Swiss Mountain Highlights

8 days / 7 nights

Guided Walking Tour & Matterhorn Explorer

Guided Hiking Tour Bernese Alps & Matterhorn Explorer

This one-week guided tour takes us to the heart of the most breathtaking mountain scenery anywhere. Start in at the foot of world-famous Eiger. Then it's on to Lötschental, a hidden valley off the beaten tracks and astonishing culture. Afterwards, we'll stay in the world-famous hiking center Zermatt, tucked against the Alps' most striking mountain, the Matterhorn. This tour has a little of everything, and is a perfect introduction to the Swiss Alps.

Jungfrau Region: the most beautiful Mountain scenery in the world with the resorts Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren

Indigenous culture and tradition in Kandersteg and Lötschental.

Hikes on the foot of the Matterhorn.

Dates / Rack rates 2012 Basic price in a Single room Small group double room supplement surcharge (2-5 Pax) Price per person CHF CHF CHF June 30 - July 7 August 11 - 18 2290 200 250 September 1 - 8 Guaranteed departures with minimum 2, maximum 16 participants Net rates are based upon Swiss Pass or Swiss Flexi Pass 1st class which is not included in the basic price

You have the opportunity to make your tour climate-neutral We work with the climate protection foundation «myclimate» on specially chosen projects to offset the volume of emissions during your tour. This results reduced emissions and the use of renewable energy. Voluntary contribution CHF 7.00 per person/tour

Services - operated by baumeler  Accommodation at 3-4* hotels and half board except on day 1 and 8 (meals as noted; B=Breakfast, PL=Picnics-Lunch, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)  Tips to porters and drivers  All cable car rides throughout the tour starting in Grindelwald finishing in Zermatt  All entrance fees for excursions throughout the tour  Luggage transport from Grindelwald throughout the tour until Zermatt  English-speaking travel guide/hiking guide  Extensive travel documentation

Not included  International airfare  rail ticket  meals not noted on itinerary  all drinks  travel insurance  optional tipping to tour guide

Hiking/Walking rating moderate - challenging

Duration: The treks take between 4 and 8 hours each day.

Paths: At the beginning we walk along country paths and forest roads. In the mountains trekking takes us along narrow paths.

Altitude differential: There are some steeper climbs to manage. The ascents are usually evenly steep. The altitude differential quoted in the travel programme relates to the entire trek and is generally divided up between a number of shorter ascents and descents.

TRAVEL PROGRAMME

1st day Grüezi in - Grindelwald

Individual journey to Grindelwald. Grindelwald lies nestled in unspoilt Alpine landscape at the foot of the Eiger north face. The world-famous backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau set the scene for Grindelwald.

Your personal guide welcomes you at your hotel in Grindelwald and takes you for a stroll around the village.

D, Hotel Kirchbühl****, Grindelwald

2nd day - Faulhorn - Hiking time approx. 5 hrs. 40 min.  300m/980f,  400m/1310f

A classical panoramic trail to Europes oldest mountain hostel. A unique panorama trail above the tree line. On the Schynige Platte one becomes aware of the wonderful contrasts in colour between the firn dazzling summits, the green valleys and the Lütschine and Aare rivers. Well worth a visit are the alpine gardens with over 500 native plants, as well as the 2 hours round trip with a beautiful view onto the lakes of Thun and Brienz. On the trail from the Schynige Platte to First we will pass two quitely different mountain lakes, the Sägistal- and Bachalp lakes. A visit to Europes oldest mountain hostel (170 years old) on the Faulhorn and the breathtaking views of the summits around Grindelwald, as you carry on to First, make this hike unique and well worth the long effort. The trail is completely natural and expectantly rough.

