Rawk the Alps with Jen Hansard
2027 Dates Coming Soon!
We’re excited to welcome Jen back to the Alps! After a wonderful visit to Chamonix last year, this time we’re off to Switzerland.
Her story is one many of us can relate to: the stress of raising a family combined with too much caffeine and processed foods were pointing her in the wrong direction. Then she discovered green smoothies, her gateway to a healthier life. She embraced this daily healthy habit to fuel her body so she could chase her passion: the great outdoors.
“Rawkstars” is the unique name for Jen’s community, who get excited to blend raw fruits and vegetables into smoothies. Here, “raw” also means close to nature, minimally processed and nutrient dense.
On our trail running tour of the Bernese Oberland with Jen, we’ll stay in three beautiful mountain towns, plus experience one night in a remote mountain inn, Berghaus Obersteinberg, which gives us a taste of the traditional mountain culture of the region. Since luggage delivery is not possible here, we’ll ‘fast-pack’ a few extra overnight items in our running vests this day. On every other night we’ll have our luggage delivered to our hotel.
On this Level 2 tour, we’ll run about 8-12 miles (13-19 km) each day, taking plenty of time on the uphills, pausing frequently to take photographs, enjoy the scenery, and sample great food and drink en route. We’ll trail run from Grindelwald over the historic Grosse Scheidegg pass, then across high pastures with stunning views of the Eiger. From the mountain villages of Wengen and Mürren, we’ll run along outstanding high trails past alpine farms (including stops for some great lunches!), within sight of the Jungfrau, one of the world’s most famous mountains.
Our typical day starts with a continental buffet breakfast at our hotel – delicious fresh baked bread, local cheeses, cereal, fruit, tea, coffee and juice – which gives us the energy needed for a day in the mountains. Soon we’ll be out on the trail, and each day we’ll offer options for an ambitious route, and an easier route that takes advantage of mountain trams and railways.
Each morning, we’ll bring out a variety of trail nutrition so you can choose what to take on our run. Almost all of our runs will also include stops at mountain huts or alp farms, where we can sample local cheeses, röstis or a fruit torte. We plan the itinerary to finish each day with some time to relax. In the evening we’ll enjoy dinner together at our hotel. These are often multi-course feasts, featuring local Swiss specialties, and will definitely be hearty, filling, well-earned and very delicious.
Learn more about Jen on her website, and join more than 350,000 followers on her instagram account.
Top photos: Sam Hill, Kim Strom
Itinerary
Day 1 - Schwarzwaldalp
Arrive in Switzerland, and transfer to the remote Schwarzwaldalp Inn. Meet for a drink and group briefing, and enjoy our first dinner together.
Arrive in Switzerland, and transfer by train and then Swiss Post bus to the remote Schwarzwaldalp Inn. Meet for a drink and group briefing, and enjoy our first dinner together.
Day 2 - Grindelwald
We’ll run over high Grosse Scheidegg pass to Grindelwald, enjoying our first views of the Eiger, then the postcard-perfect Bachsee Lake. We wind down on quiet trails to our lovely three-star hotel in town.
Today we’ll run over high Grosse Scheidegg pass to Grindelwald, enjoying our first views of the Eiger. With 10,000 vertical feet separating the valley from the peak, Grindelwald sits at the base of one of the most impressive vertical mountain walls in the world. We’ll traverse meadows in the upper reaches of the valley to the postcard-perfect Bachsee Lake, before winding down on quiet trails to our lovely three-star hotel in town.
Day 3 - Grindelwald
From the panoramic plateau of Schynige Platte, we contour the scenic ridge opposite the Eiger, with the option of summiting the Faulhorn Mountain. We return to Grindelwald for a second night, and dinner out at a restaurant in town.
We’ll use the historic mountain cog train to reach the high and panoramic plateau of Schynige Platte. From there, we contour the scenic ridge opposite the Eiger, with the option of summiting the Faulhorn Mountain. Huge mountain views to the south are balanced by stunning views down to the Thun and Brienz lakes just north of us. We return to Grindelwald for a second night, and dinner out at a restaurant in town.
Day 4 - Wengen
We’ll run up to the Kleine Scheidegg pass, directly under the dominating Eiger. We’ll take lesser-known trails along glacial moraine, through meadows and past quiet alp farms as we run to the village of Wengen.
From Grindelwald, we’ll run up to the Kleine Scheidegg pass, directly under the Eiger itself. The Eiger’s massive North Face dominates a landscape that includes many stunning peaks and glaciers. We’ll take lesser-known trails along glacial moraine, through meadows and past quiet alp farms as we run to the quaint car-free mountain village of Wengen.
Day 5 - Obersteinberg Hut
It’s our fast-packing adventure to the remote mountain inn and working dairy farm, Berghotel Obersteinberg. We run along the Lauterbrunnen valley, which is fringed by waterfalls. Later, we’ll pass the glacial lake, Oberhoresee, which is surrounded by high peaks, before descending to our overnight stop.
Today we set off on our fast-packing adventure to the remote and wonderful Berghotel Obersteinberg. This working dairy farm was built around 1880 and has no electricity, meaning evenings are lit by candlelight and gas lamps. The hotel is only accessible by foot and supplies are transported up by mule, so we’ll carry some extra overnight .
