THE BERNESE OBERLAND | Cicerone hiking guide

hiking guide

The Bernese Oberland lies at the heart of the Swiss Alps, home to some of the most iconic mountain scenery in Europe. Towering above deep glacial valleys and turquoise lakes are legendary peaks such as the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, backed by higher summits including the Finsteraarhorn and Schreckhorn. Well-engineered mountain paths cross high passes, circle glacier-clad massifs and link welcoming huts and traditional alpine villages, making this region one of the finest trekking destinations in the Alps.

This guidebook brings together five outstanding multi-day treks in the Bernese Oberland, offering over a month of walking in total. Routes range from classic circuits beneath the great north faces to quieter western ranges and remote high passes. Accommodation options are plentiful, from remote hütten and characterful mountain inns to small valley hotels, while Switzerland’s excellent network of trains, buses and cable cars makes access straightforward. Most treks are achievable in under a week, though they can be combined or adapted to suit longer adventures.

The Treks:

• Tour of the Jungfrau Region (TJR) – 119km, 9 stages, ±8250m – A classic hut-to-hut circuit around Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Mürren beneath the mighty Jungfrau massif. Starting and finishing in Grindelwald, under the Wetterhorn and Eiger, this varied route offers superb mountain views, flexible stage options and plentiful accommodation.
• The Bärentrek (Via Alpina, National Route 1) – 82km, 5 stages, +6120m / -5550m – The central section of Switzerland’s Via Alpina, linking Meiringen to Kandersteg beneath the Wetterhorn, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Long but straightforward early stages lead to more challenging crossings of the Sefinenfurgga and Hohtürli passes. A tough and rewarding high-level traverse.
• Via Berna (Alpine Section) – 122km, 9 stages, +8280m / -6920m – A linear trek from lakeside Spiez to the remote Sustenpass, using sections of the Via Alpina and sharing stages with the TJR. This mountain-focused section explores the Oberland from Lake Thun through Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and Meiringen.
• Tour of the Wildstrubel – 127km, 6 stages, ±7500m – A circuit of the glaciated Wildstrubel massif from Kandersteg via Adelboden and Lenk, crossing the Rawilpass into Valais. Return options include the Gemmipass or the quieter Lötschental and Lötschenpass.
• Tour of the Wildhorn – 61km, 4 stages, ±4550m – A shorter but wild trek in the western Bernese Alps, beginning at Iffigenalp near Lenk. Crossing high terrain towards the Diablerets and into Valais, this compact route includes a pass at nearly 2900m.

Across all five routes, trekkers encounter classic high passes such as the Hohtürli, Sefinenfurgga and Grosse Scheidegg; tranquil valleys including the upper Lauterbrunnen, Kiental and Kandertal; and beautiful alpine lakes such as Oeschinensee and Bachsee.

The trekking season typically runs from mid-June to late September, with September often offering stable weather and quieter trails, though some accommodation closes at the end of the month.