Kandersteg summer holidays

Holidays in Kandersteg

On the banks of the Kander river and framed by colossal Alpine peaks, Kandersteg is small, friendly and utterly ‘Swiss’. While the pace of life in the village is lovely and leisurely, things really heat up when you reach the mountains – this is a seriously good area for hiking and mountain biking. We love the downhill free-trail, which is packed full of berms and jumps and the area has plenty more for the to-do list including a rope park, swimming pool and summer toboggan run.

Highlights: • Kandersteg-Allmenalp via ferrata • Summer toboggan run • 360 panorama from Niesen

Kandersteg Walking

Having worked up quite the reputation for its stunning treks over the Bernese Alps, Kandesteg’s a great base to explore the mountains on foot. Marked trails from the village lead to UNESCO heritage sites, including the stunningly beautiful Oeschinen Lake and impressive Gastern valley. The routes around Allmenalp, Giesenen and Golitschen have wonderfully large meadows brimming with wildflowers. Climbing up to the peak of the Gällihorn, you’ll need a head for heights but the view of Sunnbüel’s worth the legwork – just remember to sign the visitor’s book at the top! Walkers will find devised trails leading from town into the valley and from the top of the Sunnbüel gondola around the mountain top. Follow the ‘Stierebärgli’ botanical trail to discover alpine flowers, or the ‘Guggerwäg’ walk to learn about the life and habits of the ‘Gugger’ (cuckoo) and other species of bird. The highlight of the region is the Oeschinen Lake, a turquoise stretch of glacial water hidden in the heart of the mountain. You can rent rowing boats to take out onto the water and it’s the perfect spot for a picnic – it’s a must on a sunny day. If you’re looking for less laconic walking, try the Nordic Fitness Academy, based in Kandersteg and the first school of its kind in Switzerland, which runs taster days and guided courses.

Kandersteg Cycling

The mountain biking at Kanderstag is split between 12 trails which lead to Oeschinensee, the Gasterntal or the Gemmipass. Our favourite is the Ueschinental Bike Tour, a tough but rewarding 840m climb over 12km up to the Inner Ueschinen. The first half of the ride is a test of endurance while the second half, on the 12km descent back to Kandersteg, really demands mental focus. You’ll find the gnarly–iest locals at the hugely popular 4.6km freeride trail down from Sunnbüel. The 737m descent is on singletrack over berms, jumps, wall rides, tables and gaps. At the bottom of the run there’s a raucous bar, where everyone swaps stories after a hard day’s riding.

Kandersteg’s location in some of Switzerland’s most awesome valley scenery and close to UNESCO site, Lake Oeschinen, makes cycling an ideal way to get around here. The lake’s only a half an hour ride away, so it’s a great spot to aim for if you don’t fancy something too long-haul. Following the River Kander, it’s possible to reach the medieval castle town of Spiez on Lake Thun’s shore. Turn off this route at Kien for some steeper challenges and views of the Diemtigtal National Park.

There are lots of easier ways to cycle the area too – look out for the UNESCO E-bike tour (you can hire Flyer Electric Bikes from places like Grossen Sport).

More Kandersteg resources