Bernese Oberland & Central Switzerland - Discover Switzerland: Experience the Best of Switzerland - page 309

WEST BERNESE OBERLAND
At the western side of the Jungfrau are Simmental and Frutigland, dominated by two wildly
beautiful river valleys, the Simme and the Kander. Further west is Saanenland, famous for
the ritzy ski resort of Gstaad.

Kandersteg
POP 1200 / ELEV 1176M
Turn up in Kandersteg wearing anything but muddy boots and you'll attract a few odd
looks. Hiking is this town's raison d'être, with 550km of surrounding trails. An amphi-
theatre of spiky peaks studded with glaciers and jewel-coloured lakes creates a sublime nat-
ural backdrop to the rustic village of dark-timber chalets.
Jagged mountains frame the impossibly turquoise Oeschinensee ( www.oeschinensee.ch ) . A
cable car (one way/return Sfr16/23) takes you to within 20 minutes of the lake by foot. Once
there, it takes an hour to hike back down to Kandersteg.
Kandersteg has some first-rate hiking in its wild backyard on the cantonal border with
Valais. A superb trek is the high-level Gemmi Pass (2314m) to Leukerbad, involving a
steep descent. Alternatively, you could walk through flower-strewn pastures in the wildlife-
rich Üschenetäli. For more of a challenge, test the 3½-hour via ferrata at Allmenalp .
Equipment can be hired at the valley station for Sfr20.
In winter there are more than 50km of cross-country ski trails, including the iced-over
Oeschinensee.

Sleeping & Eating

Kandersteg's popularity with hikers means there's lots of cheaper accommodation, but
many places close between seasons. Ask for the Guest Card for reductions on activities.

HOTEL ZUR POST $
( 033 675 12 58; www.hotel-zur-post.ch , s Sfr55-70, d Sfr100-120) Cheery and central, these good-
value digs offer simple rooms with balconies. Downstairs the restaurant has a menu packed
with Swiss staples like fondue and rösti (mains Sfr18 to Sfr35). Sit on the terrace when the
sun's out.

| Hotel