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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.
22 km and 1400 m elevation gain, 1000 m elevation loss
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.
19 km and 1200 m elevation gain, 900 m elevation loss
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.
9 km and 850 m elevation gain, 500 m elevation loss
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.
17 km and 1100 m elevation gain, 1300 m elevation loss
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.
16 km and 1400 m elevation gain, 1650 m elevation loss
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.
17 km and 1350 m elevation gain, 1200 m elevation loss
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.
20 km and 950 m elevation gain, 1200 m elevation loss
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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.
Those who like a good adventure and limitless flexibility should go on a self-guided tour. We prepare the itinerary and book your accommodations while you enjoy the journey without our guide, being fully in charge of all the daily decisions. While you’ll have the full support of our team in case of any emergencies or concerns, a certain level of self-reliance is required.
Experience the great outdoors on a private guided tour tailored just for you. The tour is for those who want a hastle-free adventure and enjoy the flexibility of a small private group and not stress about the details of everyday planning. The guide will be fully at your disposal to make this experience as personalized as possible, maximizing the enjoyment during and after the tour.
For solo hikers or hikers who wish to meet other like-minded souls, don’t want to stress about tour-planning and other annoying details. We’re going to find you a group of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts and take care of all the other details. The tour will be led by our guide, who’ll make sure everything runs smoothly, ensuring maximum hiking enjoyment.
