Via Alpina: Bernese Oberland Guided walking holiday

2026 Dates

Here are the dates of our scheduled trips on the Via Alpina

VABg 20 to 28 July 2024
Mountain Leader to be confirmedBook (Spaces available)

Our scheduled guided Via Alpina Bernese Oberland trip follows a schedule of 7 stages and 8 nights accommodation. We use our classic mix of accommodation, staying in 6 hotels and 2 auberges. The maximum group number at any one point will be 8 clients to 1 Alpine Exploratory International Mountain Leader.

Although the walking dates on our scheduled guided trips are fixed, we’d be very happy to book extra nights in Engelberg before or nights in Kandersteg after your trip, for you to explore the area a little more. Please do just ask for more details.

Our guided trip includes 1 transfer bag per person within the trip price. The bag will be delivered to each accommodation stop on your itinerary.

We would be delighted to plan a privately guided trip for your family or group of friends at any time within our walking season. We will find you a guide and book your accommodation on the dates your choose. You will have full flexibility over the length of your trip, your choice of accommodation and your dates. Please see our self guided page for full details of the options available.

Where we stay
The accommodation on the Via Alpina: Bernese Oberland is of a high standard, using mostly 3* hotels with delicious buffet breakfasts included on every morning. Our guided trip follows our standard itinerary, there are 6 hotel nights and 2 nights in auberges (comparable to simple hotels). You will have private rooms on at least 7 nights; at the hotels with an ensuite bathroom, while at the auberges your bathroom might be shared. At one of the auberges we may book dormitory places, depending on availability. No huts are used on this trip.

Single Room Supplement
If you are joining the group as a solo hiker, we can book single rooms (instead of sharing a twin or double room). In this case we add our single room supplement. This covers the additional cost of booking single occupancy rooms. The single supplement is only applied to nights where single rooms are available.

Our approach to the Via Alpina
Our Via Alpina: Bernese Oberland trip gives a complete journey on foot from Engelberg to Kandersteg. On completion you will have walked the central high section of the Via Alpina and passed by the most notable peaks including the Eiger, Jungfrau and Monch.

Where there is a choice of routes, your guide will talk your through the options, allowing you to take the route which best suits your group.

The Terrain
The Via Alpina’s terrain comprises the full range of Alpine walking, a typical day starting with wide tracks through forests, tarmac country lanes, then up to zig-zagging hillside paths. Forest tracks in the valleys are straightforward enough, rising to the open meadow where narrow hard-pack paths cross grassland. Above, we venture into the high hills and good balance is needed on rocky paths and steps. The two highest cols in particular, the Sefinafurgga (2,612m) and the Hohturli (2,778m), involve loose paths over scree and shale, with hand rails and wooden steps built in to aid the walking. The Via Alpina has no via ferrata or climbing sections and is considered a trek throughout.

Is it for me?
The Via Alpina is likely to satisfy stronger trekkers who like a good day out in the hills. You’ll know it if you’ve had one! In the week from Engelberg to Kandersteg, the difficulty builds up right to the last day, with the crossing of the highest pass, the Hohturli.

The route is relatively even in terms of daily distances, despite this build-up towards the end. This gives a pleasing rhythm and caters extremely well for comfortable trekking.

Difficulty
On the final 2 stages the Via Alpina: Bernese Oberland is at the upper end of the difficulty range for accomplished trekkers, needing confident foot placement and good balance. These days have sections where the path crosses rocky and steep ground including steep scree slopes, plus sections with metal cables as handrails over normal Alpine walking terrain. Crossing open, unforgiving terrain without easy escape routes, these full days of mountain walking calling for self-reliance, especially in wet weather with bad visibility.

 Walking Guide to the Via Alpina – our detailed read

 The making of our Via Alpina – photos from our research trips

How to get there

Your holiday starts in the mountain town of Engleberg and ends in another outdoorsy town, Kandersteg. Zurich and Basel are the most convenient airports, with good quick trains to both Engelberg and Kandersteg stations; Geneva airport also works, as does Milan for the return from Kandersteg.

Travel to and from the trip is not included in the holiday price. We take care to give the most useful notes possible about all the travel options. We supply these both on booking and in your info pack, and we offer personalised tips at any point. The aim is that our trekkers arrange their travel by the simplest and most scenic means as suits their plan.