One of the fondest memories we have from our trip to Switzerland is of our amazing, off-the-beaten-path adventure of hiking in Bernese Oberland.
We had been looking forward to hiking along the North Face Trail, exploring Alpine villages and visiting Trummelbach Falls. We spent two days in the Lauterbrunnen Valley – the valley of the 72 waterfalls. Nestled in this valley, are the beautiful villages of Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg. Lauterbrunnen valley is surrounded by towering rocky cliffs on either side.
During the hike, we explored the side of the ridge where the beautiful Alpine villages of Murren and Gimmelwald were located. We decided to hike along the North Face Trail, explore Murren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg, and visit Trummelbach Falls before returning to Lauterbrunnen.
This dreamlike day of hiking along off-the-beaten-path trails in the Swiss Alps and Lauterbrunnen Valley turned out to be an experience of a lifetime for us.
Heading off for a hiking adventure in Bernese Oberland is a budget-friendly and equally spectacular alternative (in my humble opinion). The region is a hiker’s delight with lots of scenic hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty to choose from.
So, we packed some snacks, a refillable bottle, got our cameras ready and headed out to enjoy one of the best days Switzerland had to offer.
Lauterbrunnen to Murren via Grutschalp
We stayed in Lauterbrunnen for two days during our visit to this region of the Bernese Oberland. After a delicious breakfast at our hotel, we took the cableway from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp. The views of the Lauterbrunnen valley from the cableway as it ascended towards Grutschalp took my breath away. The cableway and the onward train to Murren were timed so well. As soon as we arrived at Grutschalp and disembarked, there was a train waiting at the platform to take us to Murren. How efficient!
We noticed that there was also a hiking trail from Grutschalp to Murren. However, we took the train to Murren as we had already planned a long hiking day ahead for ourselves.
Murren – a delightful Alpine village
Stunning vistas, adorable wooden homes, and souvenir shops decorated with bright flowers greeted us as we arrived at traffic-free Murren.
The view of the snow-capped mountains in the background and blooming wildflowers around us was captivating. There are also some hotels where one can choose to stay at during their visit to Murren.
There were public water troughs with clear, chilled running water, along the streets to encourage people to avoid carrying plastic bottles. We saw several tourists refilling their water bottles at these water fountains before heading out to their hikes.
What a delightful alpine village this was! We couldn’t help but stop at several places for taking photographs. We thoroughly enjoyed our leisurely stroll in Murren as we walked towards the Allmendhubelbahn station.
Hiking in Bernese Oberland from Murren to Allmendhubel: North Face Trail
Allmendhubel can be easily be reached by taking the funicular from the Allmendhubelbahn station in Murren.
We were spellbound by the panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau on the opposite side of the valley as we arrived at the top of Allmendhubel. There was also an adorable playground with slides, tunnels, and swings near the famous Panorama Restaurant. This Panorama restaurant offers traditional Swiss dishes and is very popular amongst its visitors.
There are many well-marked hiking trails that start from Allmendhubel – including North Face Trail, Flower Trail and a trail that leads up to Schilthorn. The trails are also color-coded on the marker posts as a visual aide. For example, the North Face Trail was labeled in blue on the markers.
Our hike from Allmendhubel to Murren was easy and mostly downhill. We passed through farms and alpine meadows filled with blooming wildflowers. The sweet fragrance of the wildflowers, stunning Swiss skyline and the sound of cowbells in the distance was magical. Yes – this was the Switzerland of my dreams.
At one point, the North Face trail led us through a cow enclosure in an Alpine farm. While walking through the enclosure, one of the cows even chased my husband and a couple of other hikers down a small hill. Eventually, after reaching the bottom of the hill inside the enclosure, it simply walked past them. Being chased by a Swiss cow – that is a travel story my children love hearing over and over to this day.
The scenic, winding trail finally led us back to Murren from where we continued on to Gimmelwald.
