Train Question- Swiss Travel and one for Bernese Oberland?

Take a look at the synoptic map for Swiss Pass coverage.

https://www.swissrailways.com/sites/default/files/sts-gb-m-15-web_vorlage_0.pdf

You will see that it will give you 50% off on the lifts above Muerren (Schilthornbahn) and Wengen (Mannlichen cablecar) as well as the First Gondola in Grindelwald. All of these are good for hikers. Also the pass will fully cover your trains to Grindelwald (for First) if you go by the “low” route via Wilderswil rather than over the Mannlichen ridge.

The mantra is always “do the math” and compare what is the best bet for your particular plans. Sigh. It’s a pain.

I can tell you that a combination of a Swiss Travel Pass or a Half Fare Card plus a Berner Oberland Regional Pass have always worked well for us, I always do a spreadsheet, though, to confirm for myself.

The BO Reg Pass is very convenient and covers 100% of lifts and trains in the area of Mürren/Grindelwald/Wengen/Lauterbrunnen except the Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch.

Laurel has given you an excellent suggestion in the Berner Oberland Regional Pass. Take a look at the validity map:

https://www.regionalpass-berneroberland.ch/assets/pass-und-infos/geltungsbereich/Geltungsbereich-2019.pdf

Coming from Montreux to Mürren, it will cover 50% of the Golden Pass route as far as Saanen, and the cover 100% from Saanen all the way to Mürren. It also covers at 100% the most useful lifts for hiking (Allmendhubel at Mürren, First gondola at Grindelwald, and the Männlichen cablecar and gondola up from Wengen and down to Grindelwald. Also the train up to Schynige Platte if you want to donthe full Panoramaweg hike from there to the top of the First gondola, passing the Faulhorn and Bachalpsee on the way. After that walk you will appreciate the ride back down to Grindelwald.

The 8-day BO Pass would cover you for the travel Montreux to Mürren ( the first bit at 50% as explained above), all your travel to trailheads and sights around Mürren, the transport to Iseltwal by boat or bus, and ( assuming you have just one night there) travel toward Zurich as far as Bern or Luzern ( the more scenic route and a better deal).

In August of 2018, on a 25 day/24 night trip to Switzerland, we used a combination of the Berner Oberland pass and the Flex Swiss Pass. It did take a little planning to make the best use of both, but when we did the math it really did save money. The coverage maps were very helpful for me, actually looking at the routes covered. And no standing in lines for tickets at the station and we were able to decrease our internet use (the sbb.ch website is easy to use for buying tickets as needed, but you need Wifi). The Berner Oberland is consecutive days only, but it looks like your itinerary is favorable to use a combination of both. Also, if you've purchased a Swiss Pass there's a discount on the Berner Oberland Regional pass too!

If you plan on the STP for sure, you might look at the Jungfrau pass instead of the OB pass for Murren. It's less expensive but gives you all the access to the region down to Lauterbrunnen and up to Murren. It also has a 5 day option while the OB is only 4 days or 6 days.

Otherwise you might look at just the OB pass for your entire trip.

Not sure why you're dismissing Jungfraujoch if you like trails: have you done the hike out to the Monchsjoch? That was one of my favorite experiences in the pristine snow!

Enjoy.

The Jungfrau Region Pass does NOT cover the gondolas between Mürren, Gimmelwald, and Stechelberg, fyi. The Berner Oberland Pass does.

Congrats to you for not being sucked into the Jungfrau trip. It’s just so expensive and so horribly crowded you can probably spend your precious vacation time doing and seeing the rest of the area that’s so much more accessible, less time consuming and not so incredibly expensive.