake Oeschinensee in its stunning setting above Kandersteg. Set within the beautiful Kander valley, Kandersteg is home to an extraordinary amount of diverse Alpine flowers. Follow stunning mountain paths with incredible panoramic views before descending into the mountain village of Adelboden for the night. Another mountain pass awaits you as you head over to Lenk across scenic alpine meadows. Finally, you cross Trutlisbergpass, then down the valley to Gstaad, which despite being known for its prestige has remained truly Alpine.

Highlights

  • Delight in magnificent views along this as you cross high mountain passes linking alpine valleys

  • Walk to some of the most remote areas and be rewarded with dramatic mountain scenery

  • View exquisite glaciers and the shimmering turquoise waters of Lake Oeschinensee

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive Murren

Location: Murren

It is a good idea to add an extra day or two in Murren before starting your Bernese Highlights walk to get used to walking at high altitudes. We have several walks to chose from based here.



Overnight Hotel Edelweiss, Murren.

Day 2 : Murren To Greisalp

Location: Mürren

Meals Included: Breakfast

You begin with a steady ascent from Murren to Rotstockhutte. Enjoy a healthy lunch in this marvellous setting, before you climb the high pass of Sefinenfurgge which becomes quite steep towards the end. Descend on a scree section, dotted with wooden steps as you enter the attractive valley of Griesalp.



Overnight Hotel Berghaus, Griesalp.

Day 3 : Griesalp To Kandersteg

Location: Kandersteg

Meals Included: Breakfast

Another challenging but unforgettable day! Be prepared for an almost unrelenting ascent to reach Hohturli pass at 1,370m. Weather conditions permitting, the views are utterly magnificent! The descent is both long and steep in places, affording close up views of a number of glaciers in addition to the turquoise waters of Lake Oeschinensee in its stunning setting above Kandersteg. From Oeschinensee a cable car operates to Kandersteg eliminating the final descent of approx. 1mile.



Overnight Hotel Blumlisalp 3*, Kandersteg.

Day 4 : At Leisure In Kandersteg

Location: Kandersteg

Meals Included: Breakfast

A free day if you wish with time relaxing in the hotel or just wandering around this delightful village.



Overnight Hotel Blumlisalp 3*, Kandersteg.

Day 5 : Kandersteg To Adelboden

Location: Adelboden

Meals Included: Breakfast

Not as tough as the previous days, as we suggest you use the Allmenalp cable car and then walk towards Bunderchrinde. Afterwards, you descend down to the valley, before one last ascent takes you up to the charming village of Adelboden.



Overnight Hotel Adler, Adelboden.

Day 6 : Adelboden To Lenk

Location: Lenk

Meals Included: Breakfast

Your walk today is a less dramatic ascent, much of it alongside pretty streams in woodland and then out onto the beautifully groomed pastures of upland Switzerland. The scenery is less rugged though there are still snow-capped peaks in view - you cross from one valley to another on easier paths mainly among scenic alpine meadows.



Overnight Hotel Kreuz, Lenk.

Day 7 : Lenk To Gstaad

Location: Gstaad

Meals Included: Breakfast

Your climb out of Lenk today takes you above the Wallbach valley in a SW direction towards the Truttlisbergpass. Once you are clear of the forest the views grow increasingly stunning and you can see yesterday's walk behind you. You cross from Lenk over the Trutlisbergpass to Lauenen, then down the valley to Gstaad with superb views on both sides of the pass and a short gorge walk to add further dimension to the day. The valley descent (3 miles) can be avoided by catching the bus at Lauenen to Gstaad.



Overnight Hotel Alphorn, Gstaad.

Day 8 : Depart Gstaad

Location: Gstaad

Meals Included: Breakfast

Say fond farewells to Switzerland as you depart on the train.

What's Included

  • 7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation

  • All breakfasts

  • Navigation app 

  • Luggage transfers between hotels 

What's Not Included

  • Travel insurance

  • Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)

  • Visas or vaccinations

  • Lunches & dinners

  • Arrival and departure transfers (if booking a land only package)

Food

Accommodation

Boasting the best views on the snow-covered peaks of Bernese Oberland, Hotel Edelweiss offers a charming mix of cosy rooms together with a modern ambience. Since 1991 Mr & Mrs Kuster-von Allmen have welcomed guests from all over the world to enjoy car-free village of Murren. Hotel guests have complimentary admission to the Alpine Sports Centre, just a few minutes walk away with swimming pool and whirlpool.

Mode of Transport

The tour involves walking through the scenic Bernese Oberland, with luggage transfers between hotels. A cable car is available from Oeschinensee to Kandersteg, and a bus can be taken from Lauenen to Gstaad to avoid the valley descent.

Check out our Q&As

  • What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?

    The tour provides hotel-to-hotel accommodation, including stays at Hotel Edelweiss in Murren, Hotel Berghaus in Griesalp, Hotel Blumlisalp in Kandersteg, Hotel Adler in Adelboden, Hotel Kreuz in Lenk, and Hotel Alphorn in Gstaad. Hotel Edelweiss offers a mix of cozy rooms with a modern ambiance and complimentary admission to the Alpine Sports Centre.

  • Are meals included in the tour package?

    The tour package includes all breakfasts. Lunches and dinners are not included and will need to be arranged separately.

  • Is luggage transfer provided during the tour?

    Yes, luggage transfers between hotels are included in the tour package.

  • What is the starting and ending point of the tour?

    The tour starts in Murren and ends in Gstaad.

  • Is there any free time during the tour?

