GO
UP
Switzerland
Price
$1200
15 Days
Scroll down
Inn-to-inn trekking adventure over the high passes and through the remote alpine valleys of the Bernese Oberland.
Activity Type: Trekking | Adventure
9 Days
Activity Level: 4
Cost: $4,695 per person
07/15/2025 - 07/23/2025
Trip Overview
This alpine journey blends comfort with high mountain hospitality as we hike amidst some of Switzerland’s most renowned peaks. Along the way, we’ll cross over high passes and through traditional Swiss farming hamlets. At night, we stay in charming Swiss villages at locally run chalets and inns, with two nights at Swiss mountain huts. Custom trekking adventure packages are also available upon request.
Trip Highlights
- Charming Swiss chalets, with two nights at Swiss mountain huts.
- Delicious and hearty Swiss cuisine prepared with fresh, local ingredients.
- Stunning alpine scenery and crossing three high passes along our route.
- Getting off the main trail and visiting the tiny hamlet of Selden.
Activity Level
This is a challenging, trekking adventure through the Bernese Oberland and is rated ‘4’ on a scale of 1-5. As one of our most rigorous hiking journeys, we venture through remote alpine terrain on well-maintained trails that include short sections of steep, narrow rock steps with some exposure and fixed ropes. Trekking distances are on average between 4-8 miles, with elevation gains and losses between 1,500’-4,000’ on any given day.
Dates and Cost
Switzerland: Bernese Oberland Traverse
Trip Dates
Suggested Trip Length:
8 nights/9 days
Upcoming Trip Dates:
July 15-23, 2025
Contact us for custom journeys for your own private group on the dates of your choice.
Trip Cost
Trip Cost (2025):
$4,695 per person based on double occupancy (group size 6+pax)
$5,295 per person based on double occupancy (group size 4-5pax)
$650 single supplement
What’s Included
- Expert Swiss hiking guide
- Accommodations at boutique mountain chalets and Swiss mountain huts
- Breakfasts and six dinners
- Luggage transfers throughout
- Alternative transportation as specified in the itinerary (lifts, cable cars)
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Expert trip planning consultation
What’s Not Included
- International flights
- Some meals as mentioned in itinerary
- E-bike option (rental)
- Train to and from the tour
- Tips for hiking guide, luggage transfers and ground transportation, travel insurance (medical and emergency evacuations to hospital of choice).
- Items of personal nature
Bernese Oberland Traverse Itinerary
×
Day 1: Arrive in Zurich or Geneva; Transfer to Wengen (4,180′)
Overnight: Hotel Bellevue, Wengen
Meals: D
Day 2: Warm Up Hike Männlichen Peak (7,687′)
Distance: 4 miles | Hiking time: 3hrs | Ascent: 3,127’ | Descent: 0’
Overnight: Hotel Bellevue, Wengen
Meals: B
Day 3: Lauterbrunnen to Rotstockhütte (6,690′)
Distance: 9.5 miles | Hiking time: 5-6hrs | Ascent: 4,059’
Overnight: Rotstockhütte, SAC
Meals: B, D
Day 4: Rotstockhütte (6,690′), Sefinenfurgge (8,570'), Griesalp (4,921')
Distance: 6.2 miles | Hiking time: 5hrs | Ascent: 1,970’ | Descent: 3,641’
Overnight: Hotel Berghaus, Griesalp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Griesalp to Bundalp, Hohtürli Pass (9,114′) and Blüemlisalp Hut
Distance: 4.69 miles | Hiking time: 5.5hrs | Ascent: 4,193’ | Descent: 0’
Overnight: Blüemlisalhutte, SAC
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Hohtürli to Öeschinensee, Kandersteg (3,968′)
Distance: 7 miles | Hiking time: 5hrs | Ascent: 25’ | Descent: 5,146’
Overnight: Chalet Hotel Adler, Kandersteg
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: Kandersteg, Selden (5,650′); e-bike option
Distance: 5.2 miles | Hiking time: 4hrs | Ascent: 1,682
Overnight: Berghotel Steinbock, Selden
Meals: B, D
Day 8: Adelboden (4,125′) via Bunderchrinde (7,925′)
Distance: 10.2 miles | Hiking time: 5-6hrs | Ascent: 4,175’ | Descent: 4,925’
Overnight: Hotel Baren, Adelboden
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: Departure
Meals: B
Switzerland Trip Planning
Trip Preparation
This hiking trip is challenging and designed for the experienced hiker looking for a physically rewarding adventure. Participants must be in good physical condition before participating on this tour. We will be hiking as many as 5-7 hours per day along ‘true’ alpine hiking trails. These often include some precipitous sections, uneven terrain, loose rocks, and scree. You should expect some steep ascents and descents, averaging between 2,500-4,000 vertical feet per day, at elevations between 6,000 and 10,000 feet above sea level.
In order to prepare for the hikes on this trip, we encourage you to exercise 4-6 days per week for 1-3 hours at a time for several months leading up to this trip. Activities such as biking, hiking, walking, skiing, and running are great for conditioning. Please consult your physician about your participation on this trek if you have any concerns regarding your health. The better physically prepared you are for this adventure, the more you’ll be able to enjoy your surroundings and feel rewarded by the overall experience.
