The Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

The Bernese Oberland is one of Switzerland's most dramatic and iconic regions. Born from massive tectonic forces over millions of years, this is where the Alps meet the sky, with peaks reaching over 4,000m above sea level.

Having travelled here over 10 years ago, often only for work, I wanted to experience these gorgeous valleys from the trails and not just from the comfort of modern transport, something the Swiss do well, mind you.

Oeschinen Lake, in the Kandersteg Valley, contains glacial meltwater and alpine minerals that characterise its attractive and alluring turquoise water.

We arrived in Kandersteg around midday, having driven from Lauterbrunnen, a 90-minute drive with jaw-dropping vistas. Our accommodation was a beautifully crafted 20th-century former Stadel, a traditional timber-aged cabin perched some 200 m above the town of Kandergrund on the valley slopes.

The Airbnb known as ‘Mountain Paradise’

Golitschenpass (inset) catches the last rays of the afternoon, whilst Blüemlisalp Rothorn scrapes the clouds of an approaching cold front

Cows of the Lauterbrunnen Valley (inset) against the dramatic hanging valleys of the Oeschinenee Lake

The following day we took the gondola up to the lake which sits some 500m above the town of Kandersteg. The gondola puts you around 2 kilometers from the edge of the lake - a leisurely 15-20 minute walk.

From there you can hike up behind the restaurants to the circular lake trail - a steep start but exceptionally rewarding views that overlook the lake from 200-300 vertical metres, above.

There are a number of restaurants and cafes that are located near the water’s edge of the lake, these are a good place to base yourself if the weather turns.

The gondola costs about AUD $50 for a return trip and is easily accessible from the township of Kandersteg. Roughly a 10-minute walk from the main street.