The Bernese Oberland is a magical part of the Alps. Its vast glaciers feel more Arctic than alpine in scale and provide the ski tourer and mountaineer with some truly impressive terrain to ski and travel through. The high peaks here lend themselves perfectly to either logical ski ascents OR, more technical, ski approached, mountaineering ridges and summits.  We have 2 courses which make the most of both inspiring options, both exploring into the heart of this magnificent high mountain area and alpine capital of spring ski touring.

  • Our Bernese Oberland Ski Touring Expedition explores the wonderful varied terrain of this area with an action packed full week of travelling through its high glaciers & cols staying at the famous huts and skiing the brilliant high 3000m peaks which make fine logical ascents on skis.
  • Our Bernese Oberland Ski Summits & 4000m Peaks Course uses ski travel to the access both logical ski summits and ski depots on high mountain ridges where skis are exchanged for crampons and mountaineering skills are used to continue up these highly prized big alpine summits including some of the the famous 4000ers.

Which ever course you choose, your hard efforts will be well rewarded by the high mountain huts, rightly famous for their comfort, hospitality and good food. Enjoying a cold drink on the sunny terrace of the Konkordia Hut, with a majestic view, after a great days skiing, will make you think you have struck the perfect holiday balance of effort and relaxation!

Spring 2026 Bernese Oberland – Private Guiding Trips Booking Now

Bernese Oberland Ski Touring Expedition

Bernese Oberland Ski Summits

Ski Bernese Oberland Latest Conditions

Skiing the Kranzbergfirn Glacier after an ascent of the Louwihorn and en route to Konkordia Hutte.

Bernese Oberland Ski Touring Expedition

The ski touring visitor to the Bernese Oberland has a wealth of appealing ski peaks, cols and hut to hut glacier journeys to plan their trip around.  Our creative programme makes great use of this terrain and excellent Swiss Alpine Club huts.   We link together these hospitable hut nights with a series of fine ski peaks & glacier tours to create an inspiring journey and memorable week in the high Swiss Valais Alps.

Bernese Oberland Touring Expedition – Course Aims

  • Enjoy 6 days ski mountaineering in the high mountains on varied terrain featuring long glacier journeys, peaks & cols
  • Complete some good ski mountaineering training & acclimatisation during the first ‘shakedown day’ with further training throughout the week
  • Spend 4 nights in superb Swiss Mountain Refuges, enjoying the ambiance & cuisine of high mountain hut life
  • Meet up with like other like minded ski mountaineers for a memorable & sociable spring ski journey

Big Glacier Country! Stunningly scenic high altitude ski journeys between the huts, cols and summits of the Bernese Oberland.

Bernese Oberland Touring Expedition – Draft Course Itinerary

Please note: This itinerary is flexible and may change according to weather, conditions & team fitness & aspirations.

  • Pre Course. As with all our ski courses, we recommend you prepare as much as possible in advance with relevant ‘ski fit’ preparation and then arrive at least a day or two early to both warm up your ski legs & check equipment. This is especially important if you will be renting boots or skis & bindings. Please also make sure your skis are well serviced & bindings correctly adjusted.
  • Pre-course evening meeting in Chamonix, team intros & equipment check.
  • Day 1 – Course Intro & equipment checks followed by a ski mountaineering ‘shakedown day’. Location will be one of the high lifts of the Mt Blanc Massif eg. the high ‘Punta Helbronner’ lift with a day spent around 3300m skiing, refresher training, acclimatising and enjoying the truly spectacular views of the Italian side of ‘Monte Bianco‘. Return to Chamonix in the afternoon & an opportunity to do any last minute shopping before going ‘on tour!’

High altitude spring glacier skiing and training from the Skyway Monte Bianco lift on the Italian side of the Vallée Blanche. A great warm up to the week ahead!

  • Day 2 – An early start is made for the journey to Grindlewald. Often we use this day as an opportunity to drop a car either in Interlaken or  Goppenstein train stations and complete the onward journey to Grindlewald by train. This then allows a fantastic final descent down the mighty Lotschental and out of the mountains at the end of the week.