Hiking in Bernese Oberland: From Murren to Gimmelwald
A leisurely walk from Murren to Gimmelwald generally takes about 45 minutes (non-stop). It’s an easy walk as it is all downhill if one walks from Murren towards Gimmelwald. There are several benches at scenic vantage points along the way that offer views of the valley and the stunning peaks beyond. A great way to relax and take a break is to sit along these benches for a brief picnic while admiring the stunning Alpine panorama.
We passed by several farms where the farmers were collecting hay to store it for their cows for the winter season. As we walked towards Gimmelwald, we came across farm animals (cows, goats), lovingly decorated mountain huts, meadows, and mini waterfalls. Hiking in Switzerland is such a visual treat.
Finally, we arrived in Gimmelwald – a rustic, sleepy Alpine village that feels like a slice of heaven. It’s such a hidden gem in the mountains.
We came across the Honesty Shop in Gimmelwald – Europe’s first unattended self-service village shop. This self-service shop sells snacks and souvenirs. The payments can be placed in envelopes before being dropped into the Honesty Box. Such an adorable concept! We stopped by for some ice cream at the Pension Gimmelwald restaurant (next to the Honesty Shop). The restaurant had a beautiful terrace where we sat and enjoyed our sweet treat with the sight of the Jungfrau mountain across the valley to behold.
Hiking in Bernese Oberland: From Gimmelwald to Stechelberg
There is a cable car station in Gimmelwald that people often take to reach the cable car station near Stechelberg in the valley below. However, smitten by the Alpine views, we decided to continue hiking from Gimmelwald to Stechelberg.
We walked towards the south, continuing on the path in the direction marked Stechelberg. This somewhat steep, downhill hike was a bit more challenging but offered stunning views of the valley, farms, river, and waterfalls. It felt more off-the-beaten-path as we saw fewer hikers along the entire way from Gimmelwald to Stechelberg.
The descent was comparatively steep from Gimmelwald till the point we reached a bridge over the river. Crossing over the bridge and turning left, we continued descending further towards the valley through a forest. We came across several small cascades and one impressive waterfall along this section of the hike.
Finally, as the forest started to thin out when we approached Stechelberg, we were greeted with a glorious view of a tiny village surrounded by lush meadows. I was completely mesmerized by the stunning views we had seen throughout the amazing day hiking in Bernese Oberland. But wait, there was more to come…
Hiking in Bernese Oberland – A brief stop for lunch at Stechelberg
It was afternoon by the time we arrived in Stechelberg. Located at the base of the Schwarzmonch mountain, at one end of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, lies Stechelberg – a quaint village. The cable car station is located close to Stechelberg and the Post Bus station is also located along the main road as one walks northwards from Stechelberg. We were really hungry by the time we reached Stechelberg. So, we decided to stop for lunch at one of the restaurants in Stechelberg. The food was delicious and the staff at the restaurant was very friendly. After our enjoyable meal, we took the Post Bus from the Stechelberg bus stop and got off at the Trummelbach Falls.
Trummelbach Falls – a true wonder of nature
Lauterbrunnen Valley has 72 waterfalls, one of the most spectacular ones being Trummelbach.
Trummelbach is the only waterfall in Europe that is located inside a mountain and yet it is accessible to visitors. The melting waters of the glaciers of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau feed these roaring falls. These pounding waters have over the centuries carved their twisting path down the mountain.
Trummelbach Falls are located deep within the mountain and can be accessed by a steep elevator ride, walkways, and viewing platforms. Illuminated pathways lead visitors to ten viewing points for the waterfall inside the mountain. The stop 10 was located at the highest elevation point, while stop 1 was at the lowest elevation point. We followed the advice of the TI staff and started the walk from stop 10, proceeding downward towards stop 1.
The deafening sound of the water that echoed through the cavernous tunnels gave us a sense of the sheer power of these falls. The walkways can be slippery, so be careful as you explore Trummelbach.
These falls are truly a marvel of nature and a sight to behold. After completing our walk through the falls, we headed back to the exit using the walkways located on the outer side. We were pleasantly surprised by a glorious view of the Lauterbrunnen Valley as we descended the steps of the walkway outside Trummelbach. Our visit to the Trummelbach left us awestruck.
