Cross-country Skiing in Kandersteg

Experience Overview

Your base for this holiday is Kandersteg, one of the last surviving picture-postcard Swiss villages in the heart of the Bernese Oberland. It's incredibly pretty (with streets full of cuckoo-clock style houses) and very much unspoiled. The combination of high trails and wonderful open plateaux make it a superb cross-country ski choice for all ages and abilities. As your trip is self guided, our ski programme is both varied and flexible. The glistening trails are beautifully marked, easy to follow and incredibly picturesque. They undulate through snowy pines by the hotel and extend up to the sunny plateaux at Oeschinensee and Sunnbuel, which are easily reached by chairlift or cable car. You are free to explore the local area at your leisure, however, if you prefer we can arrange tuition at a local ski school to get you started. We've included unlimited free rides on the local bus network, giving you the opportunity to extend your skiing further from the hotel, which is situated on the edge of the village and offers real 'home from home' comfort levels. If you visit Kandersteg in January you can step back in time over 100 years during Belle Epoque week (Please enquire for dates), there are period costumes, sledging and bob-sleigh races and an afternoon tea dance!
Profile
— Breakfast daily and 5 picnic lunches at traditional 3 star family run hotel — Gastronomic 5 course meal one night and 4 course meals on the other nights
At a Glance
— Breakfast daily and 5 picnic lunches at traditional 3 star family run hotel — Gastronomic 5 course meal one night and 4 course meals on the other nights
Trip For You
Cross-country skiing is an increasingly popular winter pastime. Compared to those used for downhill, the skis are longer, thinner and lighter with bindings that allow you to lift up your heel. Most cross-country skiing is undertaken on prepared tracks (loipe) covering flat and hillier terrain enabling you to explore the winter landscapes away from the confines of the alpine piste. This is a self-guided trip suitable for all ability levels. Included in the holiday cost is a pass to access all the cross-country ski area while tuition and ski hire can also be prebooked for a supplement.
Eating Drinking
Breakfast is included daily as well as a 4 course dinner each evening. One evening will also be a speciality themed evening with 5 courses. You will also receive 5 picnic lunches during the week. With such a mixture of language and tradition co-existing in such a small country, it is no wonder that there are so many regional dishes. In the Bernese Oberland, Austrian and German influences predominate; gastronomic local delicacies include geschnetzeltes Kalbsfleisch (veal in a rich cream sauce), Kandersteger Bratwurst au Mad re-Jus (roast sausage with a Madeira sauce), Lammbraten gefüllt mit Kraütern (herb roasted lamb) and smoked pork with sauerkraut, and a selection of colourful salads. Typical desserts include Caramel-Birne mit Rum-Sabayon (caramelised pear with a rum sabayon) and Aprikosen-Symphonie (apricot gateau).
Joining Instructions
Our standard flights for this trip are British Airways Heathrow to Zurich, then rail from Zurich Airport to Kandersteg via Bern and a transfer to hotel (5 minutes). On the return, transfer to station (5 minutes) then rail Kandersteg to Zurich Airport via Bern, then British Airways Zurich to Heathrow. Business/club/first class seats are available on request.
Transfer Details
Standard transfers If making a flight inclusive booking transfers are included from Kandersteg train station at 16:41, and back to Kandersteg train station at 10:00. Alternative transfers If you require alternative transfers then we can usually arrange these for you (there may be an additional charge).
Spending Money
— Money will only be required for any ski lessons, guided tours, excursions and cable cars for discovering further afield. Breakfast and dinner are included daily and 5 picnic lunches, so you will only require money on one day for lunch.

Highlights