Self-Launched Bernese Highlands West: Mürren to Gstaad
8 days · Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Exodus charges £2,110
No-markup version: ~£820 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Follow the same spectacular high-alpine route from Mürren to Gstaad — crossing Sefinenfurgge, Hohturli and Trutlisbergpass — entirely independently. All trails are waymarked with Switzerland's excellent yellow signage system, so you won't need a guided service. Swap the operator's hotel-to-hotel package for independently booked guesthouses and mountain inns, arrange your own luggage transfers via a local taxi or light-luggage service, and navigate using the free SchweizMobil or Outdooractive app. Switzerland is expensive, but cutting out the operator margin brings this well under the packaged price. All costs are approximate estimates per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Mürren
Mürren
Make your way to Mürren — a car-free village perched above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. From Interlaken Ost take the train to Lauterbrunnen (~£6), then the cable car to Grütschalp and the narrow-gauge train to Mürren (~£12 combined). Check in to your guesthouse, grab dinner in the village and get your bearings. Download SchweizMobil Route 73 (Via Alpina) or Outdooractive for offline trail navigation — both are free. Consider arriving a day early to acclimatise to the altitude as Exodus themselves suggest.
🚌Train Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen (~£6), then cable car + narrow-gauge train to Mürren (~£12). If travelling with a Swiss Travel Pass, both sections are covered.
🛏Guesthouse Belmont or Pension Sonnenberg, Mürren — budget rooms from ~£50pp/night. Book direct or via Booking.com.
- →Arrive and check in to guesthouse
- →Download SchweizMobil or Outdooractive app for offline trail navigation (free)
- →Evening stroll through the car-free village
- →Optional: research the Schilthorn revolving restaurant visit (Piz Gloria) — bookable direct at schilthorn.ch, approx. £30 cable car return
Mürren to Griesalp (18 km)
Mürren → Griesalp
An exhilarating and challenging day crossing the Sefinenfurgge pass (2,612 m). Begin with a steady ascent from Mürren to Rotstockhutte — a great spot for a packed lunch or a hot drink. The final climb to Sefinenfurgge is steep; trekking poles are recommended. Descend on a scree section with wooden steps into the remote, beautiful Kiental valley and the hamlet of Griesalp. Trails are clearly waymarked throughout. Arrange luggage transfer in advance: contact Griesalp's Hotel Berghaus directly or use a local taxi to transfer bags (approx. £15–20 per bag one-way).
🚌Self-propelled hiking. Luggage transfer by local taxi or arrangement via hotel (~£15–20 per bag).
🛏Hotel Berghaus Griesalp — a classic Swiss mountain inn. Rooms from ~£55pp including breakfast. Book direct at griesalp.ch.
- →Hike Mürren → Rotstockhutte → Sefinenfurgge pass → Griesalp (18 km, ~7–8 hrs)
- →Lunch break at Rotstockhutte mountain restaurant
- →Photograph the dramatic Blüemlisalp massif from the pass
Griesalp to Kandersteg (17 km)
Griesalp → Kandersteg
One of the most spectacular days on the route: an almost unrelenting ascent to the Hohturli pass (2,778 m), one of the highest points on the Swiss Via Alpina. The views across glaciers and snowfields are jaw-dropping. The long descent passes close to several glaciers and arrives at the shimmering turquoise Lake Oeschinensee. From the lake, take the Oeschinensee cable car down to Kandersteg (approx. £8 one-way) to skip the final steep descent. A triumphant, unforgettable day.
🚌Self-propelled hiking. Oeschinensee cable car to Kandersteg (~£8 pp).
🛏Hotel Blümlisalp or Hotel Victoria, Kandersteg — 3-star equivalents from ~£55pp B&B. Book via Booking.com or direct.
- →Hike Griesalp → Hohturli pass → Lake Oeschinensee → Kandersteg (17 km, ~8 hrs)
- →Photograph glaciers and Oeschinensee's turquoise waters
- →Oeschinensee cable car descent to Kandersteg (~£8 one-way, bookable on the day)
Rest Day in Kandersteg
Kandersteg
A well-earned rest day in the gorgeous Kander valley, famous for its extraordinary alpine flora. Options include a leisurely wander around the village, revisiting Lake Oeschinensee without a pack, or exploring the dramatic Gasterntal valley on foot (easy 2-hour walk). The village has cosy cafés and a swimming pool. Kandersteg is also a stop on the Swiss rail network — easily accessible for onward connections if needed.
