The trip

LEVEL ****

Elevation: +/- 1000 m approximately per day.
Walking time: 6 to 7 hours per day.
Type of trek: mountain route on well-marked paths. A few airy sections that do not present any particular technical difficulty. The high cols are equipped with wooden steps. The difference in altitude and the length of some of the stages require a good level of mountain walking experience.

Good physical preparation is essential if you are to enjoy these beautiful ‘haute randonnée’ routes.
Practise an endurance sport regularly, such as walking, running or cycling, 6 to 8 hours a week. Your physical preparation will make your stay easier and help you to appreciate it even more.
Please find the description of the levels by clicking here: levels of difficulty

ACCOMMODATION

CLASSIC: 6 nights in a dormitory in a gîte or refuge. All accommodations have hot showers.
CONFORT (optional): 5 nights in a room for 2 people, subject to availability. Additional charge of €195 per person.   

GUIDING

Between 6 and 12 participants supervised by a qualified professional (mountain leader).

It is usual to tip your guide at the end of the trek, according to your satisfaction. It is not mandatory but, it is very appreciated.

MEALS

Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation.
Picnics are included and are carefully prepared daily by your mountain leader, consisting in a variety of salads and local products. For the nights without luggage, the picnics are ordered in the refuges.

Please inform us about your food allergies and special diets at the time of booking.
We do our best to accommodate special diets (gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.). However, we encourage you to bring some additional products for your own picnics.

MAPS

Vanderkarte 1/50000^ème Berner Oberlans 5004
Et Gstaad – Adelboden 1/50000^ème 5009

Practical information

ACCESS TO THE STARTING POINT

Meeting point Sunday in Frutigen at 9.30. Bus transfer to Adelboden, start of the hike.
Pack for the first night without luggage.

BY TRAIN
Outward journey: Paris - Bern - Spiez- Frutigen, then bus to Adelboden.
Return: Grindelwald - Interlaken - Bern - Paris
Visit the Swiss Railways website to buy tickets

BY CAR
Refer to the itinerary on www.viamichelin.fr
From the north: access by Basel, Lucerne
From the west: access by Frasnes, Neuchâtel, Bern
From the south: access by Geneva, Lausanne, Bern.
Attention : please note the mandatory sticker on Swiss motorways, to be bought at the border and at petrol stations.

Where to park your car?

All car parks in Frutigen are chargeable. Weekly season tickets are available for 25CHF.
In Grindelwald, Grindelwald Terminal car park: approx. CHF 245 per week or Wilderswil Park and Ride: approx. CHF 35 (30-minute train transfer from Grindelwald).
Pay car parks in Thun and Adelboden, approx. 80CHF per week.

The tour ends in Grindelwald at around 4pm on Saturday.

RETURN TO THE STARTING POINT

Return from Grindelwald to Frutigen: train from Grindelwald to Frutigen via Interlaken (1h40 journey).
Alternatively, if you're travelling by car, you can park in Thun on the outward journey, then take the train to Frutigen (very regular, 1 hour journey). On the return journey, take the train from Grindelwald to Thun (very regular, 1 hour journey).
A group return journey by taxi can be organised (to be arranged with your guide during the week).

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER STAY

Frutigen : Hôtel Landhaus Adler, Hôtel National 

Grindelwald : Hôtel First Lodge -  Grindelwald Youth Hostel - 
Office National Suisse du Tourisme : +41 800 100 200 29

INSURANCE

In accordance with regulations, we are covered by Professional Liability Insurance. Under no circumstances, we can replace your personal civil liability.
The repatriation insurance EUROP ASSISTANCE that we offer is dedicated to French speaking people living in Europe. If it is not your case, we advise you to subscribe to another travel insurance which will cover you in case of injury and repatriation during your trek.

If you chose to take out repatriation insurance with EUROP ASSISTANCE whom we propose, Altitude Mont Blanc will only serve as an intermediary between the client and the insurer. We cannot influence either party. We adhere to strict conditions of sale. You are responsible for compliance with the reporting procedures of any incident.

Before making any decision, contact EUROP ASSISTANCE.

TO CONTACT US

If you are late, please contact the agency: +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & luggage

EQUIPMENT LIST

Clothing

• Walking trousers
• Shorts (Bikini/swimsuit, just in case!)
• Breathable or merino wool t-shirts
• Breathable or merino wool leggings
• Fleece or jumper
• Wind stopper or Goretex jacket
• Waterproof poncho + gaiters or Goretex trousers + waterproof rucksack cover
• Pair of gloves and a warm hat
• Sun hat or baseball cap
• Walking socks (1 pair per day)
• Sturdy walking boots with a good sole, already broken in
• 1 change of clothes for the evening
• A pair of comfortable shoes for the evening

Other Equipment

• Toilet bag
• Quick drying towel
• Sunglasses and sun cream
• Water bottle or Camelback (1.5 litre minimum)
• Knife, fork and spoon
• Plastic lunch box/plate for your picnic lunches
• Plastic cup for coffee
• Small First Aid kit (antihistamine, ibuprofen, Compeed type blister pads...)
• Survival blanket
• Head torch or hand torch
• Sleeping bag liner sheet and pillowcase (blankets provided at accommodation)
• Two adjustable walking poles (highly recommended)
• Identity card or passport

BACKPACK

Bring a comfortable backpack of approximately 40 litres for your personal belongings for the day (warm clothes, waterproofs, water, plate and cutlery for your picnic, sunscreen and your identity documents) and a little room for a change of clothes and toiletries (1 to 2 kg max.) for the night without luggage.

LUGGAGE TRANSPORT

You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag, with all your possessions inside, of 10kg maximum per person. Your baggage will be transported daily between accommodation except days 1, 4 and 6 by our logistics vehicle where access is not always easy.
Luggage which is too big and too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers, please think of their backs! 

YOUR BACKPACK FOR THE NIGHTS WITHOUT YOUR BAGGAGE

For the nights 1, 2 and 6, your lugggae won't be dropped off at your accommodation (you'll find it the following night, generally). Here are the things to bring with you (around 2 kg is enough!):

• small toiletries bag
• sleeping bag liner sheet
• change of clothes for the next day (just the bare essentials!) and comfortable clothes/shoes for the evening.