Small Group walking tour Switzerland

Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 06:19 PM
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Small Group walking tour Switzerland

I'm counting down to Italy in June and already thinking about next year
Last year I had hoped to do a trip Switzerland in Sept but ended up going to Paris via Zurich in Dec instead.
This year I'm going to Italy for 4 weeks in June and have gathered loads of great advice from here and TA.
Last year I got some great advice re the Switzerland trip which I will take into account http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...lan-please.cfm

But I was wondering if anyone can recommend any small group walking tours around Berner Oberland? I'm a solo traveller and it would be nice to have some company.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 07:27 AM
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While company can be nice, it can also be limiting. You have no control over who is in the group and no control over the speed at which they walk.

There is certainly no need for a group to hike in Switzerland. It has what are possibly the best signposted hiking trails in the world. Practically impossible to get lost or not know how far to your next planned stop etc.

I think you will find that most group hikes are multi-day tours which doesn't look like it would fit your plan at all.

I suggest you consider a hike from Grindelwald to Faulhorn and staying overnight at the Hotel Faulhorn where you will find yourself plenty of company to talk with and perhaps arrange to walk back down with the next day.
http://www.berghotel-faulhorn.ch/index_eng.html
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 09:58 AM
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I was faced with the same dilemma in planning for a trek with my teenage son through the BO this summer. I settled on planning my own trek that fit my needs that will happen in late July. We practice ultra light weight backpacking methods and will be staying at campgrounds in each stop at a fraction of the cost of hotel stays. Planning has been half the fun and was extremely easy to do. However, this type of trek is definitely not for everyone!

I assume by 'walking tours' you mean multi-day, stay-in-a different-hotel-each-night type of trip.

I understand as a solo traveler you would want to have a preplanned small group experience even though you will pay more for it. Here are some of the group trip offerings I used as resources.

https://www.alpenwild.com/
http://www.alpinehikers.com/switzerland_jungfrau.html
http://www.via-alpina.org/

If my trip goes as planned this summer I am seriously thinking of going back next summer with an open invitation to anyone with the same ultra-light-weight backpacking/trekking/camping interest (a very small sub-section of travelers). Not offering my services as a professional guide mind you, but as an experienced outdoorsman who wants to share his love of active travel and absolute love of the Swiss Alps!

Best of luck in your planning decision making. Those incredible mountains will take-up a special place in your heart!

Toucan
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Old Apr 26th, 2014, 01:28 AM
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Thank you for your response. I like the look of this tour but have never heard of the company. Has anyone used this tour group before?
http://www.hfholidays.co.uk/holidays/bernese-oberland
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Old Apr 26th, 2014, 05:46 AM
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I haven't used them myself, but I know people who have and were very happy. They're a British company, so I suspect you'd find a majority of the travellers were from the UK, if that would be an issue for you.
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Old Apr 26th, 2014, 07:29 AM
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You linked your previous plan which does not include anywhere you would spend more than a day hiking. Now you are talking about week long group hikes?

You asked about the BO and now you are talking about Adelboden? That area is not what most people mean by the BO.

You seem to be all over the place in terms of knowing what you want to do.
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Old Apr 26th, 2014, 09:17 PM
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Hi Ozgirl07,

I just thought I'd add another option.

There are many hotels around Gstaad (western edge of the Berner Oberland) that offer guided group hikes. You can stay there for a week and then take hikes with your group. I'm certain that many of the people in the group will speak English -- I've met folks in those hiking groups and conversed with them at the hotel. You can even choose to skip the hike one day and go do something else. Oh, and you can choose to have challenging hikes (around 5h) or easy and fun hikes (2-3h).

Unfortunately, I haven't found any hotel that has such offerings in the Jungfrau area.

If you'd like some information/hotels that do this, just ask!

Have fun as you plan!

s
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Old Apr 26th, 2014, 09:49 PM
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@ nonconformist - thanks. I have nothing against Brits

@ dulciusexasperis - I have taken up walking/hiking lately. I've joined a local group and we go on walks most weekends. When I was initially talking about going to switzerland I was a lazy little coach potato Definitely would like to find something like Adelboden walk in BO area. The length, level and budget suit me.

