Are there food options for vegetarians and vegans?

Vegetarian meals are usually available in most accommodations. Vegan options are harder to be found in huts, but we're happy to let you know about them in advance so you can plan accordingly.

Via Alpina Switzerland

18 days / 17 nights

1/12

Show all 12 photos

Plan your Via Alpina self-guided hike across Switzerland and explore the diversity of the Alps on this epic journey, previously known as the Alpine Pass Route.

Starting point

Sargans

Finish point

Montreux

Season

June - October

Technical level

3/5

Fitness level

5/5

Tour type

Inn-to-Inn

Plan your Via Alpina self-guided hike across Switzerland and explore the diversity of the Alps on this epic journey, previously known as the Alpine Pass Route.

Choose your style

Self-guided from 4.965 €/person

Samo

Travel Expert

Book a call

Plan your Via Alpina self-guided hike across Switzerland and explore the diversity of the Alps on this epic journey, previously known as the Alpine Pass Route.

Starting point

Sargans

Finish point

Montreux

Season

June - October

Technical level

3/5

Fitness level

5/5

Tour type

Inn-to-Inn

Hike the entire Via Alpina Green Trail in Switzerland
Discover the unique landscapes and rich culture of the Swiss Alps
Enjoy extraordinary views while crossing over 14 mountain passes
Sleep in mountain huts, hotels, and lovely inns on your hike across the country
Let us take care of the logistics so you can enjoy your adventure

Itinerary of the trip

One of the rare stages without a pass, this is a great warm-up to the Via Alpina. You’ll explore the Swiss countryside and walk through villages, meadows, and woods up the river towards Weisstannen.

Hiking

14 km and 650 m of elevation gain / 100 m of elevation loss

Gallery

Continue up the valley on cattle trails towards the first pass of the adventure. Over green pastures, you’ll reach the Foopass (2,223 m) with a great outlook over the Glarner Alps in the distance. Solid paths take you down to the village of Elm, known for preserving its architectural heritage.

Hiking

23 km and 1250 m of elevation gain / 1300 m of elevation loss

Gallery

One of the most challenging days on the route, it also hikes in some of its most impressive terrain, namely the Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona. You’ll climb up steep paths along the mountains and green and rocky terrain to Richetlipass (2,261 m). Descend is more leisurely, on a mule path through pastures and later woods towards Linthal. You can take a gondola lift at the beginning of the stage to lower the elevation gain for the day.

Hiking

24 km and 1450 m of elevation gain / 1800 m of elevation loss

Gallery

After a short steep part towards Braunwald, you’ll circle the mountainside towards the largest alp in Switzerland (around 1,200 cows). You can optionally end the day there, at the village of Urnerboden, or continue up along the hairpin bend road towards Klausenpass, where you stay the night.

Hiking

17 km and 1300 m of elevation gain / 100 m of elevation loss

Gallery

The postbus takes you back to the top of the pass, from where you descend on the panoramic trail to the meadows in Aesch. After admiring the wonderful waterfall, continue down the valley along the river to the lake town of Altdorf.

Hiking

22 km and 1100 m of elevation gain / 1500 m of elevation loss

Gallery

The sixth day is a long one, with over 1800 meters of elevation gain. Only in the beginning do you have a chance to shorten it by taking a cable car to Brüsti, saving you a kilometer of uphill hiking. Ascend the narrow ridge to reach the rocky Surenenpass (2,291 m). From there, a pleasant but long route leads down the green valley into Engelberg, a small town.

Hiking

30 km and 1900 m of elevation gain / 1300 m of elevation loss

Gallery

This day starts with a steep ascent, but already halfway, your effort will be rewarded once you reach Engstlenalpsee lake. From there onwards, you’ll have a great view over the Bernese Alps, all the way to Jochpass (2,207 m). After a short downhill, you’ll reach Hotel Engstlenalp, located in surreal alpine surroundings.

Hiking

11 km and 1250 m of elevation gain / 450 m of elevation loss

Gallery

After passing a few traditional dairy farms at Tannalp, you’ll visit the tranquil lakes on the plateau. From there, the route continues up a narrow ridge to the Plantappen mountain, where you’ll have constant great views over the Jungfrau massif, with Eiger in sight. The descent from the peak to Meiringien is long, so there is an option of hopping on a cable car and saving your knees.

Hiking

20 km and 650 m of elevation gain / 1900 m of elevation loss

Gallery

An easier day compared to others before it, it takes you over the Grosse Scheidegg. You will also hike past the Reichenbach Falls, made famous by Sherlock Holmes. The route from the pass gently descends through the woods and pastures towards Grindelwald, a popular town amongst tourists.

