Walking the Bernese Highlights East

Walking information

The paths are all excellent quality and are well waymarked. The route has many options for shortening by taking a cable car or post bus to take the strain out of the climbs or pressure off the knees for the downhill sections.

Day 1: Arrive Engelberg

It is a good idea to add an extra day or two in Engelberg before starting your Bernese Highlights walk to get used to walking at high altitudes.
Overnight Trail Hotel 3*, Engelberg.

Day 2: Engelberg to Engstlenalp (12km/7.5mi)

Todays walk takes you up past the Trubsee Lake from where you climb to the Jochpass before descending to Engstlenalp. A demanding first day because of the total ascent involved, which can be reduced by using one or more cable cars. From Engelberg, you walk along the right hand side of the picturesque Engstlensee, where a profusion of wild flowers and shy marmots may catch your eye. Take some time to enjoy the beautiful Trubsee Lake before continuing to Engstlenalp.
Overnight Hotel Engstlenalp 3H, Engstlenalp (breakfast and dinner included).

Day 3: Engstlenalp to Meiringen (16km/9.9mi)

Follow the trail past lake Tannensee up to a ridge walk that leads you over Balmeregghorn. Wonderful views on the snow-covered peaks of Eiger, Monch & Jungfrau await. The setting is truly amazing and make for one of the most scenic walks in Switzerland. To avoid the long way down to Meiringen, you can use the cable car from Planplatten down into the valley. Meiringen is a little town on the shore of river Aare.
Overnight Parkhotel du Sauvage 3*, Meiringen (breakfast included).

Day 4: At Leisure in Meiringen

There is a choice of day walks exploring this amazing walking area or take a day off from walking and visit Ballenberg Switzerland's greatest open-air museum, take the steam railway to the top of the Rothorn, visit the stunning gorge Aareschlucht, or just cruise on Lake Brienz.
Overnight Parkhotel du Sauvage 3*, Meiringen (breakfast included).

Day 5: Meiringen to Schwarzwaldalp (11km/6.8mi)

A short day albeit energetic early on, with opportunities for diversions. Leaving Meiringen behind, you cross the River Aare and head up past the Reichenbach Falls, famous for the death of Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes in Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle's classic before walking through the stunning Rosenlaui valley to Schwarzwaldalp.
Overnight Chalet Schwarzwaldalp 3H, Schwarzwaldalp (breakfast and dinner included).

Day 6: Schwarzwaldalp to Grindelwald (11km/6.8mi or 14km/8.7mi)

Today, you can either take the high-level route via First or the more leisurely crossing of Grosse Scheidegg.

The high-level route is a truly scenic walk to the cable car station at First, offering spectacular views of the Berner Oberland giants. Alternatively, you can hike up on a steady ascent to the Grosse Scheidegg pass with magnificent mountain views behind you and then down to the village of Grindelwald.
Overnight Central Hotel Wolter 3*, Grindelwald (breakfast included).

Day 7: Grindelwald to Murren (16km/9.9mi or 22km/13.7mi)

There are two options today. Either follow Via Alpina over the pass Kleine Scheidegg, or take the Eiger Trail, a more challenging route along the foot of the North Face, or the more challenging route over Kleine Scheidegg - both with stunning views. Mountain railways also offer alternative starts and ends.

If you choose to walk via Kleine Scheidegg, this will be the longest day of your trip, with unmatched views of the Eiger, the Monch, and the Jungfrau mountains. Walking by the Eiger Trail is a truly magnificent route which brings you so close to the many scenes of triumph and tragedy - it would be worth reading the story of the great Eiger climbs before your trip
Overnight Hotel Edelweiss 3*, Murren (breakfast included).

Day 8: Depart Mürren

Say fond farewells to Switzerland as you depart on the train.