Hiking the Berner oberland
This is the Switzerland that graces all the antique Time Life books that Grandma keeps on the coffee table. Some people would call the Berner Oberland cliché with its green rolling hills, cows grazing in flower-filled pastures, glacier-covered peaks and cute wooden chalets adorned with flower boxes in every window. Others call it idyllic. Either way, the Berner Oberland is “quintessentially Swiss” and has a rich tradition of tourism that leaves a lasting impression and a lifetime of memories with all who visit.
The scenery is breathtaking, especially the landscape around a sub-region of peaks within the Berner Oberland called the Jungfrau. It is here in the Jungfrau that hikers and travelers flock to witness a trio of mountains, the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and the famous Lauterbrunnen Valley. Lauterbrunnen mystifies visitors with its well-manicured mountain pastures, precipitous cliffs, and 72 ethereal waterfalls. In the center of these mountains and valleys exists a fantastical world of glaciers including the largest glacier in Western Europe, the Aletsch, and just north of the Lauterbrunnen Valley lie two enormous sparkling lakes, Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. Between these lakes, the famous outdoor adventure town of Interlaken draws travelers from all over the globe.
One of the more popular inn-to-inn hikes through this region links the towns of Interlaken and Kandersteg, plus a whole host of idyllic mountain villages in between. Grindelwald, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, and Mürren are some of the most popular destinations. Hikers enjoy scenic mountain trails by day and cozy accommodations by night. Mountain chalet restaurants serve hot local specialties for lunch, and there’s a little something for everyone in terms of comfort and cuisine, from rustic mountain huts offering simple fare to high end luxury hotels boasting extensive wine lists. Although portions of the Berner Oberland are bilingual (French and German), German is the predominant language in this part of the Alps. Of course, the segment between Interlaken and Kandersteg isn’t the only trail in the Berner Oberland. Multi-day inn-to-inn hikes are available from every village, and a convenient system of mountain cog-wheel trains, aerial tramways and local post buses provide exciting options. The Jungfraujoch, an incredibly scenic saddle between the Eiger and Mönch and home to the highest rail station in Europe, offers an attractive side trip. In short, the Berner Oberland is storybook Switzerland, and hiking through the region would certainly make Grandma proud.
For hiking tours that visit this region of the Swiss Alps, please click here.
