Self-Launched Bernese Highlights East: Engelberg to Mürren Walking Trek

Make your own way to Engelberg by train — it's easily reached from Zurich or Lucerne via direct regional rail (~£15–20 from Lucerne, ~40 min). The village sits at around 1,000m elevation, so it's worth arriving a day early if you can to acclimatise. Check into your guesthouse, explore the town and the impressive Benedictine monastery, and grab dinner at one of the valley restaurants. Pick up trail snacks at the Coop or Migros supermarket for the days ahead.

🚌Train: Zurich HB → Lucerne → Engelberg, total ~£20–30 second class with Swiss Travel Pass discount

🛏Spannort Hostel or Guesthouse Edelweiss, Engelberg (~£40–55/night budget double or dorm)

• →Arrive by train from Lucerne or Zurich (~£15–20 per person)
• →Explore Engelberg village and the Benedictine monastery (free entry)
• →Acclimatise with a short stroll along the valley floor
• →Stock up on trail snacks at local supermarket (Coop or Migros)

Today's route takes you past the jewel-coloured Trübsee Lake, over the Joch Pass (2,207m) and down to the remote mountain inn at Engstlenalp. It's a demanding day with significant ascent (~1,100m up, ~600m down), but you can reduce the climb by taking the Engelberg–Trübsee gondola (~£15 one way) and the Trübsee–Jochpass chairlift (~£10) if your legs need sparing. The descent to Engstlenalp passes the beautiful Engstlensee lake, with alpine wildflowers and marmots for company. Dinner is included at the mountain inn — be sure to pre-book your room well in advance as this is a remote hut.

🚌Walk or use Engelberg cable car to Trübsee (~£15 one way) to ease the climb

🛏Hotel Engstlenalp (mountain inn, half-board) — book well in advance. ~£80–100/night half board

• →Hike Engelberg → Trübsee Lake → Joch Pass → Engstlenalp (~12 km)
• →Optional: Engelberg–Trübsee gondola to reduce ascent (~£15)
• →Spot marmots and alpine wildflowers along the Engstlensee shore
• →Enjoy dinner at Hotel Engstlenalp (included in room rate)

The longest walking day of the trip, with spectacular ridge walking past Tannensee lake and over Balmeregghorn with panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The descent to Meiringen is long (around 1,500m drop); you can save your knees by taking the cable car from Planplatten down into the valley (~£15). Meiringen is famous as the inspiration for the Sherlock Holmes stories and the home of the meringue — pop into the local Sherlock Holmes Museum (£5). Book a mid-range hotel in town for two nights.

🚌Optional: Planplatten cable car descent (~£15). Bus or walk into Meiringen town centre.

🛏Parkhotel du Sauvage or Hotel Alpbach, Meiringen (~£55–75/night)

• →Hike Engstlenalp → Tannensee → Balmeregghorn → Meiringen (22 km / 13.7 miles)
• →Optional cable car descent from Planplatten (~£15) to ease knee strain
• →Visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum in Meiringen (~£5)
• →Explore Meiringen town and try a local meringue (the dessert was invented here!)

A well-earned rest day in the Haslital valley. The options are excellent: visit Ballenberg Open-Air Museum (~£20), one of Switzerland's finest heritage sites with authentic relocated farmhouses and craftspeople from across the country. Or take the steam railway up to the Brienzer Rothorn for breathtaking views (~£35 return). The Aareschlucht gorge is a dramatic 1.4km slot canyon walk right on the edge of town (~£8). Alternatively, catch a boat on Lake Brienz (~£20) or simply rest your legs in a café.

🚌Local PostBus or walk to attractions; Lake Brienz boat from Brienz (~£5 train to Brienz)

🛏Parkhotel du Sauvage or Hotel Alpbach, Meiringen (second night, ~£55–75/night)

• →Ballenberg Open-Air Museum (~£20 entry)
• →Steam railway to Brienzer Rothorn summit (~£35 return)
• →Walk through the Aareschlucht gorge (~£8 entry)
• →Optional: lake cruise on Lake Brienz (~£15–20)
• →Rest, recover and enjoy a meal in Meiringen

A shorter but still energetic day. Cross the River Aare and climb past the famous Reichenbach Falls — where Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes met his fictional end battling Professor Moriarty. You can take the historic funicular up part of the way (~£8 return). Continue through the spectacular Rosenlaui valley, with its turquoise glacier stream and dramatic rock faces, to the remote Schwarzwaldalp hamlet. Chalet Schwarzwaldalp is a traditional mountain inn — book half-board, as there are no other dining options here.

