Spiez - Leukerbad (Rinderhütte) via the Lötschenpass

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A magnificent route starting from Lake Thun in the canton of Bern and ending at the pretty spa resort of Leukerbad in Valais.
You will cross the Lötsche Glacier and the Lötsche Pass (the highest point of the hike), which marks the border between the cantons of Bern and Valais.
This route offers numerous views of the peaks of the Bernese Oberland and Valais.

Details

n°61344944
Creation:
Last update:
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–
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 72.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 5,534 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,794 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,693 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 558 m

Photos

le Restipass
Le Weisshorn
Wysse See
Le Restipass

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S
    Spiez - Kiental

    Spiez - Kiental

    ↔15.44 km ↗723 m ↘337 m
    This first stage will take you from Spiez to the shores of Lake Thun and the small valley of Kiental. After following the lake to Faulensee, the climb to Aeschi offers views of the pyramid-shaped Niesen mountain overlooking Spiez. You will also be impressed by the steep funicular railway that climbs up to the Niesen. You will enjoy the tranquillity of the village of Kiental.
    View the route
  2. 2
    Kiental - Kandersteg

    Kiental - Kandersteg

    ↔19.65 km ↗1,249 m ↘1,024 m
    This second stage will take you from Kiental to Kandersteg. After a fairly challenging climb to Ramslauenen, you will cross the beautiful Horewald forest and then overlook the Kander valley. You will enjoy more views of Lake Thun and the Niesen. You will also have a bird's eye view of the trains on the Lötschberg line. Kandersteg is the station where vehicles board the shuttle trains before the Lötschberg railway tunnel.
    View the route
  3. 3
    Kandersteg - Selde

    Kandersteg - Selde

    ↔11.09 km ↗1,492 m ↘1,115 m
    This third stage will take you from Kandersteg to the hamlet of Selde. The Kander river will accompany you throughout this beautiful route. Calm from Kandersteg to Eggeschwand, the Kander can be heard as you climb up through the gorges, where you can enjoy the various waterfalls and cascades. You will then follow it more peacefully through the wide Gastertal valley to Selde.
    View the route
  4. 4
    Selde - Lauchernalp

    Selde - Lauchernalp

    ↔11.51 km ↗1,200 m ↘705 m
    This fourth stage will take you from Selde to Lauchernalp. You will start by crossing the Kander via a suspension bridge. After Gfelalp, you will have a superb view of the Kanderfin glacier, the source of the Kander. The climb to the Lötschenpass crosses a glacier without any difficulty. An equipped passage takes you to the pass, where you can enjoy a break at the hut. You will admire the wide panorama of the 4,000-metre peaks of the Valais Dom, Weisshorn and Matterhorn. At the Lötschen Pass, as at Lauchernalp, you can see the Restipass, which is the planned route for the next day's stage.
    View the route
  5. E
    Lauchernalp - Leukerbad (Rinderhütte)

    Lauchernalp - Leukerbad (Rinderhütte)

    ↔14.68 km ↗870 m ↘613 m
    This last stage will take you from Lauchernalp to Leukerbad. The route passes through several mountain pastures, including Kummenalp and Restialp. As you climb up to the Restipass, you will enjoy magnificent views of the Lötschental and the peaks, from the Jungfrau to the Aletschhorn. The Weisshorn will also often be visible. The western slope of the Restipass will take you easily to the upper station of Leukerbad at the Rinderhütte.
    View the route

Notes

Hike completed by the author from 26 to 30 August 2024
Preparation:
A multi-day itinerary should be planned in advance.
Experience has shown that it is a good idea to check the availability of accommodation, as some establishments have a "Ruhetag" (rest day) during the week

  • For the first stage, the route for this hike uses part of stage 11 of the ViaBerna(from Spiez to Aeschi bei Spiez), which is marked on Swiss maps.
  • For days 2 to 4, the route for this hike uses the first three stages of the Lötschberg-Panoramaweg, which is marked on Swiss maps.

