Tour of the Jungfrau Region, Kraig Adams's way

The numbers come from my own GPS recordings, smoothed the same way for every day. My recording app's totals are a little higher.

What I did

I came from Zürich, where I'd stayed the night before. On the morning of July 23 I bought a Sunrise prepaid SIM, then took the train: CHF 51 from Zürich HB and CHF 28 from Bern to Interlaken Ost, 2nd class full fare (2022). At Interlaken Ost I left my big bag in a large locker for the four days and bought food at a supermarket. My recording starts at Wilderswil station at 5:15 p.m.

After Day 4 I went back to Interlaken Ost, paid the extra locker charge (CHF 21) and took the train to Geneva (CHF 72, 2nd class full fare, 2022).

Your options for 2027

By train. Zürich HB to Interlaken Ost takes about 1 hour 55 minutes, with a direct train every hour; other trains change in Bern. Geneva to Interlaken Ost takes about 3 hours, changing in Bern. From Interlaken Ost, the BOB train to Wilderswil takes 5 minutes (2026 timetable). Buy tickets in the SBB app or at the machines.

Lockers. Interlaken Ost has 140 large lockers (44.7 x 88 x 61.5 cm): CHF 10 per 24 hours, open around the clock, for up to 144 hours, paid by coin, card or Apple Pay. The luggage counter is open 7:30 to 16:30 daily, +41 33 828 73 20 (2026). SBB also sends bags station to station for CHF 12 an item (collect the day after tomorrow).

What I paid

My records for this trip are the receipts I photographed on the way. Prices are 2022, in Swiss francs.

Doing it yourself, at 2026 prices

Camping the way I did (minus the wild camp) costs one hiker about CHF 37 a night at Camping Gletscherdorf in July and CHF 22 at Camping Breithorn. Mountain inns run CHF 80 to 85 with dinner and breakfast in a dorm, or CHF 40 with breakfast at Männdlenen; valley hostels start around CHF 30. The lift fares are in Trains, lifts and passes. My rough estimate for the 7-day bed version is CHF 500 to 650 for beds and half board, before lunches, drinks and transport.

Where to sleep

The camping rules

I wild camped on Day 1, on the ridge past the Oberberghorn. Wild camped above treeline, and had the entire place to myself all morning. Don't copy it. That spot is in the municipality of Bönigen, which says wild camping on its land is prohibited, with fines up to CHF 5,000 (2026). Grindelwald (the Bachalpsee, First, Grosse Scheidegg) and Lauterbrunnen (the valley, Mürren, Isenfluh) don't allow camping outside campsites either, and camping is banned outright in federal hunting reserves like the Schwarzhorn reserve around First. The Swiss Alpine Club says a single night above the tree line is usually fine only where the canton and municipality don't restrict it, and here they do. Use the campsites and the inns.

Campsites

Camping Gletscherdorf, Grindelwald (end of Day 2, my night 2). I remember the place having plugs to charge, bathrooms and being cheap. 2026 prices: adult CHF 10 to 12 a night by season, a small tent (up to 4 m²) CHF 11 to 15, tourist tax CHF 5.20, and CHF 5 extra for a single night in July and August: about CHF 37 for one hiker in July. +41 33 853 14 29, gletscherdorf.ch. The tent meadow can be booked online.

Camping Breithorn, Sandbach (end of Day 3, my night 3). In the Lauterbrunnen valley, half a mile from the Trümmelbach Falls. I got there just before they closed the snack shop and got my little dinner there. Plenty of space in the valley but not much else. Prices on its site: adult CHF 10 including taxes, tent up to 4 m CHF 12, so about CHF 22 for one hiker. Tent pitches May 1 to September 30. Cash (CHF, EUR) and cards. +41 33 855 12 25, campingbreithorn.ch.

Mountain inns and huts on the loop

These are the beds on or next to my line. Prices are per person, as published in September 2026 (some pages give no year).