A leisurely walk from Trummelbach Falls to Lauterbrunnen
After visiting Trummelbach, we decided to walk back to our hotel in Lauterbrunnen. We followed the family-friendly Lauterbrunnen Valley Trail along the valley floor. This trail took us through meadows and along the river flowing towards Lauterbrunnen. I couldn’t help but pause at several times to admire the towering rock walls on either side of the valley floor.
The scenery was so gorgeous everywhere we looked. We walked at a leisurely pace, stopping at several places for taking photographs. It was evening by the time we walked past the Staubach Falls of Lauterbrunnen. We may have been tired after our long hiking day but this had been one of the best experiences ever. My words don’t do justice to the pristine beauty of nature we had witnessed.
I left my heart back in Bernese Oberland and can’t wait to return to the Lauterbrunnen Valley and experience this hike again, as well as other hikes in the region.
Here’s wishing you a wonderful time visiting this region and if the weather allows, I highly recommend heading off for a day full of adventure hiking in Bernese Oberland. Happy Travels.
P.S. I found the Jungfrau website very helpful for finding the timings for the cable cars and planning our hiking path accordingly.
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Hello ! I’m Aditi …..
Welcome to Land Of Travels – a travel blog that my husband Manish and I started to share our travel stories and travel tips. We are full-time professionals, dedicated parents, foodies, and it is our shared passion for traveling that lead us to become part-time bloggers.
I was born and brought up in Northern India, lived in Bay Area, California for nearly two decades and currently reside in Ontario, Canada. Since childhood, I’ve always had a passion to travel far & wide and experience different cultures. I am passionate about planning our trips and exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations.
My sincere hope is that the travel tips offered on this blog will help you plan your next memorable adventure.
Happy travels!
~ Aditi Sharma ~
Like anybody else, I’m so tired of sitting at home, not being able to travel freely. And since other continents are even more out of reach, I have to look for European alternatives. And the Berner Oberland would definitely do. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, it’s nature….but it’s also quite expensive. On the other hand, since I won’t be able to get travel quantity I might as well go for travel quality – and Switzerland qualifies big time.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece of information. I really hope to visit there sometime
This is absolutely gorgeous! Adding this to my list!
Love this post and all the amazing photos!! Next trip to Europe will include Switzerland for sure.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed reading our post.
I like your blog. And omg… the place is soo stunning. I would love to add that in my bucket list and visit that place someday.
What great photos! We’re definitely going to need to up our hiking game and follow in your footsteps!
Every year I and some friends organize a hiking trip somewhere in Europe. Last year we went to Norway, but after seeing this I will propose Oberland as our destination. It looks stunning!
It is stunning indeed and there are so many hiking trails to explore – I dream on returning to this region and hike some more.
Murren and the surrounding area is one of our favourite places in the world! We have visited twice but both times were in the winter when it is picture postcard gorgeous. However, your blog has inspired us to put it on a list of places to visit in the summer too.
OMG, those vertical rock cliffs are absolutely stunning. With the waterfalls coming down over it, they look like something out of a dream. This definitely looks like it’s off-the-beaten-path, which I’d be all about. I’m glad to hear that hiking is a much more budget-friendly way of seeing things than the cable car, and it looks like taking your time to really see everything is worth the effort.
Indeed Kevin! Cable cars are of course popular for a good reason – they do take visitors to stunning vistas and are great for a sunny day. However, we just loved hiking around the Lauterbrunnen valley – it was the perfect day and quite budget friendly as well. I would love to return to this valley and explore the hiking trails on the other side of the valley as well. Thanks for visiting the post.
Oh the lovely Alpine villages and landscapes! I agree with you, the weather can be quite unpredictable and although going to Jungfrau can be expensive, it is totally worth it on a clear and sunny day. Having said that, hiking in the region can be an equally rewarding experience. I love all your pictures, and you’ve made me miss Switzerland!
