Grindelwald and the First via the valley

Back in 1858, Irish climber Charles Barrington claimed the first ascent of the Eiger via the West Ridge, and curiosity for this glacier-carved valley hasn’t waned since. The 20 km between Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald track the Black Lütschine, skim below the Eiger’s 1,800 m North Face, and slip past slate-roof hamlets. Then comes the First gondola, a true balcony at 2,168 m: the Cliff Walk, a tidy path to Bachalpsee, and—if you fancy a rush—the First Flyer and First Glider swooping above the meadows.

We collect you from your Lauterbrunnen hotel, with a Mercedes at your disposal for the day, so logistics fade into the background. It’s roughly 35 minutes to Grindelwald with a photo stop in Burglauenen, then up to First, a 1 h 15 stroll to Bachalpsee, and a pasture-side snack on the way back. With a dedicated driver in the Bernese Oberland, you can slip in an alpine-cheese tasting or a quick detour to the Gletscherschlucht, while your chauffeur handles parking and waits right by the trailheads.