Our run starts by dropping down to the valley floor and running along the Lauterbrunnen valley, which is fringed by waterfalls. There’s an uphill push to the top of the valley, and we’ll pass the wonderful glacial lake, Oberhoresee, which is surrounded by high peaks. Then we descend on winding single track to our overnight stop.
Day 6 - Mürren
We head back to civilization in Mürren via the panoramic high plateau of Tanzbedeli, or the Ballroom, a flat grassy spot with some of the most dramatic views in the Alps. After crossing the Sefinen valley, then climbing through meadows, we’ll arrive at the picturesque town of Mürren.
Today we head back to civilization in Mürren. We go via the panoramic high plateau of Tanzbedeli, or the Ballroom. This flat grassy spot provides one of the most dramatic views in all of the Alps – literally ringed by high peaks here, in the heart of Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. From there it’s through forest and into the Sefinen valley, before climbing up to Gimmelwald. Like Mürren, this village is car-free, and also a Swiss Heritage site. After some more climbing through meadows, we’ll arrive at the picturesque town of Mürren, situated atop the cliffs.
Day 7 - Mürren
Here, above the Lauterbrunnen valley, the trail running possibilities are vast. Options include running high pastures with views of the Jungfrau, or lunch at the classic Rotstockhütte. In the evening, we’ll enjoy a final celebratory dinner together.
We’ll take a day to enjoy our perch high above the Lauterbrunnen valley, where the trail running possibilities are vast—run high pastures with views over our shoulder of the Jungfrau; to lunch at the classic Rotstockhütte; enjoy the tram to the top of the Schilthorn and a run back to village; or simply relax for a day with Mürren’s unparalleled cliffside views of the surrounding mountains! In the evening, we’ll enjoy a final celebratory dinner together.
Day 8 - Depart from Mürren
Today we say good-bye to Jen, our guides and our new friends and depart the Bernese Oberland for our post-tour destinations.
Today we say good-bye to Jen, our guides and our new friends and depart the Bernese Oberland for our post-tour destinations.
What's Included
- Daily guided trail runs with a licensed International Mountain Leader and special guest Jen Hansard
- 7 nights accomodation – 6 nights in 3* and 4* hotels, or well-appointed mountain inns; 1 night in a high mountain hut. Single supplement available in Grindelwald, Wengen, and Mürren (5 of 7 nights)
- Welcome briefing and drinks on first night
- All breakfasts, packed/light lunches, trail nutrition, and multi-course dinners
- Transfers to and from trailheads as per the itinerary
- A day of professional photography on the trails, with images provided to you license-free
- Luggage transfers (luggage available every night except at Obersteinberg Hut)
- Run the Alps’ Guide to Trail Running in the Alps, which contains 80+ pages of information about where you’ll be running, what to pack, how to train, and plenty of other insider information from Run the Alps staff and guides
- An in-country welcome pack – includes trail nutrition and a Run the Alps T-shirt (Note: You can choose to opt out of the T-shirt during registration; if you do, we’ll automatically donate the equivalent to one of our 1% for the Plant partners instead.)
- Personalized support before and during your tour
- 20% discount code for the Run the Alps store
- Contribution to our Net Positive initiatives
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Travel to Chalet Schwarzwaldalp at the start of the tour and from Mürren to your departure airport at the end of the tour; details provided
- Transport to and from trailheads if you shorten a run
- Drinks with dinners
- Any additional nutrition and drinks while on the trail
- Extra charges made at accommodations such as room service or laundry
- Trip insurance
- Tips for guides
Arrival
Plan to arrive the day your tour starts at the latest. Flights from the US usually depart the day before. The closest airport is Zurich, which is a little over three hours away by train. Geneva is four hours, forty-five minutes away. There are train stations in each airport, making for convenient transport to the region. Your tour package will include detailed information about traveling on the Swiss rail and bus system to the start of the tour in Schwarzwaldalp.
Departure
Plan to depart late afternoon the day your tour ends, at the earliest. The closest airports from our finishing point are Geneva and Zurich. Plan for one night at a hotel in your departure city if you have a morning flight. We can assist you with hotel information, and Geneva and Zurich city information, if you like.
Good To Know
- Want to extend your trip with more running? We can help provide self-guided run descriptions for nearby regions of the Alps, and/or trail race options.
- Concerned about being ready? We’re here to help. Check out our Alps Training Resources or get in touch if you’d like to be put in touch with a coach.
- Can a non-running partner join me on this tour? Yes–read how hiking and sightseeing companions can come too.
- Celebrating a special occasion? Each year we get a number of guests who are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or retirement with a Run the Alps trip. If this is you, let us know!
- Tour Balance: Your tour balance is due 90 days before your tour starts. We will send you an invoice about a month before that due date. If you’d like the simplicity of paying in full sooner, or would like to pay in installments, please contact us.
- Trip Insurance: Life can sometimes throw us a curveball and wreak havoc upon the best laid plans, which is why Run the Alps requires trip insurance. Learn more here.
- Terms and Conditions: You can read up on them here.
Regional map
Interactive map with 8 point(s): Tour start point: Schwarzwaldalp; ; ; ; ; ; ; Tour end point: Mürren.
Guides for this Tour
What our guests had to say
Can’t wait to be back!
Run The Alps Trip
Best Vacation EVER!
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