Family Hiking in the Bernese Oberland and Engadine Switzerland
Private or Self-Guided Departures Available June to September

Trip Overview

This trip crosses three linguistic and cultural borders and allows us to explore two of the most beautiful areas of Switzerland: the Bernese Oberland and Grissons.  It lends itself to either a self-guided or a guided adventure. In self-guided adventures we will handle all the logistics for you, book hotels, procure train tickets, provide you with maps and suggested hikes, and in general do everything for you except go on the trip with you.  We can also organize a hybrid trip for you, handling all the arrangements for you and providing guide services for part of the trip, leaving some days unstructured for you to explore using your Swiss Rail pass or hang out with your children at the local public pool.

We’ll spend the first part of the trip in Lenk, a charming farming village in the bucolic Simmental, or Simmen Valley, in the Bernese Oberland canton of Switzerland. The Bernese Oberland is one of the most celebrated alpine regions in Europe - a hiker's and photographer's paradise. In addition to some of the most dramatic mountain walls and waterfalls to be found anywhere in the world, it contains sturdy old farmhouses framed by picture perfect green pastures and charming mountain chalets.

Lenk has lush, undulating meadows filled with Milka cows, a special breed of cattle, in the shadow of snow-covered peaks. Lifts bring hikers to scenic- mid-and high-level trails. Lenk is ideal for families since it offers high mountain hikes on gentle paths, theme trails (e.g., the Marmot Trail) and a wonderful outdoor/indoor swimming pool. During our stay in Lenk we’ll take a special excursion to the waterfall-lined Lauterbrunnen Valley with views of the Eiger and the Jungfrau and a ride up the Schilthorn cable car of James Bond fame.

Midway through our trip we’ll ride the famous Glacier Express across the Swiss Alps to Pontresina and the Engadine Valley in the canton of Grissons near the Lake District of Italy to the south and Tirol in Austria. Four major passes lead up to this high alpine valley, which runs for 60 miles along a southern terrace of the Alps and has blue skies for over 300 days a year. Named for its En River, this area combines crisp, dry air, forests, lakes and glaciated peaks. This high-alpine area is famous for its flora and fauna and superb views of the chain of lakes between St. Moritz and Maloja as well as peaks of the Bernina Massif (13,500 feet). It’s no coincidence that several of the “Heidi” movies were filmed here. Romansch - the legacy of an abandoned Roman Army - is the official language, though German is spoken by most people as well. The linguistic contrasts, the high peaks and sunny valleys, and the Italian influences in architecture combine to make this an area that has inspired artists and writers such as Rilke and Giacometti for many years.

Highlights

Price

Varies based on the specific custom itinerary we develop for you.

Accommodations

We will stay in hotels or vacation apartments, based on your family’s preference.

Transportation

We’ll use Swiss Rail passes to travel from location to location, including to many of our daily hikes.

Sample Daily Itinerary

All the hikes listed are moderate family hikes. Many harder adult hikes are also available if the group divides into two groups, one with adults only and one with adults and kids. The actual itinerary is dependent upon weather, local conditions and the group.

Day One: Lenk

We arrive in Zurich and take train to Lenk. Jet-lag permitting, we’ll take the Betelberg Gondola up to Leiterle Mountain and walk on the Alpine flower path toward the Stuebleni pass. Kids can play on the air trampoline or slide while parents relax in the outdoor café. If you like, enjoy the Marmot Path down to the Stoss Mountain Restaurant. Take the Gondola back down, or if walk back down to Lenk. Late afternoon take the bus out to the Simmen Waterfalls for dinner. (The energetic can walk out via the Lenkersee (lake) along the Obersimmentaler Hausweg (an historic house trail) to the Simmen Falls.) Bus back.

Day Two: Lenk

Today we have a special outing by train to the beautiful Lauterbrunnen Valley. We’ll switch to a cogwheel rail in Grutschalp and walk to Muerren enjoying fabulous views of the “Big Three” mountains: the Jungfrau, the Eiger, and the Monch. We may also ride up the Schilthorn Mountain cable car, made famous by James Bond.

Day Three: Lenk

We’ll take the Lynx Walk from the Leiterlie lift to Wallegg and then back to Lenk and see if we can locate all six lifelike lynx statues that have been camouflaged along the trail. An alternative would be an outing to Gstaad: part of the group could take the train to Gstaad and then walk around town and shop. The other part of the group has the exciting option of hiking from Lenk to Gstaad. The whole group would take the train together back to Lenk.

Day Four: Pontresina

We take the Glacier Express to the beautiful high Alpine resort of Pontresina.

Day Five: Pontresina

We travel by bus and funicular to the mountain hotel of Muottas Muragl (8,048'). We hike to Alp Languard (7,421') for spectacular views of the entire Engadine Valley, including its many lakes and St. Moritz. After following the splendid balcony trail to the aptly named “Paradis” Hut (8,366’), a quaint mountain restaurant with views of the Morteratsch Glacier, we take the chairlift back to Pontresina. In the afternoon we visit the Morteratsch Glacier where we can see the signs where the glacier has receded and where we can walk up to and touch the ice. We also visit a cheese farm.

Day Six: Pontresina

Today we take a horse carriage ride into the Roseg valley and a walk to a beautiful glacial lake for a picnic lunch. On the way back we “hit” the dessert buffet at the Hotel Roseg.

Day Seven: Pontresina

We take the Rhaetian Railroad to Bernina Hospiz and the Bernina Pass. We begin hiking along the Lago Bianco dam, then up to Refugio Sassal Masone (7,726'). Our descent to Alp Grüm allows us a splendid view of the Palü Glacier as well as the Poschiavo Valley. We continue down to Cavaglia (4,100'), where we board the train and continue to the small city of Poschiavo. The difference between this laid-back, photogenic Italianate town, and, the Alpine resort of Pontresina, the same distance the other side of the Bernina pass, couldn’t be more striking.

Day Eight: Zurich

We depart from Pontresina and take the train to Zurich for sightseeing and our last overnight.

Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary.  We would be delighted to develop a custom proposal for an adventure that is just right for your family's needs.  We have a particular expertise in family trips in Switzerland, having cut our teeth on trips with our own children, in addition to planning wonderful adventures for other families.

Call us toll free (U.S.) at 866-533-4361 or

+203-840-0295 (outside the U.S.)

info@bredeson.com