Switzerland Travel Articles

Lenk-im-Simmental (Lenk), a small town in the Swiss Alps, is a hiking and skiing destination. It sits below the Wildstrübel mountain, at the end of a valley running south from the Simmental Valley, near the well-known towns of Gstaad and Saanen. Lenk is a delightful town and a good base for a hiking holiday (population: 2300, elevation: 3,504 ft/1,068 m). There are trails in the valley, two gondolas up to the mountain tops, and several mountain buses. You are close to several other hiking areas for easy day trips (Saanen, Gstaad, Diemtigtal Nature Park, Stockhorn). Where: Lenk-im-Simmental in canton Bern, in the Bernese Oberland, south of Spiez (near Interlaken). Tourist Office: Lenk-in-Simmental Tourist Office The tourist office has...

Kandersteg, a small town in the Bernese Oberland of the Swiss Alps, is a hiking and skiing destination located in the River Kander valley, south west of Interlaken (population: 1200, elevation: 3,852 ft/1,174 m). Kandersteg is not as well known or crowded as other places in the Swiss Alps and is an excellent base for a summer hiking trip. There are hiking trails through the valley, three mountain rides to take you to walks at higher levels and a bus to take you into another, more secluded, valley for hiking. Where: Kandersteg in canton Bern, in the Bernese Oberland, south of Spiez (near Interlaken). Tourist Office: Kandersteg Tourist Office The tourist office has local maps showing the mountain rides and trails. Look for them online...

Grindelwald is one of the best hiking destinations in the Swiss Alps but it is a popular tourist and tour bus destination so gets crowded. It is very popular with Japanese tourists and is a Japanese wedding destination. You leave the crowds behind once you are out on the trails. Where: Grindelwald in canton Bern, in the Bernese Oberland south of Interlaken. Tourist Office: Grindelwald Tourist Office The Grindelwald Tourist Office website has a lot of information, including descriptions of the hikes, and maps showing hiking trails. You can order brochures from the tourist office website to be mailed to you or pick them up at the tourist office when you are there. They have a good map (updated yearly) showing all the hiking trails, with...