The Kander valley

Impressive nature

The Kander valley starts near Spiez at Lake Thun. The valley floor gradually gains height until the village of Kandersteg. The mighty peaks of the Alps here form the natural barrier between northern and southern Europe. The Balmhorn is the most prominent peak here.

There are several interesting side valleys, like the Kien valley, the unspoilt Gastern valley and the Engstligen valley.

The northern part of the valley, around Frutigen, is quite wide. There are farms and the mountains are forested. The southern part of the valley, around Kandersteg, is narrower and the mountains are higher.

The valley ends behind Kandersteg, where the highest peaks rise up. Only hikers and trains can cross the mountains into the Valais. There is no road, but there is a car train.

What not to miss in the Kander valley

The impressive railway from Bern to Italy runs through the Kander valley. A tunnel connects Kandersteg to Goppenstein and Brig in the Valais. A longer tunnel starts in Frutigen, which is used by all fast InterCity trains. We recommend a trip with the local RegioExpress Lötschberger train from Spiez to Brig, through the older, shorter tunnel, as the scenery is very impressive.

In summer, a visit to Lake Oeschinen near Kandersteg is worth your time. So is a visit to the fairylike Blausee with its forest. For a panoramic view of the valley and the entire Bernese Oberland, you can plan a trip up the Niesen.