Setting Sail! Departing Jungfraujoch for the initial descent of the immense Jungfraufirn Glacier en route to Konkordia Hut (2850m)

  • In Grindlewald we ascend the spectacular Jungfraujoch railway & enjoy the remarkably swift access to the glaciers of the high Oberland.  Depending on the time and snow conditions we aim to either make the ski ascent of the Louwihorn (3778m) or ski directly down the huge Jungfraufirn Glacier to the superb Konkordia Hutte where we can enjoy a drink on the high sunny terrace at Konkordia….Welcome to the heart of the Bernese Oberland!

Enjoying the magnificent views and sunny terrace at Konkordia Hut (2850m)

  • Day 3 – Our Oberland journey now heads East to explore and skin up the Grunegfirn Glacier over the shapely Grunhornlucke (3280m). After carefully descending the often crevassed easterly slopes of the pass we ascend the classic ski peak of the Weisnollen (3590m) & descend to the impressively smart & modern Finsteraarhorn Hutte. Spring ski touring often gives quite early arrival times at the hut and plenty of time for a hearty Swiss Rösti, quality technical training….& even the odd afternoon nap to keep you going through the full week!

Skinning journey over the shapely saddle of the Grunhornlucke (3280m) with the remarkable Grosser Aletschfirn beyond – And Hollandia Hut positioned just above right of the distant col of the Lötschenlücke (3158m)

  • Day 4 – An early start & enjoyable Swiss Alpine Hut breakfast leads to an initial ski descent of the grand upper Fieschergletscher. Our route leaves this at around 2900m for the 1000m climb up the glacial east flank of the Gross Wanenhorn (3905m). A brilliant ski peak and, in good conditions, superb descent. To safely manoeuvre our way around the Oberland, the best route now takes us back over the Grunhornlucke for another night at the awesome base camp at Konkordia Hutte.

Superb snow and great skiing on the descent of the NE glacier on the Grosses-Wannenhorn (3906m)

  • Day 5 – The ski ascent of the Kranzberg (3666m) is an Oberland classic and gives an interesting series of south facing pitches in descent. If conditions and our timing are right, this will hopefully be on perfect spring snow. After this 1000m ski journey we commence the steady ascent of the huge Grosser Aletscherfirn with magnificent views of the impressive Aletshchorn North Face. The Hollandia Hut (3240m) provides our Base Camp for the night in a commanding position between the upper Glaciers of the high Oberland and the awesome valley descending to the West…

The view down the descent of the Lotschental – From the impressively positioned Hollandia Hut, the western gateway to the high East Oberland.

  • Day 6 – An early start from Hollandia leads directly in to the steady skinning ascent all the way up the shapely Abeni Fluh (3962m).

Skinning along the SE Ridge of teh Abeni Flue at nearly 4000m with the massive bull of the Aletschorn behind. A magnificent position!

  • An excellent south facing ski descent takes us back to the hut for a café & to pick up equipment before the famous long westerly ski descent of the remarkable Lotschental valley
  • A suitably grand exit from an amazing week of touring in the high Oberland.  The onward journey is then taken via bus / train & car back to Interlaken and onwards to Chamonix or directly to Geneva via the train.

Simon in the mushy peas snow conditions lower down the Lötschental, with the Lötschenlucke and Hollandia Hutte at the head of the valley beyond.

Bernese Oberland Ski Touring Expedition – Fitness, Ski & Mountaineering Experience Pre-Requirements

  • Good off piste skiing ability.  Confident in a wide variety of mixed snow conditions, from powder to crust or hardpack, on steep slopes up to the equivalent of black runs.  Able to link short radius turns under control on these slopes at altitude as part of a mountain day.
  • Existing ski touring experience with a minimum of 5 days using skins / touring bindings / ski crampons and a reliable and effective kick turn
  • Good level of mountain fitness with the ability to complete multiple back to back 7-8 hour days without any problems and maintain an overall ascent rate of 300m+ / hour
  • Willingness to be part of a team and ski as an open group

Course Notes & Equipment List

Please note that the detailed kit list, given via the link below must be followed and all hire kit including boots, skis, skins, ski crampons, poles, transeiver, shovel, probe must be hired in advance or, for the avalanche safety and mountaineering equipment, arranged in advance with us.

