Gasterntal is a small hidden valley just to the south of Kandersteg. To reach it head south to the Sunnbuel cable car station from where a footpath squeezes through a narrow gorge before reaching the rough toll road. The path follows a stream until the valley opens up to a wonderful panorama of the numerous other 'Horns' (summits) lining the valley on three sides. This is what the geographer in me recognises as a 'U'-shape valley. The path meanders past the historic Hotel Waldhus besides a braiding river, through some ancient looking forests until it finally reaches Selden, the only settlement in the valley. It takes about 3 hours to reach here from Kandersteg.We stayed at the Hotel Steinbock http://www.gasterntal.ch/index.php?id=2&L=1 (site in German and English). There is also Hotel Gasterntal http://www.hotel-gasterntal.ch/ (site in German).
The feeling of being deep in the embrace of the mountains was a soothing balm to the spirits.
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