• Berghotel Schynige Platte (Day 1, 5.5 mi). New tenants from 2026. Jungfrau Railways sells a "Dine & Sleep" package with the train, a four-course dinner, a room and breakfast. The hotel's own sites didn't load in September 2026, so check prices and booking with Jungfrau Railways.
• Berghaus Männdlenen (Weber Hütte) (Day 2, 4.2 mi from my camp). 30 places. Dorm from CHF 40 with breakfast; dinner at 18:00. No showers, outside toilets. Open about late June to early October, depending on snow. +41 33 853 44 64, berghaus-maenndlenen.ch.
• Berghotel Faulhorn (Day 2, on the summit). With a three-course dinner and breakfast: dorm CHF 80, room CHF 115. No drinking water on the mountain and cold washing water only; bring a sleeping-bag liner. Takes cash (CHF or EUR), TWINT and cards. Open through October 4, 2026; bookings for 2027 open in January 2027. +41 79 534 99 51, faulhorn.ch.
• Berggasthaus First (Day 2, 10.6 mi). Rooms and a 40-bed dorm at the top of the gondola; dinner in summer. Prices not published. +41 33 828 77 88, berggasthausfirst.ch.
• Berghotel Grosse Scheidegg (Day 2, 15.4 mi). Dorm CHF 52 with breakfast, CHF 82.70 with dinner too; rooms from CHF 62. Season May 16 to October 18 (2026). +41 79 922 93 14, grosse-scheidegg.ch.
• Hotel Wetterhorn (Day 2, 19 mi). Where I had dinner. Summer 2026 with breakfast: dorm CHF 66 to 69, double room CHF 94 to 103 per person. +41 33 853 12 18, wetterhorn-hotel.ch.
• Suls-Lobhornhütte (SAC) (Day 4, about 300 m off my line at 7.5 mi). 24 places. Half board CHF 85, CHF 77 for Alpine Club members. Open early June to mid or late October, depending on snow. Cash in Swiss francs preferred; cards or TWINT from CHF 20. +41 79 656 53 20, book through the SAC's online system (alpsonline), lobhornhuette.ch.

In the valleys

Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Wilderswil and Interlaken all have hotels. Cheaper options I checked: the Youth Hostel Grindelwald (+41 33 853 10 09), the Valley Hostel in Lauterbrunnen (dorm from CHF 30, +41 33 855 20 08) and the Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald, below Mürren (dorm CHF 45 to 48 with breakfast, +41 33 855 17 04).

Where I ate. Day 1: food from a supermarket before I started, and dinner at the Schynige Platte hotel restaurant. Day 2: a stop inside Berghaus Männdlenen in the morning; lunch at Berggasthaus First (a chicken and avocado bowl, an espresso, and apple strudel with vanilla sauce and ice cream); a Coke and Bergkäse ravioli at Hotel Wetterhorn on the way down. Day 3: coffee and food on the terrace at Berghaus Alpiglen, a long stop at Eigergletscher, and my little dinner from the snack shop at Camping Breithorn. Day 4: a full breakfast at Hotel Eiger in Mürren. Treat yo self. And wild strawberries on the climb out of Grindelwald: my pace slows considerably when I spot them.

Where to stock up. Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are the towns on or near the loop; up high there are only the inns and restaurants.

Water. Fill up at the inns, restaurants and campsites, including the restaurant at First. The Berghotel Faulhorn says there's no drinking water on its mountain, so leave Männdlenen with enough for the Faulhorn.

Gear for this route

Packing list for the bed version

• Rain shell, a warm layer, hat and gloves: the Faulhorn is at 8,800 ft
• Shoes with good grip for rock and wet grass, and trekking poles for the long descents
• About 2 liters of water capacity
• A sleeping-bag liner for the huts and inns (the Faulhorn asks for one)
• Some Swiss francs, a card, your passport
• Offline maps, the GPX files and a power bank

Paid links: I earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I camped all three nights on this loop, carrying everything myself. Here's what I carried in 2022, what I'd take now, and what I filmed with.

What I carried in 2022

I didn't list my kit for this trip. This is what the film and my photos show.

