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The High Route

Bernese Oberland - The Eiger, Münch & Jungfrau
 
With the dramatic peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau as your breathtaking backdrop, cross verdant slopes and thrilling passes, and stay in welcoming Alpine hotels. This self-guided walking holiday includes luggage transfers on most days, so you can explore the UNESCO-protected landscapes at leisure.
The High Route. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
The High Route. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in the Bernese Oberland

In the whole Alpine region, no ridge of mountains can boast such romance as that combining the awe-inspiring peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, all around 4,000 metres. On the verdant slopes nestle idyllic, quintessential Alpine villages such as Wengen and Mürren which deservedly attract numerous hikers. Walking from Grindelwald to Kandersteg takes you on a classic route through high mountains and over splendid passes, amid some of Europe's grandest and most humbling landscapes within the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Following well-established paths recognised for their outstanding vistas, the route is among the most challenging in our selection, with demanding ascents and descents each day, though the magnificent panoramas from the high passes also make it one of our most rewarding walks.
 

Book with confidence

We are accepting bookings for our holidays to Switzerland. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence.

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Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights. We include a half-fare card which gives discounts on public transport if you need to shorten a walk or use a poor-weather alternative.
  • 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
  • Arrival in Grindelwald
    Night 1: at Hotel Kreuz & Post (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Circular walk from Grindelwald: 16km, 5.5hrs; ascent 700m/descent 865m
    On your day in Grindelwald, our scenic introduction to the region involves taking the gondola to First and walking westwards. Following a classic high alpine route, you pass the lake of Bachalpsee and enjoy far-reaching views towards Lake Thun. Your target is Schynige Platte, the 19th-century narrow-gauge cog railway summit station and its Alpine garden, where 560 plants can be seen. You return to Grindelwald on the oldest electrically powered locomotive, complete with nostalgic open carriages and original wooden seats (pay locally for this and the gondola using the included half-fare card).
    Circular walk from Grindelwald: 16km
    The cog railway to Schynige Platte
  • Choice of walks from Grindelwald to Wengen: 16.5km or 20.5km

    The Eiger Trail: 16.5km, 6.5hrs; ascent 905m/descent 1235m
    Today's route starts with a train ride out of the valley to Alpiglen (included), where you pick up the dramatic Eiger Trail which runs along the foot of the classic rocky north face. You also pass the Mönch and Jungfrau, with wonderful glacier views, before descending over glacial moraine, and later through pastures and woodland, to the beautiful village of Wengen where you stay at the Hotel Alpenrose on the edge of the village.

    Via Kleine Scheidigg: 20.5km, 8hrs; ascent 1190m/descent 1015m
    This alternative route via Kleine Scheidigg – a station on the Jungfraujoch funicular railway – also takes you under the Eiger, but at a further distance to better admire the famous north face.
    The Eiger Trail
    The Eiger Trail: 16.5km
    Via Kleine Scheidigg: 20.5km
  • Wengen to Mürren: 9km, 3.5hrs; ascent 475m/descent 765m
    Today's route winds down from Wengen, initially leading through forest to the valley floor at Lauterbrunnen. Ascend by gondola to Grütschalp (pay locally), from where you pick up the Mountain View Trail, aptly named as it provides a splendid backdrop of the mighty trio of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Your destination is Mürren, where you spend one night at the Hotel Bellevue.
    Wengen to Mürren: 9km
    The route to Murren
  • Choice of walks from Mürren to Griesalp: 13.5km or 15.5km

    Mürren to Griesalp (high-level route): 15.5km, 6hrs; ascent 1040m/descent 1240m
    This is the most challenging walk of the holiday so far, but is rewarded by spectacular views of the north faces of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Your target for the first leg is the Sefinenfurke Pass, which means a long ascent, gentle at first but then steeper as you ascend to an altitude of 2,612 metres. Linger at the pass to drink in the panorama before the long descent through an unspoiled valley to the settlement of Griesalp and the Berggasthaus Golderli. Due to the remote location of the guesthouse, you'll need to bring an overnight bag with you.

