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Switzerland Family Multisport

Switzerland Family Multisport

Switzerland’s terrain of jagged snowcapped peaks, lush wildflower-speckled valleys and charming alpine villages is a sensory delight. On this Backroads trip in the Bernese Oberland, you and your family will gaze at craggy peaks and turquoise glaciers, drink in crisp mountain air and savor old-world charm and hospitality. Enjoy smooth pedaling and hardy hiking in view of the famed Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. Along the way, sample Swiss cuisine, from the traditional fare of an alpine stübli to sophisticated meals served in world-class restaurants.

Day 1 Kandersteg

Meet in Kandersteg Commute the Swiss way with a chairlift ride to 5,500 feet Hike on a ridge above the waters of Lake Oeschinen, where limestone cliffs are capped by snowy peaks and hanging glaciers  Take time for a snack and cup of cocoa on a well-deserved break at a traditional mountain hut.

Days 2-3 Grindelwald

Easy pedaling leads to the lakeside town of Spiez Board a historic paddleboat and cross Lake Thun to Interlaken Hitch a ride on a cog train to Grindelwald at the foot of the Eiger  Enjoy a traditional alphorn concert  Hop on a Trotti bike for an exhilarating ride to the Grindelwald valley floor  Tried the luge? Today is your chance!

Days 4-6 Giessbach

Pedal through Lauterbrunnen Valley, home to more than 70 glacier-fed waterfalls  Feel the spray of magnificent Trummelbach Falls, located inside a cavern  Pedal through the countryside to Lake Brienz Boat across turquoise waters to Giessbach Hike across the ridgeline overlooking the Gental Valley and descend by bike  Visit a traditional cheese farm and sample local specialties Walk through the peaceful forest of Iseltwald.

big map

ALPINE ELEGANCE: Premiere Inns

Hotel Victoria Ritter (1 night): Nestled in the heart of town, this family-run alpine oasis is surrounded by stunning snowcapped peaks, and offers tennis courts and an indoor swimming pool.

Grand Hotel Regina (2 nights): This Leading Hotels of the World member features swimming pools, spacious guest rooms, a solarium and a wonderful locale at the foot of the towering Eiger north face.

Grandhotel Giessbach (2 nights): Set idyllically by the Giessbach waterfalls and Lake Brienz, the elegant old-world estate welcomes families with gardens, terraces, tennis courts and a pool.

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6

Please keep in mind that while the mileage is moderate, the altitude can make hiking and biking more challenging than the route rating implies. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Biking Average Walking Average
Insider Trips
Explore at a leisurely pace—on village walks, market strolls, art history excursions, hands-on cooking classes and more.
Level 1 2-3 hours 10-20 mile 2-5 miles
Level 2 2-4 hours 21-30 miles 5-7 miles
Level 3 3-5 hours 31-40 miles 7-9 miles
Level 4 4-6 hours 41-55 miles 9-11 miles
Level 5 5-7+ hours 56-75+ miles 11-13+ miles
2010 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
Recommended Kids Ages

Minimum Ages:

Recommended minimum age for the trip: 9 years

Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 7 years

General Info on Minimum Ages:

We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:

Please note that a trip may feature an activity with an older age requirement than the minimum age recommendation for the trip. Younger kids are still welcome on the trip and while they will not be able to participate in the activity, the leaders will suggest an alternate activity. For safety reasons, children under 7 may not ride their own bikes and are required to ride on a Piccolo or in a Burley. For certain destinations, children must be 9 or older to ride their own bikes.

Guest Trip Reviews

The memories of this trip for me and my son will last forever. Backroads took great care of all the details and everything ran very smoothly. Backroads even supplied gorgeous weather for the entire trip. Way to go! We will be back!
Darren C deBaca - Millbrae, CA

I am looking forward to my next trip. This was our first family trip and I think that all of us had such a great time and for different reasons--friendships, adventures, doing things we have never done before. We will all remember the Alps!
Susan Janssen - Naperville, IL

I cannot say enough about what a great job the leaders did on this trip. They were great with the children and a pleasure to be around. If they weren't playing capture the flag with the kids they were helping the adults. You are fortunate to have such personable, knowledgeable, fun, and dedicated people in your organization.
Mark Mead - Chagrin Falls, OH