Hiking

22 km and 1400 m of elevation gain / 1000 m of elevation loss

Gallery

On day ten, you will hike below one of the most famous rock walls in the Alps, the Eiger North Face. The route will take up from the tourist hustle and bustle into the pastures below this awe-inspiring mountain. On your highest point at Kleine Scheidegg, you can also join the Jungfraujoch railway for an excursion or continue the sunny descent down to Wengen, another famous resort in the region.

Hiking

19 km and 1200 m of elevation gain / 900 m of elevation loss

Gallery

An easy day takes you in the shade of the woods up onto the sunny terrace on which the car-free town of Murren lies. If you want, you can make this a rest day and just take the cable car.

Hiking

9 km and 850 m of elevation gain / 500 m of elevation loss

Gallery

Today you will tackle the second-highest pass on the Via Alpina, a good warm-up for the next day (with the highest pass). Climb up the lush meadows past Rotstockhütte, where you can rest before continuing to the Sefinenfurgge Pass (2,612 m). The path down will be unusually dark and rocky for Switzerland but will soon turn back into a lush landscape. Past waterfalls and pastures, you’ll reach the village of Griesalp.

Hiking

17 km and 1100 m of elevation gain / 1300 m of elevation loss

Gallery

Get ready for this extraordinary stage. You’ll hike over Bundalp to the top of Hohtürli Pass (2,778 m), the highest on the whole Via Alpina trail. But just above the pass lies the Blüemlisalphütte, arguably the highlight of the day. Enjoy the rest at this hut at the foot of the glacier before descending to Lake Oeschinen, where you can take the cable railway to Kandersteg.

Hiking

16 km and 1400 m of elevation gain / 1650 m of elevation loss

Gallery

Today’s hike will take you to Bunderchrinde Pass (2,385 m), a rocky window onto the other side of the mountains. You will hike up the river and towards the end of the valley, ascend the meadows to the Lohner Hut, and continue your way to the pass. When there, you’ll have a nice view of the path up ahead, which will zig-zag down into Adelboden.

Hiking

17 km and 1350 m of elevation gain / 1200 m of elevation loss

Gallery

This is an easier day, whichever option you choose. You can follow the streams and go past holiday lodges into the grassy pastures above Adelboden on a direct route, or choose to climb up to the ridge to have a better view of the surrounding region. Both routes cross the grassy Hahnenmoospass, where you can have a rest. Descend directly to Lent or take a detour past the Simme waterfalls.

Hiking

20 km and 950 m of elevation gain / 1200 m of elevation loss

Gallery

The hike will begin with the ascent through the Wallbach Gorge, later giving way to green meadows with all-around views. Crossing this wild landscape, you’ll meet an occasional flock of sheep. You will cross the Trüttlisbergpass and gradually descend into Lauenen, from where you will hike into Gstaad.

Hiking

23 km and 1150 m of elevation gain / 1150 m of elevation loss

Gallery

This day will take you over another pass, past the Gummfluh peak, the iconic landmark of the area. Once you reach Col du Jable, you’ll also cross over into another linguistic area of Switzerland. Descend to L’Etivaz, taste some of their famous cheese, and continue to Château-d’Oex.

Hiking

26 km and 1500 m of elevation gain / 1600 m of elevation loss

Gallery

This last stage is the cherry on top of the cake, especially the on the last descent. You’ll start the final day hiking up above the Lac de l’Hongrin, admiring its dam. After that, the last pass of Via Alpina Switzerland awaits you – Col de Chaude – and a ridge to Rochers de Naye. The views from there are outstanding – you’ll see Lake Geneva and both Jungfrau and Mont Blanc massifs.

The last descent to the Mediterranean micro-climate of Montreux is well worth it, but if you feel it’s too much, you have multiple opportunities along the way to take the train down.

Some people choose to divide this last stage into two days, taking the railway from Rochers de Naye down to Montreux and returning the next day to hike the last descent.

Hiking

Option 1: 21 km and 1860 m of elevation gain / 850 m elevation loss

Option 2: 33 km and 1900 m of elevation gain / 2600 m of elevation loss

Gallery

What’s included in the price?

