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Via Alpina: The Bear Trek

9 days / 8 nights

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Discover the highlights of the Swiss Via Alpina by hiking the Bear Trek, our favorite section of the classic long-distance trail in the European Alps.

Starting point

Meiringen

Finish point

Lenk

Season

From June to October

Technical level

3/5

Fitness level

4/5

Tour type

Inn-to-Inn

Google ReviewsTripAdvisor Reviews

Highlights

  • Hike below famous Alpine peaks like Eiger, Jungfrau, and Mönch
  • Discover the beauty of the Swiss region of the Bernese Oberland
  • Experience a hassle-free journey on this self-guided trek
  • Sleep in cozy Swiss hotels, inns, and mountain huts

What’s included in the price?

Self-guided

8 nights in 3-star hotels with breakfast
Digital guidebook with itinerary, route instructions, and practical information
GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app
Tour design and organization
Service and support during your hike

NOT INCLUDED

Tourist tax

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Airport transfer
Hotel upgrades
Luggage transfer
Single supplement

What to bring to the tour

  • Hiking shoes/boots
  • 25 to 45-liter backpack
  • Base layer
  • Sports T-shirts
  • Hiking shorts
  • Hiking water-repellent pants
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Midlayer
  • Sports socks and underwear
  • Leisurewear for evenings
  • Down jacket
  • Gloves
  • Shade hat/cap
  • Warm headwear
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Headlamp
  • Hiking poles
  • ID card or passport
  • Snacks
  • Cash
  • Water bottles or hydration pack
  • Sleeping liner
  • Toiletries
  • Toilet paper
  • Small first aid kit

The Bear Trek is one of the most picturesque sections of the Via Alpina Switzerland. It is a perfect choice for those who want to get to know the Swiss Alps but don’t have time to hike the full trail.

The name doesn’t mean that you’ll meet any bears on the trail, so no worries! It is simply a historic trail that was once dominated by bears and wolves that carved the path.

It leads you through the heart of the Bernese Alps, the Swiss region that boasts some of the most famous peaks like Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. And you’ll hike right next to them!

The route will take you across mountain passes, valleys, and along ridges. You’ll explore the Swiss alpine culture and stay in mountain huts, lovely inns, and small hotels, all while tasting delicious food.

We book all of your accommodations, organize luggage transfers, and more, so you can focus on the journey. And a few weeks before setting off, we’ll send you the detailed digital guidebook with the planned GPS route.

All that's left to do is mark the calendar and count the days until your trek begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

The summer season for hiking is usually from mid-June to mid-October. Its start depends on the amount of snow left on the high mountain passes from the winter. The Walker’s Haute Route and Via Alpina have some high passes, which are usually free of snow only in July. Hiking before that could be dangerous without proper skill and equipment. In October, there is usually the first bigger snowfall, and the huts close to prepare for the winter ski season.


Read more about the hiking season in the Swiss Alps here.

We've rated our tours on a difficulty scale from 1 to 5 — with 1 being the easiest and 5 the most difficult.


The difficulty level of a tour tells you how fit you need to be and how much hiking is involved. Most of our tours are appropriate for people who are regularly active and can hike for about five to seven hours per day.


Technical difficulty means how skilled you need to be to hike on the path. Level 1 means the trail is smooth and wide (like a gravel road), while 5 means the surface is uneven and exposed, and you have to use your hands to help yourself move forward. In practice, that means that the higher the level, the more surefooted and skilled in scrambling you need to be.

It is best to book your tour early because most accommodations along the trail fill up quickly. That way, you can ensure that you have a place to stay.

Even though the routes are usually quite close to at least a farm or a small village, they also feature lots of wild and remote sections where you cannot just stop. In case of injury, it’s best to call the local emergency services.


On the other hand, if you just feel that you cannot hike anymore, you can always stop in any of the towns and villages along the way and use public transport to get to a bigger Swiss city.

Showers in Swiss mountain huts are rare and are only offered for an extra charge. That’s why it’s wise to bring wet wipes with you for the days that you are staying in one of them.

No, because the huts provide their blankets and pillows. Still, you should bring a sleeping liner instead.

Cell connection is very changeable in the mountains. A good rule of thumb is that if you can see a town, you’ll have a reception. Mountain huts are the same — the signal usually doesn’t reach the insides, so try catching it outside. Wifi is available only in some huts, while most don’t have it.

If you dress accordingly, most stages can be done in light rain. However, do not hike if a storm is forecasted. In that case, you can take public transport to the next point when possible to make up for the lost time.

Ratings & Reviews

Google Reviews

5.0 average rating

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Satish Singh

Verified customer · 20 days ago

Samo and Eva did a wonderful job in organizing my six-day Slovenian Mountain Trail hike. From the first contact to the delivery of the package with hike details, hut reservations, GPX etc. was efficient. I had a wonderful challenging hike as a solo self-guided hiker. Samo was supportive to the extent possible for my challenging day #4 from Aljazev Hut to Dolicu Hut in very bad weather. All arrangements worked perfectly. Highly recommend them if you want to take the difficulty out of the organization itself and simply enjoy the hiking expereince.

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Brendan Collins

Verified customer · 20 days ago

Incredibly route through the Karavank & Julien ranges. Huts were rustic & scenic and all check-ins were smooth. The route guides that Hut-to-Hut provided were extremely helpful, available offline & gave us peace of mind while traveling through new territory. Highly recommend.

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bill johnson

Verified customer · 24 days ago

Great Trip, Great Company! Nina and her team handled every detail flawlessly. We had originally planned to join a guided group tour, but choosing the flexibility of sleeping in and setting our own pace turned out to be the best decision—and the savings let us upgrade our hotels. The bag-transfer service was seamless from start to finish. I highly recommend them!

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Duncan Rimmer

Verified customer · 29 days ago

We did the five day/four night highlight tour and it was breathtaking! The Tours Du Mont Blanc team was very accommodating of our request for private rooms on the hike (when available) and also with last minute logistics due to the Mount Blanc tunnel closure. Samo and Nina were very responsive and answered all of our many questions :).

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Nora Holtz

Verified customer · about 1 month ago

I had a wonderful time in the Slovenian mountains. I felt very well taken care of, the GPS routes were just the right length and difficulty and very easy to follow. I received immediate answers to any questions. It was an unforgettable few days! Thank you!

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Clive Hunt

Verified customer · about 1 month ago

Our walk was brilliant. The maps provided made everything so simple and the accomodation was very good. Having everything organised and nothing to pay for made it so smooth. We were so lucky with the Weather. Only the last 1/2 day was wet. I’m looking forward to our next walk with hut to hut

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All available guidance options

Self-guided

Are you looking for a good adventure and limitless flexibility? Then you should try out a self-guided tour, perfect for independent explorers who want to set their own pace. Without the need to stick to a group schedule, you’re free to linger at scenic viewpoints while the logistics are taken care of in advance.

Hassle-Free

Hassle-Free

We handle itineraries, accommodations, and anything else you prefer not to deal with, so you can enjoy a carefree hike.

Book with confidence

Book with confidence

We are a financially protected company, fully bonded and insured, keeping your money safe and allowing you to travel with confidence.

Tried & Tested Adventures

Tried & Tested Adventures

Only the best hut to hut hikes of Switzerland, cherry-picked by our local team with an in-depth knowledge of the region.

Unbeatable support

Unbeatable support

Our 24/7 customer support is where we show our passion, bringing you a better experience by making your well-being our number one priority.

from 1.865 € /person