Compare Guided Best of the Bernese Oberland Traverse by Alpine Hikers vs Switzerland in 8 days - Enchanting Alps & Glacier Scenic Railway - Exoticca Group Sup. by Exoticca

Day 1:

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Schwarzwaldalp Inn

Schwarzwaldalp – Arrive in Switzerland, and transfer by train to the quiet town of Meiringen to start the Bernese Oberland tour.

We’ll meet in the afternoon and take a bus ride up to our remote inn to start the tour. Waterfalls and imposing mountains watch over us in this relaxing corner of the Alps.

Day 2:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Gletschergarten

Grindelwald – After a hearty breakfast, we’ll hike over the Grosse Scheidegg Pass and enjoy our first views of the Eiger and of the Grindelwald Valley.

With 10,000 vertical feet separating valley from peak, Grindelwald sits at the base of one of the most impressive vertical mountain walls in the world. Perhaps we’ll detour via the postcard-perfect Bachsee Lake before winding down to the glacier village of Grindelwald and our lovely 3-star hotel.

Hike: 6-8 hours, 10.5 miles; Elevation: 3400 ft. up, 3030 ft. down. ***Please note there are longer and shorter options most days

Day 3:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Bären or Sunstar 

Wengen – Today we’ll explore the Grindelwald valley and hike to the famous Kleine Scheidegg Pass.

The entire day is dominated by great close-up views of the Eiger North Face – perhaps the most notorious climb in the Swiss Alps. We’ll descend to the quiet village of Wengen for a restful night.

Hike: 6-8 hours, 11.5 miles; Elevation: 3380 ft. up, 4490 ft. down

Day 4:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Obersteinberg Inn

Obersteinberg – We’ll enjoy spectacular views of the Jungfrau and surrounding mountains on the way down from Wengen. Our trail winds through flowery meadows and dense woods to the lush Lauterbrunnen valley floor.

After a break for lunch, we’ll hike to a wild and isolated corner of the Lauterbrunnen Valley for a memorable night in a remote mountain inn in one of the most spectacular corners of the Bernese Oberland.

Hike: 6-8 hours, 10 miles; Elevation: 3440 ft. up, 1800 ft. down

Day 5:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Edelweiss or Bellevue

Mürren – We have a couple of trail options today – the first, a panoramic climb over a high ridge with breathtaking views in every direction, the second, a beautiful wooded hike filled with waterfalls.

Both lead through sleepy Gimmelwald to the car-free village of Mürren, with its unparalleled cliffside views of the surrounding mountains. Stay in a comfortable 3-star hotel.

Hike: 4-6 hours, 6 miles; Elevation: 2120 ft. up, 2590 ft. down

Day 6:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Edelweiss or Bellevue

Mürren – There are numerous day hike possibilities around Mürren. One beautiful trail leads up to the local peak, Big, for superb all-round views, and past a small glacial tarn.

Or feel free to just unwind in one of the most scenic and relaxing villages in the Alps. Tonight the entire group will have a farewell dinner.

Hike: 7-9 hours, 8-12.5 miles; Elevation: 4420 ft. up, 4420 ft. down

Day 7:

Meals: Breakfast

Depart – Today we say good-bye to the Bernese Oberland and depart for our post-tour destinations.

Day 1: US - Night on board

Ready to discover the spectacular cities and landscapes of Switzerland? Arrive at your departure airport, ready to catch a flight to Zurich.* Night on board. * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Zurich

Touch down in Zurich, famous as a global center of finance on the north shore of beautiful Lake Zurich. Transfer to the hotel, get settled in and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Zurich.

