|
See our Guided Tour Schedule arranged by departure date.
Switzerland, France and Italy tours
Jungfrau + Matterhorn Regions (village-based walking/hiking tour)
This two-week guided tour takes us to the heart of the most breathtaking mountain scenery anywhere! Start in Mürren, for the best hiking in the Swiss Alps, at the foot of the Jungfrau. Then it's on to Grindelwald, nestled at the base of the fearsome Eiger North Face. Afterwards, we'll stay in the world-famous hiking center Zermatt, tucked against the Alps' most striking mountain, the Matterhorn. Finally, we'll finish with 2 days in unassuming Leukerbad, a small village famed for its spas and healing waters. This tour has a little of everything, and is a perfect introduction to the Swiss Alps.
see a detailed itinerary
| 2011 Departures: | July 18-30 |
| August 29 - September 10 |
| Tour Cost: | $4595 per person |
| $350 single supplement |
|
Hiking the Jungfrau (village-based walking/hiking tour)
The Jungfrau and Eiger mountains are the highlights of an incredible rock wall stretching across the entire region. Visit Mürren, a quiet car-free village perched at the edge of a sheer cliff, and Grindelwald, with a dramatic location at the base of the Eiger North Wall. Everybody's perfect picture of the Swiss Alps - age-old glaciers, colorful wildflowers, towering waterfalls, and peaceful villages.
see a detailed itinerary
| 2011 Departures: | June 6-12 |
| July 18-24 |
| August 29 - September 4 |
| Tour Cost: | $2495 per person |
| $200 single supplement |
|
Hiking the Matterhorn (village-based walking/hiking tour)
See the storybook village of Zermatt, at the foot of the mighty Matterhorn, and quiet Leukerbad, tucked at the base of the historic Gemmi pass. The Matterhorn is the most captivating mountain in the Alps, dominating an area of surpising richness, while Leukerbad is another gem - a quiet hideaway surrounded by thermal hot springs that feed luxurious spas. Our walks lead us to wild gorges, colorful flowers, peaceful lakes surrounded by soft larch forests, and enchanting, traditional alpine hamlets. Truly a hiker's paradise!
see a detailed itinerary
| 2011 Departures: | July 24-30 |
| September 4-10 |
| Tour Cost: | $2695 per person |
| $200 single supplement |
|
The Grand Tour (village-based walking/hiking tour)
Stay in luxurious inns, enjoy classic train rides, and hike three of the grandest mountain destinations in world. Tour beautiful Mürren, then stay high above Zermatt at the 5-star Riffelalp Resort, and ride the Glacier Express across the Alps to Pontresina. World-class hotels and great hikes in perfect combination.
see a detailed itinerary
| 2011 Departure: | June 26-July 3 |
| Tour Cost: | $4695 per person |
| $600 single supplement |
| includes 1st class railpass |
|
Bernese Oberland Traverse (inn-to-inn hiking tour)
Our signature tour, on this tour we'll move often, staying in a different location most nights, as we hike this breathtaking and challenging section of the Alpine Pass Route. Spend 4 nights in charming mountain inns - remote, memorable spots, and 6 nights in comfortable 3-star village hotels. Our luggage is transported separately, so you can hike unencumbered. This is inn-to-inn hiking at it's best!
see a detailed itinerary
| 2011 Departures: | July 5-15 |
| August 9-19 |
| Tour Cost: | $3695 per person |
| $350 single supplement |
|
Bernese Oberland Traverse, Parts A and B (inn-to-inn hiking tour)
You are welcome to join us for half the Bernese Oberland Traverse. Part A starts in Meiringen and crosses two moderate passes on the way to Mürren. Part B picks up in Mürren, with two strenuous passes on the way to the Gastern valley near Kandersteg. Part A is slightly easier, with more villages and more famous mountains. Part B is more challenging with quieter trails and destinations.
see a detailed itinerary
| 2011 Departures, Part A: | July 5-10 |
| August 9-14 |
| Tour Cost: | $2095 per person |
| $200 single supplement |
| 2011 Departures, Part B: | July 10-15 |
| August 14-19 |
| Tour Cost: | $2095 per person |
| $200 single supplement |
|
Hiker's Haute Route (inn-to-inn combo hiking tour)
The Hiker's Haute Route consists of a spectacular series of trails linking Chamonix to Zermatt, marked by high, steep passes, quiet trails, and stunning mountain scenery. It's one of the world's classic hikes, with a wild beauty deserving of it's name. It's also a very strenuous tour, with many passes to cross and great valleys to see. We'll be starting in Switzerland, near the resort village of Verbier, hiking the most spectacular sections of the Haute Route on our way to Zermatt.
see a detailed itinerary
| 2011 Departure: | July 30 - August 7 |
| Tour Cost: | $2995 per person |
| $250 single supplement |
|
Tour du Mont Blanc (inn-to-inn tour)
The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the classic inn-to-inn tours in the World. It's truly an epic trek - a great opportunity to meet hikers from around the world and enjoy an rich variety of cultures, cuisines and views. In keeping with the adventurous nature of the tour, we've designed a fairly rustic itinerary, and five of our nights will be spent in traditional gites with shared sleeping rooms, lively atmospheres, and a healthy sense of accomplishment. Hike through three countries and unforgettable landscapes.
