Cross-country Skiing in Kandersteg

Cross country skiing in Kandersteg, one of the last surviving picture-postcard Swiss villages in the heart of the Bernese Oberland.

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!

Sustainability and Impact

At Exodus, we thrive on travel, and we firmly believe our adventures should help destinations thrive too.

As a certified B Corp, we aim to take a ‘nature positive’ approach across our adventures, including carbon and waste reduction, animal welfare and support for rewilding and conservation. We also seek to contribute to local communities, providing economic opportunity and empowerment.

• Learn more about our Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan, including our commitment to rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller

• Read about the work of the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation.

• Find out how you can travel more sustainably here.

Is this 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.

Vaccinations and Health

Switzerland

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

Switzerland

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Switzerland. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/switzerland
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/switzerland
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/switzerland/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Switzerland.html

Food & Drink

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).

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