Via Alpina 8 Days Guided Hiking Trip in Swiss Alps

Day 1: DAY 1: Zurich Airport Meet & Greet

1. Pass by
   Welcome to Switzerland.
   
   Our Guide will meet you outside the customs area at Zurich Airport. After a warm welcome, the Guide will help you carry the luggage and guide you to the airport train station. They will also assist you on the train transfer to Lucerne and help you get to your hotel comfortably.
   
   Your adventure begins with an itinerary briefing and a Q&A session from your Guide at 1 pm. It would be a perfect opportunity to meet your fellow travellers and clarify any questions you might have about the journey ahead.
   
   The rest of the afternoon your Guide will show you Lucerne and do a warm up small hike in the most beautiful area of Lucerne.

Day 2: DAY 2: Hike - Lucerne to Engelberg & Melchsee-Frutt

1. Engelberg
   5h
   Our Guide will meet you at the hotel at 7:45 am.
   
   Place your luggage by reception with My-Mountains Tags in place. It will be transferred to your next hotel in Melchsee-Frutt.
   Pack light – just sufficient things for the day.
   We’ll take a 45 min train ride from Lucerne to Engelberg. Then we’ll begin the day’s hike.
   
   Today’s Hike
   The hike is flexible and your Guide can adjust the route depending on your fitness level.
   On average:
   
   4 to 5 hours total hiking;
   8 miles distance;
   total day’s ascent 426 mt/1,400 ft;
   total day’s descent 487 mt/1,600 ft.
   
   After your first full day of hiking, relax and recharge at your comfortable hotel with an indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms.
   
   Tip: bring your swimming suit with you as your luggage will arrive around 6 pm the latest.

Day 3: DAY 3: Hike - Melchsee-Frutt to Meiringen & Grindelwald

1. Melchsee-Frutt
   4h
   At an elevation of 1,920 mt/6,300 ft Melchsee-Frutt offers you that “Swiss Alps experience” you envisioned.
   
   Today’s hike will be gorgeous. There will be alpine peaks in the distance and green valleys and pastures below. One of the Swiss hiking guides describes this segment as a “Hike near to heaven”, with Swiss peaks of the Wetterhorn, Mittelhorn and Rothorn in your sights.
   First we will hike from Melchsee-Frutt to Mägisalp cable car station and take a ride down to Meiringen. Next we will take the local postal bus from the Meiringen train station to the resort of Grindelwald. The hiking route can be adjusted depending on the fitness level.
   
   total hiking time: 3 to 4 hours
   6 miles
   213 mt/700 ft up and hiking on level ridge trail.
   In the afternoon we reach the alpine village of Grindelwald, surrounded by the majestic trio: Mönch, Jungfrau and Eiger.
   
   Your luggage will be delivered not later than 6 pm.

Day 4: DAY 4: Grindelwald & Jungfrau Region

1. Jungfrau Region
   4h
   The Jungfrau region is a world famous mountain getaway that faces the Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau mountain peaks.
   
   We’ll take the famous Jungfrau Bahn to visit Jungfraujoch located at a staggering 3,463 mt/11,362 ft above the sea level. From here you can admire the panorama of Aletsch, Europe’s largest glacier. And of course, we will provide you with the return ticket for the Jungfrau railway.
   
   We will discuss the many safe, Grindelwald based sign-posted mountain trails and your guide will choose the hikes according to prevailing weather conditions and your energy levels.
   
   Our local English speaking guides are experts on all the trails and will make this part of the tour even more stunning.

Day 5: Day 5: Panorama Hike - First to Bussalp

1. Wanderung Bussalp - Bort
   4h · Admission ticket included
   Today’s hike starts with a scenic 30 minute gondola ride to the First summit at 2,158 mt/6,500 ft while enjoying views over the beautiful Bachalp lake.
   
   The hike itself covers approximately 10 km/6 miles, taking around 3 to 4 hours to complete, with a moderate difficulty level.
   
   The trail descends gradually from First to Bussalp, which is at 1,792 mt/5,879 ft, with some uphill and downhill sections along the way.
   
   Along the route, you will be treated to breathtaking views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks, along with alpine meadows, streams, and small lakes. After reaching Bussalp, we will take the PostAuto down to Grindelwald to conclude this memorable journey.

Day 6: DAY 6: Trümmelbach Falls, Gimmelwald & Mürren

1. Lauterbrunnen Valley Waterfalls
   4h · Admission ticket included
   Today you will depart via train to Lauterbrunnen valley, famous for its 72 waterfalls. While here, we’ll visit the Trümmelbach falls gorge. It is unique because it’s hidden within a mountain and is accessible via a network of tunnels, paths, and viewing platforms carved into the rock.
   
   We continue our hike to the beautiful village of Gimmelwald:
   
   Today’s Hike
   
   Distance: ~7-8 km (4-5 miles)
   
   Elevation Gain: ~700m (2,300 ft)
   
   Time: ~3-4 hours (depending on pace & stops)
   
   Difficulty: Moderate (some steep sections)
   
   Depending on the fitness level we’ll ride a cable car to Gimmelwald and continue our hike to Mürren. This mountain village located at 1,661 mt/5,450 ft not only provides an eye level view of the Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau, but also presents you with a panorama of more distant mountain peaks.
   
   Optionally, you can take the gondola up to the 2,969 mt/9,744 ft Schilthorn and enjoy one of the most amazing Swiss Alps summit views.
   
   Your luggage will be at your Mürren hotel by 6:00p.m.

Day 7: DAY 7: Mürren

1. Murren
   4h
   We’ll have a full day to experience the beauty of Mürren and its surroundings. Your Guide will suggest some of our favorite hiking options in the region depending on your fitness level of the day.
   
   If you didn’t have time to do it the day before, today you will have time to visit Schilthorn, the mountain peak above Mürren. Here the James Bond movie, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, was filmed.
   
   Enjoy a 360 degrees panorama through the window of the peak’s restaurant, which rotates on its axis. If the weather is good, here you can admire the best Alpine vistas in the region.

Day 8: DAY 8: Departure

1. Grutschalp - Murren Hiking Trail
   3h · Admission ticket not included
   Prior to departure, your guide will make sure to give you all the details you need to reach your next destination.
   
   Take the train to Grütschalp and the cable car down to Lauterbrunnen. From here you can take the train to Interlaken and other destinations. Your Swiss Travel Pass is valid on all Swiss public transportation.
   
   For those continuing on to Zermatt, plan about a 3 hour train ride with easy connections in Interlaken Ost, Spiez, and Visp.
   For those traveling to the Zürich airport, also plan a 3 hour train ride with connections in Interlaken Ost and Bern.

Pickup details

Your Guide will meet you outside the customs area at Zurich Airport. After a warm welcome, the Guide will help you carry the luggage and guide you to the airport train station. They will also assist you on the train transfer to Lucerne and help you get to your hotel comfortably.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness