Bernese Oberland Traverse: 7-Day Self-Guided Hiking Tour, Swiss Alps

Things to know

• What’s included?

  Included:

  • • 7-day self-guided Bernese Oberland hiking tour
    • Accommodation:
      • 5 nights in 3-star hotels in double occupancy rooms, en-suite bathrooms in the rooms
      • 1 night in a 2-star hotel in superior rooms in Griesalp
    • Meals: 6 breakfasts and 5 dinners
    • Luggage transfers between accommodations (1 bag per person)
    • Private group transfer by shuttle on Days 4 and 5. All other transports are not included (cable car, trains, buses, etc.)
    • Digital travel package with maps, itinerary details, and navigation app

  Add-ons (available to add at checkout):

  • • Single occupancy room
    • Printed travel packet
    • Extra nights in Lenk or Grindelwald — available at an additional fee, leave us a note at checkout

  Not included:

  • • Travel to Lenk and from Grindelwald
    • 1 dinner and lunches — can be purchased locally 
    • Drinks
    • Cable cars, trains, buses, or other local transport along the route
    • Tourist taxes at accommodations (approximately 5 CHF per person per night)
    • Personal expenses
    • Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
    • Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
• How fit do I need to be?

  To fully enjoy this Bernese Oberland hiking tour, it’s recommended to have a very good level of fitness and solid hiking experience.

  You should be comfortable hiking up to 8 hours and up to 20 km (12.4 mi) per day, with typical elevation gains of 800–1,250 m (2,625–4,100 ft) on some stages. 

  If you’re used to full-day hikes in mountainous terrain with sustained elevation gain and loss, you’ll be well prepared for this adventure.

  Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more hiking tours in Switzerland here!

• What do I need to bring?

  The following items are required for this Bernese Oberland self-guided tour unless otherwise noted. When packing, think layered clothing systems that work together and can be easily added or removed. 

  You can either carry all your belongings with you, or you can opt for the Luggage Transfers Included option. Luggage transfer limit is 20 kg / 44 lb—please stick to this as extra items are not easily stored by the team.

  Avoid cotton or cycling-specific clothing. Synthetic fabrics dry quickly and perform well in active conditions. Merino wool is also an excellent option — it dries fast, is comfortable to wear, and naturally resists odors even after extended use.

  Clothing:

  • • Hiking boots/shoes — waterproof, sturdy molded sole, deep tread and ideally well broken in
    • Hiking socks — one pair for every day or two days of the trip (hiking/sport specific padded socks, no cotton please)
    • Sun hat — wide brimmed hat or baseball cap/bandana combo
    • Warm hat & gloves — lightweight beanie and light-to-mid weight fleece or wool gloves
    • Hiking shirts — non-cotton, breathable short sleeve and/or long sleeve shirts
    • Warm top — mid-weight sweater or pullover of wicking material such as merino wool, fleece or polypropylene
    • Insulating jacket — down-fill or synthetic-fill insulated “puffy” jacket or warm, heavy weight fleece jacket
    • Hiking pants & shorts — nylon pants and shorts, zip-offs or leggings
    • Base layer/long underwear — 1 pair of wicking tops and bottoms that are lightweight to midweight, synthetic wicking materials such as polyester, polypropylene, merino wool, etc.
    • Rain gear — waterproof jacket and pants or high-quality poncho, breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex® or coated nylon (for the pants look for side zippers that will easily allow pulling them over footwear)
    • Casual clothing & footwear – comfortable clothes and shoes to wear in the evening after activities.

  Gear:

  • • Backpack — a 30–45 liter sized comfortable pack with a waterproof cover for use day-to-day while hiking
    • Personal luggage — small duffel bag, rolling suitcase or backpack
    • Hydration system — 2+ liters capacity, either water bottles or bladder/hose system and an additional water bottle
    • Trekking poles — telescopic/adjustable poles to help reduce the impact on joints and support hikers in steep and/or rocky terrain (strongly recommended)
    • Headlamp — preferably with an L.E.D. bulb that works with AA or AAA batteries
    • Picnic/lunch kit — knife, plate or bowl, box with closeable lid, utensils, etc.
    • Phone, charger, power bank
    • Waterproof travel case or pouch — used to keep important documents (i.e. passport, health/travel insurance, etc.) & phone safe from weather/water
    • Sunglasses, sunscreen, & lip balm
    • First aid kit
    • Personal toilet paper kit — toilet paper, wet wipes, sanitizer & sealable plastic bag(s) for carrying out used paper/wipes
    • Toiletries
    • Contact lenses & glasses
    • Prescription medication — with emergency back-up supply
    • Cash in local currency

