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Lake Oeschinensee & Beyond

Bernese Oberland - a week's walking in Kandersteg
 
The picture-book village of Kandersteg provides the idyllic setting for this self-guided, single-centre walking holiday. Enjoy first-rate hospitality at our hand-picked hotel, and explore the fabulous surroundings – and one of Switzerland’s most beautiful lakes – using our detailed route notes.
Lake Oeschinensee & Beyond. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Lake Oeschinensee & Beyond. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in Kandersteg

Light-green meadows, bottle-green forests, purple and yellow flowers, blue lakes, white snow-capped peaks, houses of dark-brown wood, red geraniums in window-boxes - Switzerland delights with its colours. In the south-west, the Bernese Oberland is no exception, and the majesty of its scenery has been recognised by UNESCO, which has declared the mountains and valleys surrounding the mighty Aletsch Glacier a World Heritage Site.
Arguably one of Switzerland's most exquisite lakes, emerald Oeschinensee is one of the jewels of the Bernese Oberland, set in an amphitheatre of mountains which at points rise sheer from the water. In the valley below nestles the picture-book village of Kandersteg whose inspirational mountain views are more than enough to tempt you onto the many well-waymarked paths which explore the broad Kander Valley, its various spurs, and the mountains above.
 

Book with confidence

At present, we are only accepting bookings for Switzerland for travel from 1 August onwards. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence, despite the current travel restrictions in place.

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Check the destination entry requirements >

If you have a holiday booking with us already, we will contact you before your balance is due (currently 4 weeks before departure) to advise whether or not the holiday can go ahead.
 
Gallery
 

Walking & more

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights. There’s no fixed itinerary, so take your pick of our suggested walking routes as the mood takes you.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    The best time for flowers is late June and early July.
     
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 0 1 4 8 12 16 19 18 15 10 4 1
    mm 84 80 80 99 119 142 130 153 108 85 100 86
  • An introduction
    The walks for which we provide route notes reveal different aspects of the Kander Valley, and your hosts will be happy to provide more suggestions if you need them. As some of our walks are accessed by bus, train or cable car, we include a 'half-fare' travel pass.
  • 6km
    Oeschinensee, lower option: 6km, 2hrs; ascent 70m/descent 560m
    For a leisurely introduction to your week, we recommend exploring the shores of beautiful Lake Oeschinen, reached by gondola.
    Lake Oeschinen
    Oeschinensee, lower option: 6km
  • 10km or 14.5km

    Uschene Valley, lower option: 10km, 3hrs; ascent 150m/descent 640m
    Take the Allmenalp cable car into the imposing mountains to the west of Kandersteg, from where you continue along a panoramic contour into the Uschene Valley, then descend to Kandersteg on foot. 

    Blausee: 14.5km, 5hrs; ascent 310m/descent 695m
    Another option is to head along the east side of the Kander Valley, passing enchanting Blausee ('Blue Lake', for which a small entrance fee is payable locally) before reaching Frutigen, from where you can return to Kandersteg by bus or train.
    Uschene Valley, lower option: 10km
    Blausee: 14.5km
  • 10.5km to 20.5km

    Oeschinensee, higher option: 10.5km, 4.5hrs; ascent 410m/descent 900m
    This route offers a more challenging way to explore Oeschinensee, ascending into the mountains which surround the lake for superb views over its turquoise waters.

    Gasterntal, lower option: 20.5km, 7hrs; ascent/descent 625m
    We highly recommend exploring the tranquil and secluded Gastern Valley. Now a nature reserve, it is renowned as the glacial valley in the Bernese Oberland. There is a bus that you can take to the entrance to the spectacular Kander Gorge, which you traverse before emerging into the Gastern Valley, passing numerous waterfalls en route to its far reaches. You return by following the River Kander downstream.

    Gemmi Pass: 19km, 6.5hrs; ascent/descent 755m; shorter option: 8.5km, 3hrs
    Follow in the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes and head up onto the Gemmi Pass (2,346 metres), the former link between the Bernese Oberland and the Valais to the south. You start by taking a bus and a cable car to Sunnbüel, then ascend through glorious alpine scenery. From the panoramic pass you return on foot to Sunnbüel via the western shore of Daubensee (or if you don’t wish to walk any further, you can use a combination of cable car, bus and train to return to Kandersteg from the pass).