I can’t wait to be back in this beautiful valley once more. There is so much to see and explore. Looking forward to many more adventures in the Bernese Alps. Thanks for visiting the blog Medha
This looks like the best place to hike. The views are incredible. The whole place looks like a fairytale!
I feel like when it comes to life it doesn’t get much better than hiking in Switzerland!
Agreed! 🙂
Awww…. The swiss landscapes are breathtaking! I’m sure visiting Berner Oberland and hiking was a great adventure. Certainly another point on my to-visit-list.
Switzerland is easily one of my favorite countries because it really is simply stunning. This just makes me want to go back even more!
Oh my gosh these photos are so beautiful, what an incredible country. I’m hoping to put together a road trip through Switzerland next year so I hope I get to see these places too!
Hiking here would be a dream for us considering we’re mountaineers and rock climbers! Is there a rock climbing scene there? Those rocky cliffs look so inviting to climb. One of my bosses held his wedding with his fiancee here in Berner Oberland. Saw his photos and I drooled with envy.
I’m looking forward to doing this myself. Btw, did you hike all in one day? And which month you went there? I’m planning this July. Do you think the weather will be as bright like your pics? 🙂
Hi – guess what – we did this hike in July as well. Weather at the time was perfect, very pleasant for a hike. Keep in mind, given the valley’s location it can rain any day- any season. It’s best to plan for the hike when you get closer to the departure day and have better idea of the weather forecast for the week ahead. This hike was one of the best days we spent in Switzerland – and yes, we did all this is one day 🙂
Wonderful places and experience! Love it! ❤️
Great post! You’ve inspired me to plan a snowboarding trip to Switzerland – now in the bucket list. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed reading the post. Thanks for visiting the blog.
Great photos! I’m not a hiker by any means but for these views I’d do it!
This was an easy hiking trail – we aren’t hikers as such either but enjoy long walks and there really was nothing quite like this one – the scenery captured our hearts. Thanks for visiting the post.
Your post makes me wanna book a airticket to Switerland now! Switerland is such a charming place to visit, it shall we on my bucket list!
Thank you for visiting our blog. Glad you enjoyed reading this post.
Beautiful pictures Aditi 😍 Glad I found you and got to red your lovely posts.
Here’s to more Travels 💯
Thank you for visiting our blog. Glad your enjoyed reading it and thanks for appreciating the photographs.
This is so stunnIng! I’ve never been to Switzerland but it’s on my list. I love the honesty shop!
I know, right?!! The honesty shop was such a unique and adorable concept. We loved it as well just as much as we loved Gimmelwald and the Berner Oberland region. Thank you for visiting our blog.
This looks amazing! I really want to go to Switzerland now
I hope you have a great time during your visit to Switzerland. Thanks for visiting our blog.
Oh my your photos have got me over here looking up flights to Switzerland. How stunning!!
That’s lovely …..I hope you finalize your plans to Switzerland soon :). You will love it there. Thanks for visiting our blog.
The scenery looks incredible! Loved your photos. My partner and I have always wanted to visit Switzerland, seeing this post has only made me want to even more!
We fell in love with the serenity of this region. Loved hiking along those trails and can’t wait to return. Do try to visit this region when you plan your Switzerland trip, I am sure you will love it in Lauterbrunnen valley and its nearby villages. Thank you for visiting our blog post.
Oh my gosh those views are incredible! The vistas?! Just stunning. You got some incredible photos. Looks like an amazing trip.
Thank you so much. Our photos don’t do justice to the beauty of the region – it’s simply stunning. We had an awesome time there and can’t wait to return. Thank you for visiting our blog post.
Those views are amazing!! Definitely worth the hike.
This hike was one of the highlights of our trip to Switzerland. Can’t wait for another adventure like this one when we visit this region next time around. Thank you for visiting our blog.
This makes me want to go to Switzerland immediately! The views in Murren and Stechelberg in particular look incredible.
