Via Alpina Switzerland

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.