The “North Face Route” is the perfect trip for those who would like a more strenuous adventure through the Bernese Oberland.
In fact, this challenging six-day trek will immerse you in a true alpine environment. You will have a close encounter with the north face of some of the most notorious mountains in the Alps, such as the Monch, Eiger, Jungfrau, and justly referred to as “the walls of heaven” by traveler and mountaineer Sir Martin Conway. And, indeed, the scenery is heavenly inspired, getting better every day. The hikes are quite challenging. Most are up in the alpine zone—close to glaciers and beneath snowy summits—but we descend into some lovely green pastured valleys to hike through forests and meadows as well. This means that there will be some long and, at times, steep ascents and descents. We cross at least one mountain pass every day, and some of the trails have exposure. Most days we are on the trail from five to nine hours and cover about ten miles. But each night we are able to rest comfortably in a mountain inn, rifugio (mountain hut), or three-star hotel, soaking up the ambiance of picture-postcard villages like Mürren and Kandersteg.

Request an Itinerary

Itinerary Outline

Day 1 • Meiringen
Transfer on your own and meet your trip leader at your hotel in Meiringen. Short afternoon hike and briefing.

Day 2, 3 • Meiringen - Grindelwald - Mürren
Hiking through forests and rolling pastures, and skirting the imposing north faces of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, we cross the Grosse Scheidegg and the Kleine Scheidegg, and reach the quaint mountain hamlet of Mürren. Panoramic trails yield outstanding views of the Grindelwald valley, the Lauterbrunnen valley and the surrounding mountains.

Day  4, 5 • Mürren – Bundalp - Kandersteg
We start our strenuous journey in alpine environment. Hiking on steep uphill trails, we cross the high passes of Sefinenfurgge and Hohtürli, a magnificent landscape surrounded by the glaciated peaks of the Blümlisalp mountains. Glaciers and high snowy peaks are at our fingertips. One night at a working dairy farm combined with a rustic mountain hut is the opportunity to sleep among the stars.

Day  6, 7 • Kandersteg – Engstligenalp - Lenk
We hike through a green valley with great views of the elegant summits of the Altels and Balmhorn, follow an uphill trail (with sections of exposure) to Rote Chumme, with views reaching as far as the Valais Alps, overnight at a simple mountain inn in an old glacial amphitheater, now a summer pasture, and reach Lenk, in the Simmen Valley.

Day  8 • Departure
After breakfast, transfer on your own to the destination of your choice.