Whether you are interested in a one day hike, or a variety of hikes over a selection of days, we have collated some of the best hikes in Switzerland.
Known as the Queen of the Mountains, Mount Rigi is stunning in terms of facilities, walks and hikes, with 360-degree views of the stunning Swiss landscape. Our one-day hike will include a relaxing boat trip on Lake Luzern or a train ride which runs all year round. Out of the four big mountains in the Luzern area, walking trails are in abundance, with the panorama trail being our favourite.
For a truly unique sight into the Swiss Alps, head to Ebenalp in Eastern Switzerland. We will travel by cable car, reaching 1600m, before walking down to experience something truly exquisite.
A restaurant was literally built into the side of a hill in 1621. Food and drink at the Berggasthaus Aescher were first served here in 1800 and the views of the Swiss Alps, particularly Mt Santis, are amazing. It’s an excellent option for visitors that don’t want to hike very far but would still like to have a Swiss alp experience. We can also take the hike without using the cable car if a longer hike is preferred.
If you are after a stunning, almost crystal blue lake, a classic alpine cable car ride and some of Switzerland’s finest walking trails, look no further than Lake Oeschinen. We will take a cable car up from Kandersteg, or a one-hour walk, to the top where a summer toboggan awaits us. We will follow the trail to the lake, past lush meadows with grazing cows. This is one of the best photo opportunities the Swiss Alps has to offer, with the snow-capped mountains providing a beautiful backdrop to the amazing blue lake.
This valley, known as the Valley of 50 Waterfalls, is one of the most popular in Switzerland. The stunning surroundings are one of the many reasons we recommend tours here. Lauterbrunnen is a mecca for walkers. The high trails are only available in June onwards (when the snow has gone, and some of the lifts are open).
Jungfrau and Schilthorn (2970m) are high peaks which are accessible by train and cable car. The views of the Alps are spectacular and well worth a visit. The mountain walk from Murren to Grütschalp and from Lauterbrunnen along the valley floor to Trummelbach Falls are well worth doing. As is the trek to the Staubbach Falls at 300m, the highest in Switzerland. All of these can be arranged through us.
Our personal favourite, for several reasons, is a trip to the incredible Giessbach Falls; a definite must-see. The falls, initially discovered by artists, have been attracting visitors for centuries; resulting in the construction of an enchanting hotel in 1873. Our one-day hike involves walking under the falls themselves before taking a seat on the terrace overlooking either the falls or Lake Brienz. Afterwards, we usually enjoy a free ride on the oldest funicular in Europe, down to the Lakeside to catch a boat to Brien where our driver guide picks us up and whisks us away to the next attraction.
Just a 20-minute drive from Luzern, we can travel up to Rigi Seebodenalp. The journey itself takes ten minutes, up a windy mountain road past Gesslerborg castle; which was built in the 10th century and is home to William Tell’s nemesis. We will journey past some farms selling local produce onto the bodenalpe and embark upon a twenty-minute hike along the ridge, taking in stunning views of Lake Luzern and Mount Pilatus. In the summer there will be cows grazing on the summer meadows.
The Walensee is one of the larger lakes in Switzerland with about two-thirds of its area in the Canton of St. Gallen and approximately one third in the Canton of Glarus. There are several enjoyable hikes around the lake offering impressive views along with a treasure hunt trail for kids, a choice of picnic areas and restaurants. While we are there, you won’t be able to stop marvelling at the crystal blue water and the stiff cliff edges – we still do!
Nestled in the hills of Ticino is the Verzasca river which flows into Lake Lugano and provides some lovely hiking areas. During our one-day hike, we will drive past several quaint villages until we reach the 22m high Verzasca Dam (which was featured in the film Goldeneye) and walk across it for an exhilarating experience. For the daredevils out there, we can even arrange for you to Bungee jump from the Dam!
For everyone else, taking a dip in the crystal-clear water pools may be a better option (although it could be chilly). We won’t let you miss one of the highlights of the area – the bridge. “Ponte Romano” also called “Ponte Dei Salti” (jump bridge) crosses the Verzasca river in Lavertezzo, and is a typical medieval construction made of stone. Built in 1868, on a good day you can witness daring people taking the 15m leap into the blue waters below.
For stunning views of Lake Luzern and a clifftop walk involving a ride in Europe’s tallest free-standing lift, head to Burgenstock, located above Stans. We can arrange for you to drive up the windy road or travel by boat from Luzern and the Bürgenstock funicular, up to the multi-million-pound resort.
Our one-day hiking tour will take you along scenic paths with breathtaking views of Lake Luzern and the surrounding mountains. The cliff walk takes us to the 153m lift, which whisks us quickly to the top, allowing us to continue our walk through the forest, back to the resort.
Ballenberg is an old swiss village which is now an open-air museum accessible to the public. It’s a great walk with sights of all 100 original century-old buildings. It’s a wonderful way of seeing how the Swiss used to live and that the old way of life is still very much alive. Woodcutting, basketwork, spinning, weaving, lace-making and ironmonger’s tasks, through to cheese-making and baking are all on show so that visitors can witness how these old traditions have stood the test of time. If you fancy a snack or a typically swiss meal, do not worry, we can recommend plenty of local places to eat and relax.
If you would like us to take on the planning of your one-day hiking trip in Switzerland, we are more than happy to do so. You can either advise us on a particular hike you are interested in, or you can let us know what type of hike you would like, and we can make recommendations.