Self-guided

17 nights in 3-star hotels with breakfast

Digital guidebook with itinerary, route instructions, and practical information

GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app

Tour design and organization

Service and support during your hike

NOT INCLUDED

Tourist tax

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Extra nights

Hotel upgrade

Luggage transfer

Single supplement

What to bring to the tour

Hiking shoes/boots
25 to 45-liter backpack
Base layer
Sports T-shirts
Hiking shorts
Hiking water-repellent pants
Waterproof jacket
Midlayer
Sports socks and underwear
Leisurewear for evenings
Down jacket
Gloves
Shade hat/cap

Warm headwear
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Headlamp
Hiking poles
ID card or passport
Snacks
Cash
Water bottles or hydration pack
Sleeping liner
Toiletries
Toilet paper
Small first aid kit

The Via Alpina is Switzerland’s number one hiking route, taking you over the 14 most beautiful mountain passes in the country, leading through a variety of culture, geology, flora, and fauna. It’s the best way to get to know the Swiss Alpine culture.

Also called the Swiss Alpine Pass Route, it starts in its east at the border with Liechtenstein and continues across the whole country to the west – ending at Lake Geneva. As a well-maintained trail, it is a hiker’s paradise.

It features 18 stages that require about 5-7 hours of walking per day to complete, but some can be shortened by the use of public transportation (cable cars and buses). It is less challenging technically than the Walker’s Haute Route, but fitness-wise it is quite similar.

To allow you to focus more on enjoying the trail and preparing for it on the physical side, we will take care of the logistical planning. We take your wishes and preferences to best advise you on your perfect Via Alpina itinerary.

We book all of your accommodations, organize luggage transfers, and more, so you can focus on the journey. And a few weeks before setting off, we’ll send you the detailed itinerary booklet with the planned GPS route.

If you think this hike is too long for you, or you don’t have the time, we also offer a shorter version of the trail – the Via Alpina: The Bear Trek.

Map

Frequently Asked Questions

The summer season for hiking is usually from mid-June to mid-October. Its start depends on the amount of snow left on the high mountain passes from the winter. The Walker’s Haute Route and Via Alpina have some high passes, which are usually free of snow only in July. Hiking before that could be dangerous without proper skill and equipment. In October, there is usually the first bigger snowfall, and the huts close to prepare for the winter ski season.

Read more about the hiking season in the Swiss Alps here.

We've rated our tours on a difficulty scale from 1 to 5 — with 1 being the easiest and 5 the most difficult.

The difficulty level of a tour tells you how fit you need to be and how much hiking is involved. Most of our tours are appropriate for people who are regularly active and can hike for about five to seven hours per day.

Technical difficulty means how skilled you need to be to hike on the path. Level 1 means the trail is smooth and wide (like a gravel road), while 5 means the surface is uneven and exposed, and you have to use your hands to help yourself move forward. In practice, that means that the higher the level, the more surefooted and skilled in scrambling you need to be.

It is best to book your tour early because most accommodations along the trail fill up quickly. That way, you can ensure that you have a place to stay.

Even though the routes are usually quite close to at least a farm or a small village, they also feature lots of wild and remote sections where you cannot just stop. In case of injury, it’s best to call the local emergency services.

On the other hand, if you just feel that you cannot hike anymore, you can always stop in any of the towns and villages along the way and use public transport to get to a bigger Swiss city.

Showers in Swiss mountain huts are rare and are only offered for an extra charge. That’s why it’s wise to bring wet wipes with you for the days that you are staying in one of them.

No, because the huts provide their blankets and pillows. Still, you should bring a sleeping liner instead.

Cell connection is very changeable in the mountains. A good rule of thumb is that if you can see a town, you’ll have a reception. Mountain huts are the same — the signal usually doesn’t reach the insides, so try catching it outside. Wifi is available only in some huts, while most don’t have it.

If you dress accordingly, most stages can be done in light rain. However, do not hike if a storm is forecasted. In that case, you can take public transport to the next point when possible to make up for the lost time.

Choose your style

Self-guided from 4.965 €/person

Samo

Travel Expert

Book a call

Ratings & Reviews

5.0 average rating

+13

Birgit Kindler

Verifed customer · 1 year ago

We had a lovely hike today with our guide Klemen. He personalized the tour on our needs and interests, so that we saw places we wouldn't without his experience. The hike was a little bit slippery after the rain from the last days and it went a lot upwards, but it was totally worth it! Thanks again :)

Show all 3 photos

Nachiket Mor

Verifed customer · 1 year ago

Daja Gorišek was the travel agent from here who meticulously organised the trek all the way from Meiringen to Lenk im Simmental. She took care of all the details -- from planning the actual trek route, the detailed GPS map for each stage, to the hotels. The actual experience was entirely consistent with what was promised.

