Transfer Days:
Leaving home town and fly to Zurich international airport – Switzerland, transfer to Grindelwald by train. Evening meeting with your guide, trip orientation, gear check.
Day 1: Sight seeing, acclimatization.
Sight seeing around Grindelwald. Jungfraujoch (www.jungfraujoch.ch)
Great hikes include: Faulhorn, Harder Kulm, schynige Platte.
Day 2: Grindelwald-Murren
Take the train to Grindelwald Grund and up to Alpiglen, then start hiking directly below the imposing north face of the Eiger and the summits of the Monch and Jungfrau. Hike up to Kleine Scheidegg (6,870′) for more outstanding glacier views. We gradually descend along a beautiful forest trail and gravel paths to the ski resort of Wengen and take a train down to Lauterbrunnen. Here we take the steep funicular up to Grutschalp, then continue hiking on a level path to Murren (5,454′). Weather permitting, we have impressive views of the north faces of the Gletscherhorn, Abeni Flue, Mittaghorn, Grosshorn, Breithorn, and Gspaltenhorn. Hiking time is about five hours (9 miles), with an elevation gain of 2,000 feet and loss of 2,600 feet. B,D Hotel.
Day 3: Murren-Bundalp
Hike out of Murren on a comfortable path to Spilbodenalp (6,040’). After a series of steep switchbacks, we hike along a nice alpine trail to the Rotstock Hut, where we can enjoy a hot drink or some soup before we set out for our climb up steep scree slopes to Sefinenfurgge (8,698′). From the pass we can enjoy the incredible view of the surrounding mountains and the last glimpse of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. We then start our long descent to Bundsteg in the Kiental Valley and up again to Bundalp (6,133′). Bundalp is working dairy farm, combined with a rustic mountain inn with shared bathroom facilities. Hiking time is about eight hours or longer (6½ miles) and the day is strenuous. Elevation gain is 4,513 feet, with a descent of 3,840 feet.(Conditions permitting, there is an alternative, challenging route from Sefinenfurgge: We cross long scree or snow fields with exposure and cross over the Gamchi Glacier towards Bundalp.)
Day 4: Bundalp-Kandersteg
We start our three-hour ascent over very steep moraine and scree to Hohturli and Blüemlisalp Hut (9,447′), the highest pass of the trip. We can expect areas of exposure on this ascent. Once at the top we’ll have the glaciers and the high snowy peaks at our fingertips, and our rest and refueling break at the mountain hut will allow enough time for contemplation. Skirting glaciers, we descend to Oeschinensee Lake (5,300′) in the heart of the Bernese Oberland, then take a chairlift down to Kandersteg (3,900′). Overnight at hotel. Hiking time is about seven hours, with an elevation gain of 3,314 feet and descent of about 4,150 feet. Today’s hike is about 5½ miles and is quite strenuous with challenging trail conditions.
Day 5: Kandersteg-Gemmi pass and leukerbad.
We take a gondola to Sunnbuel (6,360′) and hike along a comfortable path to Schwarenbach, an old customs house for travelers heading to the Canton of Valais over the Gemmipass. The elegant summits of the Altels and Balmhorn keep guard as we make our way to Gemmi as we enjoy extraordinary views reaching as far as the Valais Alps. From here we’ll be able to get full panoramas of the Monte Rosa massif in Italy. From the Gemmi pass we can either ride the cable car or walk down a steep trail curve on the mountainside to Leukerbad 4 hours to 6 hours . Hotel Thermal hotels & Walliser Alpentherme.
Day 6: Transfer by bus and train to St Luc , hike to Weisshorn hotel.
A bus will pick us up in Leukerbad and we will drive down to the Rhone valley and up the val d’Annivier to St Luc. A short ride with the funicular to “Tignousa” at 2,186 meters. From there we will hike to planetarium trail to the beautiful hotel Weisshorn build in 1860 at 2,337 meters with amazing views. Easy , relaxing day.
Day 7: From Hotel Weisshorn to Gruben.
Weisshorn hotel to Gruben in the Turmantal via the Meiden pass at 2,789 meters. At first we hike to chalet blanc and up to Meiden pass with great views of Bishorn, Weisshorn, Brunegghorn. Night at the hotel Schwarzhorn.
5 to 6 hours.
Day 8:From Gruben to Zermatt via St Niklaus.
Today the hike climb from behind the hotel to Augstbordpass, it is wild and the high pasture will give place to alpine rocky land, on the way down we will discover scenery of deep valley, rugged mountains and amazing mountains town perched way up on ledges. A short gondola ride from Jungen down to St Niklaus and a train transfer will bring us to Zermatt.
Lodging: Hotel Zermatt
5 to 6 hours to Jungen. Additional hour and half to walk down to St Niklaus.
Day 9: Explore Zermatt. & Matterhorn .
Today we will hike to the base of Matterhorn and have lunch at the Hornli hut. Start with a gondola ride to Schwarzee and hike to Hornli 2:30 hours. On the way down we will hike to Stafelalp, traverse to Alterhaupt and Zermatt.
Day 10-11: Climb a 4,000 meters peak
Options include ascent of Breithorn 4,156m. Glacier travel. Ascent of Mettelhorn 3405m. a long hike via Trift at the base of Rothorrn and Ober Gabelhorn or experience a via Ferrata
Difficulty:
A moderate to Strenuous tour , well balance. Few Strenuous days , few moderate days make this tour a perfect combination. However the hardest day require hiking over challenging steep terrain for 3 to 4 hours.
Tour dates:
- Best time from early July until mid-September
Service Included:
- Expert leadership by Swiss guides
- Accomodations. Hotels, Ins, mountain huts.
- Lodging include half pension. Breakfast – dinner
- All transport during the tour
- Luggage’s transfers by van except for Engstligenalp
- Group technical equipment: first aid
Service Not Included:
- International airfares, airport taxes.
- Lunches
- Personal equipment
- incidentals