🚌Walk from Meiringen; optional Reichenbach funicular (~£8). PostBus also runs to Schwarzwaldalp if needed.

🛏Chalet Schwarzwaldalp (mountain inn, half-board essential — pre-book) ~£85–100/night half board

• →Hike Meiringen → Reichenbach Falls → Rosenlaui Valley → Schwarzwaldalp (11 km / 6.8 miles)
• →Optional Reichenbach Falls funicular (~£8 one way)
• →Walk through the stunning Rosenlaui glacial valley
• →Dinner at Chalet Schwarzwaldalp (included in half-board rate)

A superb day with two route options. The high-level route climbs to the First cable car station (2,168m) — you can then hike or take the gondola down to Grindelwald (~£20). This route offers spectacular views across the Bernese Oberland. The alternative is a steady hike up to the Grosse Scheidegg pass (1,962m), a classic alpine crossing with mountain views on both sides, then descend into Grindelwald. Both routes are well-waymarked. Grindelwald is a lively resort town with good restaurants and a hostel option — book ahead in peak season.

🚌Walk via Grosse Scheidegg; or First gondola to Grindelwald (~£20 one way). PostBus also runs Schwarzwaldalp–Grindelwald.

🛏Grindelwald Hostel or Hotel Tschuggen (~£45–65/night budget option)

• →Hike via Grosse Scheidegg pass (recommended) or high-level route via First (13 km / 8.1 miles)
• →Optional First gondola descent to Grindelwald (~£20)
• →Arrive in Grindelwald with first views of the Eiger North Face
• →Explore Grindelwald village — good supermarkets and restaurants

The most dramatic day of the walk, with two iconic route options. The Eiger Trail (blue-white waymarks) hugs the base of the North Face itself — a breathtaking and slightly exposed route. Alternatively, the Via Alpina over Kleine Scheidegg (2,061m) gives unmatched panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Both routes descend to Wengen or Lauterbrunnen, from where you take the train and cable car up to car-free Mürren. The mountain railway Grindelwald–Kleine Scheidegg–Wengen is a classic Swiss experience (~£20–25 one way). Mürren is a magical car-free village perched on a clifftop — enjoy your final evening here.

🚌Train Grindelwald → Kleine Scheidegg → Wengen → Lauterbrunnen (~£20–25); cable car to Mürren (~£10)

🛏Hotel Alpenruh or Eiger Guesthouse, Mürren (~£55–80/night)

• →Hike the Eiger Trail or Via Alpina over Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen/Lauterbrunnen (24 km / 14.9 miles)
• →Take mountain railway Kleine Scheidegg → Wengen → Lauterbrunnen (~£20–25)
• →Cable car and train up to car-free Mürren from Lauterbrunnen (~£10)
• →Celebrate your final evening in Mürren with dinner and views of the Eiger

After a final breakfast with views of the Bernese Alps, descend from Mürren by cable car and train via Lauterbrunnen. From Interlaken Ost you have direct trains to Zurich (2 hrs, ~£30–40) or Bern (1 hr, ~£15) for onward flights or travel. If time allows, explore Interlaken briefly before departing. The Swiss Travel Pass (available from £180 for 3 days, or £260 for 8 days) can make significant savings on all train, bus and cable car travel throughout this itinerary.

🚌Cable car Mürren → Lauterbrunnen (~£10); train to Interlaken Ost then Zurich/Bern (~£15–40)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final breakfast in Mürren
• →Descend by cable car to Lauterbrunnen, then train to Interlaken Ost
• →Train Interlaken Ost → Zurich HB (~£30–40, ~2 hrs) or Bern (~£15, ~1 hr)
• →Optional: brief stop in Interlaken before departing