    Uschene Valley, higher option: 13.5km, 5hrs; ascent 555m/descent 1045m
    We also provide notes for a longer and more challenging route in the Uschene Valley which takes you via the high mountain pass of Alpschelegrat for superior views, before dropping down into the valley.

    Lötschental: 14km, 5hrs; ascent 755m/descent 965m
    To discover the scenery on the other side of the mountains surrounding Kandersteg, take the train through the Lötschberg Tunnel, then a bus to the starting point of this walk through the idyllic Lötschental Valley.
    Gastern Valley
    Oeschinensee, higher option: 10.5km
    Gasterntal, lower option: 20.5km
    Gemmi Pass: 19km
    Uschene Valley, higher option: 13.5km
    Lötschental: 14km
  • 11.5km or 16km

    Gasterntal, higher option: 11.5km, 5hrs; ascent/descent 870m
    Another way to explore Gasterntal is to take a bus further into the valley, then follow an out-and-back route which winds steeply uphill, gaining some 1,000 metres of altitude, to reach the blue ice of the Kanderfirn Glacier.

    Kandersteg to Adelboden: 16km, 7.5hrs; ascent 1295m/descent 1165m
    This demanding but thoroughly rewarding high-level route leads from Kandersteg to Adelboden via the panoramic Bunderchrinde Pass (2,385 metres). From Adelboden you can catch a bus back to Kandersteg.
    Gasterntal, higher option: 11.5km
    Kandersteg to Adelboden: 16km
  • Bern & Interlaken 

    Medieval Bern
    To ring the changes, you may like to make use of your travel pass to take the train to Bern. It may be the Swiss capital, but this medieval city has a distinctly small-town feel and is compact and easy to see on foot. Its centre lies on a broad ridge, with grand squares and the wonderful, arcaded streets which are the city's great feature. The Zytgloggeturm clock tower, with its painted figures and famous chimes which start pealing at four minutes to the hour, is another unmissable sight. Art lovers will appreciate the Fine Arts Museum with several pieces by the major Impressionists, and works by Paul Klee, who lived in Bern for many years. 

    Scenic Interlaken
    Another option is to visit Interlaken, an attractive town which owes its name to the fact that it lies between the sparkling lakes of Thun and Brienz. The snow-capped peaks of the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger form the perfect backdrop, best admired from Höheweg, the town's flower-bedecked main promenade.
 

Accommodation

Your hotel for the week is truly outstanding, and one we have worked with for many years.
Belle Epoque Hotel Victoria

Bedrooms

 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter

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  • 7 nights: 13 June 2021 - 07 October 2021 & 11 June 2022 - 05 October 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    13 - 28 Jun 2021 £1045 £70
    29 Jun - 4 Jul 2021 £1120 £70
    5 Jul - 17 Aug 2021 £1180 £70
    18 - 23 Aug 2021 £1120 £70
    24 - 31 Aug 2021 £1045 £70
    1 - 8 Sep 2021 £1020 £70
    9 - 13 Sep 2021 £990 £70
    14 - 30 Sep 2021 £945 £70
    11 - 28 Jun 2022 £1095 £75
    29 Jun - 4 Jul 2022 £1180 £75
    5 Jul - 17 Aug 2022 £1240 £75
    18 - 23 Aug 2022 £1180 £75
    24 - 31 Aug 2022 £1095 £75
    1 - 8 Sep 2022 £1075 £75
    9 - 13 Sep 2022 £1040 £75
    14 - 28 Sep 2022 £995 £75
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Included travel: A Swiss Half-Fare Card is included, providing you with half-price tickets for trains, bus and boat journeys and up to 50% reduction on private railways and cable cars.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

