Via Alpina – The Bear Trek from Meiringen to Lenk.
The Via Alpina crosses 14 of the most beautiful Alpine passes and goes through six Swiss cantons with a vast variety of culture, geology and topography. The route has some of the world’s most diverse varieties of flora and fauna.
The Bear Trek – Via Alpina from Meiringen to Lenk.
Price:
Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a room.
Staying in family-run guesthouses and B&Bs (sometimes with shared bathrooms):
£1,125 (31st August – 15th September)
£1,250 (29th June – 30th August)
£250 Single room supplement
Staying in a mixture of 3* and 4* hotels, with 1 night in a traditional Mountain Hotel with shared bathrooms:
£1,315 (31st August – 15th September)
£1,345 (29th June – 30th August)
£350 Single room supplement
Staying in upgraded ‘charm’ hotels:
£1,530 (31st August – 15th September)
£1,585 (29th June – 30th August)
£365 Single room supplement
Included:
7 nights accommodation in category listed above; breakfast each morning; luggage transportation; route notes and maps ; telephone back up for the duration of your walk should you need assistance.
Not Included:
Guide, all meals except for breakfast, cable cars, bus and train used during the walks, insurance.
When to Go:
Daily departures 29th June to 15th September
Day 1: Arrival in Meiringen
Individual arrival in Meringen.
Day 2: Meiringen – Grindelwald (hike Rosenlaui – Grindelwald 5 hours 30mins)Bus from Meiringen – Rosenlaui
Take the post bus to Rosenlaui, where the first route commences via Große Scheidegg to Grindelwald, enjoying the magnificent panorama of the Threesome Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Walk past the Reichenbach Falls – legendary scene of the dual between Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty – to the nostalgic Rosenlaui Hotel, dating from the pioneering age of Alpine tourism and past the glacier gorge, considered one of the great natural sights of Switzerland and through beautiful moorland over the Grosse Scheidegg to Grindelwald.
Details: approx. 4,5 hours | 14 km |+ 700 m -980 m.
Day 3: Grindelwald – Kleine Scheidegg – Wengen/Lauterbrunnen (hike Alpiglen – Lauterbrunnen 5 hours 10mins)
Train from Grindelwald – Alpiglen Start the day with an ascent to Kleines Scheidegg.
Follow the steep path past spectacular Trümmelbach falls, down to Lauterbrunnen (easier option: downhill
to Lauterbrunnen via Wengen or train Kleine Scheidegg – Lauterbrunnen).
Details: approx. 6,5 hours | 19 km | + 1200 m – 1400 m
Day 4: Wengen- Sefinerfurgge – Griesalp/Kiental (hike Murren – Griesalp 6 hours 30mins)
Take to cable car to Mürren. The route crosses Sefinenfurgge, which often is snow covered until early
summer. Enjoy marvellous alpine scenery. The sunny terrace of Murren lies directly opposite the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. The trail leads on via alpine pastures to the impressive pass into the Kiental, associated with James Bond as a result of the film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’.
Details: approx. 7 hours | 22 km | 2000 m 1400 m.
Day 5: Griesalp – Hohturli – Kandersteg (hike Griesalp – Oeschinensee)
Today you join the Queen’s stage – a climb up to Blüemlisalp. After a long and steep ascent up to 2.843 m
the alpine cabin on Blüemlisalp offers sustaining meals. Via Hohtürli and the moraines of Blüemlialp glacier
you walk down to Öschinen Lake. Continue to Kandersteg (alternative from Öschinen Lake: take the cable
car downhill).
Details: approx. 7,5 hours | 15 km | + 1450 m – 1730 m.
Day 6: Kandersteg – Bonderchrinde – Adelboden (hike Almenalp – Adelboden 5 hours 30mins)
Cable car from Adelboden to Almpenalp (1728m). From Almpenalp ascend to Benderchrinde. A stunning panorama view of
the surrounding summits is a well earned reward. Continue downhill to Adelboden.
Details: approx. 5,5 hours | 16 km | + 1350 m – 1170 m.
Day 7: Adelboden –Hahnenmoos Pass – Lenk (5 hours 30mins)
Today you end the Bear Trek with a walking tour from Adelboden via Hahnenmoos to Simmental. At the
foot of the Wildstrubel you spend the last night in the beautiful Berner Oberland.
Details: approx. 4 hours | 13 km | + 730 m – 980 m
Day 8: Departure
Arrival / Parking / Departure
By train to Meiringen. A few minutes on foot or short taxi transfer to the first hotel.
Parking in Meiringen: chargeable car park near the hotel, approx. EUR 17 per week or f.o.c. on the car
park of the mountain railway. No reservation required.
Return from Lenk to Meiringen by train, duration approx. 3 hrs.
Hotels – Top Category ‘Charm’
Meiringen: Hotel Victoria 4*
Family Anderegg welcomes you to Meiringen. Located right in the centre of the city, Hotel Victoria is an elegant start destination for your hiking tour to Bärentrek. The excellent restaurant (14 Gault-Millau points) provides the ideal refreshment for the strenuous hiking days ahead of you. www.victoria-meiringen.ch
Grindelwald: Hotel Kirchbühl 4*
A fantastic view of the Eigernordwand awaits you at the Private Selection Hotel Kirchbühl. For over 100 years, family Brawand has been indulging guests from all corners of the world with excellent food and a wonderful spa facility. www.kirchbuehl.ch
Wengen: Hotel Silberhorn 4*
The car-free village of Wengen offers peace and relaxation in the midst of an enchanting mountainscape to everyone who comes here. A stay at Hotel Silberhorn is especially relaxing. From the Spa-area you will enjoy wonderful views on the peak of Jungfrau. www.silberhorn.ch
Griesalp: Griesalp Hotels
A small oasis in the middle of the summits of the Bernese Oberland. The Griesalp Hotels offer you excellent infrastructure in combination with wonderful panoramic views. Relax in the in-house sauna and enjoy regional specialities in the excellent restaurant Berghaus. www.griesalp-hotels.ch
Kandersteg: Victoria Belle Epoque
Victoria Epoque is located in the heart of Kandersteg, right in the middle of a huge park. This hotel has been welcoming guests from all over the world for over 220 years, and Mr. and Mrs. Platzer have maintained the level of hospitality and good service for the guests even today. www.hotel-victoria.ch
Adelboden: Bellevue Parkhotel & Spa 4*
Bright rooms, creative cuisine and swimming pleasure in the midst of a wonderful mountain landscape. The Bellevue Parkhotel & Spa is not counted among the best accommodations in the alpine region for nothing. You can look forward to enjoying a relaxing stay at one of the most well-known ski resorts of the world. www.parkhotel-bellevue.ch
Lenk: Hotel Kreuz
Centrally located, this chalet-style hotel offers newly renovated rooms. The hotel has a small spa area with pool and sauna and an excellent restaurant serving specialities from the Bernese Oberland. www.kreuzlenk.ch
