Arrive in Switzerland, and transfer by train to the quiet town of Meiringen to start the Bernese Oberland tour.

We’ll meet in the afternoon and take a bus ride up to our remote inn to start the tour. Waterfalls and imposing mountains watch over us in this relaxing corner of the Alps.

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 and enjoy our first views of the Eiger and of the Grindelwald valley.

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. Perhaps 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. We’ll descend to the quiet village 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.

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 lead through sleepy Gimmelwald to the car-free village of Mürren, with its unparalleled cliffside views of the surrounding mountains. Stay in a comfortable 3-star hotel.

There are numerous dayhike possibilities around Mürren. The Lobhorn hut is a favorite dayhike, with beautiful views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains across the valley. Another beautiful trail leads up to the local peak, Birg, for superb all-around views, and past a small glacial tarn.

Some people use this day to take the cable car above Mürren to the Schilthorn, with its James Bond-themed revolving restaurant and 360 degree views. Or you can take the train across the valley to Jungfraujoch, an amazing trip that tunnels through the Eiger, and brings you to a massive glacier viewpoint at 11,388 ft. Feel free also to just unwind in one of the most scenic and relaxing villages in the Alps.

Today we say good-bye to the Bernese Oberland and depart for our post-tour destinations.

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.