🚌On foot within the village. Optional cable car ~£14 return.
🛏Hotel Blümlisalp or Hotel Victoria, Kandersteg (2nd night, ~£55pp B&B).
- →Leisurely stroll around Kandersteg village
- →Optional return visit to Lake Oeschinensee (cable car ~£14 return)
- →Walk into the Gasterntal gorge (free, 2 hrs easy)
- →Visit the local alpine flower meadows
- →Rest, eat and recover for the next stage
Kandersteg to Adelboden (17 km)
Kandersteg → Adelboden
A slightly more forgiving day than the previous high passes, but still a full alpine hike. Take the Allmenalp cable car (~£10 one-way) from Kandersteg to gain altitude quickly, then walk the ridge towards the Bunderchrinde pass. A long descent leads into the valley before a final climb up to the charming, traditional village of Adelboden. The village has excellent restaurants and a lively après-hike atmosphere.
🚌Allmenalp cable car (~£10 one-way). Self-propelled hiking thereafter.
🛏Hotel Adler or Pension Bären, Adelboden — from ~£50pp B&B. Book via Booking.com.
- →Allmenalp cable car from Kandersteg (~£10 one-way)
- →Hike Allmenalp → Bunderchrinde → Adelboden (17 km, ~6–7 hrs)
- →Explore Adelboden village in the evening
Adelboden to Lenk (14 km)
Adelboden → Lenk
A gentler day with less dramatic but nonetheless beautiful scenery — woodland streams, well-groomed alpine pastures and classic Swiss pastoral landscapes. The route crosses from one valley to another via easy mountain paths, with snow-capped peaks still visible. A great day for birdwatching and wildflower spotting. Lenk is a quiet, authentic Swiss village with good facilities and a relaxed atmosphere.
🚌Self-propelled hiking throughout. If weather turns, a PostBus connects Adelboden to Lenk via Frutigen (~£8).
🛏Hotel Kreuz or Hotel Simmenhof, Lenk — from ~£50pp B&B. Book via Booking.com or direct.
- →Hike Adelboden → Lenk via alpine meadows and forest paths (14 km, ~5–6 hrs)
- →Wildflower and birdwatching along the valley streams
- →Evening dinner in Lenk village
Lenk to Gstaad (22 km)
Lenk → Gstaad
The grand finale: climb out of Lenk above the Wallbach valley towards the Trutlisbergpass, with stunning views opening up behind you. Cross the pass into the Lauenen valley for a scenic gorge walk before descending to Gstaad. If legs are tired, catch the PostBus from Lauenen to Gstaad (~£4, runs regularly in summer). Despite Gstaad's glamorous reputation, budget-friendly guesthouses exist in the surrounding villages — consider staying in Saanen (a 10-minute walk) for noticeably better value.
🚌Self-propelled hiking. Optional PostBus Lauenen → Gstaad (~£4).
🛏Hotel Alphorn Gstaad or budget guesthouses in nearby Saanen — from ~£55pp B&B. Book via Booking.com.
- →Hike Lenk → Trutlisbergpass → Lauenen → Gstaad (22 km, ~7–8 hrs)
- →Optional: PostBus from Lauenen to Gstaad if needed (~£4)
- →Short gorge walk near Lauenen
- →Celebratory dinner in Gstaad or Saanen
Depart Gstaad
Gstaad
After a final Swiss breakfast, depart Gstaad by train. The MOB Golden Pass panoramic train runs from Gstaad to Montreux (~£25, 2 hrs) — a spectacular finale through the Swiss Alps and down to Lake Geneva. Alternatively, connect via Zweisimmen to Interlaken or Bern. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, panoramic trains are included.
🚌MOB Golden Pass train Gstaad → Montreux (~£25) or train to Zweisimmen → Interlaken/Bern (~£20). Book via sbb.ch.
- →Final breakfast in Gstaad
- →Board MOB Golden Pass train to Montreux or connect to Interlaken/Bern
- →Optional upgrade to panoramic car on Golden Pass (~£10 reservation fee)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£820 | £2,110 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,290 per person (61%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£820
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Bernese Highlands West: Mürren to Gstaad cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £820 per person for 8 days in Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £2,110 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £820 — a saving of roughly £1,290 (61%) per person.
How long is the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Bernese Oberland, Switzerland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, adventure, slow-travel trip through Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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