A Day On The Trail
Our inn-to-inn hike is led by an experienced Swiss Mountain guide local to the Bernese Oberland. In general, luggage transfers are provided from inn to inn. The exception will be on Days 3 and 5 of our Bernese Oberland Traverse hike, when we will need to pack and carry enough for our overnight stays at the Swiss Alpine Club huts. Our hikes typically start around 7-9 a.m., following breakfast, depending on the distance and weather forecast for any given day. We go at a leisurely pace, allowing time to take in the stunning alpine scenery, stop at a mountain hut for tea, and enjoy picnic lunches along the trail. That said, on longer days, or if there is inclement weather, we will keep a good pace to be sure we are able to keep warm and arrive at our destination on time. Typically, we’ll have a couple of hours before dinner to enjoy some down time. Dinners are generally between 6-7 p.m. and are followed by a group briefing with your lead guide on the next day’s hike.
Weather
The Bernese Oberland region is ideal for hiking from mid-June through mid-September; wildflowers are at their peak in mid-to-late July. Summer hiking weather in the Swiss Alps is generally very pleasant. While you may wish to walk in short sleeves under sunny skies on some days, there are likely to be days that are cool and wet, especially at higher elevations. Temperatures typically fall between 70-80 °F during the day, but can drop down to the low-40s at night. It’s not uncommon to have freezing rain or snow on the high trail one day, and then optimal T-shirt weather on the next. The Meteoswiss website is a good source for weather forecasts in the region.
Meals
We’ll enjoy a fresh selection of typical Swiss cuisine throughout the tour. Breakfast includes a large spread of cereals, deli meats, cheese, eggs, fruit, yogurt, fresh baked goods, and bread. All breakfasts are included at our inns and mountain huts on this trip.
On most days, we’ll break for picnic lunches along the trail, with perhaps a lunch or two taken at mountain restaurants. On our Bernese Oberland Traverse hike, lunches are each participants’ responsibility, and you will be required to carry your own food for the day. Typical lunches items include fresh bread, cheese, salami, chocolate, fruit, and nuts.
On most nights, dinners are hearty, with fares featuring a range of options including fresh salad, soups, meat, and vegetarian dishes. Some dinners are included at the inns or mountain hut where we will be staying (indicated in the itinerary), while others will be on your own. On nights when dinner is on your own, you may either grab something convenient at our inn, or choose to explore one of the town’s many charming restaurants. Our guide will be available to assist the group with menu selections and while navigating supermarkets for packed-lunch days.
Arrivals & Departures
Arrivals and Departures: You can fly into either Zurich (ZRH) or Geneva (GVA) airports, depending on your fare options. From there, you will need to book a train ticket through SBB (Swiss Rail System) to the alpine village of Wengen (approximately 3 hours from ZHR and about 3.5 from GVA). You can either purchase in advance on SBB by clicking here (FYI: the Zürich Airport railway station is called: ‘Bahnhof Zürich Flughafen’), or buy tickets at the train station terminal machine upon arrival. Vending machine service is available in English or there is also a counter where an SBB representative can assist you.
Upon arrival in Wengen, it is only a short walk from the train station to Hotel Bellevue. The hotel will transport your luggage, free of charge, in one of their electric vehicles if you notify them in advance of your arrival time.
On the final day of our tour, you can plan to depart any time after breakfast. Again, you will need to book a train ticket back to Zurich (approx 3.5 hours) or Geneva (approx 3 hours) to make connections in time for your departing flight.
Accommodations
We have carefully selected family-run Swiss chalets and mountain inns along our route, with two overnights during our Bernese Oberland tour at a Swiss Mountain Hut. Our accommodations embody rustic simplicity while providing welcome creature comforts after a full days on the trail. Each inn is chosen based on its optimal location, Swiss hospitality, locally-sourced cuisine, and top-notch amenities. Please see see the section below for more information on our accommodations.
Meet Our Swiss Mountain Guides
Jürg Schranz
Jürg Schranz leads our hiking trips through the Bernese Oberland and his insider knowledge and local connections make him a true asset to each one of our groups. Jürg hails from the picturesque ski town of Adelbodon, tucked away in a tranquil alpine valley, and has been hiking these trails since his youth. He has a very easy-going and genuine nature that leaves every Mountain Kora hiker feeling like they have made a new, lifelong friend in this part of the world.
As a certified Swiss Hiking guide, Jürg brings years of in-depth training and experience, helping to keep our guests safe and at ease while traversing majestic alpine valleys or climbing up and over high mountain passes. When he’s not leading Mountain Kora hikes, Jürg runs an outdoor, nature-based event company in his hometown of Adelboden. He is also an exceptional, all-around athlete, enjoying hiking, mountain biking, and skiing—all in his own backyard! Jürg lives with his partner and their young daughter in Adelboden.
Meet our Swiss Mountain Guides
Jürg Schranz
Jürg Schranz leads our hiking trips through the Bernese Oberland and his insider knowledge and local connections make him a true asset to each one of our groups. Jürg hails from the picturesque ski town of Adelbodon, tucked away in a tranquil alpine valley, and has been hiking these trails since his youth. He has a very easy-going and genuine nature that leaves every Mountain Kora hiker feeling like they have made a new, lifelong friend in this part of the world.
As a certified Swiss Hiking guide, Jürg brings years of in-depth training and experience, helping to keep our guests safe and at ease while traversing majestic alpine valleys or climbing up and over high mountain passes. When he’s not leading Mountain Kora hikes, Jürg runs an outdoor, nature-based event company in his hometown of Adelboden. He is also an exceptional, all-around athlete, enjoying hiking, mountain biking, and skiing—all in his own backyard! Jürg lives with his partner and their young daughter in Adelboden.