Charming glimpses of the active Bernese pastoral culture, villages of Swiss perfection, and high mountain passes beneath ice blue glaciers all conspire to make a route that epitomizes Swiss trekking and justify the fame of the mountain scenery of the Jungfrau region.

Our self-guided traverse through Switzerland's most classic terrain, the Berner Oberland Traverse, is a fabulous introduction to hiking the Alps for those with a good level of fitness. From chalet style inns and grand, art deco hotels in such renowned destinations as Grindelwald, the carless villages of Wengen and Murren, the tiny settlement of Griesalp in the remote Kiental, the quiet resort village of Kandersteg and the alpine villages of Adelboden and Lenk in the pastoral Saanenland, this trek gives the hiker the opportunity to see the very heart of the Alps.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Travel by rail to Wilderswil. Meet guide and group.

Day 2 We ride a cog railway then hike along a ridge with unsurpassed views over the Interlaken lakes, the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, the Wetterhorn and the remote Finsteraarhorn. Overnight in a charming country inn in Grindelwald.

Day 3 A classic ramble leads over the Kleine Scheidegg, the saddle beneath the infamous Eiger Nordwand, then along wooded trails to Wengen. Overnight in a charming country inn.

Day 4 We enjoy a long ramble up the Lauterbrunnen valley and view the thundering falls and the vestiges of pastoral culture in this picture perfect valley before ascending to Murren and a comfortable three star inn.

Day 5 We cross a remote pass with views back to the Eiger and ahead to tomorrow's pass into the Kandertal. Overnight in a simple hiker's hostelry with shower on the hall.

Day 6 We ascend to a pass right beneath tumbling glaciers then descend to Kandersteg by a cobalt blue lake in an amphitheater of rock. Overnight in a superior chalet style inn with every comfort and amenity.

Day 7 Depart.