@ Swandav - Gstaad wasn't a destination I had thought of but now it's a possibility. I wonder if there are day walks from hotels in lauterbrunnen... I might email a couple and check. Thanks for the idea!
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Old Apr 27th, 2014, 08:48 AM
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Ah, well that makes some sense at least Ozgirl07. Perhaps you should have left out the link to your old thread and just said you planned to start your planning anew based on that change.

Again, I see the obvious advantage you see to being in a group. Personally, I wouldn't want it and see no need for it given how easily you can hike and meet people doing the same in Switzerland. But it's your dime and your time.

While I am familiar with Adelboden and Gstaad, I would suggest that you look for a group hiking package that covers the Jungfrau region in part at least.

Here is one for example: http://www.worldexpeditions.com/ca/i...rips&id=275751

Note that it uses mountain refuges and hostels and is a high route of moderate difficulty. This is a true Swiss mountain hiking experience.

Here is another that is not van supported which means you carry all you need for the entire time of the trip. It also doesn't include lunches which the other does. It does stay in hotels rather than mountain refuges. It starts near Gstaad and ends at the Jungfrau.
http://www.distantjourneys.com/desti...rner-oberland/

This one has some 2 night stays rather than moving hotels every day. http://www.alpinehikers.com/switzerl...ighlights.html

My point is there are signifigant differences to be considered. Nor are any of them cheap. The same trips can be done for half as much if you do them on your own.
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Old Apr 27th, 2014, 08:51 AM
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I should note when looking at the above group offerings I did not see any one centre, day hike from hotel each day kind of offerings at all like swandav describes.

Maybe swandav can find and link some.
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Old Apr 27th, 2014, 09:59 PM
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Hi,

Sure! As I said, these are sponsored by individual hotels.

Here's one springtime offer from the Bernerhof in Gstaad:

http://www.bernerhof-gstaad.ch/angeb...l#.U13qg1fzl1o

Includes 6 overnights, 5 guided hikes, and picnics for 880 chf. That page is only in German, but here is their downloadable brochure for hiking in 2014, in English:

http://issuu.com/bernerhofgstaad/doc...lwochen_2014_e

Here are the offerings from the Gstaaderhof:

http://www.gstaaderhof.ch/PDF_upload...erwochenEN.pdf

This brochure is only in German, but you may be able to see that the weeks offer either "Light" (2-3 hours), "Traditional" (3h), or "A bit more" (4h) hiking. Depending on the season and the difficulty, the cost is 954 chf or 1038 chf.

The Posthotel Rössli used to offer hiking weeks, but now they only offer suggestions -- and only one guided hike per week.

If you want to search seriously, I would send an email to the Tourist Information office in Gstaad and ask which hotels offer guided hikes.

Hope you find something!

s
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Old Apr 28th, 2014, 08:11 AM
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The hotel page is available in English swandav2000. Click on top left to change language.
http://bernerhof-gstaad.ghix.com/index_en.html

The bernerhof sounds like a good deal indeed. In all my visits to Switzerland I have never come across this kind of thing. It looks like it may be just what the OP is looking for.

I wonder if any hotels in the Jungfrau region offer something similar? I've hiked in the area of Gstaad before and while it has much to offer, the Jungfrau as I am sure you will agree is still the quintissential first time to Switzerland location.

If nothing like this is available in the Jungfrau region though I would not hesitate to say this would be a good deal Ozgirl07 and very good value for money.
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Old Apr 28th, 2014, 09:04 AM
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Yes, I saw the button to change language, and I did change it to English -- but I couldn't find the same package deals on the English pages.

Yes, I thought it was perfect, too, just in the wrong area. I only found it because I happened to be talking to people who were on the Wanderwochen at the Gstaaderhof.

Rather than emailing each individual hotel, it might be better to email the tourist office to see if there are any hotels that offer it.

I personally like the Jungfrau area -- but I find the landscape around Gstaad much more attractive. I love the lower, green rolling hills. But, yes, for the first-time visitors, many think the Jungfrau is a must.

s
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Old Apr 28th, 2014, 11:27 PM
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Thank you both for the additional information. I found this link and have contacted them. http://mylauterbrunnen.com/en/Holidays/SUMMER/Hiking

Hope to hear back from them....
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