    Mürren to Griesalp (low-level route): 13.5km, 6hrs; ascent 1150m/descent 400m
    For a lower level option, take trains and a cable car from Mürren to Reichenbach (pay locally) and walk through the Kiental Valley, past a number of waterfalls, to Griesalp. 
    The Sefinenfurke Pass
    Mürren to Griesalp (high-level route): 15.5km
    Mürren to Griesalp (low-level route): 13.5km
  • Choice of walks from Griesalp to Kandersteg: 16km or 18km

    Griesalp to Kandersteg via the Hohtürli Pass: 16km, 7hrs; ascent 1435m/descent 1710m
    To reach the Hohtürli Pass – which at 2,778 metres is even higher than the pass you walked over yesterday – you have another long, and at times steep, ascent, although the extensive panoramas which open up before you more than compensate for the effort! The ensuing descent takes you close to the Blüemlisalp Glacier, past remote farmhouses surrounded by huge boulders, and finally above the turquoise blue waters of Oeschinensee, set in an amphitheatre of mountains. Your final destination is Kandersteg, where you spend two nights at the Belle Epoque Hotel Victoria.

    Griesalp to Kandersteg via Reichenbach (low-level route): 18km, 6.5hrs; ascent 710m/descent 1305m
    Alternatively, follow the Höhenweg (high path), keeping a high contour along the Kiental Valley before descending into Reichenbach, from where you catch the train to Kandersteg (pay locally). 
    The Hohturli Pass
    Griesalp to Kandersteg via the Hohtürli Pass: 16km
    Griesalp to Kandersteg via Reichenbach (low-level route): 18km
  • Choice of walks from Kandersteg: 10km to 20.5km

    Gasterntal – grade 2-3 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. 

    Gasterntal – grade 3 option: 11.5km, 5hrs; ascent/descent 870m
    Another way to enjoy the reserve 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.

    Uschene Valley – grade 2 option: 10km, 3hrs; ascent 150m/descent 640m
    A third option is to explore the pretty Uschene Valley, by taking the Allmenalp cable car into the imposing mountains to the west of Kandersteg. From here, you continue along a panoramic contour into the Uschene Valley then descend to Kandersteg on foot. 

    Uschene Valley via Alpschelegrat – grade 2-3 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.

    Gemmi Pass – grade 2-3: 19km, 6.5hrs; ascent/descent 755m; shorter option: 8.5km, 3hrs
    Or you may decide to 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).
    The Gastern Valley
    Gasterntal – grade 2-3 option: 20.5km
    Gasterntal – grade 3 option: 11.5km
    Uschene Valley - grade 2 option: 10km
    Uschene Valley via Alpschelegrat – grade 2-3 option: 13.5km
    Gemmi Pass – grade 2-3: 19km
 

Accommodation

Ranging from a mountain guesthouse to a 4-star hotel, all your accommodation is friendly and welcoming.
 

Options to extend or shorten 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.
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  • 7 nights: 27 June 2021 - 07 October 2021 & 25 June 2022 - 02 October 2022

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

    Starting Price Single room
    27 Jun - 20 Aug 2021 £1345 £200
    21 - 31 Aug 2021 £1245 £200
    1 - 12 Sep 2021 £1195 £195
    13 - 30 Sep 2021 £1145 £195
    25 Jun - 20 Aug 2022 £1395 £210
    21 - 31 Aug 2022 £1295 £210
    1 - 12 Sep 2022 £1245 £205
    13 - 25 Sep 2022 £1195 £205
    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.

    If you would prefer to drive from the UK, please contact us for self-drive prices.

    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: 27 June 2021 - 07 October 2021 & 25 June 2022 - 02 October 2022

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

    Starting Price Single room
    27 Jun - 20 Aug 2021 £1725 £200
    21 - 31 Aug 2021 £1615 £200
    1 - 12 Sep 2021 £1575 £195
    13 - 30 Sep 2021 £1520 £195
    25 Jun - 20 Aug 2022 £1815 £210
    21 - 31 Aug 2022 £1695 £210
    1 - 12 Sep 2022 £1645 £205
    13 - 25 Sep 2022 £1595 £205
    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: UK-Paris (Eurostar), Paris–Grindelwald (TGV/regional rail), approx duration 9h20 plus 0h02 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.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel Kreuz & Post, Grindelwald
    Junior suite: 27 Jun - 07 Oct 2021 £38
    Junior suite: 25 Jun - 02 Oct 2022 £40
    Hotel Alpenrose, Wengen
    South-facing with balcony: 27 Jun - 07 Oct 2021 £24
    South-facing with balcony: 25 Jun - 02 Oct 2022 £26
    Belle Epoque Hotel Victoria, Kandersteg
    Mini-suite: 27 Jun - 07 Oct 2021 £38
    Mini-suite: 25 Jun - 02 Oct 2022 £40

