Bernese Oberland Traverse - 7 Days

Day 1: Interlaken - Schynige Platte - Weber Hut

Start your classic trip to the Alps with one of the most famous forms of Swiss transportation. Hop a train from the town of Interlaken to Schynige Platte, where your hike will begin. Since it's your first day, you'll take it easy hiking across an Alpine pasture to a typical Swiss mountain hut, where you'll relax for the night.

Hiking time: 2.5 hours

Elevation: +1,300 feet (400 m)

Day 2: Faulhorn - Grindelwald - Alpiglen

Begin your day high in the mountains with a hike to up to Faulhorn, where you'll have a 360-degree panorama of the main peaks in the area. After enjoying the view, begin your descent past Bachalp Lake and take a cable car to the village of Grindelwald, the beating heart of the Bernese Oberland. Spend some time strolling through town before making your way to Alpiglen, either via train up to or hike up through the surrounding forests.

Hiking time: 4.5 hours

Elevation: +3,280 feet (1,000 m), -2,461 feet (750 m)

Day 3: Alpiggen - Eiger Trail - Kleine Scheidegg - Mürren

Follow the famous Eiger trail, starting at the foot of Eiger mountain's north face, a scenic high point of the week. Ascend up to Kleine Scheidegg, the starting station for the Jungfraujoch saddle train connection between Jungfrau and Mönch, then follow a long descent into Wengernalp down to the waterfalls of the Lauterbrunnen valley. Give your legs a rest with a cable car ride from the valley up to the suspended village of Mürren.

Hiking time: 6.5 hours

Elevation: +2,625 feet (800 m), -4,921 feet (1,500 m)

Day 4: Mürren - Sefinenfurke - Griesalp - Bundalp

Hike through two hanging valleys over classical Swiss "cheese factory" pasture, named for the abundance of dairy farms on similar terrain, to reach the stunning views from the Sefina Pass. A long descent through rocks, pasture, and forest brings you to the charming hamlet of Griesalp. After you've scoped out the town, go up just a bit further to reach Bundalp in preparation for tomorrow's pass climb and spend the night on a Swiss cheese farm.

Hiking time: 7.5 hours

Elevation: +4,757 feet (1,450 m), -4,757 feet (1,450 m)

Day 5: Bundalp - Hörturli - Oechinensee - Kandersteg

Today's ascent is a  steep one, but it's one of the most scenic in the Oberland Valley. You'll be rewarded with epic views as you make your way to the Hörturli Pass, adjacent to Blüemlisalp glacier. Enjoy the vistas during a well-deserved break at the top, followed by a mountainous descent to the Alpine lake of Oeschinensee. Continue down to the village of Kandersteg, where you'll spend the night.

Hiking time: 6 hours

Elevation: +3,280 feet (1,000 m), -5,450 feet (1,600 m)

Day 6: Kandersteg - Schwarzgrätli - Engstligenalp

Take a cable car up to Sunnbüel, where your hike begins. You'll have an easy start across a former glacial lakebed, now turned flat Alpine pasture, as you make your way to the Schwarenbach hut. Ascend the wild Schwarzgrätli mountain ridge up to a rounded ridge above Engstligenalp. You'll spend the night above Engstligenalp, considered one of the nicest peaks in Switzerland.

Day 7: Engstligenalp - Lenk - Interlaken

Make your last ascent of the week up Ammertepass, before finally descending to the foot of the impressive Wildstrübel, finishing your hike in Lenk. From the trailhead, you'll transfer back to Interlaken to complete your incredible weeklong loop.

Elevation: +1,640 feet (500 m), -1,300 feet (400 m)