The Lötschental High Altitude Panorama Hiking Trail

How to get from Kandersteg to the Lötschental Valley

After our cozy afternoon and evening in Kandersteg, we went to Goppenstein by car transport. Since we wanted to do the classic panoramic hike, we left our car at the parking lot of the valley station of the Lauchernalp cable car and took the public bus to Fafleralp. The high trail leads directly back to the Lauchernalp cable car from there.

After you arrived at this cable car station you can either walk to the valley station or take the cable car. Normally you have to calculate about 2.5 hours for the hike. But we certainly had one hour longer, cause we did a pleasure hike (as my husband called it ;-)). I have definitely never taken so many photos on a hike before. The magical looking valley shone in various beautiful autumn colors and so I really couldn’t resist trying to capture all the beauty.

Autumn in its fullest glory!

I was especially fascinated by the red glowing blueberry bushes, the imposing mountain ranges in the background and the picturesque Schwarzsee. This lake can be reached from Fafleralp after about 45 minutes, so a nice break after about the first third.

The numerous crickets bouncing around everywhere all the time were a funny entertainment (especially for my husband, when I screamed again as soon as one jumped on me).

Info and tips:

• The car transport from Kandersteg to Goppenstein costs 29.50/ car per way (status 2019). Rather expensive, but unfortunately unavoidable if you want to do the hike and don’t live there already. You could also leave your car at the trainstation in Kandersteg and take a regular SBB train from there to Goppenstein. Aftrwards you need to take a bus from there to Fafleralp. That would be the cheaper way, but I would say the much more uncomfortable one. As you`ll have to take the bus and the train back to the car after your hiking tour. Besides, this option takes much more time (unless you have to wait for a very long time at the car transport). I personal would always choose option 1. Even if it means that you have to pay the 59.- Chf. for the car transport.
• Park your car on the large parking lot of the cable car valley station Wiler (Lötschen).
• Take the bus to Fafleralp from there.
• The hike along the high trail goes from there to the cable car station Lauchernalp . Duration approx. 2.5 – 3 hours.
• From Lauchernalp station we took a cable car back to the valley station Wiler, where we had parked our car.