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

    Hotel Alpenrose, Wengen (with dinner) Double room Single room
    27 Jun - 14 Jul 2021 £115 £135
    15 Jul - 14 Aug 2021 £125 £145
    15 Aug - 14 Sep 2021 £120 £140
    15 Sep - 07 Oct 2021 £105 £125
    25 Jun - 14 Jul 2022 £120 £140
    15 Jul - 14 Aug 2022 £132 £152
    15 Aug - 14 Sep 2022 £126 £146
    15 Sep - 02 Oct 2022 £110 £130
    Hotel Bellevue, Mürren (with dinner) Double room Single room
    27 Jun - 11 Sep 2021 £142 £196
    12 Sep - 07 Oct 2021 £126 £180
    25 Jun - 11 Sep 2022 £150 £208
    12 Sep - 02 Oct 2022 £132 £190
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Zürich, 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 for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. 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 Grindelwald (2h50), walk to hotel (0h02) £16 in 2021; £18 in 2022 1600
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    walk to Kandersteg station (0h05), rail Kandersteg to Zurich (2h30) £0 1300

    Connecting travel options - flying via Geneva

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Geneva airport to Grindelwald (3h35), walk to hotel (0h02) £16 in 2021; £18 in 2022 1600
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    walk to Kandersteg 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 Grindelwald (2h40), walk to hotel (0h02) £16 in 2021; £18 in 2022 1600
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    walk to Kandersteg station (0h05), rail Kandersteg to Basel SBB (2h10), coach Basel SBB to Basel airport (0h20) £0 1330
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 7 dinners
    1 picnic
    7 breakfasts
  • luggage transported on most days (1 bag per person)
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • half-fare card
  • train Grindelwald-Alpiglen (day 2)
 
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 16 reviews
  • Mrs A Jowsey
    Leeds
    07 September 2019

    My husband loved the Eiger trail whilst I loved the hike to Greislap! A real adventure. In Grindelwald the 5 star romantik hotel would be a lovely upgrade. Bring a travel kettle and teabags. The Schwarenbach hotel serves amazing local food in a wonderful location. The Dairy farm was a great spot for a drink on the way.

  • Mrs B, Surrey
    07 September 2019

    Excellent walking holiday. We had an extra day in Murren at the Bellevue and we would highly recommend this as a lovely place to rest up before the 2 big days to get over the high passes. On our rest day we did the via ferrata from Murren to Gimmelwald which was excellent although you really do need a head for heights and good balance!! All the places we stayed were lovely with the best place for a relaxing drink was on the bar at Hotel Bellevue. That view... SENSATIONAL. Another stella performace by Inntravel.

  • Renee and Martin, Yungaburra, Queensland
    29 August 2019

    Walking in the Swiss alps was truly wonderful. The scenery is spectacular and the accommodation was comfortable and offered good food. The walks were strenuous at times, and poles and good boots are essential. We are a couple in our seventies but had no problems with the routes chosen. Local advice was useful, we were advised to delay crossing an alpine pass, and did it the following day ankle deep in snow with blue skies overhead. Magic! Other people had turned back in blizzard conditions the previous day. Because there are so many spectacular walks in the area we allowed a few extra days in our itinerary, and this was very worth while - we recommend extra time if at all possible. The Swiss half price rail card was great; we used it so much getting to and from walks, plus free travel to and from the point of entry and exit in Switzerland.

    We travel from Australia and have used Inntravel over a number of years. All of our trips have been excellent - better than any other company we have tried. The amount of effort put into good up-to-date notes is key to relaxed, stress free walking! Thanks Team!

     

  • Mr D Davies
    St. Asaph
    28 August 2019

    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. 

  • Mr MJ Godfree
    Ashbourne
    27 July 2019

    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.

     

  • mauntenmeri
    22 July 2019

    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. 

  • Anon
    15 July 2019

    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

  • Ms E Low
    York
    09 July 2019

    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. 

  • Ms P Boden
    York
    09 July 2019

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

  • Mr B Rochester
    Witham
    01 October 2018

    Our highlights?

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

  • Julia W, Newcastle.
    09 September 2018

    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!

     

  • Mrs M Jensen
    USA
    09 September 2018

    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.

  • Mrs S Grundy
    Lancaster
    01 September 2018

    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.

  • Mr G Evans
    Dronfield
    01 September 2018

    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. 

  • Mr P Gibbins
    Plymouth
    20 August 2018

    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. 

  • Mr J Madgwick
    Chipping Campden
    28 July 2018

    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
 

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, not least taking tests before and after your holiday for many destinations.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • 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 routes from the UK with a variety of airlines (but not, currently, with Ryanair). 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 : 7/25/2021 10:39:15 AM