Bernese Oberland - Switzerland

Finsteraarhorn bernese oberland
Finsteraarhorn, Bernese Oberland

Location - Bernese Oberland

The Bernese Oberland is one of the highest areas for ski touring in Europe, with some of the biggest glaciers and terrain. Late spring is the perfect time to visit, when the weather is stable to reach summits and you can enjoy a mix of powder or corn snow conditions. This trip starts by catching the train through the Eiger to start skiing from the Jungfraujoch at an elevation of 3463m.

Konkordia Hut
Stairs to the Konkordia Hut

Prerequisites

  • Can perform jump turns on 40 degree slopes
  • Can perform uphill and downhill kick-turns
  • Experience using boot crampons
  • Experience using ski crampons
  • Experience using ice axe

What to expect...

This trip is designed with a low ratio of guests to allow us to climb and ski some technical peaks including the Finsteraarhorn, which requires a rope, crampons etc. Depending on conditions we may short-rope or belay steep sections of snow/ice and exposed rock ridges.

Äbeni Flue Bernese Oberland
Äbeni Flue, Bernese Oberland

Itinerary - Bernese Oberland

April 26th - May 2nd 2025

Day 0 (April 25th) - Meet at the Hotel Derby in Grindewald for dinner.

Day 1: Catch the train from Grindewald through the Eiger to the Jungfraujoch (3463m). A short skin and descent followed by climbing the ski summit of Trugberg, then ski down to the base of the stairs to the Konkordia Hut.
Day 2: Climb and ski Pk 3666 and continue to the Hollandia Hut.
Day 3: Traverse Äbeni Flue and ski back to the Konkordia Hut.
Day 4: Traverse the Grosses Fiescherhorn and ski to the Finsteraarhorn Hut.
Day 5: Climb and ski the Finsteraarhorn (sleep at the Finsteraarhorn Hut).
Day 6: Climb and ski the Agassizhorn, Wysnollen or Grosses Wannenhorn (sleep at Finsteraarhorn Hut).
Day 7: Climb the Vorderes Galmihorn and ski down to Reckingen. Catch the train to your next destination.

Please note: If weather and conditions are not suitable for the above itinerary, we may need to make alternate plans.

 

Wyssnollen Bernese Oberland
Wyssnollen, Bernese Oberland
Aletschorn Bernese Oberland
Aletschorn, Bernese Oberland

Guides - Bernese Oberland

Alex Geary  will be the guide for this trip, with an additional guide depending on trip numbers.

Getting to Grindewald

Grindewald is easily accessible by train. Zurich is the closest major airport, but Geneva is not much further. The Hotel Derby is 10m from the train station in Grindewald, so you don't have to lug your bags very far.

When we catch the train to the Jungfraujoch to start our ski tour, you can send your excess baggage ahead via train to your destination of choice in Switzerland. When we exit the mountains (likely via Reckingen), you can catch the train to your final destination and pick up your bags there.

Bernese Oberland Dates

April 28th - May 4th 2025

2:1 ratio

$4,400 CAD (no tax)

Please enquire for 2026

Please make sure you have read through the booking conditions before making a payment. This includes completing the Waiver and Registration Form.

E-Transfer to [email protected] is the preferred method of payment. Please contact us for alternate payment methods.

Registration Form

Included

  • Half Board for 6 nights at Mountain Huts starting Day 1 (Bed, Breakfast, Dinner)
  • IFMGA Guide for 7 days
  • Group gear including ropes
  • One-way train ticket from Grindewald to the Jungfraujoch
  • Marschtee (1L of hot drink in thermos for the ski day) in Mountain huts

Excluded

  • Travel/Medical/Rescue Insurance
  • Accommodation and meals at Hotel Derby (Grindewald)
  • Travel from exit at Reckingen
  • Lunches and snacks
  • Drinks including bottled water
  • Personal ski gear including ice axe and boot crampons
  • Extra expenses if itinerary changes
  • Bag transfer to final destination on Swiss trains (approximately 12 Swiss Francs)

Gletscherjoch Bernese Oberland switzerland
Gletscherjoch, Bernese Oberland
hiking out
The final stretch down to Reckingen
Reckingen
Reckingen

Equipment List - Bernese Oberland

  • Shovel
  • Probe
  • Transceiver (3 antenna) and spare batteries
  • Ski touring skis or splitboard (no ski bags)
  • Skins
  • Personal repair kit specific to your equipment
  • Skin wax (or a candle)
  • Ski touring boots/plastic snowboarding boots
  • Boot crampons (compatible with your boots)
  • Ski Crampons
  • Ice axe (eg. Petzl Gully)
  • Helmet
  • Ski poles
  • Headlamp and spare batteries
  • Sunglasses
  • Goggles and/or spare sunglasses
  • Personal first aid supplies
  • Toque
  • Sun hat
  • Suncream
  • Lip balm with UV protection
  • 2 x 1L wide mouth water bottles or Thermos (NO bladders due to freezing, leaking and filling issues)
  • Gore-tex (or equivalent) jacket
  • Gore-tex (or equivalent) pants
  • Puffy jacket or two depending on thickness
  • Warm layers for upper and lower body adequate for below freezing temperatures and wind
  • Thick gloves
  • Thin gloves
  • Spare gloves
  • Harness
  • 3 locking carabiners
  • 2 non-locking carabiners
  • 240cm sewn sling or equivalent
  • 30-40L backpack
  • Sleeping sheet (silk is lightest)