• Tent: a green one-person tent
• Pack: a hiking pack
• Shoes: trail runners
• Clothes: a hooded top, and an orange insulated jacket in camp

What I'd take now

My current kit for this loop, with a bed or a tent. My favorite gear that year, from my Favorite Hiking Gear 2022 video (not a list of what I carried here): a Hyperlite Southwest 2400 pack, Nemo Hornet 1P tent, Hyperlite quilt, NeoAir XLite pad, Salomon Speedcross 5 and Brooks Cascadia 16 trail runners, Arc'teryx Beta AR, a Katadyn filter bottle, a Jetboil, a headlamp, an Anker power bank and a Sirui carbon tripod.

Hiking

• Pack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35 (Hyperlite). For the bed version: you don't carry a tent or food.
• Tent: NEMO Hornet Elite OSMO 1P (Amazon). If you camp as I did, use the campsites: wild camping is banned in Bönigen, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.
• Sleeping-bag liner: Naturehike ZY20 Sleeping Bag Liner (Amazon). For the huts and inns: the Faulhorn asks for one.
• Rain shell: Arc’teryx Beta AR Jacket (Arc’teryx)
• Warm layer: Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody (Arc’teryx). The Faulhorn is at 8,800 ft.
• Hat: PATH Projects Hoyt Merino Beanie (PATH Projects)
• Gloves: Unigear Touchscreen Liner Gloves (Amazon)
• Shoes: Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX (Amazon). Good grip for rock and wet grass.
• Poles: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Z Poles (Amazon). For the long descents: more than 5,000 ft down to Wilderswil on Day 4.
• Water: Katadyn BeFree AC · 1L (Amazon). Carry about 2 liters. There's no drinking water on the Faulhorn.

Filmmaking

• Power bank: Nitecore NB20000 (Amazon)

Other

• Navigation: AllTrails+ (AllTrails, 30% off). Import my GPX files and download them offline. Offline maps need the paid plan.
• Phone data: Airalo eSIM (Airalo, $3 off). Mobile data without a SIM swap. In 2022 I bought a Sunrise prepaid SIM in Zürich instead.

Filming kit

What I filmed this trip with in 2022. My setup is smaller now (below). Check the drone rules in Weather and safety before you fly: drones are prohibited in the hunting reserve around First.

Hiking

• Phone: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

Filmmaking

• Camera: Sony a7S III (Amazon)
• Lens: Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G (Amazon)
• Drone: DJI Air 2S (Amazon), now the Air 3S
• Tripod: Joby GorillaPod 3K kit. I bought it in Zürich on the way.

What I film with now

Since September 2026 I film with a smaller setup: the Pocket 4 and the Mic 3 on the trail, and the Mini 5 Pro in the air.

• Camera: DJI Osmo Pocket 4 (Amazon)
• Mic: DJI Mic 3 · 1 TX + 1 RX (Amazon). It pairs with the Pocket 4.
• Drone: DJI Mini 5 Pro (Amazon)

Nothing to book for the hike itself. The mountain inns are small, so book them ahead in July and August. Camping outside campsites is banned in Bönigen, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, and in the Schwarzhorn hunting reserve around First (2026)

The season. The high trail from Schynige Platte over the Faulhorn to First is "usually only accessible from mid-June" (Berner Wanderwege), and Switzerland Tourism gives the Eiger Trail's season as July to October. The lifts and inns set the rest. For 2026: the Schynige Platte railway ran from June 13, with offers valid to October 25; the Berghotel Faulhorn is open through October 4; Berghotel Grosse Scheidegg is open May 16 to October 18, about the same season as the Grosse Scheidegg bus (May 14 to October 18); Camping Breithorn takes tents May 1 to September 30. July to the end of September is the easiest window.

What I got. I went in late July. There was dark cloud over the ridge on the first evening; Days 2 and 3 were mostly sunny, with cloud building on the afternoon of Day 3. Day 4 was the cloudy day, with fog from Mürren to the Sulegg. There was still a patch of snow below the Faulhorn summit.

Summer crowds. The lift stations are busy. The path from the Bachalpsee to First was full of day hikers, and so was First itself. Start early: I had my camp spot on the ridge past Schynige Platte to myself all morning.

Weather and safety

Forecasts. Use the free MeteoSwiss app (local and mountain forecasts, with warnings). Check it every evening, and ask at the inns about the trail ahead.

