The village of Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland is well known to many as the place to drive cars onto the car-rail conveyance at the north side of the Lötschberg Tunnel on the BLS line  – a classic north-south route which connects the cantons of Bern and Valais. But there’s a pleasant experience awaiting those who decide to stop and spend some time there.

Kandersteg is an all-season destination. Its classic summer sporting activities are walking, hiking, climbing and cycling. Swimming in the well-equipped public pool is also a popular pastime and ideal for families with children. A favorite excursion is to the Oeschinensee, a clear mountain lake above the village, in the shadow of the Oeschinenhorn and Blüemlisalp peaks. This is a favorite hike or mountain bike ride, but can also be more comfortably accessed by chairlift. Winter sports include alpine and extensive cross-country skiing, curling and skating, and a relatively new sport: ice climbing.

Kandersteg derives its name from the glacier-fed river of the same name that runs through the village. Its location and accessibility make Kandersteg an excellent base of operations for daytrips to other destinations.

A cable car connects Kandersteg with the resort of Leukerbad over the mountain in Canton Valais.

Baden Powell, the founder of the Scout Movement, came to Kandersteg in the 1920’s, and was so impressed by its natural beauty, that he decided to build the permanent International Scout Centre there. (also under Where to Go)

https://www.kandersteg.ch/en/s/home