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Oberland Traverse ski tour 2024
Altitude ski tour, which allows late season skiing, and several summits
Course overview
A challenging ski tour with some of the most stunning panoramas the Alps has to offer, all made easily accessible by the famous railway that runs through the middle of the Eiger.
The ski tour is one of the highest in the Alps so good acclimatisation is essential. As the ski tour is at altitude this tour can be run later in the season than many others, and spring powder is guaranteed!
Skiing ability should be fairly good to make the most of this amazing region. You should be fairly fit with good stamina to help you to acclimatise easier and cope with five days of touring with a pack.
You are led by an expert IFMGA Guide who knows where to find the best powder and take in the best descents of the region.
As you are based in good quality comfy Swiss refuges you avoid the hustle of the valley floor and get a good a good cooked meal after the efforts of each day. The food in some of the huts is legendary. You'll eat well, keeping you fuelled for the next day of ski touring.
The accommodation in the mountain huts on the route is half-board throughout. This level of comfort is important, as you really need a good cooked meal after the efforts of each day of ski touring.
Dates: these are listed in the column on the right, and they show the live availability from our secure online booking system. When you book online, you receive immediate confirmation, your Alpine Information Booklet, course specific kit list and invoice.


Brief Course Itinerary
Sun Travel to Brig to arrive for the 17:00 check-in followed by and course safety and itinerary briefings. There is time for kit checks or rental of equipment. Briefings are over by 19:00 and the Guide often accompanies the group to pre-dinner drinks. Night in hotel in Brig.
Mon Day 1 ski tour: Take the early morning train to Grindelwald at the foot of the Eiger, and from here you take the impressive mountain railway built through the mountain to Jungfraujoch (3454m), from where you ski to the Konkordia Hut 2850m. There are three possible route options and objectives en route; Trugberg (3880m), Kranzberg (3666m), or Louwihorn (3773m). From one of these, there follows a nice ski down south facing slopes, to reach the Konkordia hut, accessed via it's seemingly endless ladders.
Ascent +710m, Descent -1325m, Time c. 5-6hrs.
Tue
Day 2 ski tour: Descend the ladders, then skin up to the high Grunhornlucke (3279m), the pass between the Aletsch and Fiesch vallers, then ski down onto the Fieschergletscher. Here you double back on yourself to skin up the perfect angled sloped to reach the summit of Wysnollen (3590m). After the summit, you ski down to reach the Finsteraarhorn hut (3048m) for the night.
Ascent +1280m, Descent -1050m, Time c. 6-7hrs.
Wed Day 3 ski tour: Alpine start for a day tour, out and back from the Finsteraarhorn hut, to reach the amazing ski summit of the Gros Wanenhorn (3905m). The reason that this is a perfect ski touring summit is the angle of the slopes, the broad summit ridge, and the fact that you can skin right up to the summit rocks. The descent is normally down the same slope aspect as the ascent. When you reach the foot of the peak, there's just a short skin back to the Finsteraarhorn hut for a second night.
Ascent +1185m, Descent -1185m, Time c. 6-7hrs.
Thu
Day 4 ski tour: This is a great ski journey day through the high mountains, as you skin and ski over 16km from the Finsteraarhorn hut, up and over the Grunhornlucke pass, before the ski down past the Konkordia hut, and onwards past the huge North Face of the Aletschhorn to reach the Hollandia hut (3240m), where you spend the night.
Ascent +850m, Descent -675m, Time c. 5-6hrs.

Fri Day 5 ski tour: The final and highest summit of the week, the Abeni Flue (3962m), before skiing back down to the Hollandia hut. After a short break, you begin the final descent of the week into the the long ski all the way down Descending back to the Hollandia hut and the Lotschenlucke gives access to the classic alpine ski run into the Lotschental valley, to reach the road head. Descend the valley by post bus to Gopstein, then take the train back to the hotel in Brig.
Ascent +700m, Descent - 2200m, Time c. 5-6hrs.
Sat Breakfast then the accommodation check out is by 10:00. Most arrange their airport transfers to leave around this time, to catch a flight from Geneva about midday. Depart for home.
ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather and conditions dependant, so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans. If this is the case, suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to the types of route / activity that you will attempt.

Course Prices
Standard course
5 full days IFMGA guiding, 1:6 max ratio
7 days holiday in total, Sunday-Saturday
£1599
Live availability
Click on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Latest Availability
Secure online booking system
Standard Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guides for five days, 2) Alpine course hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 5) Two nights B&B accommodation in Brig, 6) Four nights half board accommodation in mountain huts including three course cooked evening meals. 8) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to and from Brig, 2) Cable cars / trains / bus (budget on c.£120), 3) Ski hire, 4) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 5) Sunday pre-dinner drinks & Friday celebratory meal & drinks, 6) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges.
Group sizes: 3 - 6 people per IFMGA mountain guide. For group sizes of over 6 people, there are multiple guides, and the teams travel independently of each other.
Upgrade options
Avalanche Skills Training
£75 (throughout the season)
To learn avalanche prediction, reutschblocks and use of avalanche tranceivers. Course is available on any dates, either scheduled or private, details.
Current course availability

Course Dates
Oberland Ski Tour
  • [ 0 ] 14 - 20 Apr 2024
NOTE: This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are four who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish
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Price: £1599 Book online

Preparatory trips
Intro Ski Touring

Aosta Ski Tour

Alternatives
Haute Route to Zermatt
Monte Rosa ski tour


Next trips
Ski Mount Elbrus
Ski Mont Blanc
Client feedback


First can I thank you for organising a fantastic trip. S was just what I want in a guide, good fun, keen to teach and happy to shout at you when you do something stupid. The trip was a good mix of skinning and scrambling, more adventurous than a normal tour. I know it is early but I will welcome more of the same next year

Charles A , Oberland Ski Tour

The ladders to one of the huts will stay in my mind for a while, but the skiing was really fun

Annette L , Oberland Ski Tour

A great week. Thanks again all

Dean H , Oberland Ski Tour

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Location data for this trip
The trips all start in the village of Brig in Switzerland. It is easily accessed via train or transfer from Geneva airport.
Time Difference
GMT +1hr
Local Currency
CHF
Travel from UK
1hr flight
Skis & equipment advice
Because we know it is so important to you to have the most suitable equipment and clothing for off piste skiing and touring, we have devoted a page especially to it, which you can access by clicking on the image, or by clicking here. This page outlines the key equipment you should bring, and gives examples of skis that are suitable for the course. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Suggested reading and kit
View full course equipment list, with examples of kit, click here
Any further questions?
A key part of choosing a company is being able to come and talk about your plans with an experienced course advisor face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know our clients value speaking to real people, getting open and honest advice. The vast majority of our clients are British, and our office and outdoor store is based in Windermere in the English Lake District.



Get in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee to discuss your course in person with a trip advisor.


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