Emergencies. Call 1414 for Rega, the air rescue (+41 333 333 333 from a foreign phone), or 144 for an ambulance, 117 for the police and 112 for the European emergency number. Rega's patronage (CHF 40 a year) is a donation, not insurance: Rega may waive or reduce costs for patrons at its discretion. Get travel insurance that covers mountain rescue.

Hunting reserves. The area around First is in the Schwarzhorn federal hunting reserve. There, camping is banned, dogs must be on a lead, and drones are prohibited. Elsewhere, drone flights follow the federal rules (up to 120 m above ground, in sight, never over crowds, registration required) and its map of restricted zones.

The steep and exposed places

None of my route needs a rope, but these spots need care:

• The Schynige Platte ridge (Days 1 and 2): the Panoramaweg runs along the edge of big drops. It's no place to be in a storm.
• The Faulhorn (Day 2): rock and scree on the climb, with a snow patch below the summit in late July in my year.
• The path to Pfingstegg (Day 2): a stretch cut into the cliff with a hand rail, and a short tunnel.
• The Eiger Trail (Day 3): a rocky path under the north face; Switzerland Tourism says its difficult sections are secured with ropes. Walk it in good weather.
• The descent to the Trümmelbach Falls (Day 3): about 2,900 ft (880 m) down in 3.7 miles, steep through the forest.
• The Sulegg ridge and the descent to Wilderswil (Day 4): in fog when I crossed, then more than 5,000 ft (1,500 m) of descent.

How hard is it? The paths are good and well signed, but my days were long. Day 2 was 24 miles, over 14 hours with stops, and Days 3 and 4 each finish with more than 5,000 ft (1,500 m) of descent. The high parts (the Schynige Platte ridge, the Faulhorn, the Eiger Trail) are rocky in places, with steep drops beside the path. Nothing needs climbing gear; the Eiger Trail has fixed ropes on its difficult sections. Try this at home: 15 miles with 4,000 ft of climbing and a pack, two days in a row. If that's too much, take the 7-day version in Other ways to do it, or use the lifts.

How many days? I did it in four. With a bed every night it's a comfortable seven. The trains and lifts let you cut almost any day short.

Where do you sleep? I camped: one wild camp on Day 1, then two campsites. You can't copy the wild camp: camping outside campsites is banned in Bönigen, where I pitched my tent, and in Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. There are mountain inns all along the high part of the loop, and hotels, hostels and campsites in the valleys. See Where to sleep.

Do I need to book? I didn't book anything for the hike itself. For the cable car up to Mürren I bought a ticket right when I rolled up to it. The mountain inns are small, so book those ahead in summer. Camping Gletscherdorf takes bookings for its tent meadow online.

Is it marked? Yes. Swiss trails are signed at every junction with times to the next places. Yellow signs are hiking trails; a white-red-white stripe marks a mountain trail. Carry the GPX files anyway: my line links several named routes, and fog comes in.

Can I skip the climbs? Yes. That's the beauty of this area. The Schynige Platte railway goes up from Wilderswil, the First gondola comes down to Grindelwald, a summer bus runs from Grosse Scheidegg, the Eiger Express goes up to Eigergletscher, and railways and cable cars link the Lauterbrunnen valley with Mürren, Grütschalp and Isenfluh. See Trains, lifts and passes.

Should I buy a pass? It depends on how many lifts you'll use. On this trip I bought ordinary tickets. These days I have connections with Switzerland Tourism, so I get free Swiss Passes when I visit; you'll be paying for yours. The passes and what they cover are in Trains, lifts and passes.

Where do I leave my luggage? I used a large locker at Interlaken Ost for the four days. If you leave something in there for a long time, they may move it to storage and you ask for it back at the desk. No biggie. In 2026 a large locker costs CHF 10 per 24 hours, up to 6 days.

Is there water? At the inns, restaurants and campsites, including the restaurant at First. The Berghotel Faulhorn says there's no drinking water on its mountain, so fill up before the long high section of Day 2.

Phone and data? I bought a Sunrise prepaid SIM in Zürich on the first day (CHF 19.90, 2022).

