EXPLORING THE BEAUTY OF BERNESE OBERLAND, SWITZERLAND
INTRODUCING BERNESE OBERLAND, SWITZERLAND
As a passionate nature enthusiast and avid adventure seeker, Switzerland had always held the top spot on my travel bucket list. The Bernese Oberland was a great way to start exploring Switzerland. The beautiful villages, Swiss countryside, and Alps were my motivation for this journey. I divided my time between visiting towns, hiking, and satisfying my adrenaline by climbing a via-ferrata. Below are some not-to-miss highlights from the Bernese Oberland region. I hope it inspires you to visit!
The Bernese Oberland Region is located in the middle of Switzerland. I started my journey in Zurich, but Interlaken served as the main gateway to the region. Interlaken is a hub located between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. It was a priority to visit the region’s most notable towns, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. During my stay, I chose Murren as my home base for exploring the area. It was perfect because it was perched above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. When it comes to seeing the Swiss Alps, the higher I went, the better it got!
THE VILLAGES
LAUTERBRUNNEN
Lauterbrunnen was my favorite town when visiting the Bernese Alps. It reminded me a lot of the fantasy books I read while growing up. I later found out that Lauterbrunen was a huge inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, Lord of the Rings! I found the best way to absorb the town was walking down the main road to the base of the Staubbach Waterfall. The beautiful and classic views are best seen on the gondola ride up to Murren or on the train ride deeper into the valley. Make sure to get a seat by the window facing the waterfalls for a great experience! Lauterbrunnen is also the logistical gateway to other areas in the region. You can easily access Jungfrau, Schilthorn, Grindelwald, and Murren.
MURREN
Mürren is a mountain village perched the mountainside overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It was the perfect place to stay because of its peaceful and a mostly car-free environment. From Mürren, you can enjoy stunning vistas of the famous Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountain peaks. As I took the cable car up from Lauterbrunnen, I knew I had made the right decision by choosing it as my home base for the next week.
There are numerous activities to enjoy while in Mürren. My personal favorite was the via ferrata that starts right in town. If you're interested in learning more about what a via ferrata is and how to experience it, continue reading below. Additionally, a major attraction of Mürren is the convenient cable car that takes you to Schilthorn, one of the tallest summits in the Bernese Alps.
MURREN : VIA FERRATA
This via ferrata in Murren marked my first-ever experience. As a passionate rock climber, I've conquered numerous climbing challenges. My friend in the rock climbing community raved about the activity. After this experience I am completely hooked!
Defining a Via Ferrata: It is a climbing path with safety features like cables and steps. It helps non-experts explore rocky areas securely, as climbers are attached to the cable for safety. It's an exciting way to experience climbing with added protection.
The Route : It's rated a K3, signifying a moderate level. Via ferratas rank from K1 to K6, with K1 being the newbie-friendly end. This journey starts in Mürren, winding up in the neighboring town of Gimmelwald. The Lauterbrunnen Valley vistas are mind-blowing, with highlights like hanging on the edge, crossing waterfall suspension bridges, and capturing paragliders. The route ends near tMellow Mountain Hostel, offering refreshments and food with incredible views. I even returned for a Friday night DJ dance party during sunset, making this my favorite Murren adventure!
Logistics : The weather can be quite unpredictable. If this activity is on your radar, consider extending your stay to snag a sunny day. It is not recommended to do this activity in the rain. If you are unsure of your skill level, don't hesitate to bring in a guide for a smoother, fantastic time. My gear came from Intersport Mürren, equipping me with helmets, harnesses, and the all-important clips. From Intersport, they will give you details of how to get to the entrance of the via-ferrata.
MURREN : AN EXCURSION TO SCHILTHORON (PIZ GLORIA)
Schilthorn is the a low effort high reward way to see the beautiful swiss alps. You can take a series of cable cars from the Lauterbrunnen Valley to the Summit. It was a bit crowded when I got up there in the afternoon, so i decided to hike down the North Face Trail a bit. I found a great spot to watch the clouds drift through the mountain peaks. It was fun capturing some exceptional views and photos. Below are a few more highlights from my experience at the top.
Highlights :
Piz Gloria: This is a revolving restaurant atop Schilthorn. It has panoramic views of over the mountain peaks. The food is pretty good for being on the top of a mountain.
Viewing Platforms: Check out the Brig Thrill Walk and explore the viewing platforms. From there you can get some unobstructed vistas of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
James Bond World: The film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," was shot at Schilthorn. I love movies, so I leaned into the experience for a little bit. It is fun for families, and enthusiasts alike.