Ski Haute Route Equipment List

2026 Bernese Oberland Ski Touring Expedition Dates & Prices

6 days, Sunday to Friday, with 4 nights in mountain huts

£1550 Per Person (see details of inclusions & exclusions below)

Maximum guiding ratio 1 Guide to 4 guests

What’s included in the Price?

  • 6 days ski mountaineering with an International Mountain Guide (IFMGA)
  • Return travel to the Oberland from Chamonix during the course
  • Ski programme planning and booking of mountain huts during the course
  • Car parking in Grindlewald / Interlaken
  • Guides ski lift & train / bus fees
  • Trip planning & booking of mountain huts

What’s not included in the price?

  • Accommodation, please see our recommended list for places to stay in Chamonix.
  • The Hotel Pt Isabella in Chamonix is very central and near the ski hire shops, our meeting areas and ‘apres ski’ area of Chamonix!
  • Mountain huts & lift passes, for you and the guides. Allow about 85 euros / Swiss CHF per night half board accommodation for each person and around 50 CHF for the Guides nightly hut fees (shared between all guests on the team).
  • Any other expenses like taxis etc arising from a change in itinerary
  • Train journeys and any public transport during the course
  • Food and drink during the course
  • Ski equipment. Check the kit list above.
  • More details and up to date expenses eg for the Jungfraujoch railway on our alpine expenses page here

Thanks again Rob. Been an awesome time. I always trust your chosen options as safe yet inspiring. You ticked that box yet again. Good snow conditions for a rapid and enjoyable boot up to the Fieschersattel at 3923m.Great skimo, great pics and great company!!

Many thanks!  Simon – Ski Bernese Oberland Summits & 4000m Peaks, May 2023 

Bernese Oberland Ski Summits Course

The ski mountaineering visitor to the Bernese Oberland has a wealth of appealing peaks and hut to hut options to plan their trip around. Our physically tough but creative programme makes great use of the terrain and excellent Swiss Alpine Club huts.  We link together these hospitable hut nights with a series of BIG peaks to create an inspiring journey and memorable week in the high Swiss Valais Alps.

Ski Mountaineering – Summit Of The AbeniFlue (3962m) In the Bernese Oberland

Bernese Oberland Ski Summits Course Aims

  • Enjoy 5 days physical & technical ski mountaineering in the high mountains on varied terrain featuring long, tough glacier touring journeys, technical mountaineering peaks & some brilliant skiing
  • Make ascents of some famous Oberland peaks, with the possibility of skiing 5 peaks in 5 days
  • Peaks including the 4000ers of Grünhorn (4044m), Finsterarhorn (4274m) & Fiescherhorn (4049m)
  • Spend 4 nights in the superb Swiss Mountain Refuges, enjoying the ambiance & cuisine of high mountain hut life
  • Meet up with like other like minded ski mountaineers for a challenging but memorable & sociable late spring ski journey.

Ski Mountaineering In The Bernese Oberland – Magic!

Bernese Oberland Ski Summits Course – 5 Day Course Itinerary

Please note: This itinerary is flexible and may change according to weather, conditions & team fitness & aspirations.

Pre Course. As with all our ski courses, we recommend you prepare as much as possible in advance with relevant ‘ski fit’ preparation and then arrive at least a day or two early to both warm up your ski legs & check equipment. This is especially important if you will be renting boots or skis & bindings. Please make sure you are fit and skiing well for the start of the course as well as skis being serviced & bindings correctly adjusted.

Evening Meeting.  We have a pre course informal evening meet to welcome guests and meet the rest of the team as well as reviewing the current conditions and weather forecast and discussing the inspiring week ahead…

Day 1.  An early start is made for the journey to Grindlewald. Often we use this day as an opportunity to drop a car either in Interlaken or  Goppenstein train stations and complete the onward journey to Grindlewald by train. This then allows for the possibility of a fantastic final descent down the mighty Lotschental and out of the mountains at the end of the week.

In Grindlewald we ascend the spectacular Jungfraujoch railway & enjoy the remarkably swift access to the glaciers of the high Oberland.  Depending on the time and snow conditions we aim to either make the ski ascent of the Louwihorn (3778m) or ski directly down the huge Jungfraufirn Glacier to the superb Konkordia Hutte where we can enjoy a drink on the high sunny terrace at Konkordia….Welcome to the heart of the Bernese Oberland!

