Classic Swiss Alps Walk
8 Days Starting and ending in Kandersteg, Switzerland
Visiting: Kandersteg, Oeschinensee, Blausee, Gemmi Pass, Hohtenn
Tour operator:
Tour code:
W07AF
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the Classic Swiss Alps Walk, a breathtaking journey through Switzerland's iconic landscapes. Revel in the majestic views of the Eiger, Jungfrau, Matterhorn, and Monch as you hike along well-marked trails adorned with stunning Alpine flowers. Your base is the charming Seiler's Vintage Hotel, a family-run retreat offering a heated indoor pool, sauna, and exquisite cuisine. Each day presents a new adventure, from the serene beauty of Lake Oeschinensee to the dramatic vistas of the Gemmi Pass. Enjoy the convenience of included cable car rides, a regional travel pass, and a Kandersteg guest card for local discounts. With all meals provided, including picnic lunches, this tour promises an unforgettable exploration of the Swiss Alps' natural wonders.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Kandersteg
Location: Kandersteg
Accommodation Name: Hotel Alfa Soleil
Meals Included: Dinner
Arrive at the 3 star Hotel Alfa Soleil, well known locally for its excellent cuisine and enjoy a welcome drink before dinner which is included all week along with picnics or light restaurant lunches. Below is a suggested itinerary for the week but you are free to pick and choose when and where you walk each day.
Day 2 : Allmenalp
Location: Kandersteg
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This easy-going walk to start your week begins with a spectacular cable car ride (included) up to the Allmenalp, a colourful meadow brimming with rural mountain charm. There are stunning views across the valley to towering cliffs, snow-capped peaks and glaciers. Continue into the pastures of the Alpbach, sheltered by a colossal mountain bowl where marmots 'cohabit' with farmers and their cattle. An afternoon descent of the Alpbach Gorge takes you down to the valley floor for a relaxed stroll along the River Kander to the hotel.
Day 3 : The Gasterntal And The Klus Gorge
Location: Kandersteg
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This super walk begins with an exhilarating 20-minute minibus ride (fare included) along a narrow road carved out of the rock wall. The UNESCO-recognised Gasterntal is Kandersteg's 'hidden valley', with snow-fed waterfalls splashing down sheer cliff faces. After an optional, loop-extension further up the valley, you meander down the River Kander, through woods and open meadows to the Waldhaus Nature Reserve - look out for lady slippers, fire lilies and more than 25 varieties of orchid. With the mighty rock walls of the Balmhorn, Tatlishore and the Atels towering high, follow the spectacular Klus Gorge where glacial meltwater rushes down over thunderous waterfalls.
Day 4 : Lake Oeschinensee
Location: Oeschinensee
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Widely regarded as the jewel in the crown of the Bernese Oberland, Oeschinensee is one of the most beautiful Alpine lakes in Switzerland. After a short ride up on the gondola lift (included), follow a marvellous mountain path up to the Heuberg Viewpoint and picnic spot. The cobalt blue water of the lake, surrounded by the snow-capped, razor-edged peaks of the Doldenhorn (3,638m) and the Bluemlisalphorn (3,663m) towering 2,000m above, will be a lasting memory. Call in at the mountain chalets at Obberbargli and Underbargli for refreshments and soak up this unforgettable scenery as bell-toting cows munch at the grass in the pastures below, while dainty waterfalls trickle down from the Frunden Glacier.
Day 5 : Blausee Blue Lake
Location: Blausee
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A gentle hour's stroll takes you down to the Natural Park of Blausee - the Blue Lake (entry included with short boat ride). Here you can wander through verdant woodland around the little lake, visit the organic trout farm and enjoy a drink on the lake terrace. Cross the valley at Kandergrund and pick up the Nordrampe Bahnwanderweg - a fabulous walking trail that in part follows the impressive railway as it makes huge loops and swirls through tunnels along the side of the mountain. Enjoy panoramic picnic spots and great views up and down the valley as you stroll past the evocative ruins of the Felsenburg tower. Hillside pastures and shady forest then leads you back to your hotel.
Day 6 : Daubensee And Gemmi Pass
Location: Gemmi Pass
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Sunnbuel cable car (included) whisks you up to nearly 2,000m to begin today's walk. Enjoy refreshments at the renowned Schwarenbach Hotel, where Lenin and Picasso have signed the visitors' book. It's then on to the Daubensee and the famous high Gemmi Pass (2,322m), a major Transalpine route first used by the Celts. The extraordinary panorama of the Valais Alps to the south includes the Weisshorn (4,506m) and the Matterhorn (4,478m).
Day 7 : The Sudrampe
Location: Hohtenn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today starts with a 25-minute train ride (payable locally) through the Lotschberg mountain rail tunnel (14km long) to Hohtenn. The walk takes you high above a youthful River Rhone, through a landscape of gorges and hidden side valleys - and small hillside villages boasting traditional wooden chalets built on the upper edges of this fertile, vineyard-adorned valley. You follow part of the Lotschberger-Sudrampe railway trail - superb railway engineering, viaducts, tunnels and bridges - but you don't need to be a train buff to enjoy this great little hike.
