A walking holiday in the Bernese Oberland

The climb up to the Hohturli Pass was exhausting, exhilarating and when you have reached the summit at 2778m the panoramic view takes what little breath you had left, away. To say you are 'at the top of the world' is a glib statement but as we stood at the highest peak on the Via Alpina with a 360 degree vista, words to describe the view failed us so we just sat, shook our heads in disbelief and just stared in wonder. 

Watching marmots on the day walk from Kandersteg. Sitting at Bluemlisalp Hutte knowing everyone else had also walked to get there. Soaking feet in Oeschinensee at almost the end of long day. Very English barbecue with other Inntravel customers before fireworks on Swiss National Day.

All in all we had a lovely holiday - apart from one day bad weather. The walking routes were all excellent. I realise that others may prefer the larger 'tourist' hotels that we did not like so much. I have never done a half board hotel holiday like this before and am more familiar with huts, pensions and ski chalets. 

Thanks to fabulous weather every day we enjoyed wonderful views. The routes and walk notes were excellent and we enjoyed some great walking. We particularly enjoyed the Eiger Trail and the walk to Murren. Also the lakes walk in Zermatt. On our last day, we walked up to Schwarzsee which was a lovely walk and took the lift down. We felt we got good use out of the half-fare card and that was a real bonus.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers booked our walking holiday The High Route with our add-on in Zermatt

This was my first trip with Inntravel. It surpassed expectations in terms of accommodation, comprehensive route notes and local travel information. The routes were excellent and graded well. I would certainly recommend Inntravel and book with them again. 

Absolutely fantastic walking holiday. Fabulous accommodation throughout. Superb walking notes. Looking forward to booking with you again.

Our highlights?

Wonderful weather. Scenery in Switzerland fabulous as always.  Food at Bellevue, Murren.  Ponte della Maddelena near Lucca.  Zuppa di Farro.

Loved this holiday. Walking was varied and the right kind of challenging, scenery utterly breathtaking. Hotels comfortable, great food, warm service. Transport and baggage arrangements flawless. Very happy we added on 4 days in Zermatt which we booked ourselves in an apartment and really pleased it could be incorporated in the Inntravel package to make use of the Swiss travel card.

Weather in September great- just one fully misty/cloudy day- sadly when we were going over the Sefinafurgga Pass so we missed any views but it made it all the sweeter when we finally climbed through and got above the clouds the next day over the Horturli Pass.

The waymarking in Switzerland is brilliant. You would be hardpressed to get lost even in poor weather which was very reassuring.

Highlights? Cheese boards at breakfast, lying in bed hearing nothing but cowbells, the beautiful snow covered peaks. Thank you!

On the first day of our hike, we ran into thunderstorms just below Faulhorn Hutte.  We were getting wet and cold so we took the untried exit down to Busalp.  The route was very well marked with white/red/white markers on the rocks.  At one point the route seemed to split into two paths.  Though we hadn't seen another soul on this route, at just that moment, a man came bounding down the hillside.  I asked which route to take.  His words encourage me still. "You cannot fail!", he said.  Both routes eventually rejoin and continue to the same destination. It was incredibly steep but traversed some beautiful alpine slopes with so many interesting dwarf plants, flowers, and berries.  As we neared the Busalp lodge, we came across a small shed that looked like it might be a tool shed.  In fact it was a cheese shed with the farmer on site weighing and turning his cheeses.  We had about 45 minutes to wait for the bus so we ordered a bowl of soup at the lodge.  It may have been the most beautiful as well as delicious thing we ate the entire trip.... served in a rustic handmade pottery bowl, creme fraiche floating on the top with dried alpine flowers and two hearty slices of whole wheat bread.  We bought some cheese and enjoyed the wait for the bus as we warmed up.

This is a marvellous walk with some amazing scenery but does require a good level of fitness and certainly a head for heights! There are some long days walking with considerable ascent and descent which can take its toll on the knees. We would recommend always taking two walking poles as this provides stability on steep slopes, loose scree etc.