B, D, Hotel Kirchbühl****, Grindelwald

3rd day Mürren - Stechelberg - Oberhornsee Hiking time approx. 6 hrs.  1146m/3760f, 1146m/ 3760f. (Option: 4 to 5 hrs hike with 800m/2600f altitude)

After a healthy breakfast we travel by train to . We catch the postcar to Steckelberg, our next hiking starting point. From Stechelberg, an easy, slightly uphill hike through the wild, romantic valley to Trachsellauenen, with its mountain hotel and restaurant (1hr). The trail then climbs more steeply along the left side of the valley, either via Ammerten to the Hotel Tschingelhorn and on to Hotel Obersteinberg (1 hr), or directly to Obersteinberg via Schurboden and the Tschingel Lütschine. From Obersteinberg, a narrow footpath leads up to the Oberhornsee Lake (2065m/

6770f) in the Breithorn Nature Reserve (2 hrs). Return route: via Schafläger, with a detour to Läger, directly below the Schmadribach Falls and back to Stechelberg.

Mürren is a beautifully located, sunny, car free resort. The cosy, pedestrian, «Walser» village offers an impressive panorama of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Mürren (1650m/ 5400f) is the highest, permanently inhabited settlement in the canton Berne and is reached by cable-car.

B, D, Hotel Eiger****, Mürren

4th day Piz Gloria - Kiental - Kandersteg Hiking time approx. 6 hrs.  0m/0f,  1564m/ 5130f

The became a world-famous attraction after being conquered by 007. The cable-car ride to 3000m/ 9840f is itself spectacular. In good visibility the «Piz Gloria» rotating restaurant, with its viewing terrace, offers a fabulous panorama of 200 summits and 40 glaciers. Our hike today follows adventures trails from the Schiltorn down into the Kiental. After a 6 hours hike and thousands of unforgettable sceneries we arrive at Griesalp. A postbus brings us to Reichenbach and to Kandersteg.

Your accommodation tonight is unique! A history of almost 250 years becomes tangible and at your fingertips in the honourable Ruedihus. Here you can discover the »Good Ol' Days« for yourself. Earthy beams, splendid old furniture and a loving ambient provide you with the tranquillity we so often miss.

B, D, Hotel Ruedihus***, Kandersteg

5th day Kandersteg - Lötschental Hiking time approx. 5 ½ hrs.  500m/ 1640f,  300m/984f

The new day begins with a short train ride through the Lötschberg Tunnel. We leave the Canton and the Canton Wallis greats you with spectacular view on more than thirty peaks over 4000m/ 13120f altitude.

Take some pictures from traditional houses along the valley before we walk over pretty countryside to Lauchernalp. What a view. We hike towards the Langgletscher, right at the End of the Lötschental. Here we find a place to stay for the night... a heaven of peace in beautiful natural surroundings, rustic charm far from daily routine.

B, D, Hotel Fafleralp***, Lötschental

6th day Lötschental - Anenhütte - Zermatt Hiking time approx. 4 ½ hrs.  700m/ 2300f,  700m/ 2300f

Before leaving the Lötschental we discover the Anenhütte. A breathtaking path above the glacier brings us to Guggisee and the modern Alpine Hut Anen.

Leaving the Lötschental by Postbus we reach the Rhonetal. By train onward journey to Zermatt.

On the Italian border of the canton of in the west of Switzerland, at the end of Nikolaital, lies Zermatt, the village at the foot of the Matterhorn, the most photographed mountain in the world. Zermatt epitomises the image of Switzerland: high-alpine, awe-inspiring and original. Zermatt and the Matterhorn has been visited by mountaineers from all around the world since the first successful ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. The air up here is clear, dry and clean, because, since 1947, only electric cars without a combustion engine are allowed to operate in the village.

B, D, Hotel Hemizeus***, Zermatt

7th day Hiking on the foot of the Matterhorn Hiking time approx. 5 ½ hrs.  850m/ 2790f,  850m/ 2790f

The famous Edelweissweg is well known because here you have the possibility to discover the real Swiss Alpine flower, the Edelweiss. Trift is a beautiful place with a well known restaurant und Zmutt is may be the most lovely village in this area. Wooden Chalets, green fields, marmots on the way and above the mighty Matterhorn.

B, D, Hotel Hemizeus***, Zermatt

8th day Zermatt - Zurich

After breakfast our guided tour ends.

Individual onward journey.

SUBJECT TO PROGRAMME AND HOTEL CHANGES! Hiking times can vary depending on the weather and travel group!