Our typical day starts with a continental buffet breakfast at our hotel - delicious fresh baked bread and croissants, local meats and cheeses, cereal, fruit, coffee and juice - which gives us the energy needed for the task ahead. Soon we'll be out on the trail, where you'll get to choose between an easier or more strenuous hike for the day. Each morning, you'll be handed a lunch to carry, and at a mid-point along the way we'll choose a beautiful spot to stop and enjoy our picnic. We get a lot of compliments on our imaginative lunches - making them something to look forward to as well!

We should finish our hike around 4 pm, giving you time to wash up, relax, or perhaps do a bit of shopping in town. After that, we'll enjoy dinner together at our hotel or another local restaurant. These are usually multi-course feasts, centered on local specialties like bratwurst, lamb, or cheese fondue, but may also feature chicken, fish, or other continental specialties. Our hotels both serve fabulous food, and dinners will be hearty, filling, and very delicious.

Day 1 Arrive in Switzerland, and transfer by train to our meeting point in Mürren. There is a train station in both the Zurich and Geneva airports, and transferring to Mürren will be an easy introduction to Swiss precision and friendliness. The trip itself is an incredibly scenic 4 hour journey into the mountains, culminating with a cablecar ride to Mürren. Mürren is an idyllic, car-free village, perched atop a sheer 3000 ft. cliff above the waterfall-filled Lauterbrunnen valley (picture Yosemite with a Swiss village on top). After we meet, we may have time for a short walk around the outskirts of town before settling in for our welcome dinner at the Hotel Jungfrau. (Hotel Jungfrau)
Day 2 One of our favorite hikes starts in town, and gently meanders up the hills to the pastoral setting at Spielboden. Here we cross the Schiltbach stream, and start a steep and invigorating ascent to the local peak of Bryndli. We'll take our lunch enjoying birds-eye views of Mürren and the Lauterbrunnen valley, perhaps with a soaring golden eagle for company. From here the trail levels off, and becomes a relaxing stroll through flowery meadows to a quiet alpine hut at Bogangen. The trail back leads over a small ridge for more great views, before dropping back down to Mürren. (Hotel Jungfrau)
Day 3 A lovely panorama walk leads north out of the village through fields of wildflowers, past quiet farms at Grutschalp, and into hidden Soustal valley. On the return trip, we can hike through fern-filled forests, and up to the beautiful panorama at Allmendhubel, before dropping down to the Blumental ("flower valley"). The mountains are particularly well-framed from this little corner above Mürren. A short, steep descent along the Mürren stream leads us back to town. (Hotel Jungfrau)
Day 4 The Upper Lauterbrunnen valley curls back beneath the white-capped Breithorn - considered by many to be the most perfect mountain in the region. It's also a nature preserve, and contains many wonderful hiking trails. One of our favorites takes us to the small farm at Obersteinberg, where the proprietors keep cows and make cheese by the same simple methods that have been used for centuries. This part of the valley also contains some of the area's prettiest waterfalls. (Hotel Jungfrau)
Day 5 We may start with a morning stroll through the sleepy village of Gimmelwald. From here a wooded trail leads down past impressive waterfalls to the floor of the Lauterbrunnen valley. After a relaxing picnic lunch, a flat hike takes us through the center of this amazing valley. 3000' cliffs tower on either side of us, boasting some of Switzerland's most famous waterfalls. After arriving in the town of Lauterbrunnen, we can transfer by funicular train back to Mürren. (Hotel Jungfrau)
Day 6 A morning transfer brings us to the Wengen, the quiet village on the opposite side of the Lauterbrunnen valley. Underneath the gorgeous backdrop of the glacier-draped Jungfrau, we'll hike through forests and meadows to Kleine Scheidegg. Here we can watch avalanches peel off the Jungfrau, perhaps make an ascent of a local peak, and enjoy stunning, close-up views of the Eiger North Face throughout. (Hotel Jungfrau)
Day 7 After breakfast together, we'll say good-bye to Mürren, and board the train for Guarda. The trip itself is incredibly scenic, and leaves us time for a short walk through town to enjoy the ambiance of this beautiful village, before settling in for our welcome dinner at our lovely hotel. (Hotel Meisser)
Day 8 There are a number of lovely hikes in the area, including an energetic climb to the rugged mountain views of the upper Tuoi valley. Here we can visit a small alpine hut, delight in the myriad wildflowers, and enjoy dramatic views of the local peak, Piz Buin. The nearby village of Scuol is also a noted spa resort, and makes a great rainy day destination. (Hotel Meisser)
Day 9 We'll transfer to the lakes region of the upper Engadine, to the mellow and pretty resort town of Pontresina. The hiking here is amazingly varied, and we'll have numerous hikes to choose from. For our first hike, we might enjoy the mellow forested walk into the Roseg valley, or perhaps a steeper climb to one of the huts ringing the valley. (Hotel Steinbock)
Day 10 One possibility is a morning transfer down to the charming, italianate village of Soglio, where we can take a rising traverse route back to the Maloja pass. Broad-leaved beeches, medieval villages, welcome waterfalls, and sunny views of the Piz Badile and other mountains accompany us along the way. (Hotel Steinbock)
Day 11 The mighty Morteratsch glacier is an impressive destination, and a moderate climb to the Boval hut rewards us with panoramic views of white-capped giants in every direction. On a rainy day, a mellow walk through the woods and along the lake of St. Moritz is another option. (Hotel Steinbock)
Day 12 One of our favorite hikes anywhere is the panoramic Muragl traverse above Pontresina. Boasting quiet wooded stretches, abundant wildlife, and surprising views of the giant Piz Bernina and the paternoster lakes of St. Moritz, this hike makes a fitting finale to a wonderful week. (Hotel Steinbock)
Day 13 After breakfast at our hotel, we'll say our good-byes and leave for our post-trip destinations.

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Arrive:	Plan to arrive the day your tour starts at the latest (flights from the US would depart the day before). The closest airport is Zurich, where there is a train station that will take you to Mürren.
Depart:	Plan departure for June 25 at the earliest. Again, the closest airport is Zurich. Plan on 1 night at a hotel in your departure city. We recommend you get the Swiss Card rail pass for this tour.

Dates don't work? Check out our similar Jungfrau and Matterhorn tour.

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 the Mürren + Engadine tour as a self-guided hiking tour. This is a 13-day tour at a price of $2190 per person based on two people sharing a double room. This tour can easily be lengthened or shortened to fit your schedule.

Our self-guided tours include prepaid hotels with breakfast and dinner, a Swiss Transfer Ticket for rail travel to and from the airport or border, 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.

Not included are lunches, drinks with your meals, extras (such as laundry, phone calls from the room, etc), transportation not covered by your rail pass, or the cost of luggage transport.

In addition, customized guided and self-guided hiking tours are available at surprisingly affordable prices. If you'd like to lengthen or shorten an existing tour, upgrade hotels (or go rustic), or create a customized tour of the Swiss Alps from scratch, let us know. We have extensive experience in many parts of the Alps, and will be happy to work with you to build the hiking vacation that best suits your needs.

Learn more about custom and self-guided tours