Claudia Ossa

Verifed customer · 2 years ago

9 day hiking trip including rafting and mountain biking. Sadly the weather didn’t help, we had a lot of rain, but Klemen modified our plans, making it a great experience after all. Klemen is an excellent guide and I highly recommend him!!!

Show all 5 photos

Ann Swainson

Verifed customer · 9 months ago

Thank you so much for a fantastic trip. It was absolutely stunning, well organised, and a brilliant trip. Special thanks to Jan for his kindness & support on what was a personally challenging trek.

Show all 3 photos

Robert Backlund

Verifed customer · 9 months ago

Our Guide Luka was amazing! And the three-day hike was a Memory for life, really beautiful. Cant recommend it enough.

Show all 4 photos

Rebecca Lawson

Verifed customer · 8 months ago

Our 3 day hike had to be rearranged 2/2 weather, so a one day hike was arranged for us. We appreciated the concern about weather and conditions. Our hike was with Matevz, who was a great guide. Very helpful and knowledgable. Would definitely recommend and will be back for a longer hike one day!

All available guidance options

Self-guided

Those who like a good adventure and limitless flexibility should go on a self-guided tour. We prepare the itinerary and book your accommodations while you enjoy the journey without our guide, being fully in charge of all the daily decisions. While you’ll have the full support of our team in case of any emergencies or concerns, a certain level of self-reliance is required.

Hassle-Free

We handle itineraries, accommodations, and anything else you prefer not to deal with, so you can enjoy a carefree hike.

Book with confidence

We are a financially protected company, fully bonded and insured, keeping your money safe and allowing you to travel with confidence.

Tried & Tested Adventures

Only the best hut to hut hikes of Switzerland, cherry-picked by our local team with an in-depth knowledge of the region.

Unbeatable support

Our 24/7 customer support is where we show our passion, bringing you a better experience by making your well-being our number one priority.

from 4.965 € /person

Via Alpina Switzerland

Choose your style

Itinerary of the trip

What’s included in the price?

Self-guided

What to bring to the tour

Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Choose your style

Ratings & Reviews

Birgit Kindler

Nachiket Mor

Claudia Ossa

Ann Swainson

Robert Backlund

Rebecca Lawson

Nicole Cocks

Olivia Berriff

Thomas Wilde

Gayle Felbain

Alan Rapoport

Julia Mabry

Natalie Shaw

Mia Rose

Ivan Lopez

Dave Blank

andrew Lockhart

Veronica D

Similar Products

All available guidance options

Self-guided

Hassle-Free

Book with confidence

Tried & Tested Adventures

Unbeatable support

Have qustions? Talk to us.

Portfolio brand of:

Via Alpina Switzerland

Choose your style

Itinerary of the trip

Day 1: Sargans – Weisstannen

Day 2: Weisstannen – Elm

Day 3: Elm – Linthal

Day 4: Linthal – Klausenpass

Day 5: Klausenpass – Altdorf

Day 6: Altdorf – Engelberg

Day 7: Engelberg – Engstlenalp

Day 8: Engstlenalp – Meiringen

Day 9: Meiringen – Grindelwald

Day 10: Grindelwald – Wengen

Day 11: Wengen – Murren

Day 12: Murren – Griesalp

Day 13: Griesalp – Kandersteg

Day 14: Kandersteg – Adelboden

Day 15: Adelboden – Lenk

Day 16: Lenk – Gstaad

Day 17: Gstaad – Château-d’Oex

Day 18: Château-d’Oex – Montreux

What’s included in the price?

Self-guided

What to bring to the tour

Map

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the season for hut-to-hut hiking in Switzerland?

What do fitness and technical difficulty mean?

How much in advance should I book the tour?

What if I can’t continue the tour?

Are there showers in the mountain huts?

Do I need a sleeping bag?

How good is the cell reception in the mountains? Is there wi-fi in the huts?

What if the weather is bad?

Choose your style

Ratings & Reviews

Birgit Kindler

Nachiket Mor

Claudia Ossa

Ann Swainson

Robert Backlund

Rebecca Lawson

Nicole Cocks

Olivia Berriff

Thomas Wilde

Gayle Felbain

Alan Rapoport

Julia Mabry

Natalie Shaw

Mia Rose

Ivan Lopez

Dave Blank

andrew Lockhart

Veronica D

Similar Products

All available guidance options

Self-guided

Hassle-Free

Book with confidence

Tried & Tested Adventures

Unbeatable support

Have qustions? Talk to us.

Portfolio brand of: