The Bernese Oberland (variant)

9 days

This plan was abandoned because there was no accommodation available at Engstlenalp. See the actual plan we used.

Books:

MittaghornThe view of Mittaghorn (?) across the valley from Busengrat (July 2005)
Date Daytime Overnight Notes/Alternatives
Saturday
9/7
M&R 06:45 MAN T3 flight BA1690 arr. Zürich 09:50
Michael: 07:05 LHR T4 flight BA0710 arr. Zürich 09:50
10:13 train via Zürich HB (10:23-10:35) to Luzern arr. 11:25
Lunch in Luzern
13:41 train to Engelberg (1000m) arr. 14:42
Walk and two lifts 1½ hrs via Trubsee to Jochpass (2207m)
Walk 1 hr to Engstlenalp (1835m)
Hotel Engstlenalp
033 975 11 61
Later trains: 10:47 direct to Luzern arr. 11:49, or 11:13 via Zürich HB arr. 12:25. Trains to Engelberg 14:41 arr. 15:42, or 15:41 arr. 16:42.
Hotel Engelberg, Dorfstrasse 14, 041 669 79 79.
Sunday
10/7
Walk (L.182, R.49) 3½ hrs via Tannen and Balmeregghorn to Planplatten (2245m). Take 3 lifts (1-1½  hrs) via Mägisalp and Reuti to Meiringen (600m). Hotel Alpbach ***, Kirchgasse 17, 033 971 1831
Hotel Baer ***, Bahnhofstrasse 2, 033 971 46 46
Hotel Meiringen ***, Bahnhofplatz 1, 033 972 12 12
Park Hotel du Sauvage ***, Bahnhofstrasse 30, 33 971 41 41.
Hotel Rebstock ***, Bahnhofstrasse 21, 033 971 07 55
Sporthotel Sherlock Holmes ***, Alpbachallee 3, 033 972 98 89
Hotel Victoria ***, Bahnhofplatz 9, 033 972 10 40
Bad weather route (R.45) via Baumgartenalp and Reuti to Meiringen (4½-5 hrs), quicker with lift from Reuti. Or simply walk down the road all the way.
Walking down from Planplatten instead of lift: Mägisalp ¾ hr, Bidmi 1¼ hrs, Reuti 2hrs, Meiringen 3 hrs.
Monday
11/7
Bus at 7:55 or 8:55 to Schwarzwaldalp (1454m, 42 mins). Walk 3¼ hrs (L.187) via Oberläger (1950m), to First (2167m, lunch). Afternoon walk 2 hrs (R.12) via Bachsee (2265m), to Faulhorn (2681m). Berghotel Faulhorn
033 853 27 13
Buses also at 9:55 and 10:55.
From First, lift down to Grindelwald (1034m), hotels.
Tuesday
12/7
Walk (R.12+9) 3½ hrs via Mändlenen (2344m), Laucherhorn (2230m), and Oberberghorn (2069m), to Schynige Platte (1987m). Berghotel Schynige Platte
033 822 34 31
First-class walk – worth taking our time.
Wednesday
13/7
08:36 train via Wilderswil (09:18-walk-09:25) to Lauterbrunnen arr. 09:40. 09:50 bus to Stechelberg arr. 10:02. Walk (R.44) 2½ hours to Berggasthaus Obersteinberg (1774m, lunch, leave packs). Excursion (R.46) to scenic Oberhornsee (2065m), 2 hrs return. Berggasthaus Obersteinberg (remote – no electricity or running water)
033 855 20 33
Later train/bus 09:06-09:58, 10:25-10:40, 10:50-11:02.
Berggasthaus Tschingelhorn ¼ hr earlier, 033 855 13 43
Thursday
14/7
Walk (R.48+) 4½ hrs via Busengrat (1940m), Tanzbödeli (2095m), and Gimmelwald (1400m) to Mürren (1645m). Anfi Palace ****, 033 856 99 99
Hotel Eiger ****, 033 856 54 54
Hotel Alpenruh ***, 033 856 88 00
Hotel Bellevue ***, 033 854 14 01
Hotel Blumental *** 033 855 18 26
Edelweiss ***, 033 856 56 00
Hotel Jungfrau und Haus Mönch ***, 033 856 64 64
 
Friday
15/7
Walk (R.58+) 3½ hrs via Pletschenalp (1740m) and Sous Läger (1685m) to Lobhorn (1955m). Suls-Lobhornhütte
033 855 30 85 / 079 656 53 20
 
Saturday
16/7
Walk (R.31+10) 5 hrs via Ballehöchst (2095m), Underberg (1457m), and Saxeten (1130m) to Wilderswil (600m). Snow might be a problem on the first section.
 
Hotel Alpenblick ***, 033 828 35 50
Hotel Bäeren ***, Oberdorfstrasse 1, 033 828 31 51
Hotel Berghof *** , 033 822 75 66
Jungfrau Hotel ***, 033 822 35 31
Schlössli ***, 033 822 12 16
Could stay in Interlaken instead.
Sunday
17/7 a.m.
Train or bus or walk to Interlaken.
Chill out and early lunch.
   
Sunday
17/7 p.m. (Michael)
13:23 train from Interlaken West, change at Spiez (13:43-13:49) and Bern (14:21-14:30), to Zürich airport, arr. 15:50.
17:15 flight BA0717 from terminal M arr. Heathrow 18:00.
  Later train 14:02, change at Bern (14:54-15:02), arr. airport 16:17.
Sunday
17/7 p.m. (M&R)
14:08 boat from Interlaken West to Thun, arr. 16:24 (“Timetable not guaranteed in storm”)
17:01 train, change at Bern (17:21-17:30), to Zürich Airport, arr. 18:50.
20:15 flight BA1693 from terminal M arr. Manchester 21:15.
  Earlier train 16:34, change at Bern 16:54-17:02, arr. airport 18:16.