A Self–Guided Hiking Adventure in the Bernese Oberland and the Valais

Lace up your hiking boots and get ready for this self-guided adventure in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland and Valais, justly famous for its spectacular summits (the Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, and Matterhorn), crystalline lakes and glaciers, and picturesque villages of traditional charm. It's the best of Switzerland-and at your own pace! Based in the charming resorts of Kandersteg and Zermatt, you'll head out each day on well marked trails to take in the outstanding alpine scenery, breathe the pure mountain air, and enjoy some invigorating exercise. And Switzerland's efficient transportation system-cable cars, chair lifts, gondolas, and trains-helps you experience as much beauty as possible in a relatively short period of time. We'll make all the hotel arrangements and provide you with the services of a local host to answer your questions and offer personalized support.

What is a Self-Guided Tour Like?

What is a Self-Guided Tour Like? A self-guided tour is a fully organized vacation that's a balance between doing everything on your own and being on a fully-guided group tour. You can choose when you want to go and with whom-we do the planning and look after the logistics while you enjoy the tour. There is no guide, no private support vehicle, and no group to hurry you along or slow you down. You can enjoy the freedom of going at your own pace, with support behind the scenes. More than being in good shape, a spirit of open-mindedness is recommended. It helps if you can take the initiative and be comfortable with the adventure of learning and exploring.

Note-There is an option to use a GPS (Global Positioning System) en route. The cost is approximately $20-$60, depending on the number of days you wish to use one, and will be provided and "uploaded" by your in-country host upon arrival.

Activities

Moderate day hikes

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Self-guided hiking in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland and the Valais Canton
• Stay in the alpine storybook villages of Kandersteg and Zermatt (right at the foot of the Matterhorn!)
• To facilitate your hikes, take advantage of the famed (and efficient) Swiss transportation system

2010 Prices

$2,495 (1-6 members)
$400 single supplement

Duration: 7 days Start Location: Kandersteg End Location: Zermatt Best time to go: June - July

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Kandersteg, Bernese Oberland

  Kandersteg, Bernese Oberland Arrive in Kandersteg (3,858'), a resort but still also a village with many resident farmers and cattle breeders (the world-known Simmental cattle are bred here). If you are flying into Zurich, you can easily catch a train to Kandersteg (we'll send you more detailed transfer information after you sign up). Kandersteg looks like a typical Swiss village with its old farmhouses and geraniums spilling from window boxes on the balconies. It is the north portal to the Lötschberg tunnel, the international railway between Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Upon your arrival, check into the Hotel Victoria Ritter, situated in the center of the village about an 8-minute walk from the railway station. In the afternoon you'll have plenty of time to explore the village on your own. Your in-country host will meet you at your hotel at 6:00 p.m. for a thorough briefing on the days ahead. Hotel Victoria Ritter, Kandersteg
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  Day 2 : Oeschinensee Lake

  Oeschinensee Lake Before heading out on the first hike, you can stop at a local grocery store to pick up some items for your picnic lunch; there are also restaurants along the way, so you can usually choose either option. Take a chairlift up to Oeschinen/Läger (5,719'), from where you can walk down to Oeschinensee Lake (5,177') in the heart of the Bernese Oberland. The lake is famous for its gorgeous deep blue color and fantastic views. You'll be able to see the Blümlisalp (12,008') and the Hohtürli pass (9,114'). If you like, you can rent a rowboat and take a leisurely paddle on the lake. You can have your lunch at the lake or hike about 35 minutes up to the "Bärgbeizli" (mountain restaurant) Underbärgli, where Elsi and Toni will serve you a typical Swiss meal. After lunch, you'll walk across pastures and through pine and larch forests back to the valley along the Kander River. (1,861' elevation loss, 8 miles, 4½ hours hiking.) Breakfast...Hotel Victoria Ritter, Kandersteg

• Day 3 : Undere Allme

  Undere Allme Short ride on a village bus to Filfalle, from where you start hiking. Soon you leave the Kander Valley and enter the Ueschinen Valley, a cattle breeding area where you might see marmots and chamois. Crossing pastures and forests you arrive at Usser Ueschine and walk on a panoramic trail with spectacular views of the opposite high peaks and down to the valley. Arrive at Undere Allme (5,858'), a spot with a few farmhouses and a mountain restaurant where you can buy lunch (or have your picnic). By cable car back to the bottom of the valley and then a short walk to your hotel. (2,037' elevation gain, 245' loss, 3.75 miles, 3 hours hiking.) Breakfast... Hotel Victoria Ritter, Kandersteg