    7 nights: 13 June 2021 - 07 October 2021 & 11 June 2022 - 05 October 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    13 - 28 Jun 2021 £1415 £70
    29 Jun - 4 Jul 2021 £1480 £70
    5 Jul - 17 Aug 2021 £1545 £70
    18 - 23 Aug 2021 £1480 £70
    24 - 31 Aug 2021 £1415 £70
    1 - 8 Sep 2021 £1375 £70
    9 - 13 Sep 2021 £1340 £70
    14 - 30 Sep 2021 £1315 £70
    11 - 28 Jun 2022 £1490 £75
    29 Jun - 4 Jul 2022 £1545 £75
    5 Jul - 17 Aug 2022 £1625 £75
    18 - 23 Aug 2022 £1545 £75
    24 - 31 Aug 2022 £1490 £75
    1 - 8 Sep 2022 £1445 £75
    9 - 13 Sep 2022 £1410 £75
    14 - 28 Sep 2022 £1385 £75
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes all elements in the 'walk price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International to Lille or Paris, with onward travel as described below.

    Included travel from the UK: Out: UK-Paris (Eurostar), Paris–Kandersteg (TGV/regional rail), approx. duration 10h30 plus 0h05 walk to the hotel. Home: Kandersteg–Paris (TGV/regional rail), Paris–UK (Eurostar), approx duration 10h30 plus 0h05 walk from the hotel.
    > More about 'by rail' prices
    > The 'rail experience': what to expect
    A Swiss Card is included, providing you with half-price tickets for trains, bus and boat journeys and up to 50% reduction on private railways and cable cars.

    If you book your holiday less than 6 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.

    7 nights: 13 June 2021 - 07 October 2021 & 11 June 2022 - 05 October 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    13 - 28 Jun 2021 £1115 £70
    29 Jun - 4 Jul 2021 £1180 £70
    5 Jul - 17 Aug 2021 £1250 £70
    18 - 23 Aug 2021 £1180 £70
    24 - 31 Aug 2021 £1115 £70
    1 - 8 Sep 2021 £1085 £70
    9 - 13 Sep 2021 £1045 £70
    14 - 30 Sep 2021 £1025 £70
    11 - 28 Jun 2022 £1175 £75
    29 Jun - 4 Jul 2022 £1240 £75
    5 Jul - 17 Aug 2022 £1315 £75
    18 - 23 Aug 2022 £1240 £75
    24 - 31 Aug 2022 £1175 £75
    1 - 8 Sep 2022 £1140 £75
    9 - 13 Sep 2022 £1095 £75
    14 - 28 Sep 2022 £1080 £75
    3rd & 4th person discount -£60
    Single traveller supplement £60

    Includes all elements in the 'walk price', plus a return ferry crossing between Dover and Calais with P&O Ferries for your party and one car.

    Included travel: A Swiss Half-Fare Card is included, providing you with half-price tickets for trains, bus and boat journeys and up to 50% reduction on private railways and cable cars.

    > More information about travelling self-drive

    A supplement of £35 per car per single journey applies for outward travel on 26-28 March & 2-4 April 2021, and for homeward travel on 4-5 & 10-11 April 2021. A supplement of £56 per car per single journey applies outward on Fridays & Saturdays 28-29 May & 9 July-14 August 2021 and homeward on Saturdays & Sundays 5-6 June & 17 July-29 August 2021. Supplements also apply at peak times in 2022; please contact us for details.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Belle Epoque Hotel Victoria, Kandersteg
    Mini-suite: 13 Jun - 07 Oct 2021 £38
    Mini-suite: 11 Jun - 05 Oct 2022 £40