We hiked for so long on this day as we were completely spellbound by the beauty of the region. I can’t wait to return for another adventure to Berner Oberland. Thanks for visiting our blog.
I have only spent time in Zurich and your itinerary and your photos make me want to go back and explore more! I love these small villages with the mountains in the backdrop, so iconic. Thanks for sharing!
We loved spending time hiking around these small villages. It felt like a vacation from our vacation in a way – it was just so serene and scenic. Thank you so much for visiting my blog post.
You’re making me want to go back to Switzerland! This hiking looks incredible, thanks so much for the helpful tips!
Meredith
The Longest Weekend
thelongestweekend.co
Thank a lot Meredith. This hiking day was one of the best days during our trip to Switzerland – it felt like a vacation from our vacation one could say. Just so peaceful and picturesque. Thank you for visiting the blog post.
The place is so beautiful..reminds me of all the beautiful songs of Yashraj movies shot in Switzerland.. 🙂 This is one destination that’s high on my bucket list
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Indeed – made me feel the same way. I can’t wait to return and explore this region more. Thanks for visiting the post.
This place looks like a dream! Definitely would spend all day getting lost in the mountains on purpose here!!!
Hiking in this region was a dream for us too and we can’t wait to return more to explore more. Thank you for stopping by to visit the blog.
Those views though! Wow! This truly is a bucket list destination!! Thanks for sharing all your photos. I just loved this.
Thank you so much Nikki. Glad you enjoyed going over the post.
Your photos are amazing! We hike frequently in the US but this looks just beautiful! Is it a long hike? Several miles?
The duration of the hike entirely depends on which sections you would like to cover. If you just hike Allmendhubel-Murren-Gimmelwald then at a leisurely pace I would say 3 hours. If you decide to continue onwards to Stechelberg and then to Lauterbrunnen via Trummelbach that would easily be another 3-4 hours as naturally one would stop over a lot to enjoy the views and rest as well. We had completed this entire hike on the same day – our app on the phone told us we had hiked 17 miles that day. 🙂
Simply breathtaking! I keep coming across more and more reasons to move Switzerland to the very top of my bucket list!
Thank you so much Sierra. Indeed Switzerland is so beautiful and I wish you a wonderful time where you visit this country. Thanks for reading the post.
Amazing scenery (thanks for the pics) and report on this beautiful Alpine part of the world. Switzerland has just improved its place in the pecking order on the bucket list of places to visit.
Thank you so much for visiting the blog and reading this post. Switzerland is such an awesome destination. We loved hiking in the Alps and can’t wait to return for another similar adventure.
Stunning pictures and what an adventure, I enjoyed looking at the pictures and reading your notes. Must have been a real fun!
Thank you so much Srivalli for taking the time to read my post. I am glad you enjoyed going over it. The Berner Oberland region is stunning – we loved it there and can’t wait to be back for another hiking adventure there.
The views are incredible and I bet the water tasted very crisp and fresh! Your pictures are absolutely stunning, makes me want to take a flight their right now!😍
Thank you so much for the kind comments. I can’t even begin to describe how unforgettable this hiking day was for us – I tried my best through this post :). The photos don’t do justice as the beauty of the region leaves the visitor spellbound. Thanks for stopping by and reading the post.
Love the pics you have taken😍😍😍 beautiful landscapes and flowers
Thank you for visiting the blog. Indeed …the entire Berner Oberland region is so scenic.
Oh my goodness! I was in Berner back in 2006 – this post brought back so many happy memories! Glad you had an amazing adventure. It’s truly a remarkable place 🙂
Glad you enjoyed reading the post. Indeed – this region is so picturesque.
Lovely post! We are planning on going to Switzerland next time we go to Europe, and I cannot wait. My husband has been several times, but I haven’t yet. Stunning photos!
Thank you so much. I am sure you will love Switzerland – it’s such a gorgeous country and there’s so much to see and do – I wish you a lovely trip. Thanks for visiting the blog.
These pics are simply gorgeous! Switzerland is on my hubby’s bucket list.