The ascent of the north side of the Louwihorn with the next days route on the West Face of the Gros Grunhorn behind which is the plan for the following day on this course

Day 2.  Our Oberland 4000m peaks project starts with an early departure heading up the long journey and ski ascent of the Gross Fiescherhorn (4049m).  This is an Oberland classic and gives a big day with a long and steady glacier skinning ascent, steep snow couloir climb and fine mountaineering ascent from Fieschersattel along the SE Ridge (PD) with inspiring views around the Oberland including to all the other 4000m peaks on this programme.

Simon on the summit of the Fiescherhorn. A beautiful position in the heart of the Eastern Oberland, with the huge Finsteraarhorn on the left and Grunhorn centre right. (The objectives for the following 2 days.)

After descending this ridge, we take the significant ski descent of the East, then South facing glaciers, hopefully on fine spring snow and always with some steep terrrain and ice cliffs above down to the impressively smart & modern Finsteraarhorn Hutte. Spring ski touring often gives quite early arrival times at the hut and plenty of time for a hearty Swiss Rösti, quality technical training & even the odd afternoon nap!

The superbly located Finsteraarhorn Hut (3048m)

Day 3.  An early start & another enjoyable Swiss Alpine Hut breakfast leads to a direct ski ascent of the slopes behind the hut leading on to the glacier and high on the NW ridge of the Finsteraarhorn (4274m) where we leave skis and proceed upwards with crampons in mountaineering mode. This NW ridge of the mountain is a classic and very enjoyable PD+ alpine route, with sustained easy mixed ground and some short steps and mini pitches of II.   After reversing both the climbing and ski routes back to the hut, to safely manoeuvre our way around the Oberland, the best route now takes us back over the Grunhornlucke for another night at Konkordia Hut.

The magnificent Finsteraarhorn (4274m), with the Agassizhorn (3946m) to the left seen from the Fiescherhorn.

Day 4.  The Gross Grünhorn (PD+), at 4044m is the lowest of the weeks 4000ers so provides a slightly more rapid approach, but there is another hut to skin up to after the descent!  The ski ascent to the base of the SW ridge is steep and efficient from Konkordia and we either make an aller retour on the mixed summit SW ridge before either reversing our tracks back to Konkordia or, more technical but very enjoyable, make the mountaineering traverse of the Grunggehorn (3863m). Either way, we ski SW and S facing slopes back to Konkordia and settle in to a pleasant steady afternoon rhythm ascending to the Hollandia Hut, wonderfully located at 3238m at the head of the massive Lotschental Valley.  A great base camp to enjoy views of the North Face of the Aletschhorn and launching pad for the exciting last day of the tour and descent to the valley.

The last ascent of our trip, and a steady and scenic one, up the source of the biggest glacier in the Alps. The upper Aletsch to Lotschenlucke, below Hollandia Hutte.

Day 5.  An early start from Hollandia leads directly in to the steady skinning ascent of the glacier behind the hut.  A choice is made whether we want to focus on the famous, beautiful and steep south facing descent of the Mitaghorn, or, if snow conditions are not so good, or legs are tired…we can continue all the way up the easier but still shapely Abeni Fluh (3962m).

Leaving the magnificently positioned Hollandia Hut en route to making an ascent of the Abni Flue 3961m before returning to the hut and skiing out to the valley via the spring magic carpet ride down the Lotschental

An excellent south facing ski descent takes us back to the hut for a café & to pick up equipment before the famous long westerly ski descent of the remarkable Lotschental valley

Atmospheric light, and snow conditions to go with it! On the superb long ski out via the Lötschental.

A suitably grand exit from an amazing week of touring in the high Oberland.  The onward journey is then taken via bus & train back to Interlaken and onwards to Chamonix or directly to Geneva via the train.

A physically demanding & technically challenging but brilliant spring week of ski mountaineering in the high Swiss Alps.

The view down the descent of the Lotschental – From the impressively positioned Hollandia Hut, the western gateway to the high East Oberland.