  First aid kit suggestions:

  Carrying a basic personal first aid kit is strongly advised, as unforeseen situations may arise during travel. Access to medications and first aid supplies can be limited in certain destinations, making it essential to bring necessary prescription and over-the-counter items. Travel plans, vaccinations, and medication use should be reviewed with a healthcare provider in advance to ensure a safe and smooth journey.

  Here’s a basic list of what’s generally a good personal travel first aid kit:

  • • Medications — brands of choice; all medications should be prescribed or approved by a doctor prior to use
    • Prescription drugs — any required prescriptions with backup doses (kept in carry-on luggage)
    • Epinephrine — multiple doses recommended if severe allergies are present, with doctor prescription
    • Pain relief — ibuprofen, aspirin, non-aspirin (e.g., Tylenol)
    • Antihistamine — diphenhydramine (e.g., Benadryl)
    • Non-drowsy allergy relief — loratadine (e.g., Claritin)
    • Antacid/heartburn relief — bismuth (e.g., Pepto-Bismol), antacid tablets
    • Anti-diarrheal — loperamide hydrochloride (e.g., Imodium)
    • Cold/flu medicine
    • Electrolyte replacement/drink mix
    • Creams — antibiotic ointment, anti-itch (hydrocortisone), arnica
    • Eye problems: dry/itchy — eye drops
    • Feminine hygiene — tampons, pads
    • Wound care — assorted bandages, antiseptic swabs
    • Blister kit
    • Sun protection — sunscreen, SPF lip balm
    • Various items — athletic tape/“KT tape,” nail clippers, tweezers, small bottle of hand sanitizer, sewing kit (for clothing/button repairs), disposable surgical gloves (1–2 pairs)

  Optional items:

  • • Face masks — 2–3 recommended
    • Travel power adapter — electric power voltage in Switzerland is 230 V / 50 Hz and the plugs are type J
    • Support braces — joint braces if currently needed or from past injuries (e.g., knee, ankle, elbow)
    • Sleep mask & ear plugs
    • Bug repellent
    • Quick drying towel or bandana(s)
    • Swimsuit
• What is a self-guided tour?

  Self-guided tours are perfect for those who enjoy exploring on their own terms—at their own pace, and with the company they choose. By joining this self-guided Bernese Oberland hiking tour, we take care of: 

  • • lodging
    • breakfasts and most dinners
    • luggage transfers
    • select private transfers

  Rather than joining a guided group, you’ll navigate the tour yourself, using resources provided by the tour operator. For a hassle-free journey with everything arranged for you in advance, there’s no better option!

  Digital travel package includes documents available in English, French, and German, sent by email, and provides access to a smartphone travel application for navigating hikes and accessing local maps (available in English only). It also contains the list of booked accommodations, and all the detailed information needed for a successful trip. If desired, a printed version of the travel package can be provided for an additional fee; it will be ready and available at the first accommodation of the itinerary, including maps, a topo guide, and a travel folder—you can add this at checkout.

  As a self-guided tour is built around your preferred travel dates, your guide will take care of arranging accommodations and details after you book. Note that exact accommodations and dates might shift slightly, so don’t make any travel arrangements until the details of your adventure are confirmed.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • Due to safety reasons, it takes a minimum of 2 people for this Bernese Oberland hiking tour to operate. Solo hikers are not allowed to join. The maximum group size is set at 20 participants.

  A Bernese Oberland hiking tour can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the Bernese Oberland hiking tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

  If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Is a single occupancy room available?

  The price for this Bernese Oberland hiking tour is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.

• Getting there and meeting location

  The starting point of your Bernese Oberland hiking tour is Lenk, Switzerland. To get there, most people fly into Zurich Airport (ZRH), Geneva Airport (GVA), or Bern Airport (BRN). From there, you can take a train, shuttle service, or rent a car to reach Lenk.

• Safety measures and insurance

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

  Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

• Deposit and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.

  Basic

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 90 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 89 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 90 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60-89 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Super Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 59 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.