Via Alpina: The Bear Trek

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.
Price
From: 1039€/person
Starting point
Meiringen
Finish point
Lenk
Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Technical level
Fitness level
Inquiry
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
Panoramic trail from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg with Mount Eiger view
Panoramic trail from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg with Mount Eiger view
Spectacular principal street of Lauterbrunnen with and stunning Staubbach waterfall in background
Spectacular principal street of Lauterbrunnen with and stunning Staubbach waterfall in background
Kleine Scheidegg with Eiger Nordwand background
Kleine Scheidegg with Eiger Nordwand background
Amazing tourquise Oeschinnensee with waterfalls and Swiss Alps Kandersteg
Amazing tourquise Oeschinnensee with waterfalls and Swiss Alps Kandersteg
Panoramic view of Lauterbrunnen valley village of Lauterbrunnen the Staubbach Fall and the Lauterbrunnen Wall
Panoramic view of Lauterbrunnen valley village of Lauterbrunnen the Staubbach Fall and the Lauterbrunnen Wall
View to the mountain Eiger
View to the mountain Eiger
The valley called Kiental
The valley called Kiental
Fabulous autumn view of picturesque alpine Wengen village and Lauterbrunnen Valley
Fabulous autumn view of picturesque alpine Wengen village and Lauterbrunnen Valley
Hiking above Grindewald
Hiking above Grindewald
Kleine Scheidegg train station
Kleine Scheidegg train station

Itinerary

Day 1: Meiringen – Grindewald

The first day is an easy warm-up to this trek. You’ll hike over the Grosse Scheidegg and past the Reichenbach Falls, made famous by Sherlock Holmes. The route from the pass gently descends through the woods and pastures towards Grindewald, a popular tourist town.

Hiking

22 km and 1400 m elevation gain, 1000 m elevation loss

Rychenbach river in Meiringen
Rychenbach river in Meiringen
View of pass way from the first top station to Grosse Scheidegg above Grindelwald
View of pass way from the first top station to Grosse Scheidegg above Grindelwald
The Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland is a favourite place of the Sherlock Holme fan
The Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland is a favourite place of the Sherlock Holme fan
Rychenbach river in Meiringen
View of pass way from the first top station to Grosse Scheidegg above Grindelwald
The Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland is a favourite place of the Sherlock Holme fan
Day 2: Grindelwald – Wengen

On day two, you will hike below the Eiger North Face — one of the Alps’ most famous rock walls. The trek will take you from the tourist crowds into the tranquility of the quiet pastures below this beautiful mountain. At Kleine Scheidegg, you can board the Jungfraujoch train for a short detour to the “Top of Europe“. You can also continue the sunny descent down to Wengen, another famous resort in the region.

Hiking

19 km and 1200 m elevation gain, 900 m elevation loss

Panoramic trail from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg with Mount Eiger view
Panoramic trail from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg with Mount Eiger view
The view of Eiger north face from the meadows above Grindewald
The view of Eiger north face from the meadows above Grindewald
A tourist train travels on Jungfrau Railway from Jungfraujoch to Kleine Scheidegg
A tourist train travels on Jungfrau Railway from Jungfraujoch to Kleine Scheidegg
Panoramic trail from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg with Mount Eiger view
The view of Eiger north face from the meadows above Grindewald
A tourist train travels on Jungfrau Railway from Jungfraujoch to Kleine Scheidegg
Day 3: Wengen – Murren

An easy day takes you into the shade of the woods up to the sunny terrace on which Murren, a car-free town, lies. If you want, you can make this a rest day and just take the cable car instead of hiking.

Hiking

9 km and 850 m elevation gain, 500 m elevation loss

Wengen is your perfect postcard town
Wengen is your perfect postcard town
Fabulous autumn view of picturesque alpine Wengen village and Lauterbrunnen Valley
Fabulous autumn view of picturesque alpine Wengen village and Lauterbrunnen Valley
Aerial view over the village of Murren
Aerial view over the village of Murren
Wengen is your perfect postcard town
Fabulous autumn view of picturesque alpine Wengen village and Lauterbrunnen Valley
Aerial view over the village of Murren
Day 4: Murren – Griesalp

Today you will tackle a pass that is the second-highest in the Via Alpina, a good warm-up for the next day’s highest pass. After climbing past Rotstockhütte, you can rest before continuing to the Sefinenfurgge Pass (2,612 m). The path down will be unusually dark and rocky for Switzerland, but soon the terrain will change to become lush and green. Past waterfalls and pastures, you’ll reach the village of Griesalp.

