Bernese Oberland Traverse – from Meiringen to Kandersteg Detailed Itinerary, 10‐Day Trip: (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, LG=Luggage)

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Bernese Oberland Traverse – From Meiringen to Kandersteg Detailed itinerary, 10‐day trip: (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, LG=Luggage)

DAY 01: ARRIVAL DAY: MEIRINGEN Meet in Meiringen, trip briefing and Welcome Dinner. For details on how to get there, please visit our Alps Travel & Resource Page. Accommodation: Hotel***, double room (D, LG)

DAY 02: MEIRINGEN – MAEGISALP – MEIRINGEN An early morning stroll through town, made‐famous by the fictitious death of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Conan Doyle's ingenious detective. A gentle walk up hill takes us to the cable car, bringing us to the Maegisalp, and the high pastures above Meiringen, which offes one of the most spectacular panoramic views in the Bernese Oberland. Accommodation: Hotel***, double room (B, D, LG)

DAY 03: MEIRINGEN ‐ ROSENLAUI Setting off through town, we cross the Aare river, heading due south, climbing through meadows and small hamlets past the Reichenball Falls, where Sherlock Holmes staged his own death, presumably falling from the top platform. Following the Reichenbach river, our trail takes us through forested sections above the gorge to the Rosenlaui hotel. First accepting guests nearly 240 years ago, this is a classic Swiss hotel, not to be missed. Accommodation: Mountain Inn, double room (B, D, LG)

DAY 04: ROSENLAUI ‐ GRINDELWALD Soaring above the Rosenlaui hotel are the cliffs of the Wellhorn and the Wetterhorn. Our trail takes us through meadows and fields of wildflowers, before reaching the obvious pass at the Grosse Scheidegg, with spectacular views out to the Eiger North Face. From Grosse Scheidegg, we descend steeply, criss‐crossing the hairpins of the road, making our way to the Grindelwald valley and our hotel, located just above town. Accommodation: Hotel****, double room (B, D, LG)

DAY 05: GRINDELWALD – JUNGFRAUJOCH ‐ GRINDELWALD A short walk takes us through the fields down to Grindelwald proper and the Eiger bahn, leading to Kleine Scheidegg, a large plateau just below the North Face of the Eiger. We will then take a different train up to the Jungfraujoch and the Sphinx observatory at nearly 3500m. The train goes right into the rock, made famous by Clint Eastwood's Eiger Sanction movie. If the weather does not allow for the train ride, an alternative hike will be chosen lower down. We stay in Grindelwald for a second night. Accommodation: Hotel****, double room (B, D, LG)

DAY 06: GRINDELWALD ‐ MUERREN In the morning we wil take the train back to Kleine Scheidegg, from where we begin a beautiful descent to Lauterbrunnen, past Wengen. A steep climb leads us to a spectacular trail with amazing views of the Jungfrau and the Moench, reaching the small town of Muerren just in time for an afternoon drink on the terrace of our hotel. Accommodation: Hotel***, double room (B, D, LG)

DAY 07: MUERREN – BUNDALP Heading west out of town, we take a wide, paved tractor‐trail up towards Gimmela and the high pastures above Gimmelwald with the Breithorn in full view to the south. Our trail takes us steeply to Bryndli, where we follow a contour trail to the Rotstockhuette for an early lunch. In the afternoon, a steep climb of 600m leads us to the Sefinenfurgge. If the group is fit and the time allows, we will take a side‐trail towards the spectacularly situated Gspaltenhornhuette, overlooking the Gamchigletscher, before heading down to Bundalp for the night. Accommmodation: Family‐run Mountain Farm, very basic, small dormitories (B, D, LG)

DAY 08: BUNDALP ‐ KANDERSTEG Most of the morning will be spent walking steeply uphill to make it to the Bluemlisalphuette, where we will be rewarded with a delicious lunch, home‐made cakes, coffee and great views of the Thuner Lake and Interlaken. Having recovered nicely, a steep descent on a trail hewn out of the rock face takes us past a series of hanging glaciers to the south, before leading us to a series of summer alps above the turquoise‐coloured Oeschinen lake, which is located just above Kandersteg. A beautiful trail leads us through forests and fields to the small town, which is linked by the Swiss Rail, making for an easy transfer the following morning. Accommodation: Hotel***, double room (B, D, LG)

DAY 09: DEPARTURE DAY Departure from Kandersteg.