We really enjoyed walking The High Route. Directions and choice of hotels were excellent. Can highly recommend walking poles - we don't usually use them, but they were invaluable on this route. On the Wengen to Murren day, we took the Männlichen cable car and walked to Kleine Scheidegg before getting the train to Lauterbrunnen and continuing the route from there. Views were well worth the diversion. 

An amazing trip, the high route certainly delivers. If you enjoy UK National Parks and mountains, walking in the shadow of the Eiger has to be on your list. With legendary Swiss efficiency, routes are extremely well signposted, with uncannily accurate times for each day’s walk. Be prepared for some long steep sections, but the views are well worth the effort of the climb. 

The High Route (bernese Oberland) is a fabulous experience for those with a taste for mountains, glaciers and the highest peaks that Europe offers. The walking is challenging but totally rewarding with scenes that you could only imagine. The geology and geography that is revealed at every turn is a delight and makes you remember all those lessons at school about glaciated valleys. The extension to Zermatt is a must and the mighty Matterhorn absolutely stunning. A true adventure for those who like to challenge themselves everyday and then relax in the superb hotels that Inntravel have selected.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our walk The High Route with our add-on at Hotel La Ginabelle in Zermatt

This trip was a once in a lifetime experience for us. The thrill of being able to walk/hike the most amazing views and scenery that you otherwise would not be able to do via transport is why we love it. The challenge of doing a really long day or by the incredible ascents/climbs you do by far makes up for it with the scenery. We had absolutely perfect clear weather the first 3 days and the next 2-3 weren't as great but we still loved our walks and it didn't change a thing. We got rained out one day and were devastated -- we will have to come back one day and try and do that route we missed!!
The route notes are amazing - I was quite worried about this pre-trip but they were very easy to follow and we never had to get out a map once. We ended up buying hiking poles on Day 2 though --- definitely recommend even if you think you won't need them!
Thanks Inntravel - an amazing holiday.

This was the trip of a lifetime for my husband and I.  From the moment we looked at Inntravels website, to speaking with the associates at Inntravel, to the completion of our trip, we were truly impressed. We were looking for an active holiday, and a challenging trek but also a way to unwind and soak any sore bones at the end of the day, we had both! The routes were challenging, but well chosen and easy to follow. They were also doable for two 40-ish year olds who are active but had ever attempted anything like a 7 day all-day hiking trip. We were a little anxious at the beginning but we reminded ourselves that we are here to take in the beauty, and if breaks are necessary, so be it! From the hiking routes to the hotels to the food to the unbelievable location in Switzerland, we were not disappointed at all. It was absolutely worth the investment and my husband and I commented many times, it was our best vacation ever!

All of our accommodations were unbelievable. The scenery spoke for itself (but was an absolute highlight!) but the service at every hotel was excellent. Hotel Kreuz was an amazing room, wonderful sauna, which was needed on Day one ;), and just a great way to start the hike. Our only complaint was how loud it was on the street but that is not the fault of the hotel, we should just have brought ear plugs! The second hotel, Alpenrose, was equally stunning, and the food OUT OF THIS WORLD! We ate so well and were rested and ready for Day 3! Hotel Bellevue, Ruth was so fun to talk to and had the weather report for us right when we asked. We stayed in the bear cave and fully intend on bringing our two boys next time to stay in that exact room! Ruth was easily accessible and recommended that we take Route 1 over the pass and WOW! What a workout but the views!!!!! SO worth it! Golderli was a hidden gem for me as I was expecting to spend the night with a room full of other hikers so you can imagine my surprise when we were given the best room in the hotel (which had an amazing view of the alpacas) and a wonderful picnic for the next day. Both of the owners of the hotel were engaging to their guests without being intrusive and it reminded me how easy it is to just relax and be for a night. (They also provided towels and linens for all guests!). And our last hotel in Kandersteg, well just the icing on the cake really...I was awed still at the view right outside our window (I didn't think it cound top the other hotels, it just kept getting better!). To say I am a huge fan of ALL the hotels is an understatement...in fact I am ruined for life, I loved it SO much!