Day 3: Zurich - Bern - Thun - Interlaken

After breakfast at the hotel, a 2-hour walking tour of Zurich with a professional guide. Explore the atmospheric Old Town, see the 12th-century Grossmunster cathedral and stroll down bustling Bahnhofstrasse. Discover Paradeplatz, the 11th-century Fraumunster Church and stroll along the river banks at Limmatquai. Afterwards, set off for the Swiss capital of Bern, a small city known for its medieval old town. Upon arrival, enjoy a 2-hour guided city tour with a professional guide. Pass through the old town where you can admire the Zytglogge medieval clock tower, the beautiful Rose Garden and Parliament Square. See the Gothic-style Bern Cathedral and visit Bear Park, named after the brown bear which is the symbol of the city. Later on, pass through Thun before continuing to Interlaken, a traditional resort town in the mountainous Bernese Oberland region. Get settled at the hotel and enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery and charming alpine architecture. Overnight stay in Interlaken.

Day 4: Interlaken - Zermatt

Breakfast at the hotel. Take a short panoramic tour with your driver through Interlaken this morning, one of Switzerland's most important resort towns. Later, transfer to Zermatt, in the shadow of the famous Matterhorn mountain! This car-free resort is a natural paradise where you can soak up the tranquillity of the Swiss mountains. Overnight stay in Zermatt.

Day 5: Zermatt

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure in Zermatt. Admire the majestic silhouette of the Matterhorn or soak up the charming atmosphere of this Alpine town as you wander through its pretty streets, flanked by wooden architecture and chocolate-box style lodgings. One of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of the famous Matterhorn is to take the Gornergrat Cogwheel Railway, which reaches a maximum height of 3,100 metres above sea level for spectacular views of the mountain and surrounding scenery!* Overnight stay in Zermatt. * Tickets for the Gornergrat Cogwheel Railway can be purchased at the destination. Timetables for the service are available locally.

Day 6: Zermatt - St. Moritz by Glacier Express

Breakfast at the hotel. Prepare for an exciting day ahead as you set off on the famous Glacier Express*, one of the most scenic train rides in the world! Journey through the inspiring landscapes of the Alps as you travel from Zermatt to St. Moritz, an unforgettable journey of around 7.5 hours. Pass through 91 tunnels, across 291 bridges and climb as high as 2033 meters as the Glacier Express crosses the Oberalp Pass. The journey includes a three-course meal and the panoramic windows ensure ample opportunities to kick back and take in the views! Arrive in St. Moritz and transfer to the hotel. St. Moritz is the most luxurious alpine resort in Switzerland so be sure to get out and explore the upmarket eateries and glamorous streets. Overnight stay in St. Moritz. *The possibility to upgrade your seats to first class is available in the next step of the booking process.

Day 7: St. Moritz - Davos - Klosters - Bad Ragaz

Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning to explore St. Moritz at your leisure, famous for hosting the Winter Olympics twice and one of the most prominent ski resorts in Europe. Afterwards, head off to Davos, the highest town in the Swiss Alps. Enjoy this unique town, famous for holding the annual World Economic Forum before heading to Klosters which has a more laid-back atmosphere and boasts plenty of pretty wooden Alpine architecture. Afterwards, head to Bad Ragaz, one of Switzerland's most famous spa resorts. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. We recommend a visit to the Tamina Therme, a spa oasis that harnesses the healing properties of the thermal waters of Bad Ragaz. Overnight stay in Bad Ragaz.

Day 8: Bad Ragaz - Lucerne - Zurich

Breakfast at the hotel. Leave beautiful Bad Ragaz behind you today as you depart to Lucerne, an enchanting Swiss city filled with medieval architecture. Take in the views of Lake Lucerne and see St. Peter's Chapel, the Jesuit Church, the Lion Monument and the Chapel Bridge as you enjoy a 2-hour guided city tour, accompanied by a professional guide. Afterwards, continue your journey back to Zurich. On arrival, get settled at the hotel and enjoy your final evening in Switzerland. Overnight stay in Zurich.

Day 9: Zurich - US

Breakfast at the hotel.* Bid farewell to the charming culture and unforgettable landscapes of Switzerland. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for your return flight back to the US.* Arrive in the US and end of your trip. * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.