Heart of Switzerland

With its snowy summits, thundering waterfalls, sapphire-blue lakes, and perfectly preserved chalets set in high mountain meadows, Switzerland is a hiker’s paradise par excellence. We’ve crafted an amazing adventure that brings you to the heart of this heavenly realm for spectacular yet moderate hikes, thanks to gondolas and cogwheel trains that whisk us effortlessly into high alpine worlds. We begin in enchanting Lucerne, where we hike on the slopes of Rigi and Pilatus, with their panoramas of lakes and peaks. In the Bernese Oberland, our breathtaking rambles bring us to the waterfalls of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and below the regal trio of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. Our grand finale is in Montreux, where we hike from one medieval town to the next through terraced vineyards above Lake Geneva.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Lucerne / Mt. Pilatus / Mt. Rigi

Our adventure begins in enchanting Lucerne, a beautiful lakeside town surrounded by stunning mountains. By lake steamer and cogwheel train, we travel to the summits of nearby Pilatus and Rigi (known as the “Queen of the Mountains”), where our hikes offer breathtaking panoramas of countless lakes and peaks and hamlets of traditional Swiss chalets set in flower-filled meadows.

Days 3-4
Grindelwald / Murren / Wengen

We head into the heart of the Bernese Oberland, where some of Switzerland’s most famous peaks are found, including the dramatic rock faces of the Eiger, Monch, and the Jungfrau—mountain giants that define this alpine country. A fantastic gondola system whisks us to a beautiful high ridge where our hike to the summit of Mannlichen (7,687') grants us stupendous views of this enormous massif, part of the UNESCO Jungfrau-Aletsch World Heritage Site. Our hike in the Lauterbrunnen Valley brings us to Trummelbach Falls, one of 72 that grace this vertical-walled valley. By cable car and then on foot, we hike past immaculate farmsteads to Murren (5,413'), highest village in the Bernese Oberland, for another amazing perspective of the 13,642-foot Jungfrau and its snow-capped comrades. Descending to car-free Wengen, perched on a sunny plateau above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, we enjoy enchanting sunset views of this world-famous massif.

Days 5-6
Kandersteg / Lake Oeschinensee

Based in the mountain-ringed town of Kandersteg, we hike to turquoise-hued Lake Oeschinensee, nestled in an amphitheater of sheer cliffs and snow-clad peaks, and in the Gasterntal Valley, a deeply cut glacial valley where feathery waterfalls spill from high buttress-like precipices.

Days 7-9
Montreux

A beautiful train ride brings us to Montreux in the Lavaux wine region near Lake Geneva. With a lakeshore lined by villas and a stunning backdrop of the Savoy Alps, Montreux is a wonderful final chapter in our grand hiking adventure. Terraced vineyards—so unique they have been declared a World Heritage Site—climb high above the lake, producing one of Switzerland’s most distinctive wines. Our hike brings us from a lovely chateau above Villette to St. Saphorin, a charming medieval town of narrow alleys and wine grower homes dating from the 16th to 19th centuries. A lunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant, followed by a dinner in a magnificent lakeside setting, cap our fabulous week of hiking. Depart on Day 9.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 3, moderate, according to our trip grading system. Our journey showcases the best of this alpine realm, with cable cars, gondolas, and even cogwheel trains taking care of steep ascents and descents. Most hiking is between 4,000 and 8,000 feet in elevation on good trails over mountainous terrain. You will carry just a daypack with the essentials: camera, water bottle, and rain gear. A support vehicle carries our luggage between hotels. Hiking experience is recommended, and all participants must be in good physical condition (no climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary). Each evening we return to our comfortable hotels to sample the culinary delights that the Swiss Alps have to offer.

Explanation of Trip Levels