Bernese Oberland, Swiss Alpine Splendour

- Hotel Alpenland, Lauenen
 
Alpine beauty | Stunning uninterrupted views of the mountains
Winter activities | Walking, tobogganing, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing
Explore Lauenen | On quiet trails enjoy the perfectly serene landscapes around you
Excellent cuisine | Popular with locals who come to eat in the hotel restaurant
Price from
£1895pp
Bernese Oberland, Swiss Alpine Splendour. 7 nights
Price from
£1895pp
Bernese Oberland, Swiss Alpine Splendour. 7 nights
Price from
£1895pp
 

Holiday information

 

A winter holiday in Lauenen

Often described as the most dramatic region of Switzerland, the Bernese Oberland offers a plethora of standout activities when it comes to winter holidays. The iconic mountain ranges of the Eiger and Jungfrau may rightly attract winter sports enthusiasts but tucked away in one of the quieter corners of the region, you’ll find the perfect base to immerse yourself in Alpine wonder.
The quiet village of Lauenen, set close to chic Gstaad, is a true winter retreat. There are many excellent walking paths for you to discover in the region, with access to those a little farther afield made easy by the efficient local bus and train network. For those looking to try out more activities, you can appreciate the tranquillity of exploring on snowshoes, enjoy the buzz of tobogganing or take to the downhill pistes around Gstaad. During your stay, be sure to take a trip on the GoldenPass Panoramic Train from Gstaad, as it descends to the shores of Lake Geneva.

After a day exploring, a warm welcome awaits you at the cosy, chalet-style Hotel Alpenland. Inntravel has featured the hotel in its summer programme for many years, with customers commenting on the outstanding level of personal service, along with the excellent cuisine.
 

What our expert says

“You don’t need to stay in the bustling ski resorts to enjoy the Bernese Oberland in winter – there are still some quieter valleys to explore. Your base, the Alpenland, is a superb spot to return to every evening, where you can be assured of first-rate hospitality and delicious cuisine.”
Inntravel winter holiday expert
 
Images courtesy of Destination Gstaad / Melanie Uhkoetter (© DGMU) and Destination Gstaad / Yannick Romagnoli (© DGYR)
 

Gallery


 

Winter activities

There’s no fixed itinerary, so take your pick of the activities as the mood takes you.
  • 83km in the Gstaad region
    With a choice of quiet valleys and lifts in the nearby downhill ski area giving access to higher level walks, Lauenen and nearby Gstaad are well suited to exploration on foot. Local buses and trains enable you to explore further afield (use your visitor’s card for free local bus and train travel).

    All trails are well signed, and any snow is specially flattened to facilitate walking. In the detailed documentation we provide, we give an overview of our favourite options, including the following three routes:

    Lauenensee: 8.5km
    Set in a nature reserve at the end of the valley, Lake Lauenen is an idyllic spot. Walk direct from the hotel door through meadows and forest to the frozen lakeside.

    Wispile: 7.7km
    Take a trip by gondola to 1911m, to follow the high-level panoramic route along the Wispile ridge, which offers superb views towards Lauenen and the peaks beyond.

    Eggli: 3km
    Another high-level route, this time with views towards the imposing Gummfluh and Rübli mountain ranges. Finish your walk on the sun terrace of the Eggli mountain restaurant, where you can enjoy a spot of lunch or some cake, along with the incredible views.
    Explore the walking trails © DGMU
  • Snowshoeing, tobogganing & more

    Snowshoeing
    The gentle hilly landscape around Gstaad is perfect for striking out on snowshoes. Direct from Lauenen itself lies a wonderful route through the forest and over the Chrinenpass (1658m) to Gsteig.

    Tobogganing
    The region boasts an impressive nine different toboggan runs, the longest of which descends 8.2km from the top of the Wispile gondola.

    Downhill skiing
    There is a small slope in Lauenen itself, ideal for those learning to ski for the first time, whilst the wider region offers over 200km for all levels of skier.

    Cross-country skiing
    Lauenen features a network of well-maintained cross-country skiing trails that meander through the enchanting winter landscape, with routes suitable for both classic and skate skiing. Skiers can enjoy a variety of loops, with options ranging from gentle tracks for beginners to more challenging trails for experienced cross-country enthusiasts, all while taking in stunning views of the surrounding mountains and forests.
    Ski amid beautiful mountain scenery © DGYR
    On snowshoes you can explore areas inaccessible to skiers and walkers © DGMU
  • GoldenPass Train & more

    GoldenPass Panoramic Train
    Take a memorable trip from Gstaad to the stunning shores of Lake Geneva on the GoldenPass Panoramic Train. Breathtaking views appear over the lake as the train descends a seemingly impossible route.

    Glacier 3000
    Ride the cable car to an impressive 3000m for far-reaching views of the most famous Swiss mountains (Eiger, Jungfrau, Matterhorn). Enjoy the Peak Walk, the world’s first suspension bridge between two summits, or ride the Alpine Coaster for a truly immersive winter experience.
    The suspension bridge on Glacier 3000
  • Special events
    Indulge your tastebuds at the Hotel Alpenland’s Gala Dinner, which takes place on 24 and 31 December.
 

About Lauenen

The hideaway village of Lauenen (altitude: 1252m) is tucked away in a picturesque valley. The village has a small supermarket and a handful of guesthouses, whilst nearby Gstaad offers a much wider choice of shops and restaurants and is a 30-minute bus ride away.
Hotel Alpenland
  • 3-star superior

Bedrooms

 
Prices & travel
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  • 7 nights: 14 December 2024 - 31 March 2025

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

    Starting Adults
    14 Dec - 17 Dec 2024 £1930
    18 Dec - 31 Dec 2024 £2270
    01 Jan - 14 Jan 2025 £1995
    15 Jan - 31 Jan 2025 £2080
    01 Feb - 07 Feb 2025 £2140
    08 Feb - 19 Feb 2025 £2595
    20 Feb - 27 Feb 2025 £2375
    28 Feb - 07 Mar 2025 £2080
    08 Mar - 24 Mar 2025 £1895
    # Supplements apply on 10, 11, 17 & 18 Feb 2024; 8, 9, 15 & 16 Feb 2025; please contact us for details

    A supplement is payable for a single room – see 'Additional prices' below

    7 nights: 14 December 2024 - 31 March 2025

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

    Starting Adults
    14 Dec - 17 Dec 2024 £2220
    18 Dec - 31 Dec 2024 £2560
    01 Jan - 14 Jan 2025 £2285
    15 Jan - 31 Jan 2025 £2370
    01 Feb - 07 Feb 2025 £2430
    08 Feb - 19 Feb 2025 £2885
    20 Feb - 27 Feb 2025 £2665
    28 Feb - 07 Mar 2025 £2370
    08 Mar - 24 Mar 2025 £2185

    Includes all elements of the holiday itself (accommodation, meals and any additional elements as described), plus Eurostar and onward rail services from London St Pancras, plus any transfer to the hotel as described below (see 'Rail option from London' section).

    A supplement is payable for a single room – see 'Additional prices' below

    Prices are subject to availability and supplements may apply. Book early for Christmas, New Year and school holidays.

  • Room upgrades (supplement in £ per room per night)

    Hotel Alpenland, Lauenen
    Single room: 14 Dec - 31 Mar 2025 £180
    South-facing: 14 Dec - 31 Mar 2025 £50
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Geneva (latest flight arrival time: 1430; earliest flight departure time: 1400)
    ALTERNATIVE AIRPORT(S):
    Zürich (latest flight arrival time: 1430; earliest flight departure time: 1400)

    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 you fly to Geneva or Zürich. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Zurich (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Aberdeen - Zurich (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Zurich Swiss 
    Birmingham - Zurich (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Bournemouth - Geneva easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Geneva easyJet 
    Bristol - Geneva (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Bristol - Zurich Swiss 
    Bristol - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Geneva easyJet 
    Edinburgh - Zurich Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Geneva easyJet 
    Glasgow - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    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 - Geneva British Airways,  easyJet,  Swiss 
    Gatwick - Zurich easyJet,  Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Geneva British Airways,  Swiss 
    Heathrow - Zurich British Airways,  Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Geneva easyJet 
    Luton - Zurich easyJet,  Vueling 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Geneva easyJet 
    Manchester - Zurich Lufthansa,  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 you fly to Geneva or Zürich. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of alternative 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 above, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice if you would prefer to fly via a different route to the one included in our standard arrangements. A supplement may be payable for other flights.

  • Combining high-speed Eurostar and TGV with the clockwork efficiency of Swiss railways, this is relaxed independent travel at its finest. You’ll be in the Bernese Oberland in time for dinner (albeit a relatively late one)!

    If you would prefer an alternative route, our rail specialists can tailor the arrangements to suit you.

    > Travelling by train to Switzerland: what to expect
    > More about 'by rail' prices

    Route on which prices are based

    Outward journey Departure time
    from London
    Arrival time
    at hotel
    St Pancras–Paris–Geneva–Montreux–Gstaad (Eurostar, TGV & regional rail, 10h40), postbus Gstaad–Lauenen (0h20) approx 0800 approx 2000
    Homeward journey Departure time
    from hotel
    Arrival time
    in London
    Postbus Lauenen–Gstaad (0h20), Gstaad–Montreux–Lausanne–Paris–St Pancras (regional rail, TGV & Eurostar, 11h40) approx 0830 approx 1930 Sun-Fri (2030 Sat)
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 7 dinners
    7 breakfasts
    afternoon snack
  • detailed information about the area
  • local area train & bus pass
  • rail and bus from/to Geneva Airport (if flying)
 
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 >

 

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.
  • In the Alps, most hotels have a vegetarian menu. Please contact us for specific information about this particular hotel.
  • Living far from the capital ourselves, we know better than most that flying from London can be a bind, so we are very flexible with our travel arrangements. Call or email us, and one of the team will be happy to list the different options available to you, and any price implications.
  • 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 incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), 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.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • 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 (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). 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). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • 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.
  • 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.
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