Kandersteg & the Wildstrubel Circuit

There are plenty of features of interest in Kandersteg, including a heated swimming pool, saunas in many of the hotels, fishing, a museum, or perhaps you could hire a boat on the Oeschinen lake. In addition, organ concerts, folklore evenings and slideshows/talks on Kandersteg are held regularly. The friendly and welcoming tourist office will provide you with a summer information booklet with further details. Kandersteg is situated at the far end of the Kandertal Valley near the border with the French-speaking canton of the Valais. Until the early 20th century, the only way to cross between the Oberland and Valais was via the treacherous Gemmi Pass. However, nowadays the two regions are conveniently linked by the 15km Lotschberg railway tunnel. The upper Kandertal is surrounded by numerous hanging valleys and sheer faces, evidence of previous glacial activity. Towering above are beautiful snow-capped peaks and glaciers, with names like the Bluemlisalphorn, Frundenhorn, Doldenhorn, Balmhorn, Altels, Rinderhorn, Daubenhorn, Steghorn, and of course, Wildstrubel. Accommodation: Hotel Bernerhof - A 3* hotel centrally located with convenient access to the hiking trails, cable cars and lifts, shops and the railway station (5 minutes on foot).

The walk takes you steeply up to Gemmipass (2314m). You then hike out over the alpine meadows of the Spittelmatte under an impressive peak called Altels, and then up the valley and around the Daubensee post glacial lake and then up to its busy ‘lip’ - the Gemmipass! You are now passing from the Bernese Oberland into the Swiss Valais. Total Ascent: 1255 m / 4118 ft , Descent: 1061m / 3484 ft Accommodation: Hotel Walliserhof - A 3* hotel in this pleasant small, Swiss spa town. *The route over the Gemmipass can be considerably shortened by taking the cable car up from Eggeschwand to Sunnbuel (1920m). *The steep, though well engineered, path down from the pass to the spa (hot spring centre) of Leukerbad (1411m) can also be avoided by use of a cable car.

A beautiful walk through alpine pastures and woodlands with fine views across the Rhone Valley and the Valais Alps, including the Weisshorn and the Grand Combin. Total Ascent: 1035m / 3396ft, Descent: 907m / 2979ft Accommodation: Hotel du Lac - Our 3* hotel is a centrally situated modern building in this purpose built mountain resort. It sits on the edge of Lac Grenon, with views across to the mountains on the other side of the Rhone Valley. The hotel serves an excellent set menu and has a microbrewery attached. *This day can be shortened to about 6 hours by catching a bus for the final stretch to the ski and golf resort of Crans-Montana (1500m).

This is a long hard day and in reasonable weather it is a beautiful walk. The first part of the walk there is the option to walk along the Bisse du Rou; a high level irrigation canal with a narrow walkway. The views are fantastic. The trail passes the Tzeusier Dam and climbs over the Rawyl Pass (2429m) under the Mittaghorn (2685m), which is the high point of the week’s trek. Next you make the long steep descent down to Iffigenalp to catch the postbus to Lenk. If you prefer to walk, you drop down through the idyllic Iffigen Valley to the small spa town of Lenk (1086m). The sulphurous waters here attract people from all over. Total Ascent: 1317m /4323ft, Descent: 1747m / 5731ft total to Lenk Accommodation: Stay in the 3* Hotel Krone, located in a quiet and central location directly in the village square. *It is recommended that you reduce the walk to 18.5km/7.5hrs by catching the postbus from Iffigenalp to Lenk.

This is a nice walk up to the grassy Hahenmoospass, which has some amazing colourful wild meadows in June/July. The pass is a popular place for flying model aircraft, perhaps due to the potentially soft landings offered by the surroundings! You will also be able to see the summit of the Wildstrubel today if it is clear. From the pass it is a casual descent down to Adelboden, a smart Swiss town which prides itself on its shops and tennis competitions. There are also some of the best overall views of the Wildstrubel from the restaurant. Total Ascent: 901m / 2958ft, Descent: 619 m / 2033ft Accommodation: Adler Adelboden - A friendly welcome awaits you at this chalet-style 3* hotel. Excellent small pool, whirlpool baths and sauna can be used. *This day can also be shortened by using the bus service from Lenk up to Buelberg (1661m), from where you ascend to the Hahnenmoospass (1956m). It is an easy descent with cable car options to Adelboden (1356m).

A long ascent, with beautiful views, to the Bundeschrinde pass (2380m). This is perhaps the most dramatic of the passes that you go over on this route. This is followed by a steep descent to Kandersteg with fine views of the Blumlisalp Massif and the Oeschinensee Lake. This is a particularly fine pass - a breach through rocky strata – a bit like a mini Breche de Roland (in the Pyrenees) but there is nothing mini about the views: it is a spectacular location and if you are quiet, you might see Chamoix or even Ibex on the crags along here! Total Ascent: 1135 m / 3724 ft Descent: 1300 m / 4263 ft Accommodation: Return to Hotel Bernerhof for two nights.

Today could be used as a complete rest day, but there are some great ‘there and back’ walks you could do including up and around the Oeschinensee Lake. This is a fantastic egg-shaped post glacial lake with a blocked exit under the Blumisalp and the Doldenhorn group of mountains. There are lower and upper trails around parts of the lakes, offering varied panoramas. On the other hand, you could take a paddleboat out onto the water, ice cream in hand.