The Golden Pass Route is a unique itinerary that descends from the high, glaciated peaks of the western Berner Oberland to the calm shores of Lake Geneva. We begin in the sparkling little resort village of Gstaad and, following a mixture of glacier bordered passes and flower covered alpine meadows, we find ourselves in the famous lakeside resort of Montreux.
The itinerary takes us through unique terrain and unspoiled villages and offers dramatic views of the distant surrounding peaks. Clear days reveal the soaring form of the Matterhorn to the south, the icy ramparts of Mont Blanc to the southwest and the Mischabel range to the southeast.
Accommodations range from charming little chalets with caring proprietorship
to excellent and wellappointed four-star hotels.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrive and transfer to Gstaad, a classy Swiss village on the very western extreme of the Bener Oberland. Gstaad consistently surprises many as an incredibly beautiful, picturesque and unspoiled alpine village. Meet your guides and overnight in a cozy little inn right in the center of town.
Day 2 Hike through meadows and traverse hillsides to the quiet hamlet of Gsteig. This small, pastoral village sits directly in front of the Diaberlets massif and offers fantastic views of the big glaciated peaks. It is said that during bad storms the demons play an old tavern game called skittles high up on the glacier plateau. According to legend, they throw rocks at a 40 meter high rock tower but miss it most of the time and trigger splendid rockfalls. Our guests shouldn’t worry. The demons can play as much as they like because we won’t hear them. We’ll dive into our warm down comforters following a tradtional Swiss meal in a cozy old world chalet on mainstreet. Traditional Swiss architecture and cuisine are two major highlights of this day.
Day 3 From Gsteig, we leave the green pastures and meadows behind
and ascend into the high country to encounter the beautiful rock scenery of the Sanetsch region.
This is true alpine hiking at its best as we head past a high alpine lake, the Sanetschsee, and continue to climb into the alpine basin that forms the head of the Saane River. Overnight in a simple inn surrounded by dramatic peaks and the quiet that only a mountain traveler can know.
Day 4 We’ll enter the canton Vaud as we hike past glaciers, from the high alpine terrain of Sanetsch to Les Diablerets. During the Middle Ages, the rock wall of the mountain massif which surrounds the small village of Les Diablerets was regarded as a dangerous and cursed place where the devil did his worst. Accordingly, the place name of Les Diablerets also derives from the French ‘le Diable’, the devil. We’ll do a little dancing with the devil as we hike through the famous glacial scenery enroute to our comfortable inn.
Day 5 We descend to the village of Chateau d’Oex, famous for it’s limestone spires piercing extensive verdant meadows. This also the village where the alpine cheese of Etivaz is still made over an open wood fire. We’ll overnight in yet another quintessential Swiss chalet, characterized by its warm fires, great food and wonderful hospitality.
Day 6 From Chateau d’Oex we travel through Montbovons and the Rochers de Naye and enjoy a cog rail desent to Montreux. The town of Montreux sits nestled in a quiet bay on Lake Geneva, surrounded by vineyards and backdropped by the breathtakingly snow covered Alps. We’ll lift a glass to a wonderful achievement as we watch the swans cruise the lakeshore with Mont Blanc in the distance.
Day 7 Depart. Travelers can reach the Geneva airport in about an hour by train. Zurich is also another possibility for an early afternoon departure.
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