Luxury hotel holidays to the Bernese Oberland

Luxury holidays to the Bernese Oberland: luxury hotel holidays, touring holidays and special interest holidays

An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the Bernese Oberland encompasses jagged Alpine peaks, over 800 lakes, dense forests of evergreen trees, and the chiming cowbells and rustic lodges of authentic towns and villages. The Bernese Oberland certainly captures the best of the Swiss natural landscape and culture. A stay here as part of a rail touring holiday is suited to those who seek an active sports holiday spent climbing, hiking, kayaking, and windsurfing, as well as those looking for a relaxing opportunity to soak up the sublime panoramas from the terrace of a gourmet restaurant or from the edge of a pool. Nestled into the steep valleys dusted with rich green vegetation, are beautiful chocolate box villages that border the many serene lakes. Mystical grottos have been carved into the rock by centuries of melting and re-freezing ice. Twisting rivers and streams have etched out their pathways down the mountainsides, flowing tranquilly in places and turbulent in others. Some of our favourite places in the Bernese Oberland include: Interlaken, poised majestically on the thin stretch of land between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun; Wengen, a picturesque village clustered between sheer rock faces; and Grindelwald, a village overlooked by harsh snowy peaks, the famous Jungfrau, and the Gletscherschucht glacial gorge.

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

● Single centre or multi-centre
● Long or short stays
● Combine a number of different hotels in different regions
● Utilise a variety of transport arrangements to Switzerland and within Switzerland, combining flights, hire-car, rail and private transfers

Our special interest holidays to the Bernese Oberl

● Food and wine holidays
● Cultural tours for individuals
● Visits to local music festivals
● Private guided sightseeing
● Walking holidays
● City breaks
● Spa breaks
● Family holidays
● Sports holidays

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday

Call us on 01392 441245

Highlights of the Bernese Oberland

As a place of incredible natural beauty and the birthplace of skiing, the Bernese Oberland is a destination with a host of possibility for active and cultural activity. Essential to any visit to this region is the Jungfraujoch glacier, known as the Top of Europe, accessible via the narrow cog railway (Jungfraubahnen) up to the Jungfraujoch train station, standing at 3,454m above sea level. The Peak Walk suspension bridge, crossing between two peaks above Glacier 3000, reaches a thrilling 107m long and affords walkers magnificent views of the Matterhorn, the Mont Blanc Massif, the Eiger, the Monch, and Jungfrau. We also recommend visiting the area around Grindelwald, from which it is easiest to board a rail trip to Jungfraujoch, to see the Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in Europe, and begin a hike or mountain walk through the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The adventure sports centre of Interlaken is perfect for lake swimming, boat cruises, hiking, biking, horse-riding, and water sports. One of the area's quirkier landmarks is the Big Pintenfritz, Europe's longest toboggan run, reaching 15km in length and descending a total of 1,631m.

Festivals in the Bernese Oberland

The festivals and celebrations in the Bernese Oberland tend to revolve around the prominence of winter sports, such as the AUDI FIS Ski World Cup in Adelboden and the International Lauberhorn ski races in January; yet, during the summer and autumn months, there are many more that celebrate Swiss culture and tradition. Unique in the winter months, however, is the Belle Epoque week in Kandersteg, when the Belle Epoque era is embodied in a series of sporting and social events. In July and August, the Lake Thun Festival brings the peaceful lakeside alive with musicals and productions from all over the continent. In October, the AlpKultur Festival in Lenk im Simmental pays homage to all aspects of the region's traditions for a period of two weeks, with an Alpine festival, Hornussen tournaments (a type of Swiss ball game), and a range of interactive workshops.

Gastronomy in the Bernese Oberland

Like much of Switzerland, cheese makes up a large part of the regional food production. The Diemtigtal, in the west of the Bernese Oberland, is the largest Alpine cheese-making area in Switzerland, and so is the optimum place to visit an authentic mountain dairy. Many farms will serve breakfast or lunch alongside a cheese-tasting, or allow visitors to watch the cheese as it is made. The organic dairy on the Schwarzenberg Alp in the Wiriehorn area is one such as this. The AlpKultur Festival in Lenk in Simmental offers visitors the opportunity to briefly live life as a mountain farmer: helping with milking, cheese-making, looking after the animals, visiting farmsteads, and sleeping in the Alps.

Bernese Oberland travel information

The Bernese Oberland is reached very easily from the UK by air and rail.

By air

Flights from the UK into Geneva or Zurich are regular, providing a quicker alternative for those who would like to spend their entire trip in Switzerland. From the Bernese Oberland, you are well placed to continue your tour into Saanenland, towards Bern, towards Lake Lucerne, or down into Ticino.

