Joanna Rogers says...
Highly recommended! Well-curated selections in lovely places. Commitment to sustainability and local communities much appreciated too.
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The pretty village of Kandersteg sits in the heart of the Bernese Oberland, where the great arc of the Alps culminates in some of its highest and most spectacular peaks. Awe-inspiring and dramatic, the area epitomises the 'chocolate-box' Alps: lush green pastures and lowland slopes carpeted bright with wildflowers against a backdrop of rugged mountains - all topped off with sun-glistening glaciers.
A stay here uncovers the very best of the region: the stunning Oeschinensee mountain lake enclosed by towering cliffs; the hidden Gasterntal Valley with its glacial meltwaters thundering down a narrow gorge, and an Alpine pass that has been used since Celtic times.
Did we mention the spectacular views? One moment you will be spellbound by the glacial legacy, whilst in another it will be the cobalt blue of the Oeschinensee that will take your breath away. Woodlands, pine forest and open meadows are decorated with lady slippers, fire lilies and more than 25 varieties of scented orchid, where you walk to the the tuneful ringing of cowbells. With the company of the occasional swooping eagle, it is easy to feel on top of the world. Amazingly, all this is accessible on well-defined paths directly from the hotel or after a short bus or cable car ride.
On arrival at the 3 star Hotel Alfa Soleil, your hosts, the charming Seiler family, will provide you with a Regional Travel Pass giving you unlimited use of cable cars and the local bus service. They'll also ensure you receive a full introduction to the area, including insider tips on where to spot the best alpine flowers!
When you feel like a rest from walking, there's an elegant lounge, swimming pool, sauna, solarium and gym to keep you entertained. In the evening you can relax and enjoy regional dishes and fine wines in Nico's restaurant.
The walking is of moderate difficulty and includes mountain walking on good (though sometimes narrow) paths with occasional steepish climbs. NB: Some gondolas/cable cars do not operate in early/late season when alternative walks will be proposed.
Arrive at the *** Hotel Alfa Soleil, well known locally for its excellent cuisine and enjoy a welcome drink on your first day, before dinner which is included throughout your stay along with picnics or light restaurant lunches. Below is a suggested itinerary, however, you are free to pick and choose when and where you walk each day.
This easy-going walk to start your week begins with a spectacular cable car ride (included) up to the Allmenalp, a colourful meadow brimming with rural mountain charm. There are stunning views across the valley to towering cliffs, snow-capped peaks and glaciers. Continue into the pastures of the Alpbach, sheltered by a colossal mountain bowl where marmots 'cohabit' with farmers and their cattle. An afternoon descent of the Alpbach Gorge takes you down to the valley floor for a relaxed stroll along the River Kander to the hotel.
This super walk begins with an exhilarating 20-minute minibus ride (fare included) along a narrow road carved out of the rock wall. The UNESCO-recognised Gasterntal is Kandersteg's 'hidden valley', with snow-fed waterfalls splashing down sheer cliff faces. After an optional, loop-extension further up the valley, you meander down the River Kander, through woods and open meadows to the Waldhaus Nature Reserve - look out for lady slippers, fire lilies and more than 25 varieties of orchid. With the mighty rock walls of the Balmhorn, Tatlishore and the Atels towering high, follow the spectacular Klus Gorge where glacial meltwater rushes down over thunderous waterfalls.
Widely regarded as the jewel in the crown of the Bernese Oberland, Oeschinensee is one of the most beautiful Alpine lakes in Switzerland. After a short ride up on the gondola lift (included), follow a marvellous mountain path up to the Heuberg Viewpoint and picnic spot. The cobalt blue water of the lake, surrounded by the snow-capped, razor-edged peaks of the Doldenhorn (3,638m) and the Bluemlisalphorn (3,663m) towering 2,000m above, will be a lasting memory. Call in at the mountain chalets at Obberbargli and Underbargli for refreshments and soak up this unforgettable scenery as bell-toting cows munch at the grass in the pastures below, while dainty waterfalls trickle down from the Frunden Glacier.
A gentle hour's stroll takes you down to the Natural Park of Blausee - the Blue Lake (entry included with short boat ride). Here you can wander through verdant woodland around the little lake, visit the organic trout farm and enjoy a drink on the lake terrace. Cross the valley at Kandergrund and pick up the Nordrampe Bahnwanderweg - a fabulous walking trail that in part follows the impressive railway as it makes huge loops and swirls through tunnels along the side of the mountain. Enjoy panoramic picnic spots and great views up and down the valley as you stroll past the evocative ruins of the Felsenburg tower. Hillside pastures and shady forest then leads you back to your hotel.
If you'd prefer a slightly longer holiday, take a look at our 7 night Classic Swiss Alps Walk.
This single-centre holiday is based at the following hotel. If you'd like to extend your stay here, or upgrade your room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or email sales@headwater.com
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
NEARBY:
Room upgrades: Superior Double with Balcony, Junior Suite or Suite.
Junior suites have a seating area and balcony. The recently refurbished Suites have two rooms - bedroom and living room with south facing balcony.
Extra nights: Please contact us for details.
Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from Kandersteg train station at 16:41, and back to Kandersteg train station at 10:00.
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 0044 1606 720199 or email us at sales@headwater.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
Highly recommended! Well-curated selections in lovely places. Commitment to sustainability and local communities much appreciated too.
Really good trip, the walks were varied and there were good options to extend them if you felt up to it. The food in the hotel was amazing as well.
This was our first holiday and experience with Headwater and we hope it will not be our last. From my initial query, Jo Chaplin provided us with an excellent service in helping us book our holiday. She was very attentive to our needs and returned my calls/emails promptly and when promised, displaying an excellent customer focussed service. Getting connecting flights from Belfast via London Heathrow to Zurich proved difficult but Jo simply booked us on direct flights from Dublin to Zurich using Swiss Air, resulting in a good financial saving. We booked in May 2023 and travelled in July 2023 and Jo kept us informed every step of the way, sending us train tickets and information guides (including detailed route walks and maps) well in advance, so we could read and ask any further questions before travelling. The Hotel Alfa Soleil exceeded our expectations and is in an ideal location on the edge of Kandersteg. Everything about the hotel was perfect and we would not look to stay in another hotel if we returned to Kandersteg. Being met on the train platform by Adriano from the hotel was a great start to our holiday! Our only 'complaint' is that 5 days is not enough time to fully explore the Kandersteg area, so we look forward to booking a return visit!
An amazing walking holiday in stunning Kandersteg. The walking was jaw-dropping, the hotel warm, friendly, efficient and Nico’s restaurant served a wonderful 3 course dinner. Everything was of a high standard yet also personal. Saunas great too. Thank you so much.
It was a fantastic holiday for me & my wife. Everything was just perfect. We really enjoyed ourseve very much. I really recomended this hotel (Alfa Soleil) for foodies.
Beautiful destination, family ran hotel made us feel very welcome and they were very helpful.
The company have been fantastic, we’ve had the holiday postponed for 2 years. The best communication & customer service I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with. I can not recommend the company highly enough. The all inclusive deal at Kandersteg Switzerland was absolutely fantastic. The hotel was fantastic and the food was 5*. Well organised and stunning views
Alfa Soleil is a really super hotel. While we were there the restaurant was officially closed but Nico opened it for us. He is an exceptional chef who provided us with a personal service in his menus and also advice as to where we should go. The staff are friendly and welcoming and all had a great sense of humor. Switzerland is very expensive but somehow our experience in Alfa Soleil made it not matter.
Tremendous week in the Swiss Alps, walking and eating. The wildflower meadows were wonderful at this time of year.
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 5 night self-guided walking holiday includes:
Single-centre accommodation in a hotel
All breakfasts, picnic or light restaurant lunches and 4 course evening meals
Management by local hotelier
Comprehensive route directions provided prior to departure
Standard transfers to/from your hotel (if booking inclusive flights)
Kandersteg guest card (for discounts at local sites and attractions)
Regional travel pass for local buses and cable cars
Free entry to the Blausee (Blue Lake) Nature Park
How to book:
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' or 'check availability' button below.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'check availability' button below.
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24th Sep 2023 | US$1699 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1699 Single supp: US$356 |
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1st Oct 2023 | US$1699 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1699 Single supp: US$356 |
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26th May 2024 | US$1879 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1879 Single supp: US$356 |
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2nd Jun 2024 | US$1879 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1879 Single supp: US$356 |
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9th Jun 2024 | US$1879 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1879 Single supp: US$356 |
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16th Jun 2024 | US$1879 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1879 Single supp: US$356 |
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23rd Jun 2024 | US$1879 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1879 Single supp: US$356 |
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30th Jun 2024 | US$1879 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1879 Single supp: US$356 |
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7th Jul 2024 | US$1879 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1879 Single supp: US$356 |
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14th Jul 2024 | US$1899 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1899 Single supp: US$356 |
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21st Jul 2024 | US$1899 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1899 Single supp: US$356 |
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28th Jul 2024 | US$1899 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1899 Single supp: US$356 |
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4th Aug 2024 | US$1899 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1899 Single supp: US$356 |
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11th Aug 2024 | US$1879 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1879 Single supp: US$356 |
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18th Aug 2024 | US$1879 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1879 Single supp: US$356 |
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25th Aug 2024 | US$1879 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1879 Single supp: US$356 |
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Departing | Tour only | Prices ![]() |
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1st Sep 2024 | US$1879 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1879 Single supp: US$356 |
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8th Sep 2024 | US$1879 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1879 Single supp: US$356 |
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15th Sep 2024 | US$1749 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1749 Single supp: US$356 |
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22nd Sep 2024 | US$1749 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1749 Single supp: US$356 |
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29th Sep 2024 | US$1749 | US$356 | Tour only: US$1749 Single supp: US$356 |
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The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.
Solo travellers
Please call for details and prices
Children
Please contact us for child prices.
Holiday type
Self-guided walking Managed locally by hotelier.
Departures
Sundays from 24th Sep 2023 to 29th Sep 2024, for 5 nights. All dates are subject to availability, please contact us to check.
Meals
All breakfasts, picnic or light restaurant lunches and 4 course evening meals
Other details
You should allow £20pp for the train journey at the start of day 7.
Tour only
Transfers can be arranged at a supplement from Kandersteg train station at 16:41, and back to Kandersteg train station at 10:00.
To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' button above.
If you need further information before you book simply complete our Holiday Enquiry Form and a member of our sales team will get back to you.
To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'Check availability' button below.