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Belle Epoque Hotel Victoria, Kandersteg (with dinner) Double room Single room
    13 Jun - 04 Jul 2021 £115 £125
    05 Jul - 23 Aug 2021 £132 £142
    24 Aug - 13 Sep 2021 £115 £125
    14 Sep - 07 Oct 2021 £106 £116
    11 Jun - 04 Jul 2022 £120 £132
    05 Jul - 23 Aug 2022 £140 £150
    24 Aug - 13 Sep 2022 £120 £132
    14 Sep - 05 Oct 2022 £112 £124
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Zürich, Bern, Geneva or Bäsel
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Zürich or Geneva. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Zurich (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Aberdeen - Zurich (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Zurich Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Bournemouth - Geneva easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Basel easyJet 
    Bristol - Geneva easyJet 
    Bristol - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Basel easyJet 
    Edinburgh - Geneva easyJet 
    Edinburgh - Zurich Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Geneva easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Geneva easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Geneva British Airways,  Swiss 
    London City - Zurich British Airways,  Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Basel easyJet 
    Gatwick - Geneva British Airways,  easyJet,  Swiss 
    Gatwick - Zurich easyJet,  Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Basel British Airways 
    Heathrow - Geneva British Airways,  Swiss 
    Heathrow - Zurich British Airways,  Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Basel easyJet 
    Luton - Geneva easyJet 
    Luton - Zurich easyJet,  Vueling 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Basel easyJet 
    Manchester - Geneva easyJet 
    Manchester - Zurich Swiss 
    Manchester - Zurich (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Zurich (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Geneva easyJet 
    Newcastle - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Zurich (via Paris CDG) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Zürich or Geneva. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    If purchasing outward connecting travel through Inntravel, the homeward travel is at no extra cost.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Zürich

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Zürich airport to Kandersteg (2h25), walk to hotel (0h05) £16 in 2021; £18 in 2022 1730
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    walk to station (0h05), rail Kandersteg to Zürich airport (2h25) £0 1300

    Connecting travel options - flying via Bern

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    coach Bern airport to Bern SBB (0h30), rail Bern SBB to Kandersteg (1h), walk to hotel (0h05) £16 in 2021; £18 in 2022 1700
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    walk to station (0h05), rail Kandersteg to Bern SBB (1h), coach Bern SBB to Bern airport (0h30) £0 1100

    Connecting travel options - flying via Geneva

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Geneva airport to Kandersteg (3h15), walk to hotel (0h05) £16 in 2021; £18 in 2022 1730
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    walk to station (0h05), rail Kandersteg to Geneva airport (3h15) £0 1300

    Connecting travel options - flying via Basel

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    coach Basel airport to Basel SBB (0h20), rail Basel SBB to Kandersteg (2h10), walk to hotel (0h05) £16 in 2021; £18 in 2022 1530
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    walk to station (0h05), rail Kandersteg to Basel SBB (2h10), coach Basel SBB to Basel airport (0h20) £0 1330
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 7 dinners
    7 breakfasts
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • half-fare card
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 7 reviews
  • Mrs S Young
    Dumfries
    13 September 2019

    What a great holiday - Kandersteg and the surrounding area is just so beautiful. The Belle Epoque Hotel Victoria was most welcoming and a very relaxing place to stay.

    I did the walk up to Lake Oeschinensee on the 1st day, thinking that it would be a great way to start the holiday, but did find it extremely busy especially around the Lake - even on the high route round to Oberbargli there were a lot of walkers about and did hope that all the walks weren't going to be like that. I was so pleased to find that the rest of the walks that I did were absolutely amazing and not nearly as busy. I so enjoyed the walk up and down the Gasterntal Valley - I took the mini bus half way up, which gave me time to go almost as far as the Kanderfirn Glacier. What a lovely walk especially coming home through the trees and along the river. I also really enjoyed the walk up to the Gemmi Pass, it was so completely different to the Gasterntal Valley but I think my favourite was walking in the Lötschental Valley. I took a bus as far as Blatten then walked up to Schwarzsee and round to Kummenalp before coming down to catch a bus at Ferden. Coming from the Galloway area of Scotland I was so surprised to find on going round a corner about 12 Belted Galloway cows complete with cow bells on - not a Breed of cattle that I expected to see!! What gave me as much pleasure on this holiday was the fact that I could and did challenge myself on the walks - the amazing scenery just made me want to go further and see more. The icing on the cake was the fact that when I was there the weather was amazing - blue cloudless skies for most of the time and temperatures into the mid twenties - not what I expected.

    To round of my holiday I spent a lovely night in Bern - a beautiful city and not too big. To celebrate an amazing holiday I had a fantastic meal in a lovely restaurant in the Old part of Bern called Metzgerstuebli in Muenstergasse.Thank you Inntravel, yet again for an amazing holiday, and so well arranged - I think it was holiday No 7 with you.

