Arrive in Switzerland, and transfer by train to the quiet town of Meiringen to start the Bernese Oberland tour.  From here, a scenic bus ride takes you up and up, deeper into the Alps.

We’ll meet at the friendly and rustic Schwarzwaldalp inn.  You’re really in the heart of it already. Waterfalls and imposing mountains watch over us, with happy Swiss cows munching in the meadows all around.

Arrival: Zürich or Geneva. Plan to arrive by the day your tour starts. There is a train station in both the Zürich and Geneva airports, with hourly departures for this region. Travel time, 3:45 hrs (Zürich) or 4:30 hrs (Geneva).

The last bus to the inn departs Meiringen for Schwarzwaldalp at 16:20. Your flight should arrive by 12:00 (Zürich) or 10:30 (Geneva) to expect to make it on time.  Otherwise, plan to come a day early.

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll hike over the Grosse Scheidegg Pass.  The mountains up to the pass are impressive enough, but your first views of the Eiger and of the Grindelwald Valley are guaranteed to take your breath away.

With 10,000 vertical feet separating valley from peak, Grindelwald sits at the base of one of the most impressive vertical mountain walls in the world. If the day is clear, we’ll detour via the postcard-perfect Bachsee Lake before winding down to the glacier village of Grindelwald and our lovely 3-star hotel.

Today we’ll explore the Grindelwald Valley and hike to the famous Kleine Scheidegg Pass. The entire day is dominated by great close-up views of the Eiger North Face – perhaps the most notorious climb in the Swiss Alps.

Kleine Scheidegg itself is a bustling and historic hub.  After a quick break, we’ll descend on a favorite hidden trail with incredible vistas all day.  We’ll finish in the quiet village of Wengen for a restful night.

We’ll enjoy spectacular views of the Jungfrau and surrounding mountains on the way down from Wengen. Our trail winds through flowery meadows and dense woods to the lush Lauterbrunnen Valley floor, famous for its U-shaped glacially carved walls and – it’s claimed – 72 waterfalls cascading down.

The Lauterbrunnen valley was the inspiration for JRR Tolkien’s Rivendell.  You will see why.  After a break for lunch, we’ll hike to a wild and isolated corner of the Lauterbrunnen Valley for a memorable night in a remote mountain inn in one of the most spectacular corners of the Bernese Oberland.

We have a couple of trail options today – the first, a panoramic climb over a high ridge with breathtaking views in every direction, the second, a beautiful wooded hike filled with waterfalls.

Both are spectacular, and both lead through sleepy Gimmelwald to the car-free village of Mürren, with its unparalleled cliffside views of the surrounding mountains, where we stay in a comfortable 3-star hotel.

There are numerous dayhike possibilities around Mürren. One beautiful trail leads up to the scenic Lobhorn hut, for postcard-perfect views of the entire region, and maybe a quick dip in a cold alpine lake!

Or feel free to just unwind in one of the most scenic and relaxing villages in the Alps. The Schilthorn cable car is a big draw, with a revolving restaurant on top of Mürren’s local mountain. Or the Winteregg restaurant is perfect for an easy walk to a relaxing restaurant terrace.

Today we say good-bye to the Bernese Oberland and depart for our post-tour destinations.  There is a train station in Mürren for easy departure.

Departure: Zürich or Geneva. It is 3 hrs from Mürren to Zürich airport, or 4 hrs Geneva.  Trains start at 6 am if you need an early start, and leave frequently throughout the day.