Signposting: at each major crossroads, you will find signposts:
- Sign No. 38 or P38 with a sticker No. 38 indicating this trail.
- Sign No. 56 or P56 with a No. 56 sticker indicating this trail.
- Sign R: Yellow sign with a hiker pictogram

  • Before setting off, it is advisable to check for any trail closures and diversions on the Suisse Topo website. This information is updated in real time.
  • In addition to the Visorando app, you can also download the swisstopo app ( free) where you will also find this information.
  • Transport: timetables
  • Weather: before setting off, check the Swiss weather forecast or Météo blue
  • Hiking equipment, including good shoes.
  • Please note that Switzerland is not in the EU. Mobile data is charged at prohibitive rates. It is advisable to download offline maps via Wi-Fi before each stage.
  • In the canton of Bern, very few people speak French. A basic knowledge of German or English is recommended. The local greeting is Grüezi (hello) or Grüezi mitenand (hello everyone).
  • Accommodation in Spiez: Hotel Seegarten Marina
  • Accommodation in Kiental: Hotel Bären. Please note that there is no longer a restaurant at this hotel or in Kiental. Bring a cold meal for the evening. Fortunately, there is a bakery/grocery store near the hotel.
  • Accommodation in Kandersteig: Hotel Adler
  • Accommodation in Selde: Berghotel Gasterntal Horner
  • Accommodation in Lauchernalp: Hotel Wildi
  • Accommodation in Leukerbad: Hotel Römerhof

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

Other walks in the area

Walking Spiez - Kiental

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↔15.44 km ↗+723 m ↘-337 m ◔6h 30 ▲Difficult
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This first stage will take you from Spiez to the shores of Lake Thun and the small valley of Kiental. After following the lake to Faulensee, the climb to Aeschi offers views of the pyramid-shaped Niesen mountain overlooking Spiez. You will also be impressed by the steep funicular railway that climbs up to the Niesen. You will enjoy the tranquillity of the village of Kiental.

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For this fourth stage, you will once again enjoy the lakeside on the Strandweg. The walk along the lake from Spiez to Faulensee is magnificent. The route then climbs from Kratttigen to Meielisalp. You will enjoy numerous views of the lake and have another opportunity to cross the 140-metre-long Leissigen bridge, suspended 60 metres above the Spissibach Gorge.

Walking Sigriswil - Thun via the Panorama Rundweg Thunersee

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This second stage begins with a highlight: crossing the panoramic bridge at Sigriswil. At 340 metres long and suspended 180 metres above the Guntebach Gorge, you can enjoy a magnificent panorama. The route overlooks the lake for a long time before descending to the town of Thun. This town has many historic buildings. A visit to the historic centre is a must.

Walking Thun - Spiez via the Panorama Rundweg Thunersee

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↔15.22 km ↗+220 m ↘-216 m ◔5h 00 ▲Moderate
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For this third stage, after following the Aare, you will return to the shores of Lake Thun, passing the magnificent Schadau Castle. Climb up the Strättlig hill for panoramic views of the lake. Before descending to Spiez, cross the Kander Gorge via the Strättligsteg suspension bridge. You will arrive in Spiez via its vineyards and castle. This charming village lives peacefully around its marina.

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This second stage will take you from Kiental to Kandersteg. After a fairly challenging climb to Ramslauenen, you will cross the beautiful Horewald forest and then overlook the Kander valley. You will enjoy more views of Lake Thun and the Niesen. You will also have a bird's eye view of the trains on the Lötschberg line. Kandersteg is the station where vehicles board the shuttle trains before the Lötschberg railway tunnel.

Walking Interlaken - Sigriswil via the Panorama Rundweg Thunersee

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The cosmopolitan town of Interlaken is the starting point for this tour of Lake Thun. You can admire the three famous peaks of the Bernese Oberland: the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. This beautiful route follows the northern shore of the lake. You will overlook the lake near the Saint Béat caves, then cross the pretty village of Merligen. You will enjoy beautiful views of both the lake and peaks such as the Niederhorn and Rothorn in Sigriswil.

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⚑Departure from Unterseen (Canton of Bern)
Four-day panoramic tour around Lake Thun. This route offers numerous views of the lake and the peaks of the Bernese Oberland. In good weather, you can see the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains, as well as the Schreckhorn. You will also discover the charm of the towns along the way. Interlaken, at the eastern end of Lake Thun, is the starting point for this itinerary.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.