I still can’t believe that I made my dream trip to Switzerland happen this summer. It was such an incredible 3.5 weeks! Hiking in the Swiss Alps was a phenomenal experience. One of my favorite days (possibly of my entire life!) was hiking from Kleine Scheidegg to Lauterbrunnen. This is a long hike, with a steep descent, but definitely worth it. Here’s my guide for the hike.

Hike Overview: Kleine Scheidegg to Lauterbrunnen

Distance: 9.3 miles

Time: 4.5 to 6 hours

Elevation gained: 293 meters

How to Start the Hike

This hike starts from Kleine Scheidegg, which is accessible by rail. Take the train from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen – this journey is covered if you have a Swiss Travel Pass – then continue on to Kleine Scheidegg. The Swiss Travel Pass doesn’t cover the journey between Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg, so I needed to buy a separate ticket for this on board the train. This was no problem though, and I got a 25% discount on the ticket price by showing my Swiss Travel Pass.

Once you get to Kleine Scheidegg, there’s the option to do a short detour to Fallbodensee. This is a stunning blue lake a short uphill climb above the town, with incredible views of the Eiger. Going to Fallbodensee will add on approximately 1.5 miles to the hike – it took me 45 minutes, including quite a bit of time taking pictures at Fallbodensee!

Hike the Panorama Trail to Mannlichen

The first part of this hike follows the Panorama Trail from Kleine Scheidegg to Mannlichen. Sadly, I was hiking in the clouds for the first part of this hike. But the views, especially of the Eiger, are meant to be insane! I still enjoyed the walk, particularly once the clouds lifted and I could see down into the surrounding valleys. By the time I reached Mannlichen, it was bright and sunny! The trail is easy to follow, curving its way around the side of the mountain peaks. There’s some elevation gain, but it’s fairly minimal. It took me just over 1 hour to reach Mannlichen.

Summiting Mannlichen

Mannlichen station is accessible by cable car from either Wengen or Grindelwald. This is great for access, but means the area is likely to be very busy! It took me 15 minutes to climb to the top of Mannlichen, where I could soak up the phenomenal views over both Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. I could see for miles and miles, and looking at the surrounding mountains and the pretty villages in the valley was like a dream come true.

Descending Down to Wengen and Lauterbrunnen

The trail from Mannlichen to Wengen is very steep. You are descending essentially the entire mountainside! I highly recommend hiking poles, especially for this section – your knees will thank me later. The trail down to Wengen is signposted from Mannlichen, and there’s pretty much only one way to go: down. The views as you descend down into the valley are beautiful. While some parts of the trail are in the woods, the first part is very exposed. It was hot in the sunshine! It took me 1.5 hours of steady hiking to get from Mannlichen to Wengen.

I didn’t see or do much in Wengen, and carried on through the town to get to the trail to Lauterbrunnen. The trail from Wengen down to Lauterbrunnen is also very steep, with a crazy number of switchbacks as you descend into the valley. There are great views, but my knees were very tired at the end! It took me about 1 hour to get from Wengen to the station in Lauterbrunnen.

Planning Your Trip to Switzerland

Switzerland is a bucket-list destination thanks to its epic natural scenery. The best way to travel around the country is on the exceptional public transport network. With trains, buses, boats, cable cars, trams, and more, this is one place where you don’t need to rent a car to get around. Some rural parts of the country are only accessible by train or cable car – there are no roads to get there! I highly recommend a Swiss Travel Pass if you’re planning a trip to Switzerland.

Bern Airport is the closest airport to Lauterbrunnen and Kleine Scheidegg, but Zurich Airport is the most convenient major airport. I use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

If you’re looking for more activities and tours around Lauterbrunnen, check out the options below!

Where to Stay in Lauterbrunnen

There are a few places to stay in Kleine Scheidegg (or Wengen), but it’s probably easiest to stay in Lauterbrunnen. There are more shops, restaurants, and places to eat and drink here, plus it’s easy to get here on the train from Interlaken!

• Budget: Valley Hostel – great location for budget accommodation with a big kitchen
• Mid-range: Hotel Oberland – a charming, family-run hotel with a convenient location and a great restaurant
• Mid-range: Chalet Rosa B&B – this property has traditional Swiss architecture and offers waterfall and mountain view rooms
• Luxury: Grand Hotel Belvedere – this luxury hotel in Wengen is an impressive Art Nouveau property with a five-star spa and two restaurants

This hike from Kleine Scheidegg to Lauterbrunnen was one of the best I’ve ever done in my life. I absolutely loved the scenery – finally getting to see the Eiger after so many years was so special! If you’re going to Lauterbrunnen and the Jungfrau region and looking for an amazing day hike, this is a great option. I hope this post helps planning your trip in Switzerland!

Have you done this hike around Kleine Scheidegg, Mannlichen, and Lauterbrunnen?

You might also like my posts:

Hiking Augstmatthorn From Harder Kulm: Interlaken’s Spectacular Day Hike

Swiss Travel Pass: Is it Worth the Money?

How I Made My Dream Trip to Switzerland Happen – For (Almost) Free!

All of my Switzerland posts!

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