The vibrant summer hues of the Swiss Alps are the perfect setting for a luxurious hiking adventure—because if there’s one thing the Alps don’t lack, it’s the seamless blend of million-dollar views and deluxe facilities which will make you feel like a million bucks. This 5-day all-women hiking adventure will take us along some of Via Alpina’s most scenic routes in the Bernese Oberland, where an exquisite tapestry of Alpine landscapes unfurls before us. Mighty waterfalls, lush and lakeside towns, rugged mountains teeming with wildlife, the glossy Oeschinensee lake, it’s all part of the trip. And just as the day draws to a close, every night we’ll retreat to our upscale hotels for a rejuvenating massage, gourmet meals, signature cocktails, and pools surrounded by high peaks.
If you like getting back to a luxurious spa, upscale restaurants, and delicious cocktails after a day out in nature, the Swiss Alps are your go-to place. Over the course of 5 days, we will explore Via Alpina—an intricate web of trails offering endless marveling! With day hikes, we will witness quintessential Alpine gems, from cow-dotted pastures and high peaks to rushing waterfalls and spectacular lakes. All your meals, accommodation, and luggage transport is taken care of—all you have to do is show up and indulge in this deluxe adventure.
Please note that great physical condition is a must for this hiking adventure. The most we’ll gain in a day is 1,250 m (4,100 ft), which can get quite intense if you’re not physically fit enough. Additionally, if you have a fear of heights, this trip may not be suitable for you.
Make your way to Kandersteg, a charming Swiss village where we’ll stay for the night. Today is all about arriving and settling in. We recommend reaching Kandersteg in the afternoon in order to indulge in the spa facilities our hotel has to offer. At any rate, aim to arrive by 6 pm at the latest, since that is when we’ll all meet up and have a briefing at the hotel. This will be followed by a welcome dinner at 7pm. Have a good night’s sleep, as tomorrow the hiking begins!
Accommodation: 4-star hotel & spa resort in Kandersteg
Meals: Dinner
We begin our adventure with a bang! Today we’re going to the spectacular Oeschinensee Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of Via Alpina’s highlights. It’s the perfect start to our journey, and we’ll take our time soaking up the stunning views and the peaceful atmosphere of the lake. After exploring the area, we’ll go back to our nice hotel for the night, chill out in the spa, and enjoy a delicious dinner.
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Kandersteg
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 8 km / 5 miles (3 hours without breaks)
Elevation: +450 m (+1,480 ft) / -450 m (-1,480 ft)
Probably hard to leave your comfort(able) zone, but the trail is calling! Today is all about the rugged mountains, allowing you to spot wildlife, such as ibexes and marmots! Hike up facing the three Lohner summits to the Bunderchrinde Pass, and then go down to the picturesque village of Adelboden featuring romantic wooden chalets. Spend the night here in another luxurious hotel and enjoy a well-deserved delicious dinner.*
*This stage can be shortened by taking a taxi (not included in the price)
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Adelboden
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 12 km / 7.5 miles (7 hours without breaks)
Elevation: +1,251 m (+4,105 ft) / -1,251 m (-4,105 ft)
Let’s kick off the day with a hearty breakfast at our upscale hotel. Today we’re taking on the Wildstrubel massif, crossing the Bummerepass. We’ll be surrounded by spectacular mountain views. For the final stretch to Lenk, we’ll descend by a cable car and (optionally) take a bus to reach it. We’ll be staying at the best hotel in the area, complete with spa facilities for relaxation and a well-deserved 7-course dinner to celebrate our last night together!
Accommodation: 5-star hotel & spa in Lenk
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 10 km / 6 miles (4.5 hours without breaks)
Elevation: +838 m (+2,750 ft) / -100 m (-330 ft)
On the last day of our Via Alpina adventure, we’ll go on a more relaxed hike to give our tired legs a break! It’s certainly no less beautiful, though—we’ll walk to a spectacular waterfall and then make our way to the source of this waterfall, just the perfect spot for a lovely picnic. We’ll return back to Lenk, enjoy our last drink together, and bid farewell! If you’d like to stay longer here and keep on exploring the area, just ask us for recommendations.
Meals: Breakfast and picnic lunch
Hiking: 11 km / 6.8 miles (3 hours without breaks)
Elevation: +198 m (+650 ft) / -198 m (-650 ft)
A super mountain guide who can guide you around the mountains safely. Olle, her dog was very welcoming to my dog too when we both joined for a Thursday morning hike. I highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a nice way to spend time in nature
Famke and her dog Olle are great companions to explore the Swiss mountains. On top of being very professional and knowledgeable, she is a very nice person! Highly recommended!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
In order to join the hiking trip of Via Alpina, great physical fitness is required. You can read detailed day-by-day distances and elevation gains in the itinerary, but below you’ll find a general overview. You’ll take breaks and take it easy when necessary, but make sure you’re fit enough to cover distances and elevation gains that you will find in the itinerary.
This hiking adventure is not recommended for those with a fear of heights. You will be high up in the Swiss Alps, and occasional vertical drops are to be expected.
Keep in mind that you’ll also be carrying a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day. At the end of the day, charming hotels await with excellent spa facilities to relax your sore muscles!
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking the Via Alpina can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Lenk, the starting point of both the 5-day and the 8-day Via Alpina hiking tour, most people fly into Geneva International Airport (GVA), one hour away. Once you arrive, there are several ways to reach your destination, including public transport.
Day 1 of the trip is dedicated to arriving and settling into your hotel. Still, it’s recommended that you arrive in the afternoon and indulge in the spa facilities. In any case, aim to reach Lenk by 6 pm, as that is when you’ll meet up with your guide and your team, and have a welcome dinner at 7 pm.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their 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.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits
Cancellations
Early Bird booking
Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.
As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.
More about how Early Bird bookings work below:
