Switzerland Hiking

Lauterbrunnen Valley: Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen

You can fly into Zurich or Bern –  we’ll provide travel options for you to reach the Bernese Oberland and Lauterbrunnen. We will meet at 11am for a welcome snack and then transfer to Stechelberg, at the end of the Lauterbrunnen valley. This is an easy-going walk along the effervescent Lutschine River passing working farms with lush pastures and snow-capped peaks high above. Stop at the Horner pub along the way for a refreshing drink. This is known as the valley of waterfalls and two we recommend you visit are Trümmelbach Glacier Falls, accessed by underground paths & further along the 300m Staubbach Falls awaits. Arriving to Lauterbrunnen we will make our way on the cog wheel train to Wengen a charming Swiss Alpine village at 1,264 m, known for its timber chalets and belle époque hotels.

Distance: 10 km; 275 m gain; 390 m descent

Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg Panorama Trail

It’s a short stroll to the aerial cable car that will whisk us 10 minutes from Wengen up to the Männlichen summit station. Enjoy a coffee at the Berghaus Männlichen restaurant as you admire views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks.  Hike one of the most iconic trails in Switzerland to Kleine Scheidegg, a renowned mountain pass nestled between the towering Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks. Enjoy lunch here or consider taking the Jungfrau Railway to what is known as the ‘Top of Europe”. From 3,454m, you’ll enjoy views of the Vosges mountains in France and the expansive Aletsch Glacier, framed by 4,000m peaks. Afterward or instead —hop on the Wengernalp Railway for a 28-minute ride back down to Wengen. Alternatively, you can take a moderate downhill walk, partially following the slopes of the Lauberhorn, where World Cup skiers race in winter. This route takes you along the Via Alpina, a scenic paved trail that boasts views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks and the Lauterbrunnen Valley, with its lush green meadows, grazing cows, and clusters of evergreen trees. Back in Wengen, enjoy dinner in the village.

Distance: up to 11.1 km; 10 m gain; 945 m descent

Schynige Platte Panorama Trail

Descend by train to Lauterbrunnen and then on to the village of Wilderswil where we board a historic funicular that has been operating since 1893. Enjoy the hour-long ride to Schynige Platte, a stunning plateau atop a mountain ridge. The loop walk is on trail that includes some stairs and some narrow segments, all with views that will astound. There is an option to detour to an alpine botanical garden with more than 700 species of alpine plants to take in. Enjoy a packed lunch at one of the picnic spots along the route at the end of the walk. We will then retrace your way back to Wengen by rail.

Distance: 7.8 km; 265 m gain; 250 m descent

Transfer to Valais. Zermatt, Zmutt, Furi, Gorner Gorge, & Findelbach

After breakfast, we travel to Zermatt today which is still car-free and still attracts world-class mountaineers. We will take the train down to Lauterbrunnen and then transfer to Täsch in the Mattertal Valley. From Täsch, it takes just 12 minutes to reach Zermatt, the iconic village under the Matterhorn. After stopping at our hotel, we walk a trail that gently climbs through forests and rolling meadows to the hamlet of Zmutt and then downhill to Furi mountain station. Enjoy a snack and refreshment from one of the chalet restaurants here and then take a gondola back to Zermatt. There is an option to extend the walk via the Gorner Gorge where a well kept path passes through galleries and over wooden walkways through a gorge carves by the Gornera River over thousands of years. We will stop in at the Matterhorn Museum, an exhibition space where you can learn about the history of mountaineering here.

Distance: 5.7 km; 360 m gain or 9.2 km; 375 m gain

Gornergrat to Riffelberg & Riffelberg to Riffelalp

Awake in the splendour of Zermatt and board the Gornergrat Railway to Gornergrat, perched at 3,089m. This train has been operating since the summer of 1898. From this point, you’ll have a view of Monte Rosa massif which includes Switzerland’s tallest mountain, the Dufourspitze at 4,634m and numerous other peaks over 4,000m. You’ll walk mostly downhill to the midway Riffelberg station. Enjoy lunch at the restaurant here and admire the Matterhorn in all of its splendour. You can take a gondola down from here, or continue walking downhill along the Mark Twain trail retracing the writer’s own hike in 1878, to Riffelalp. Board the Gornergrat Bahn back to Zermatt where we will enjoy dinner at one of the many fine restaurants.

Distance: 7 km; 840 m descent or 3.5 km; 480 m descent

The Five Lakes Walk: Blauherd to Sunnegga Paradise

Today awaits one of the finest hikes in the region – start the day by taking the funicular to Sunnegga and cable car to Blauherd. Walk past the lakes Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Mosjisee and Leisee, each reflecting the surrounding peaks. This trail is especially rich for its biodiversity such as moorland flora and rare flowers and occasionally a typical black-nosed sheep of the Valais. The Ze Seewjinu lodge (2295m) near the end of the hike is a perfect spot to rest, eat delicious local fondue on the outdoor terrace with views of the Matterhorn. Back in Zermatt, explore more of its many charms and celebrate your achievements with drinks at Elsie’s Wine and Champagne Bar and another fantastic dinner.

Distance: 10.4 km; 240 m gain; 550 m descent

Depart

Depart for onward travel.