The Bernese Oberland

2005, 9 days

See also the plan we abandoned.

Books:

MürrenThe view from Busengrat towards Mürren, with Wengen in the background on the other side of the valley (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. 13:55 train to Meiringen arr 15:12, then 15:35 bus to Schwarzwaldalp (1454m) arr. 16:17.
Hotel-Chalet Schwarzwald-Alp
033 971 35 15
Later trains: 10:47 direct to Luzern arr. 11:49, or 11:13 via Zürich HB (11:23-11:35), arr. 12:25.
Trains to Meiringen and buses to Schwarzwaldalp one hour earlier and one hour later.
Sunday
10/7
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
From First, lift down to Grindelwald (1034m), hotels.
Monday
11/7
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
Classic scenic walk – worth taking our time.
Tuesday
12/7
08:36 train via Wilderswil (09:18-walk-09:25) to Lauterbrunnen arr. 09:40. 09:50 bus to Stechelberg (910m) 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
Wednesday
13/7
Walk (R.48+50) 6 hrs via Busengrat (1940m), Tanzbödeli (optional ½ hr excursion, 2095m), Im Tal (1256m), and Ozen (1582m) to Boganggenalp (2039m). Rotstockhütte
033 855 24 64
Easier option with two nights in Mürren: Wednesday walk from Im Tal to Mürren (saves 1¾ hrs), Thursday day walk from Mürren.
Thursday
14/7
Walk (R.56) 3 hrs to Schilthorn (2970m, lunch). Afternoon walk (R.57) 3 hrs via Schiltalp (1948m) and Blumental 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
After lunch, could go down in lift.
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 Wengen instead. Trains from Wilderswil at hh:25 and hh:56, change at Lauterbrunnen, takes about 45 minutes.
Sunday
17/7 a.m.
Train or bus or walk to Interlaken.
Chill out and early lunch.
  Trains from Wengen at 10:43, 11:28, 12:18.
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.