Bernese Oberland Itinerary

Arrival Day

The group will rendez-vous at the Chamonix Experience Office in Argentière, just a few kilometres from Chamonix. Here, we will have an informal chat about the upcoming week. There will also be a chance for the guide to check out your clothing and gear and to decide if you need to pick up any further items of equipment before setting out the following morning.

Day 1. Chamonix - Diablerets - Prarochet refuge

We travel by minibus from Chamonix to Diablerets in Switzerland approximately 1.5 hours. From there we take the cable car up to about 3000m and start the tour with and ascent of Les Diablerets 3209m (about 1-1.5 hours skinning, 250-300m ascent). Then we descend the straightforward run down the Glacier de Tsanfleuron to the small Prarochet refuge at 2555m.

Day 2. Prarochet refuge - Arpellistock -  Gelten refuge 

An early breakfast around 6am. Ski down from the refuge to the Col de Sanetsch and then climb the fine crest of Arete de L’Arpille. The crest is quite sharp and steep so you probably have to carry the skis and crampon up the last bit. There may also be some rocks to negotiate. The ridge gains the summit plateau of the Arpellistock (3035m). The descent from the Arpellistock to the Geltenhutte has some steep sections. 6-8 hours and about 1000m ascent in total. Overnight at the Geltenhutte (very nice hut and showers available!).

Day 3 - Gelten Hut - Wildhorn - Wildhorn Hut

This is a big day over the major ski-touring summit of the Wildhorn (3247m) and down to the Wildhorn refuge. The ascent can take about 8-9 hours and is steep in places. The descent is a great ski but pretty quick, 1-2 hours. 1400m ascent in total and 900m descent.  

Day 4 - Wildhorn Hut- Schneidehorn - Wildstrubel Hut

Early breakfast. Today we are going over the Schneidehorn (2937m) which is lower than the Wildhorn, but can be more technical and require cramponing normally over the summit rocks in order to find the ski route down. We have a superb ski descent to the big snow plateau of the Alpage du Rawil. It is a deep valley and therefore good to be out of it before it’s too hot. Bit of a sting in the tail with a 500m climb up to the hut at the end of the day! 6-7 hrs, 1200m up.

Day 5 - Wildstrubel Hut -Wildstrubel -Lammeren Hut

From the hut make a short climb up to the col overlooking the high plateau of the Glacier de Plein Mort (15min). Touring across the massive glaciers and snow fields of the Wildstrubel with its ten summits over 3000m is a fantastic viewpoint for the great Oberland peaks. 2 hours across the plateau, 2-3 hours up the peak and quite an exposed ridge. We then get a fine ski down to the Lammeren hut at 2501m.

Day 6 - Lammeren Hut - Kandersteg - Chamonix

We try and leave the Lammerenhutte pretty early and ascend for about 90min to the col of the Roter Totz-Lucke (2800m). From there we can traverse to the summit. The descent is quite interesting with some steep traverses that takes us down into Kandersteg (3-4 hours). We arrive in Kandersteg around lunch time and we take the train back to Chamonix. We should be back there by late afternoon and for a well deserved beer and dinner.

Departure Day

The trip package ends after breakfast.