Bernese Oberland Ski Summits Course – Fitness, Ski & Mountaineering Skills Required

  • Strong, confident and technically competent skier able to deal with variable off-piste snow conditions on steep slopes. An ability to manoeuvre skis around crevasses with precision and ski swiftly yet with control under seracs. An ability to do all this after a long, tough and tiring ascent at altitude.
  • A high level of fitness, stamina and mental toughness is required for this series of 5 tough summit days, which with hut approaches could be up to 10+ hours.  Ability to maintain an ascent rate of 400m / hour for 4-6 hours during the day. Good organisation of equipment and efficient transitions with your ski gear whilst on the mountain.
  • Mountaineering experience is required and whilst this does not need to be on steep and difficult ground you should have some winter or alpine / cramponing experience up to Scottish grade II or Alpine PD routes; a head for heights and the ability to concentrate and climb carefully on steep snow for around 1.5 hours between breaks.
  • Willingness to be part of a small team and ski as an open group
  • Good off piste skiing ability.  Confident in a wide variety of mixed snow conditions, from powder to crust or hardpack, on steep slopes up to the equivalent of black runs.  Able to link short radius turns under control on these slopes at altitude as part of a mountain day.
  • Good existing ski touring experience with a minimum of 7 days using skins & touring bindings and the ability to perform robust and reliable kick turns even on steep slopes.

Bernese Oberland Ski Summits Course – Course Notes & Equipment List

Please note that the detailed kit list, given via the link below must be followed and all hire kit including boots, skis, skins, ski crampons, poles, transeiver, shovel, probe must be hired in advance or arranged in advance with us.

Ski Mountaineering Equipment List

2024 Bernese Oberland Ski Summits Course – Booking, Dates & Prices

5 days, Monday to Friday, with 4 nights in mountain huts

Maximum guiding ratio 1 Guide to 2 guests

Option to join our Ski Mont Blanc summit period after this course to take advantage of your hard won skills and acclimatisation….after a rest day or 2!

What’s included in the Price?

  • 5 full days ski mountaineering with an International Mountain Guide (IFMGA)
  • Return travel to the Oberland from Chamonix during the course
  • Car parking in Grindlewald
  • Guides lift fees in Chamonix
  • Trip planning & booking of mountain huts

What’s not included in the price?

  • Accommodation. Please see our Chamonix accommodation notes.  The Hotel Pt Isabella in Chamonix is very central and near the ski hire shops, our meeting areas and ‘apres ski’ area of Chamonix!
  • Mountain huts & lift passes, for you and the guides. Allow about 90 euros per night half board accommodation for each person and just over half this for the shared cost of the Guide (shared between all guests on the team).
  • Jungfraujoch train expenses (around 200 CHF)
  • The guides discounted Jungfraujoch train expenses (around 100 CHF) are split between the group members.  All lift fees for the Guide outside the Chamonix valley are split between the guests.
  • Train fares and any other public transport, or taxis, used during the course.
  • Any other expenses like taxis etc arising from a change in itinerary
  • Food and drink during the course
  • Ski equipment. Check the kit list below
  • Based on 2 nights 2* hotel accommodation in Chamonix half board single room (approx 110€ per night), 4 hut nights, jungfraujoch return and share of guides huts total additional costs will be about 600 CHF + hotel in Chamonix (approx. 220€).

Konkordia. A remarkable base camp for exploring the inspiring central Bernese Oberland. A ski mountaineering Mecca.

Ski Bernese Oberland – Latest Conditions

Please check the latest snow & skiing conditions info below for the Bernese Oberland and let us know if you have any recent info we can add it here as a resource for other teams heading out…

Bon ski, bonne route!

May 2023, Excellent Late Spring Ski 4000m & Peaks Conditions

Good snow volume and both very good skiing on the glacier, slopes and fine mountaineering conditions on the Grunhorn & Fiescherhorn 4000m peaks for this course visiting both Konkordia and Finsteraahorn Huts and making a lovely late season descent of the Lochental before returning to Interlaken by train.  Full trip report here:

6 May 2023, Ski Bernese Oberland 4000m Peaks, Monte Rosa & Gran Paradiso