    Yes, there is a free day in Kandersteg where you can relax at the hotel or explore the village at your leisure.

  • Are there any optional activities during the tour?

    On Day 3, a cable car operates from Oeschinensee to Kandersteg, which can be used to eliminate the final descent of approximately 1 mile. On Day 7, the valley descent from Lauenen to Gstaad can be avoided by catching a bus.

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews of this operator

Gergana Racheva  

Very helpful and prompt service

06-Jan-2023

Very helpful and prompt service. I called to check for an already booked trip and once we sorted this, the agent was ready to help me with another booking as well. He actually waited for me to book my flight tickets, answered all my questions, informed me of all my options. Exodus is a tour company I am using regularly due to the quality of their trips, ease of booking and helpfulness of their customer service team

Trustpilot
Tim Hardy  

Stunning walking. Walking the Amalfi Coast

04-Nov-2021

This trip takes you through the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean walking with a guide and also discovering the wonders of Pompeii and Vesuvius. The hotel had a nice feel as family run, spotless and comfortable rooms, we were well looked after for breakfasts and dinner each day, and the barmen fixed some mean cocktails for us.!

paul green (Google Reviewer)  

Went on a tour of...

14-Jan-2022

Went on a tour of morocco in October and loved it ,mohamed the tour guide was excellent, probably go with exodus to India next year

Paul Green  

It's amazing what you can do in a week! Cycling the Dalmatian Coast.

08-Oct-2021

This holiday was extremely enjoyable. The itinerary is well planned and the route takes you to a variety of destinations. Not having been to Croatia before I didn't know there were so many beautiful small islands and I loved the ferry and catarmaran rides. The coastal route we took was dramatic and the World Heritage sites in Split and Dubrovnik very interesting and worth visiting. The Adriatic Sea was warm, blue and inviting, good for swimming even in October. The hotels we stayed in varied in size from medium to large. I particularly liked the one just outside Dubrovnik as I had a sea view. Tourists were plentiful in Split and Dubrovnik but in the other places we stayed there was an end of season feel and it was quiet on the roads and in the resorts. The food was good and our guide was always able to recommend a nice restaurant for our evening meal. The weather in October was good for cycling - not hot, partly cloudy most days and one day it rained!

Mrs Y Morrison  

Fabulous company and trip

06-Jan-2023

We went overland from Cape Town to Zimbabwe through Botswana and Namibia. What a fantastic trip. Our first time with Exodus although we have travelled extensively around the world. We would highly recommend this company for such a brilliant trip - we got everything and more all at a good price. Thanks to everyone involved. We are looking at our next trip!

Trustpilot
Ann B (Google Reviewer)  

We had a week walking...

08-Oct-2024

We had a week walking and wine in the Duro valley with two local guides Louis and Theresa. They were both exceptional, knowledgeable, professional and funny. Our group of 11 had a great time. This was a premium tour. Our 4 star hotels were both well located clean and with great views. We had several local meals arranged by our guides with local people cooking for us. We did not meet any other walkers during our hikes only two shepherds. I would certainly recommend this tour to anyone interested in the local produce and wine. We both felt as we had learnt a lot about Portugal during this tour. We will use Exodus again. One of our group had done 30 tours with Exodus over the years. Quite an endorsement.

Alison Payton (Google Reviewer)  

I've done 8 trips in...

17-May-2023

I've done 8 trips in the last 14 years with Exodus, and have been rewarded with a 10% discount on all future bookings. I feel very confident that I'll receive pleasant, efficient service, and have the unusual holiday experience that I'm looking for each time. I've trekked to the top of snow-capped peaks, wild-camped in the desert, seen amazing spectacles of nature, visited 4 capital cities in a week, and learned about local culture and experienced local hospitality in a way that I simply wouldn't on a conventional holiday. The quality of the accommodation and guides can vary, but this is mainly down to cultural differences and things that Exodus can't control. I've only ever complained once, my complaint was taken seriously, and I was sent a discount voucher - you can't say fairer than that. I remain a loyal customer.

David (Google Reviewer)  

Exodus are generally a good...

21-Aug-2024

Exodus are generally a good travel company. Things tend to run smoothly and trips well organised. Their customers tend to be at retirement age. Trips are a bit overpriced. I would also avoid trips in Europe, as these often focus on more coffee stops and meals, rather than walking. I would also recommend making sure your guide records any accidents you have, hopefully not applicable. I had one on Sierra de Aitana which the guide saw and knew about, but he and Exodus said it never happened when I followed up after the trip. I wasn’t putting in a claim, just suggested a safety improvement. They have since apologised and acknowledged this as an error. They are a good reliable option for outside of Europe trips.

Jacquelyn Moore (Google Reviewer)  

Food came quickly. Staff very...

07-Mar-2024

Food came quickly. Staff very friendly and polite . However the chef or person preparing the food did not seem to read the menu! If it says a meal should come with vegetables, you should not have to ask for them. They served shepherds pie with garlic bread! The munchies ice cream sundae said it should come in a glass with a flake but came in a little bowl with just a few munchies! When asking the staff were happy to replace and correct but customer should get what they order and what menu says first time round!!

johanna leonor (Google Reviewer)  

If you like to be...

07-Sep-2023

If you like to be mistreated Exodus is perfect for you. If you enjoy terrible choices for hotels and pseudo restaurants Exodus is perfect for you. Careless about their clients and loveless about their propositions. Exodus has been a dissatisfaction and disappointment about every dealing i and my group have had with him. Especially a man called Simone who just cares about the money he can get from you couldn’t care less about service.

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  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

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