  • Anon
    06 August 2019

    The setting of the Kandersteg hotel was superb, and we had a large comfortable room with balconies and added sitting space, which was most welcome. The walks were wonderful, though we could take only three because of poor weather (but we were advised to take a train to Bern on a rainy day, which was a great success). Switzerland is very expensive and this part of the Alps - surprisingly, given its tourism focus - not signed well. Furthermore, English is rarely included on signposts and information boards. English is spoken, but often we communicated in French. Inntravel's arrangements were perfect, and we felt we were in safe hands throughout. Many thanks for a lovely trip.

  • Anon
    03 July 2019

    This holiday exceeded our expectations and was both restful and stimulating in equal measure.  For us, Kandersteg and Zürich [Lake Oeschinensee & Beyond plus city add-on] made a wonderful combination.

  • Helen Butler
    28 June 2019

    What a beautiful place Kandersteg is - we had permanent cricks in our necks from admiring the mountains which surround the village, and we ran out of superlatives to describe the mountain scenery and the wildflowers. The walking was fantastic - we took most of the easier options as it was graded 2-3 level walking and with the lovely weather walked every day. Some of the descents are tricky but nothing that was unmanageable. The walk up to the Gemmi Pass was memorable, the flowers at Sunnbuel were spectacular and walking on the snow line in shorts and T-shirt was amazing. The Gasterntal valley, Almenalp and the Lotschental valley were also incredible walks. NB if you decide to do Lotschental from Fafleralp go half left out of the car park, cross the footbridge turn right onto the road then follow the road round to the left to the next yellow SP. Don't follow the steep wide path straight up! One thing we would highly recommend is to hire E-bikes from the hotel. We used the E-mountain bikes (but you could do it with the hybrids as well) to go up into the Ucshinen valley as far as you can go - a fantastic experience, and the Rosti at the mountain restaurant on the way back was excellent. Hotel Victoria was a lovely hotel, our room was enormous, the food was very good, particularly the 4 course served meals and the breakfasts. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly. We ate in the Ritter restaurant for our anniversary and they went to the trouble of decorating our table with flowers and streamers which was a lovely touch. A fantastic holiday all round.

  • Mark and Anne, Salinas, Ca
    26 August 2018

    We wanted an introduction to Switzerland, and we got it.  The two trips back to back - Kandersteg [Lake Oeschinensee & Beyond] and Engadine [Villages of the Engadine] were fabulous.  In many ways above expectations.  My wife and I shout in unison "Well done, Inntravel!"  We'll be back.  We've already booked two trips in Portugal for next Spring. 

  • AndrewJ
    03 August 2018

    We thoroughly enjoyed our week in Kandersteg. Kandersteg is a perfect base for a week's walking with a wide variety of walks of all kinds within easy reach many starting directly from the village. And the station and bus stops were 200m from the hotel for longer trips.  A quick stop at the Coop after breakfast and we were set for the day - apart from the coffee stop at one of the gasthofs in the alps.  The Belle Epoque Hotel Victoria was very comfortable with good facilties and friendly helpful staff. Given that our trip was at the height of the summer season in August the hotel was quieter than we had expected. The meals - half-board - were excellent. My gluten-free diet was easily accommodated.  Highly recommended. 

  • Anon
    11 July 2018

    Every day had a highlight. We thought Gasterntal unmissable (we bussed in and walked back, having feasted on wild strawberries which we found growing near our chosen picnic site); also the panoramic walks on the north side of Lake Oeschinensee and between Allmenalp and the Uschene Valley. Blausee was too touristy for us, though the variety of the walk there (forest route) and back (track route) was excellent. The flora stopped us in our tracks on several occasions -- a small meadow of wild astrantia, another of wild delphiniums, another of something that looked like a white gaura but probably wasn't.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – walking holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe, there’s a £35 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £60 per person. More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Switzerland, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens can no longer use their EHIC in Switzerland, and nor is the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) valid in Switzerland. It is therefore important that, if you already have travel insurance in place, the terms do not exclude medical cover, especially for existing conditions, in the absence of an EHIC.
  • The official languages are German, spoken in the majority of the country; French, spoken in the south-west; Italian, spoken in the south-east; and Romansch, mostly limited to the Engadine valley. The currency is the Franc. Swiss time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
Last fetch time is : 6/12/2021 2:51:38 PM