The Bernese Oberland and Reichenbach Falls

Yes, there are several additional costs to be aware of, including travel insurance, travel to the start and from the end point of the trip, personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls, unscheduled transfers required during the trip, the train from Lauterbrunnen to Zermatt (approx CHF34.20 with Swiss card and 88.60 without), excess luggage, and a supplement if you are traveling solo or book a single room.

On Day 2, you have three walking options: 1) Walk to Grindelwald via the Reichenbach Falls, enjoying views of the Wetterhorn and the lush green valley of Grindelwald. 2) Take the train to Brienz, followed by a cruise on the Brienzsee, and visit the Giessbachfall waterfall. 3) Take the train to Widerswil, then the mountain train to Schynige Platte, and walk to Grindelwald via the Faulhorn, with the option to use the Firstbahn gondola cable car for the descent.

On the free day in Grindelwald, you have several options: 1) Take a trip on the Jungfrau railway to Jungfraujoch station for magnificent views. 2) Take a gondola trip up to First and walk to the Faulhorn Peak. 3) Walk the ridge route from First to Faulhorn and then to Bussalp or Schynige Platte. 4) Walk to Mannlichen summit for views of the Eiger, Jungfrau, and Wetterhorn. 5) Take the two glaciers trip for views of moraine, crevasses, and glaciers. There are also numerous other fine day walks at all altitudes around Grindelwald, and non-walking activities such as boat trips or train rides.

On the free day in Lauterbrunnen, you can visit Murren, the highest village in the Bernese Oberland, and take the cable car up to the Schilthorn for a 360-degree panorama. You can walk back from Murren via Gimmelwald to Stechelberg and take a bus back to Lauterbrunnen. You also have another opportunity to take the train to the Jungfraujoch. There are plenty of well-signposted walks to choose from, and GPX files will be provided.

On the free day in Zermatt, you have several walking options: 1) Walk in the shadow of the Matterhorn (9 km/5.5 miles, 3-4 hours). 2) Walk with views of Monte Rosa (10 km/6.2 miles, 4 hours). 3) Walk in the Trift valley leading to Trift (5 km/3 miles, 3 hours) and onto the Mettelhorn (13 km/8 miles, 8 hours). 4) Walk from Schwarzsee to Hornlihutte, with an optional return via Stafelalp (14 km/8.6 miles, 6 hours). For a less energetic day, you can take the cable car ride to the top of the Kleine Matterhorn (3820m). There are many more walks and activities to choose from in Zermatt, and you can ask the support team to extend your stay.

The tour is graded as 'Moderate'. Anyone used to hill walking with a daily height gain/loss of up to 3,300 feet (1000 meters) should find the tour within their capability. Most days are easier than this, with an average walking duration of 6 hours per day. Many of the walks can be shortened if desired by using cable cars and local postbuses.

We have designed our self guided walking and cycling tours to include a number of elements to help you enjoy your holiday more, while leaving out some things to give you more freedom to tailor the trip to your needs and interests. Refer to the Trip Notes for more information on the specific inclusions for each trip. What’s included: - Detailed Route Notes - Accommodation - Luggage transfers - Any scheduled transfers as per Trip Notes - Emergency support - Some meals (mostly breakfasts) What’s NOT included: - Transport to/from start/finish points - Most meals - Any entrance/park fees - Travel insurance - Personal expenses along the way - Unscheduled transfers required during the trip

Match your level of fitness & requirements Please read this information carefully to find out which grade is most suited to your level of fitness and requirements. To make the most of your Walkers' Britain holiday it is essential and your responsibility to choose a trip that is well within your capabilities. All our active holidays are graded and clearly marked in each trip description. All mountains have uphill and downhill sections and by definition walking and cycling demand some effort. However all things are relative, and these grades assume that you are a reasonably active person who enjoys walking or cycling. Few trips are extreme and most allow ample time for sightseeing and enjoying the scenery. If in doubt about the grade of any holiday, please contact us for advice or request the tour dossiers, you can also chat with our team about the right travel insurance for you. Grade 1 – Introductory These trips involve walking for four to five hours per day or cycling for 15-50 km per day at a slow but steady pace. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health. Suggested Preparation 30 minutes of aerobic-type exercise (either road cycling or jogging), three times a week for three months leading up to your trip. Grade 2 – Introductory to Moderate These trips involve a combination of what is described in our Introductory and Moderate levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity but including several moderate stages. Grade 3 – Moderate These adventures involve walking for up to six hours per day or cycling for up to 65 km per day, at a steady pace. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested Preparation 45 minutes of aerobic-type exercise (road cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trip. Grade 4 – Moderate to Challenging This trip grading involves a combination of what is described in our Moderate and Challenging levels. The emphasis is on moderate activity but including several challenging stages. Grade 5 – Challenging These active holidays involve walking up to nine hours per day in mountainous terrain with steep ascents and descents, pass crossing & alpine weather conditions, or cycling for up to 80 km per day over undulating terrain, with some steep and sustained hills. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8 kg and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Suggested Preparation 1 hour of aerobic-type exercise five times a week for three to six months leading up to your trip. We also recommend regular hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling.

While our tours vary in terms of difficulty, route finding is made simple and convenient with our specially prepared package of maps and route notes. On many of the walks it is easy enough to navigate carefully using the route notes provided with a cursory glance at the map. As holidays reach the higher grades, you will need to take more care and we would expect you to have at least some knowledge of using a compass. Maps for our tours also vary considerably, from up-to-date GPS referenced additions, to old map copies which may still be the only ones obtainable for a particular area. The differences in style, grade and destinations of our tours are features that make them of continual interest and delight to our walkers & cyclists. Each set of route notes can contain the following elements relevant to the route: History and information on the region and the route you are walking. Detailed maps including points of interest and accommodation. Detailed step-by-step descriptions (with pictures) of the route and information on detours/optional additions. Transport timetables and information for getting there and away. Safety information and advice. Contact details of accommodation, transport, local representatives and emergency support. Advice for things to do along the way. Suggestions for dining and self catering.

Self guided walking and cycling holidays offer freedom, independence and choice, allowing you to tailor your holidays in the UK & Europe to your interest and travel style. Our detailed Route Notes will contain all of the information you need to plan how you would like to approach each day, giving you the freedom to set your own pace. As you are not limited by the constraints of group travel, you are free to shorten or lengthen your walk as the terrain permits and can even take a day off, although you may need to travel onto your next accommodation by taxi or public transport in order to do so.