Walking the 'High Route', Switzerland

On the verdant slopes nestle idyllic, quintessential Alpine villages such as Wengen and Mürren which deservedly attract numerous hikers. Walking from Grindelwald to Kandersteg takes you on a classic route through high mountains and over splendid passes, amid some of Europe's grandest and most humbling landscapes within the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Following well-established paths recognised for their outstanding vistas, the route is among the most challenging in our selection, with demanding ascents and descents each day, though the magnificent panoramas from the high passes also make it one of our most rewarding walks. We include a half-fare card which gives discounts on public transport if you need to shorten a walk or use a poor-weather alternative.

Accommodation: 

Hotel Kreuz & Post, Grindelwald Run by the Konzett family for several generations, this is a historic and atmospheric hotel. The bedrooms all have a south-facing balcony, though the best views of the Eiger are from the roof terrace. There is a sauna and jacuzzi as well as several lounges in which to relax.

Hotel Alpenrose, Wengen The spacious hotel enjoys a tranquil position on the edge of the village with far-reaching views over the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Here, you will find a warm welcome and excellent cuisine.

Hotel Bellevue-Crystal, Mürren This friendly hotel has a prime position in the very centre of the traffic-free village of Mürren. The sun terrace boasts sensational views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau which are shared by the airy restaurant.

Berggasthaus Golderli, Griesalp This is a simple guesthouse, with shared facilities, but the hotel offers a warm welcome and delicious mountain cooking.

Hotel Victoria, Kandersteg Run by the charming Platzer family, the Victoria offers a blend of comfort and home charm. With spacious lounges, a pleasant bar, attractive gardens, a sauna and an indoor pool with views of the mountains, there is plenty of space to relax.

Traveller Reviews of This Trip

The best thing about the holiday was the walking. We thought that the route chosen was very well considered and gave a brilliant variety of scenery and the right amount of challenge. We absolutely loved going over the high passes. We have never booked this sort of holiday before, preferring to stay in self-catering accommodation and hire a car to give more independence. However, this was one of the best holidays we've ever had and there was zero stress (apart from worrying if the weather would be good enough to go over the mountain passes!) as the organisation was brilliant. If we had gone ourselves we would not have been able to choose such a great route and would have struggled with luggage transfers. We would definitely look to book with Inntravel in the future. Ms Wood, London, 06/08/2011

This is a fantastic walking holiday. It is challenging, as we expected, especially the last two days over the high passes, and anyone booking it should be advised to get themselves very fit before going. The routes and scenery are the best we have encountered in our (long) walking experience. Having an extra night in Wengen was a good decision in order to appreciate fully the wonderful Hotel Alpenrose! Mrs CA Boots, York, 03/07/2011

It was exactly what we hoped to get from Inntravel namely the freedom to walk unencumbered from place to place amongst the scenery and flowers of the Bernese Oberland. Mr P, York, 29/07/2009

For more reviews of this trip, see: Reviews of Walking the High Route