What a great holiday! The walks had the most fantastic views for hours! We loved walking so high in the Alps, feeling close to the stunning glaciers, and in addition, the alpine meadows were just ablaze with an amazing array of flowers. Like anywhere else, once you're away from the access points to a walk, you can be hiking across an alpine meadow with the views all to yourself! The second week of July was a good time to go as we only had one day of rain followed by hot sunny weather. There was still snow up on the higher paths, particularly the hike over the high pass to Griesalp.

We enjoyed good food, sometimes superb food, and comfortable friendly hotels. The Swiss transport system is very efficient so we can see the potential for a return trip! There are many more walks to be done!

The walk around the north face of the Eiger to Wengen was a superb day with an incredible variety of scenery ranging from dramatic bare rockface to lush alpine pastures with, even in September, many beautiful flowers.

The package was well constructed for a first trip to Switzerland and met our hopes and expectations. We had a very enjoyable holiday.

Inntravel was easy to book with, to communicate with and provided excellent customer service. The hotels used were all wonderful and easy to get to. Check in was always quick and we always had a the very best room. The food.....wow, we always had a great breakfast and in most cases the evening meal was exceptional.

I would recommend being physically prepared for 8 hrs of strenuous walking for most of the Bernese-Oberland trek. Long steep inclines and long steep declines every day were the norm. We did not have dry conditions which made this trek more difficult. Luckily, we were very prepared for this trek.

Amazing scenery, somewhat challenging route but it is rewarding. And we love the hotel and the breakfast/dinner a lot. Never expect such luxury accommodation and meal for a hiking trip before!

I would recommend your company and hope to use you again on future trips.

What a spectacular trip! We got such an in depth taste of the Bernese Oberland and really appreciated all the options you offered - we took advantage of as many as we could. I can't decide whether the popular trails with the opportunity to chat with other hikers, sometimes without benefit of a common language, about the breathtaking scenery, or the lonesome ones where maybe we'd get a wave from a farmer and a visit from his dog over the course of a long hike were the best. Who knew that "The Sound of Music" was a real thing in the Alps and not just a metaphor for singing children. Walking the High Route was a challenging and precious way to celebrate a 60th birthday. I will certainly use Inntravel again. Thanks!

The route was excellent and filled with some of the most beautiful walks and views in the Alps.

An excellent holiday with challenging walks, but hard work rewarded with amazing views. We read books by Joe Simpson (The Beckoning Silence) and Heinrich Harrer (The White Spider) as we looked over at the North Face of the Eiger. There was a real sense of achievement to get over the two passes! Not a holiday for sufferers of vertigo. Highlights were looking at the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau peaks and the Alpine sounds of the cowbells in the valleys.

We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday which we had been hoping to do for some years. We were fortunate with the weather, it would have been much harder in poor weather. Be prepared for challenging climbs and descents, sometimes climbing over the passes could be vertiginous but it was worth it. You'll need to allow extra time to take photos and just enjoy the impressive views and the spectacular array of wild flowers. We were glad we had packed walking poles and taken the option of lifts in some sections to give us time to enjoy the views from the hotels and see where we'd been!

My husband and I went on this trip with my college roommate and her husband. It could not have been a better trip!  It was challenging on the trail, but every time you look up there's a stunning view. Luckily there were some well-placed restaurants in the mountains that had amazing food and fueled us to our next destination.  We'd arrive at the next hotel in the afternoon and our bags were in our room.  We cleaned up and went to a lovely dinner with engaging waitstaff.  We enjoyed comparing notes with two other couples who were hiking The High Route as well.  In the mornings, we'd gear up again and go to a nice breakfast, get fully caffeinated, and start on a new journey.

We thoroughly enjoyed 'The High Route' in Switzerland - a challenging and beautiful walk, staying in some lovely hotels along the way. Amazing views of the mountains and equally beautiful scenery through forests and meadows and across rivers. Our experience of Inn Travel has been impressive - professional, friendly, helpful and efficient. Self-guided is the way to go - you can set your own pace, take photos when you choose, but be confident that you know where you are going (with the great trip notes and maps) and that you have a comfortable bed and hearty meal organised and waiting for you (with you luggage) at the end!