Snowshoe Tour of Bernese Oberland Summits
This 5-day snowshoe tour is for advanced snowshoers who are not afraid of a challenge. The tour begins in Lenk and includes summits of the Wildhorn, Schnidehorn, Wildstrubel and the Rote Totz before ending in Kandersteg. Four summits and three mountain huts over five days… this is a true winter adventure for fit and keen snowshoe hikers.
Tour Details
- Fitness Level: Sporty
- Experience Level: Advanced Beginner
You have prior snowshoeing experience and are prepared for moderately steep to steep terrain and easy glacier passages.
Group Tour (4-6 participants)
| CHF 1450 per person | |
Private Tour
| 1 person | CHF 4390 |
| 2 people | CHF 2490 per person |
| 3 people | CHF 1790 per person |
| 4-6 people | CHF 1450 per person |
To book a private tour please contact us:
| Day | Elevation + | Elevation - | Kilometers | Walking time |
| 1 | 750m | 50m | 5km | approx. 3-4 hours |
| 2 | 950m | 950m | 8km | approx. 6 hours |
| 3 | 1050m | 550m | 11km | approx. 6-7 hours |
| 4 | 700m | 950m | 11km | approx. 6-7 hours |
| 5 | 450m | 1050m | 11km | approx. 5-6 hours |
Day 1: Ascent to the Wildhorn hut 2302m
You will meet your guide in Lenk and then take the public bus to Iffigenalp. From there, you will strap on your snowshoes and begin your hike, marching along the Iffigbach and up to Iffigsee. After a short break you will continue your hike to the Wildhorn hut.
Day 2: Wildhorn 3248m
Early in the morning you will hike across a moraine and after a short steep section you will reach the Chilchli Glacier. The glacier here is not very crevassed, however caution is advised. The hike will continue via Glacier du Téné to the summit of Wildhorn at 3248m. You will enjoy magnificent distant views of the Valais Alps and the Bernese Oberland. You will descend back to the Wildhorn hut.
Day 3: Wildstrubel hut 2793m via Schnidejoch/Schnidehore
Strengthened by a good breakfast, you will again climb to the Chilchli Glacier. Today you will stay to the east and reach the Schnidejoch. Depending on time and motivation, you may also climb the Schnidehore to 2937m. From the Schnidejoch you will descend to the Lac de Téné and further to the Plan des Roses. Wonderful snowshoe terrain awaits you there before a steeper section leads you to the Wildstrubel hut.
Day 4: Ascent to the Wildstrubel at 3243m and further to the Lämmeren hut
Today's stage is the king stage. From the Wildstrubel hut you will climb up to the Wisshorelücke and immediately back down to the Glacier de la Pleine Morte. You will hike comfortably over the glacier and take a quick break to enjoy your surroundings before the terrain gets steeper. Now you will face the challenge of climbing up the south ridge to the summit of Wildstrubel at 3243m. Views from the peak will reward your efforts before you descend over the Wildstrubel glacier to the Lämmeren hut at 2502m.
Day 5: Descent to Kandersteg via the Rote Totz 2848m
After breakfast you will hike through the Lämmerntal to the Rote Totz gap and further to the Rote Totz at 2848m. Depending on the snow conditions, you will either descend via Tälli and Üeschenetäli or hike via Rote Chumme to Schwarenbach, where you can reminisce about the tour over a delicious piece of cake. Afterwards you will walk to the Sunnbüel cable car and catch a ride down to Kandersteg.
| Season | March - May |
| Departures for official tours | See "Closest Bookable Dates" |
| Departures for private tours | Private tours can be booked daily |
| Meeting point | 10:00am at the Lenk train station |
- Guiding from a licenced mountain guide/ aspirant guide
- His or her expenses
- 4 nights in bunk room with half-board
- Tea for the next day
- Your expenses
- Snacks
- Costs for cable cars
- Rental equipment
- Costs for a taxi if needed (guests pay for the guides share)
Backpack
- 30-35l
Clothing
- Warm, functional clothing
- Rain jacket
- Rain pants
- Mountaineering or hiking pants
- Sunhat
- Gloves (ideally one thin and one thick pair)
- Beanie or headband
- Extra underwear and socks
- Thermal underwear
Footwear
- Crampon proof mountaineering boots or solid and warm winter boots
The basics
- Sunglasses (category 3 or 4)
- Sunscreen lotion and lip balm (minimum factor 30, 50 better)
- Thermos flask, drink bottle
- Silk sleeping bag liner
- Headlamp
- Toiletries
- SAC/DAV permit (if you have one)
- GA or Half Fare Travelcard (if you have)
- Earplugs (optional)
- Camera and binoculars (optional)
Technical Equipment
- Harness
- Robust snow shoes with tele crampons
- Ski poles (preferrably telescopic)
- LVS (avalanche transceiver)
- Avalanche probe
- Avalanche shovel
- Gaiters (optional)
General Information for Mountaineering School
Our team is here for you. If you have any questions, please contact us or visit us in our shop in Grindelwald. We are happy to help!
OUTDOOR - Mountaineering School Grindelwald
Dorfstrasse 103
3818 Grindelwald
Switzerland
Trip status for group courses
1-2 days before your tour or course we will review the weather forecast and conditions with the mountain guide to determine if we can operate. We will contact you by phone with an update.
Minimum of participants (group tours)
As soon as the minimum number of participants is reached, we will send you a confirmation by email.
Cancellation
If we have to cancel your tour, you have the option to reschedule to a new date, or you will receive a full refund.
Equipment
Please refer to the equipment list for your tour or course. At our shop in Grindelwald, you can purchase technical equipment, mountain clothing, shoes, and backpacks. We also have technical equipment available for rent.
Clothing
Choose functional clothing that is moisture-wicking and quick-drying. Dress in layers so you can easily react to temperature changes. The range at our shop in Grindelwald is tailored to mountain tours and our expert staff are happy to advise you on the best clothing for your tour or course.
Lunch
Lunch is not included in the offer. We recommend bringing bars, dried fruits, nuts, or a sandwich. The amount you will need to drink depends on your individual needs and the length of the tour. We recommend .75 -1.5 liters of water, warm tea, isotonic drinks, or whatever you prefer. We also recommend that you hydrate enough the day before, so your body is well prepared for the tour.
Huts
A mountain hut is not a hotel. Running water is not guaranteed and electricity is not available everywhere, so it is not always possible to charge batteries or phones. If you have special dietary needs, please inform us in advance so we can make arrangements with the hut.
Safety
Our tours and courses are led by IVBV certified mountain guides or mountain guide aspirants. We prioritise your safety by requiring regular training to ensure our guides have relevant, up to date knowledge. Outdoor is certified by the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU) and our safety and emergency concepts are audited by this organization annually.
General terms of contract
Our General Terms and Conditions apply.