• Day 4 : Kandersteg/Sunnbüel - Zermatt/Valais

  Kandersteg/Sunnbüel - Zermatt/Valais Catch a local bus and ride to the end of the Kander valley to the Kandersteg-Sunnbüel cable car station. Take the cable car up to Sunnbüel (6,352'), the beginning of the well known Gemmi-Pass, a centuries-old connection between the Bernese Oberland and the Valais. The trail leads straight up to Sunnbüel, passing the so-called "Spittelmatte," an area known for its richness of pretty wildflowers. As you near the Schwarzbach River, you enter the Canton of Valais, with views of 13,000-foot peaks that even in summer are covered by snow and ice. Continue to Arvenseelis (6,198'), a deep blue lake fed by the melting snows and glaciers-a great place for a rest or picnic! Continue to a signpost at 6,450', highest point of today's walk, and down then to the cable car station for a ride down to the Kander valley. Return by bus to Kandersteg, pick up your luggage from the hotel, then take the train through the Lötschberg tunnel to Zermatt (you will need to change trains in Brig). Meet your hosts at your new hotel, the Hotel Butterfly in Zermatt. (Elevation gain and loss not essential, 2 hours hiking, approx. 4 miles.) Breakfast...Hotel Butterfly, Zermatt %(extraImage)s

• Day 5 : Zermatt - Gornergrat

  Zermatt - Gornergrat In the morning you can explore the village of Zermatt for about an hour before setting off on your hike. Go by train up to Rotenboden (9,571'), enjoying fantastic views of the Matterhorn (14,782'), Breithorn, Castor and Pollux, Lyskamm, and the highest peak in Switzerland, Dufourspitze (15,217'), part of the Monte Rosa massif. Get off the train at Rotenboden and hike up to Gornergrat (10,506'), from where you'll have a gorgeous 360-degree panorama of the Gorner, Theodul, and Z'Mutt glaciers. This is a good place for your lunch (picnic or dine in one of the local restaurants). Continue hiking along the Gornerglacier down to Riffelsee Lake and on to Riffelberg (8,724'), from where you can catch a train back to Zermatt. (935' elevation gain, 1,782' loss, 4½ miles, 4 hours hiking.) Breakfast...Hotel Butterfly, Zermatt

• Day 6 : Zermatt - Schwarzsee

  Zermatt - Schwarzsee From Zermatt, take the cable car up to Furi and on to Schwarzsee (8,782') for an interesting hike at the foot of the Matterhorn down to Staffel, very close to the Z'Muttglacier (7,477'). You'll cross high alpine pastures where you might see marmots and chamois, and pass through forests before arriving back at Furi (6,412'). Return to Zermatt by cable car. (170' elevation gain, 2,370' loss, 5½ miles, 3½ hiking hours.) Breakfast...Hotel Butterfly, Zermatt

• Day 7 : Depart

  Take the train to the Geneva airport via Visp and Lausanne (flights generally do not depart before 1:00 p.m. to allow enough time to transfer to the airport). You could also take the train to the Zurich airport via Visp, Brig, Lötschberg Tunnel, Kandersteg, and Berne (we'll send you more detailed information in your confirmation packet). Connect with homeward-bound flights or continue to other destinations in Europe.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Roland Kimmerle

  Roland has been a part of MTS for 7 years. He holds a PhD in geography and English and is outstanding at reading maps – he can make out the contour lines of a map in the actual terrain! Roland is an excellent mountaineer and bicyclist and is currently employed by the Swiss government and involved in a project on the subject of flood prevention in the Berner Oberland (Bernese Highlands).

• Theresa Moser

  Theresa is a remarkable woman and has been with MTS for 8 years. A trained and professional ballet dancer, she co-organizes the annual International Dance Festival in Zurich, offers yoga classes for adults and children and works as a life guard at the Seebad in Zurich (a spa and beach on Lake Zurich). Her expertise in first-aid and CPR and her skills in mountaineering make her a wonderful tour guide, a position she loves above all.

• Agnes Zellweger

  Agnes has been with MTS for 5 years. She is a grade school teacher and competes in alpine contests such as half-marathons and triathlons in the mountains. Agnes is a skilled and successful mountaineer and mountain-cyclist. Both her mental as well as her physical strength are unique.

• Pascalina Wullschleger

  Pascalina has guided tours through the Swiss Alps for MTS for the last 15 years. Her degree in psychology with a focus on adolescent psychology provides her with superior people skills. To her, being a tour guide combines a welcome challenge with change from her demanding job as a psychologist.

• Bruno Hahn

  Bruno has been a professional tour guide with MTS for approximately 20 years. As a former 17-year Swissair pilot, Bruno completed countless long-distance flights before becoming a leader on the ground. Before then, he was honored with the special license of Patrol Leader for the Swiss Army in the high mountains, allowing him to guide troops of soldiers through the mountainous areas of Switzerland. Bruno has guided trip for us in the Bernese Oberland, Valais, Engadine Valley, along the Haute Route, and the North Face.

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