Swiss Alps - Konkordia & the Aletsch Glacier

The Aletsch Glacier is the largest and longest in the Alps and lies in the Bernese Alps of south-central Switzerland. Covering an area of 66 sq miles/171 sq km it is divided into the Great Aletsch (main) and the Middle and Upper Aletsch which are tributary branches. The main glacier is 15 miles/24km long and 1 mile/1.6km wide and extends generally southward from Konkordia Platz where four arms of the glacier meet, to the Aletsch Forest Nature Reserve. Descending from the Aletschorn, the Middle Aletsch reaches the main glacier almost opposite Marjelen Lake adjacent the Great Aletsch south of the Eggishorn.

From the Jungfraujoch at an altitude of 3500m the glittering slopes of the mountain morph into the expansive glacier at Konkordia Platz, where the snow and ice is about 800-900m deep. There are spectacular views towards the Eiger (3970m), Monch (4099m), Jungfrau (4158m) and Aletschorn (4192m) from the 2850m high Konkordia Mountain Hut perched on the Aletsch Glacier.

On this challenging walk you will receive expert guidance from our international mountain guide and learn the essential mountaineering skills necessary for safe walking on glaciated terrain using ropes, ice axe and crampons. This trip will provide you with magnificent alpine panoramas where you will make a high level traverse of the Bernese Oberland over rugged terrrain, with some easy climbing, and includes the ascent of the Abeni Flue (3962m) and Gemschlicke (3335m) plus glacial trekking across Konkordia and the Aletsch Glacier.

Throughout this epic journey you will be constantly rewarded with superlative views of snow-capped peaks and stunning alpine scenery including the Finsteraarhorn (4274m), highest summit in the Bernese Oberland, the iconic Matterhorn and west towards Mont Blanc. On good trails up to the snowline this trip includes plenty of variety with scrambling sections, snowslope climbing, tough summit ascents and glacial travel on the Alps' largest glacier.

This is a demanding excursion walking up to 6 hours per day, with some extra long days and tough climbs, crossing several high alpine passes with overnight stops in some spectacular mountain refuges in one of the most dramatic locations in the European Alps.