Day 8 : Leave Kandersteg
Location: Kandersteg
Meals Included: Breakfast
If pre-arranged, return to Zurich via Kandersteg rail.
What's Included
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All breakfasts, picnic or light restaurant lunches and 4 course evening meal
All breakfasts, picnic or light restaurant lunches, and 4-course evening meals are included in the package.
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Briefing at the start of your trip
A briefing session is provided at the start of your trip.
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Headwater Navigation App
Access to the Headwater Navigation App is included.
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Kandersteg Guestcard
The Kandersteg Guestcard is included for discounts at local sites and attractions.
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Regional Pass
A Regional Pass is included for travel on local buses and cable cars.
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Accommodation
All accommodation is included as part of the package.
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Route notes and maps
Route notes and maps are provided for your convenience.
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Free entry to the Blausee Nature Park
Free entry to the Blausee (Blue Lake) Nature Park is included.
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and must be arranged separately.
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Visas
Visas are not included and must be obtained independently if required.
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Single accommodation
Single accommodation is available on request with a compulsory supplement.
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Transfers
Transfers are not included if booking a land-only package.
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Train ride on Day 7
The 25-minute train ride through the Lotschberg mountain rail tunnel on Day 7 is payable locally.
Food
All meals are included throughout the trip, including picnic lunches. For dinner enjoy regional dishes and fine wines in Nico's restaurant.
At the beginning of each set of notes we advise on the lunch situation and suggest good picnic spots. You can obtain supplies daily from the hotel's picnic buffet or you can return to the hotel for a light lunch. We suggest you to carry 1-5 litres water per person, there are often benches for resting and admiring the views. There are also mountain restaurants with sun-trap terraces.
With such a mixture of language and tradition co-existing in such a small country, it is no wonder that there are so many regional dishes. In the Bernese Oberland, Austrian and German influences predominate; gastronomic local delicacies include geschnetzeltes Kalbsfleisch (veal in a rich cream sauce), Kandersteger Bratwurst au Mad re-Jus (roast sausage with a Madeira sauce), Lammbraten gefullt mit Krautern (herb roasted lamb) and smoked pork with sauerkraut, and a selection of colourful salads. Typical desserts include Caramel-Birne mit Rum-Sabayon (caramelised pear with a rum sabayon) and Aprikosen-Symphonie (apricot gateau).
Accommodation
The Seiler's Vintage Hotel, a traditional and cosy family-run establishment, offers a wonderful view over fields to the mountains. With 30 en-suite rooms, a restaurant managed by owner/chef Nico Seiler, and a lounge bar, guests can enjoy fine dining and relaxation.
Mode of Transport
The tour includes a variety of transport options such as cable car rides to Allmenalp and Sunnbuel, a minibus ride to Gasterntal, and a train ride through the Lotschberg mountain rail tunnel. A regional pass for local buses and cable cars is also provided.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour provides accommodation at the Seiler's Vintage Hotel, a traditional, cosy, family-run hotel located on the edge of the village of Kandersteg. The hotel offers en-suite rooms with amenities such as a television, telephone, and hairdryer. Guests can enjoy the hotel's restaurant, which is managed by owner/chef Nico Seiler and is known for its excellent cuisine. The hotel also features a heated indoor pool, sauna, a cosy lounge bar with a pool table and music desk, and a large lounge area with an open fire.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, all meals are included throughout the trip. This includes breakfasts, picnic or light restaurant lunches, and 4-course evening meals. The hotel provides a picnic buffet for lunch supplies, and there are also mountain restaurants available during the hikes.
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What kind of transportation is included in the tour?
The tour includes a Regional Pass for travel on local buses and cable cars. Specific transportation during the tour includes a cable car ride to Allmenalp, a minibus ride to the Gasterntal, a gondola lift to Lake Oeschinensee, and the Sunnbuel cable car to Daubensee and Gemmi Pass. A train ride through the Lotschberg mountain rail tunnel is also part of the itinerary, although it is payable locally.
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What activities are included in the tour itinerary?
The tour itinerary includes a variety of hikes and walks through scenic locations such as Allmenalp, the Gasterntal and Klus Gorge, Lake Oeschinensee, Blausee Blue Lake, Daubensee and Gemmi Pass, and the Sudrampe. These activities offer opportunities to enjoy stunning views, explore natural parks, and visit local attractions like the Schwarenbach Hotel and the Blausee organic trout farm.
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Is there any special equipment or preparation needed for the hikes?
While the tour does not specify special equipment, it is advisable to carry 1-5 litres of water per person for the hikes. The trails are well-marked, and there are often benches for resting and admiring the views. Comfortable hiking gear and appropriate footwear are recommended for the walks.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.