Walking in Kandersteg

All meals are included throughout the trip, including picnic lunches. For dinner enjoy regional dishes and fine wines in Nico's restaurant. At the beginning of each set of notes we advise on the lunch situation and suggest good picnic spots. You can obtain supplies daily from the hotel's picnic buffet or you can return to the hotel for a light lunch. We suggest you to carry 1-5 litres water per person, there are often benches for resting and admiring the views. There are also mountain restaurants with sun-trap terraces. With such a mixture of language and tradition co-existing in such a small country, it is no wonder that there are so many regional dishes. In the Bernese Oberland, Austrian and German influences predominate; gastronomic local delicacies include geschnetzeltes Kalbsfleisch (veal in a rich cream sauce), Kandersteger Bratwurst au Mad re-Jus (roast sausage with a Madeira sauce), Lammbraten gefüllt mit Kraütern (herb roasted lamb) and smoked pork with sauerkraut, and a selection of colourful salads. Typical desserts include Caramel-Birne mit Rum-Sabayon (caramelised pear with a rum sabayon) and Aprikosen-Symphonie (apricot gateau).

Buses, trains and gondolas Public transport in this area is frequent and reliable and the route notes advise on times and costs. It’s a good idea to obtain the Kandersteg Summer information booklet from the hotel or the tourist office. This gives the timetables of the cable cars and gondolas, the village bus and the bus to the Gasterntal valley. Your regional travel pass will be supplied by the hotel on arrival and you should carry it with you as it entitles you to free travel on most of the regions cable cars, funiculars, gondolas and local buses. NB In Switzerland 'Sfr’ and 'CHF’ are both used as abbreviations for the Swiss franc. You may need to walk to the station to catch a train for the Südrampe walk or to catch the bus to the Gasterntal valley or to go to INTERLAKEN. There are two routes to the station. If you want to buy any additional picnic supplies, turn right out of the hotel and walk up the main road. You pass a baker’s shop and a mini-supermarket. The Primo supermarket, which is open 7 days a week, is on the other side of the road after 500m. Shortly after the Primo turn right down Bahnhofstrasse to arrive at the station. For the alternative route turn left out of the hotel, walk to the first corner, turn left signed 'Blausee’ and continue to the river. Cross the bridge, turn left and continue to the station.

The Hotel Alfa Soleil is a traditional, cosy and family-run hotel on the edge of the village (only 5 minutes' walk from the centre) with a wonderful view over fields to the mountains behind. The restaurant is managed by owner/chef Nico Seiler, has an excellent reputation, and is rated highly by our customers so you will enjoy fine dining whilst staying here. There are 35 rooms on three floors; all rooms are en-suite and have a television, telephone and hairdryer. For the evenings, the hotel has a cosy lounge bar with a pool table and music desk which is open to both hotel guests and the general public. There is also a large lounge area for residents with an open fire where you can relax for a quiet chat or with a book, or to play one of the hotel's board games.

All breakfasts and dinners plus 6 picnic lunches

All accommodation (see accommodation section)

Route notes and maps provided

Kandersteg guest card and travel pass for cable cars, funiculars, gondolas and local buses