THE HIKES
The Bernese Region offers an overwhelming number of hikes! I really wish I could do them all. But with fairly limited time, I could not complete all the hikes I wanted in the region. So, after doing a lot of research, I narrowed it down to several hikes that gave me a diverse array of views and high rewards.
SCHYNIGE PLATTE TO FAULHORN TO FIRST
This was my favorite hike of the trip. This hike offers incredible views and a lot of opportunities to venture out into the fields with the Alps as the backdrop. There is a large assortment of landscapes to hike, from lakes, huts, and some shallow snow. The journey to the start point is also a fun experience, as you get to ride the older trains and cogs. It ends with a cliff walk adjacent to the mountain.
Getting There:
Start your journey in Wilderswil, located at the base of Schynige Platte. From there, you will take the Schynige Platte Railway.
From Wilderswil, hop on the Schynige Platte Railway, a vintage cogwheel train that takes you on a scenic ride up to Schynige Platte. The rail is a 50-minute ride to the start of the hike.
The Hike:
Start : This hike is one way and approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers). The trail starts from the Schynige Platte train station. The entrance is to the left of the train tracks, on which you rode in.
Schynige Platte to Fulhorn : is approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers). Along the way, you’ll get wonderful views of Loucherhorn. This part of the hike was my favorite. I was able to frolic freely in the fields with my camera! Halfway to Fulhorn, you will pass the Berghutte Manndlenen (Mountain Hut), this was a great place for lunch and to fuel up.
Fulhorn to First : is the remaining 4 miles (6 kilometers). The highlight for me here was the view of Bachalpsee. The view was incredible. I personally wish I had more time to sit and enjoy the view more!
First Cliff Walk : At the end of the hike, don’t miss the cliff walk! There is a wonderful lookout which is cantilevered over the mountain. There was a lot of cloud coverage when I was there, but thrilling nonetheless.
Important Information:
Getting Home : After you finish your hike in First, you will need to take the Gondola down to Grindelwald, where you access all the trains. It is very important to make it to First before the last Gondola takes you down. The time of the last gondola is posted at the start of the hiking trail at Schynige Platte.
Scheduling : We took the first cogwheel train and arrived at Schynige Platte very early. It took us about 7 hours to finish the hike. Train / Gondola
Trains : The cogwheel train to Schynige Platte typically runs from June to October. The schedules posted were very accurate, and I did not have a problem with delays.
Difficulty : This was a full-day hike. I would categorize it as a moderate to hard hike. The trail is fairly well paved and marked. There was not much rock scrambling. But the length was definitely a challenge, especially when hiking downhill from Fulhorn to First.
OESCHINENSEE LAKE (OESCHINEN LAKE)
After spending a few days exploring Murren and the Lauterbrunnen Valley, I was eager to venture further into the Bernese Oberland. This hike in Oeschinensee was a perfect day trip. It is a lesser known hike, but it offers beautiful views of the blue alpine lake. It was one of my favorite hikes because there was almost nobody on it when we were there. A surprise was stumbling upon a Swiss Mountain Hut mid-hike, where they served fresh cow's milk. It stands out as one of the most beautiful hikes I completed during my time in Switzerland.
Getting There : Start your journey from Kandersteg village, easily accessible by train or car. Take the gondola ride from Kandersteg to reach the Oeschinen Lake area.
The Hike: The trail forms a 5.4-mile (8.7 km) loop. Starting from the cable car, head straight towards the lake. Boat houses line the lake's edge, and the trail begins on the left, ascending the hill. For an optimal experience, I recommend hiking clockwise.
Other Activities: If hiking isn't your thing, consider renting a rowboat to glide on the lake, enjoying a picnic, or trying the nearby summer toboggan run, all conveniently close to the gondola.
GETTING AROUND THE REGION
The most efficient mode of transportation in Switzerland is the public transit system. That's what I relied on during my exploration of the Bernese Oberland.
I used the Swiss Travel Pass, which was an ideal choice for navigating the area. This pass provides unlimited train rides for the duration you choose to purchase. It's available in increments of 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 days. There are also a variety of other passes which give more flexibility. If you are staying longer in the region you may consider the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, Jungfrau Travel Pass or Berner Oberland Travel Pass.
It's important to note that many of the gondolas in the region are not included in the coverage of the Swiss Travel Pass, so this is something to consider when planning your travel budget!
CONCLUSION
I spent 8 days exploring the region in early September. Whether you plan to dedicate several weeks or just a few days to the Bernese Oberland, I highly recommend it. There's an abundance of activities, whether it's strolling through towns, hiking, or simply soaking in the beauty of the Alps. It's a fantastic way to check a mountain adventure off your bucket list.