Rail travel

Due to the excellent rail service available in Switzerland, we always recommend navigating your tour, while in the country, by rail. Trains are known for being punctual and comfortable and offer an excellent way of viewing the sublime scenery as you pass. Many of the most picturesque villages and towns in Switzerland are also traffic-free, or have complex, winding roads as their only access-point by car; yet, you will find they almost unfailingly have a rail station. Many iconic rail journeys allow travel from the UK direct through France into Switzerland, which we have always found adds a new dimension to your trip.

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

● Single centre or multi-centre
● Long or short stays
● Combine a number of different hotels in different regions
● Utilise a variety of transport arrangements to Switzerland and within Switzerland, combining flights, hire-car, rail and private transfers

Our special interest holidays to the Bernese Oberl

● Food and wine holidays
● Cultural tours for individuals
● Visits to local music festivals
● Private guided sightseeing
● Walking holidays
● City breaks
● Spa breaks
● Family holidays
● Sports holidays

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday

Call us on 01392 441245

Here you will find a map of Bernese Oberland showing the locations of the hotels that we offer

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

● Single centre or multi-centre
● Long or short stays
● Combine a number of different hotels in different regions
● Utilise a variety of transport arrangements to Switzerland and within Switzerland, combining flights, hire-car, rail and private transfers

Our special interest holidays to the Bernese Oberl

● Food and wine holidays
● Cultural tours for individuals
● Visits to local music festivals
● Private guided sightseeing
● Walking holidays
● City breaks
● Spa breaks
● Family holidays
● Sports holidays

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday

Call us on 01392 441245

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GRAND HEART OF SWITZERLAND MOUNTAINS RAIL TOUR

An 11-night grand tour by train of Switzerland’s mountains including travel on three iconic scenic train journeys, the Bernina Express, the Glacier Express and the GoldenPass Line. Prices from £3,060 per person.
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GRAND LAKES OF SWITZERLAND RAIL TOUR

11-night grand touring holiday of the lakes of Switzerland by train, visiting Lakes Geneva, Lucerne, Lugano and Zurich as well as lesser-known ones. Prices from £3,380 per person.
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THE GRAND, GRAND SWITZERLAND RAIL TOUR

15-night grandest of grand ultimate Swiss rail touring holiday visiting dramatic mountains and serene lakes of Switzerland, from Lake Geneva to Zermatt, Lugano to Lucerne, St Moritz and the Bernese Oberland. From £4,620 per person.
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BY RAIL TO THE BERNESE OBERLAND HOLIDAY

7-night rail holiday to the Swiss Bernese Oberland staying in picturesque Grindelwald with rail travel from London to Grindelwald via Paris, Basel and Interlaken. Stay in one hotel for the holiday and explore the Bernese Oberland in depth. Prices from £3,420 per person.
Alpine wooden houses with thick snow on roof at Grindelwald

BERNESE OBERLAND WINTER SNOWSHOE HOLIDAY

7-night winter, self-guided walking holiday for individuals in Grindelwald in the Swiss Bernese Oberland with travel by air and/or train. From £2,415 per person.
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WALKING HOLIDAY IN THE BERNESE OBERLAND

7-night self-guided walking holiday for individuals in Grindelwald in the Swiss Bernese Oberland with travel by air and/or train. From £3,025 per person.
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HOTEL DU NORD Interlaken

This is a 4-star boutique hotel in an excellent location in central Interlaken. Comfortable accommodation and easy access to the rail network make it a good choice for Interlaken.
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HOTEL SILBERHORN Wengen

This is a boutique 4-star hotel in a stunning natural location. Delicious cuisine, outstanding service, indulgent spa facilities and magnificent views afford guests a truly relaxing and restorative Alpine experience.
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HOTEL VICTORIA JUNGFRAU Interlaken

A grand, regal, 5-star hotel in the centre of Interlaken with 212 rooms and suites. Extensive spa facilities, fine dining with alpine sports nearby.
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HOTEL WENGENER HOF Wengen

This is a 4-star boutique hotel surrounded by beautiful grounds and natural views. Pampering saunas and delicious cuisine make it an ideal recuperate after exploring the Jungfrau and the valleys of the Bernese Oberland.

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LINDNER GRAND HOTEL BEAU RIVAGE Interlaken

This is a 5-star hotel in the centre of Interlaken. Excellent spa and wellness facilities, delicious cuisine and luxury accommodation make this an ideal base from which to enjoy the natural delights of the area.
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ROMANTIK HOTEL SCHWEIZERHOF GRINDELWALD Grindelwald

This is a 5-star chalet-style hotel with an abundance of character and immense sense of privacy, perfect for couples or families travelling together. The style, ambience, service and cuisine offer a glimpse of authentic Swiss life.