The Bernese Oberland and Reichenbach Falls

This pleasant little town is an ideal starting point for hiking in the Bernese region of Switzerland. Meiringen is the home of the Meringue. There are a couple of bakeries along the 'high street' where these are much in evidence in all shapes and sizes. Meiringen is also known for the spectacular Reichenbach Falls into which Sherlock Holmes and his foe Moriarty, the master criminal, fell locked in each other’s arms. A funicular railway may be used to take you to the top of the falls; otherwise, it is 30 minutes’ walk out of town. You can visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum, which is housed in the old Anglican Church in the open area by the Park Hotel, which is itself a national monument. The town suffered a disastrous fire in 1875 and there remains little except for the old church with archaeological remains lying underneath it and a mediaeval watchtower in the 'upper' part of the town. Settle into our pleasant hotel and explore the resort town in the evening. Accommodation: Stay at Hotel Meiringen - a small 3* hotel, it is approx. a 10 min walk from the centre. It is possible to upgrade to the 4* Hotel Alpbach for an additional cost.

You have a choice of three possibilities for today's hike in the Swiss Alps. Option 1: Begin the walk to Grindelwald, up to the spectacular Reichenbach Falls enroute. Be prepared to be overawed by the towering Wetterhorn and yet to be soothed by the lush green valley of Grindelwald as it yawns before you. This scenery is then contrasted by the glacial activity prevalent around Grindelwald. Option 2: Take the train to Brienz, followed by a cruise on the Brienzsee. For those waterfall lovers, Brienz is an alluring place. If the shimmering green sea of the Brienzersee does not catch your eye, then the magnificent Giessbachfall waterfall will not fail to demand your attention. Option 3: Take the train to Widerswil, then the mountain train to Schynige Platte, and walk to Grindelwald via the Faulhorn. The long descent from Faulhorn to Grindelwald is made easier by using the Firstbahn 'gondola' cable car. This can also be done from Grindelwald. Accommodation: Hotel Hirschen - Spend two nights in this traditional 3* hotel in the heart of the village, known for its cozy atmosphere.

A free day of choice in and around Grindelwald Option 1: A trip on the Jungfrau railway (highest in Europe and 3rd highest in the world) is well worthwhile the fee. Expect a magnificent view from the Jungfraujoch station (3454m) if it is a clear day - so check the weather forecast. An impressive and daring start to the day is offered to those who wish to walk from the train to a lookout cut into the very centre of the Eiger north face. Both glaciers and mountains make for fantastic viewing. Option 2: A gondola (mini-cable car, approx. 32 CHF) trip up to First gives access to a delightful walk to the Faulhorn Peak (2681m), a tremendous viewpoint in clear weather. Option 3: Choose to walk the ridge route from First to Faulhorn then to Bussalp, or to do the complete ridge to Schynige Platte. Option 4: Cable car / walk to Mannlichen summit, with views all round to the Eiger, Jungfrau and Wetterhorn (7 hours). Option 5: The two glaciers' trip offering spectacular views of moraine, crevasses and glacier (6 hours). A must for the avid geologist! Our team has prepared numerous other fine day walks at all altitudes around Grindelwald. For those desiring a rest from the walking, you can still choose from plenty activities including boat trips or train rides.

Ascend to Kleine Scheidegg, descend to Lauterbrunnen via the car-free boutique town of Wengen. You will walk beneath the North Face of the Eiger and get some fantastic views once again over the Bernese peaks. You can make the day slightly harder by taking The Eiger Trail from Alpiglen to Kleine Scheidegg. Or make it easier by taking the train to Alpiglen and then once again walk down from Wengen. Accommodation: Hotel Silberhorn - Two nights at this 3* hotel, which is only two minutes' walk from the train station. The rooms are tastefully furnished and decorated. The hotel has various types of rooms so you can upgrade (subject to availability).

This valley boasts spectacular watefalls and is popular with travellers from around the world. From here you can visit Murren, the highest village in the Bernese Oberland and take the cable car up to the Schilthorn, where you can witness the famous 360 degree panorama extending from the Jura to the Black Forest. From Murren you can walk back by a scenic route via Gimmelwald down to Stechelberg, from where there is an hourly bus back along the valley to Lauterbrunnen. You also have another opportunity to take the train to the Jungfraujoch, if you haven't done so already. There are again plenty of walks to choose from - all routes are well signposted and we will give you GPX files.

After breakfast in Lauterbrunnen, take the early train to Zermatt (with your luggage) to allow yourself a good afternoon’s walking or relaxing. Zermatt is the quintessential Swiss tourist town, the mountain-lover's magnet. The town is almost completely surrounded by the high mountains of the Pennine Alps among which is Monte Rosa (4634m), Switzerland's highest peak. You can wander some of the many paths that abound around Zermatt. Many of these are reachable by cable car or gondola. Accommodation: Hotel Capricorn - Two nights in our 3* hotel in a typical Swiss chalet-type building. This hotel is very comfortable, informal and family run. It has a pleasant terrace garden and a sauna as well as spacious rooms. The excellent restaurant has views out to the Matterhorn and a nice bar.

Various inspiring walks await you today - the only difficulty is deciding which to choose. Zermatt is traffic-free and is dominated by the imposing, distinctive shape of the Matterhorn. All around Zermatt there is a wonderful panorama of mountain peaks. Below are just some example walks that our team has prepared for you with more options included in our route notes. Option 1: A walk in the shadow of the Matterhorn - 9 km/5.5 miles, 3-4 h Option 2: Views of Monte Rosa - 10 km /6.2 miles, 4 h Option 3: The Trift valley leading to Trift - 5 km/3 miles, 3 h and onto the Mettelhorn 13 km/8 miles, 8 h Option 4: Schwarzsee to Hornlihutte, with optional return via Stafelalp 14 km/8.6 miles, 6 h For a less energetic day, you can take the exciting cable car ride to the top of the Kleine Matterhorn (3820m). This is one of the highest cable cars in the Alps. There are many more walks and activities to choose from in Zermatt to fill your day(s) and you can ask our team with support to extend your stay.

Depart from Zermatt after breakfast.