Hiking

17 km and 1100 m elevation gain, 1300 m elevation loss

Enjoying the view in beautiful mountains above Murren
Enjoying the view in beautiful mountains above Murren
Stairs up Sefinenfurgge Pass
Stairs up Sefinenfurgge Pass
Spectacular views in Kiental from Griesalp to Obere Bundalp
Spectacular views in Kiental from Griesalp to Obere Bundalp
Enjoying the view in beautiful mountains above Murren
Stairs up Sefinenfurgge Pass
Spectacular views in Kiental from Griesalp to Obere Bundalp
Day 5: Griesalp – Kandersteg

Prepare for this incredible stage. You’ll hike over Bundalp to the top of Hohtürli Pass (2,778 m), the highest pass on the whole Via Alpina trail. But just above the pass lies the Blüemlisalphütte. This mountain hut is a highlight of the day. You can also stay the night in this hut for an amazing culinary experience with extraordinary views and extend the journey for one day. If not, just enjoy the rest at this hut at the foot of the glacier before descending to Lake Oeschinen, where you can take the cable railway to Kandersteg.

Hiking

16 km and 1400 m elevation gain, 1650 m elevation loss

Bernese Alps on a hike through the Hohturli pass
Bernese Alps on a hike through the Hohturli pass
Sunset at Bluemlisalphutte
Sunset at Bluemlisalphutte
Oeschinen lake Kandersteg
Oeschinen lake Kandersteg
Bernese Alps on a hike through the Hohturli pass
Sunset at Bluemlisalphutte
Oeschinen lake Kandersteg
Day 6: Kandersteg – Adelboden

Today’s hike will take you to Bunderchrinde Pass (2,385 m), a rocky window onto the other side of the mountains. It’s a strenuous trail, but worth it for the view. You’ll hike up the river and towards the end of the valley, ascend the meadows to the Lohner Hut, then continue your way up to the pass. From there, you’ll have a nice view of the path ahead, which will zig-zag down into Adelboden.

Hiking

17 km and 1350 m elevation gain, 1200 m elevation loss

Village Kandersteg and the mountain Dundenhorn
Village Kandersteg and the mountain Dundenhorn
Adelboden panorama with alpine farmhouses and trees forests and green meadows
Adelboden panorama with alpine farmhouses and trees forests and green meadows
Adelboden village Bernese Oberland
Adelboden village Bernese Oberland
Village Kandersteg and the mountain Dundenhorn
Adelboden panorama with alpine farmhouses and trees forests and green meadows
Adelboden village Bernese Oberland
Day 7: Adelboden – Lenk

The last stage of the Bear Trek is relatively easy, whichever option you choose. You can follow the streams and hike up to higher pastures in the grassy slopes of the mountain on a direct route, or choose to climb up to the ridge for a better view of the surrounding region. Both routes cross the grassy Hahnenmoospass, giving you a chance for a rest. You can finish your trek descending to the Simme waterfalls for a detour or go directly to Lent.

Hiking

20 km and 950 m elevation gain, 1200 m elevation loss

Sillerenbuhl Ski Station from Hahnenmoospass
Sillerenbuhl Ski Station from Hahnenmoospass
Alpine village of Lenk
Alpine village of Lenk
Lenk is a postcard view
Lenk is a postcard view
Sillerenbuhl Ski Station from Hahnenmoospass
Alpine village of Lenk
Lenk is a postcard view

Included in price

8x Accommodations with breakfast
Dinner in the huts and auberges
Tour design and organization
Booklet with detailed itinerary and route instructions
Service and support during your hike
GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app

Optional Extras

Transfers to Meiringen
Transfers from Lenk
Luggage transfer
Single supplement

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 imply that you’ll meet any bears on the trail, so no worries. It comes from a time when the route was only possibly done by wild scavenging animals like bears and wolves.

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 itinerary booklet with the planned GPS route.

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

Map

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Things to know

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 own 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.

Vegetarian meals are usually available in most accommodations. Vegan options are harder to be found in huts, but we’re happy to let you know about them in advance so you can plan accordingly.

Via Alpina is less difficult than the Walker’s Haute Route but more difficult than the Tour du Mont Blanc. It is mostly a hike, with only a few steep, rocky, and exposed sections where you need to use your hands to keep balance.

Still, it features long days with lots of elevation gain and loss, mostly over uneven terrain, which is why only experienced hikers who can hike 4-7 hours a day should attempt it.

Learn more about the Via Alpina difficulty >

The starting point of the Bear Trek is Meiringen, which can be reached by train most easily from Zurich with a change at Luzern. The total ride takes about 2h30min.

Bern is the closest airport to your endpoint in Lenk and can be reached at about 1h30 by train. If you want, you can also go to Zurich or Geneva, but it will take about an hour longer.

You can, but they need to be used of long hiking days and surefooted. We therefore recommend that they’re at least 8 years old.

Most of the stages can be shortened via cable cars or other modes of public transportation, saving your knees on the downhills or catching up on lost time because of bad weather.

Via Alpina stages are much more accessible than Haute Route\’s, which is why we can organize luggage transfer for you for an extra charge. This will make your backpacks lighter and easier to carry over the many mountain passes of the route.

Switzerland uses Swiss francs (CHF), so it’s best to have them on you to pay for services in some remote mountain huts.

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