see a detailed itinerary
| 2011 Departure: | August 27-Sept 6 |
| Tour Cost: | $2395 per person |
| $300 single supplement |
|
Chamonix Mont Blanc Highlights (inn-to-inn combo tour)
At 15781', Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps - a snowy giant surrounded by many other famous peaks with a towering beauty special to this region. This is a more moderate version of the Tour du Mont Blanc, combining dayhikes from the village bases of Chamonix and Courmayeur with one unforgettable night in a mountain hut. Huge mountains, comfortable hotels, and a great selection of our favorite trails in the region make this tour a memorable treat.
see a detailed itinerary
| 2011 Departure: | August 7-13 |
| Tour Cost: | $2695 per person |
| $400 single supplement |
|
Bernese Oberland Highlights (inn-to-inn combo tour)
Our Bernese Oberland Highlights tour combines great dayhikes from comfortable village-based hotels with a short and spectacular inn-to-inn stretch. We'll enjoy outstanding stops at 3 and 4-star hotels as well as the most breathtaking and memorable inn-to-inn stretch of the Alpine Pass Route. Starting with 2 nights in Wengen, we'll hike to the far end of the Lauterbrunnen valley for 1 night at the charming mountain inn of Obersteinberg. We'll continue to Mürren for 2 nights there, followed by 2 more in quiet Kandersteg. Enjoy first-class hotels, and plenty of flexibility for longer or shorter hikes each day.
see a detailed itinerary
| 2011 Departures: | June 19-26 |
| August 21-28 |
| Tour Cost: | $2995 per person |
| $200 single supplement |
|
Private Guided and Self-guided Tours (inn-to-inn, village-based, train or combo tours)
| "We had the best time in Switzerland! It is the ultimate hiking destination. The people are great, the hotels are wonderful, the food is excellent, the country is clean (how about those public bathrooms!?), the hiking trails are well marked, and the scenery is beautiful, and your itinerary and attention to detail were PERFECT. We will be going again (maybe next summer- in August this time), and we wouldn't even consider traveling there without you setting up the trip." |
| -Blake Simpson, Self-guided Bernese Oberland, 2000 |
If you're an independent hiker and prefer to go at your own pace, or have travel dates that don't match up with our guided tours, you may prefer to do a self-guided hiking tour. Our self-guided tours include prepaid hotels with breakfast and dinner, a Swiss transfer ticket for travel to and from the airport or border (Switzerland tours only), hiking maps, detailed route descriptions (including longer, shorter, and rainy day options), instructions for independently sending luggage ahead, and lots of useful information that will help your trip run smoothly.
We offer self-guided versions of all of our village-based hiking tours and of many of our inn-to-inn tours. In addition, both private guided tours and independent self-guided hiking tours are available at surprisingly affordable prices. If you'd like to lengthen or shorten one of our existing tours, or create a customized tour of the Swiss Alps from scratch, let us know. We've organized hundreds of independent self-guided tours over the past 10 years, and have extensive expertise in Switzerland and the surrounding areas of France and Italy. We will be happy to work with you to build the hiking or train-based vacation that best suits your needs. We can help you choose among the mountain villages of Mürren, Wengen, Grindelwald, Kandersteg, Guarda, Pontresina, Zermatt, Riederalp, Zinal, Ortisei and Chamonix. Add city stops like Lucerne, Zurich, Basel, Lugano, Montreux, or extensions to Italy's lake Como or Cinque Terre regions.
Our Swiss Sampler tours are designed specifically with non-hikers in mind. These include scenic train rides, more city stopovers (Lucerne, Lugano, Montreux) and easy light walks and non-hiking ideas in some of Switzerland's most spectacular mountain villages. All of your hotels, railpasses, maps and reservations are arranged so that all you need to do is enjoy your trip. Our 8-day Swiss Sampler and 13-day Swiss Sampler self-guided tours are designed for a more relaxed sightseeing tour of Switzerland.
It is also possible to hire a private guide for your family or small group at prices similar to our group tours. Click here to learn more about self-guided tours and private guides.
|
Spring and Fall 2011 Southwest US Tours
Arizona Red Rocks (lodge-based hiking tour)
Although we summer in Switzerland, the rest of our year is spent in the gorgeous landscapes of Northern Arizona. Prescott, Sedona and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon are all world-class hiking destinations, with towering granite and red sandstone cliffs, beautiful lakes, and green forests. Take the historic Grand Canyon train from Williams, stay in gorgeous hotels, and enjoy the ideal spring and fall climate of Northern Arizona.
see a detailed itinerary
| 2011 Departures: | October 3-9 |
| March 27-April 2 |
| April 10-16 |
| April 24-30 |
| October 9-15 |
| November 6-12 |
| Tour Cost: | $2395 per person |
| $600 single supplement |
|
California Lake Tahoe Hiking (lodge-based hiking tour)
Lake Tahoe is a jewel amid one of the most spectacular regions of the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. Straddling the border of California and Nevada, the famously blue waters of Lake Tahoe form an unforgettable backdrop to many gorgeous hikes in the surrounding Sierra mountains. Join us on this beautiful tour linking a series of luxurious lodges along Lake Tahoe's western shore.
see a detailed itinerary
| 2011 Departure: | September 11-17 |
| Tour Cost: | $2595 per person |
| $600 single supplement |
|
|