Cash or cards? Cards are taken almost everywhere in Switzerland, including Camping Breithorn and the Faulhorn hotel. The Lobhornhütte prefers cash (cards and TWINT from CHF 20). Carry some Swiss francs for small places.

Can I fly a drone? Drones are banned in federal hunting reserves, and the Schwarzhorn reserve covers the area around First. Elsewhere, the federal drone rules and its restricted-zone map apply. See Weather and safety.

I walked the four days above, camping three nights. These versions are for people who want a bed every night or shorter days. I didn't walk them this way; the distances come from my own GPS on the same paths.

A bed every night: 7 days

Day 5 is still long. Two ways to shorten it: ride the Eiger Express from Grindelwald Terminal up to Eigergletscher and walk the Eiger Trail downhill to Alpiglen and back to Grindelwald, which is the way most people do it; or walk my line over Eigergletscher as far as Wengernalp (13.4 miles) and take the train down to Lauterbrunnen. Book the mountain inns ahead in July and August.

Shorter trips

• The high trail, 1 or 2 days: the train to Schynige Platte, the ridge over the Faulhorn to First (about 12 miles), and the gondola down to Grindelwald. Sleep at Männdlenen or the Faulhorn to make it two.
• The Eiger Trail, half a day: the Eiger Express up to Eigergletscher, the trail down to Alpiglen, and the train back to Grindelwald.
• Mürren to Wilderswil, 1 or 2 days: my Day 4, with a night at the Lobhornhütte if you want to split it.

Trains, lifts and passes

Everything on the loop, with 2026 details. Timetables are at sbb.ch and in the SBB app. Jungfrau Railways publishes "from" prices, so check the full fare when you buy.

The passes

If you walk the loop the way I did, you only ride the BOB and one cable car, and ordinary tickets are cheaper. The passes pay off if you ride the lifts to shorten the days.

• Swiss Travel Pass (2026, 2nd class): 3 days CHF 254, 4 days CHF 309. Free on the main trains, the PostAuto buses and the Stechelberg-Mürren cable car; half price on the Schynige Platte railway and the First gondola; 25% off toward the Jungfraujoch.
• Swiss Half Fare Card: CHF 150 for a month, for visitors. Half price on most trains, buses and lifts here.
• Berner Oberland Pass (2026): 3 days CHF 240, 4 days CHF 280 (reduced price CHF 168 and 196). Free on the Schynige Platte railway and the Stechelberg-Mürren cable car, half price on the First gondola, 25% off to Kleine Scheidegg.
• Jungfrau Travel Pass (2026): 3 days CHF 210 (CHF 165 with a Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass). Covers the BOB, the Schynige Platte railway, the First gondola, the Eiger Express, the Wengernalp railway, the Jungfrau Railway to Eigergletscher and the Mürren railway. It doesn't list the Stechelberg-Mürren cable car, the PostAuto buses, bus 128 or the Isenfluh lift.

Lines and lifts

Before you go, check these

These change every year. Everything else in this guide stays the same.

Where you sleep

• Mountain inn and hut bookings and opening dates (Schynige Platte, Männdlenen, the Faulhorn, First, Grosse Scheidegg, the Lobhornhütte); the Faulhorn opens its 2027 bookings in January 2027
• Campsite seasons and prices (Camping Breithorn takes tents May 1 to September 30)
• The camping rules: no camping outside campsites in Bönigen, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, and none in the Schwarzhorn hunting reserve

Getting there and around

• The Schynige Platte railway season (2026: from June 13, offers to October 25)
• The First gondola: Grindelwald is planning to replace it (no vote or construction dates set in September 2026); check for works or closures in 2027
• Bus 128 to Grosse Scheidegg (2026: May 14 to October 18)
• Closures of the Schilthornbahn (2026: October 19 to 30; April 26 to May 7, 2027) and the Mürren railway (2026: April 13 to July 10 and October 26 to November 6)
• Pass prices and what each pass covers
• Locker prices at Interlaken Ost

Trail, weather and your stuff

• Trail conditions and closures (Berner Wanderwege and the Grindelwald lift status pages), and snow on the Faulhorn early in the season
• The MeteoSwiss forecast every evening
• Offline files on your phone, some Swiss francs, travel insurance with mountain rescue