Swiss Alps Splendor
$4390 | Sept 2-14 2026 | SOLD OUT|All Women
“Climb every mountain. Forge every stream. Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream. ”
Schedule
The lakes and snowcapped peaks you will behold over the next 12 days will have you feeling like you’ve entered a fairy-tale like world. Switzerland is one of THE most expensive countries to travel, and for good reason. Their transportation runs like a SWISS WATCH. Seamless. Villages are magical. Trails are pristine. Food is divine.
The itinerary would be as follows:
Fly into Zurich and take a one-hour train into Lucerne. This is where our Alpine Adventure begins! Evening excursion to Mt Rigi via Lake Lucern. Tour Old Town, Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument and the Musegg Wall.
We will spend one night in Lucerne before ferrying across Lake Lucerne to Brennan where we will take a bus and then a series of chairlifts and gondolas to reach Fronalpstock, our lodging while hiking the beautiful Stoos Ridge. We will have the mountain all to ourselves after the last chairlift has descended for the evening.
The following day we reverse our direction, by way of the charming ferry ride across Lake Lucerne, departing for the famed Jungfrau Region in the Bernese Oberland. This will be a travel day, but the scenery and modes of transportation will keep you staring out the window as we roll past villages with chalets set on hillsides above turquoise lakes. At Lake Brienz will embark upon one final ferry to Interlaken where we will board a train to Lauterbrunnen.
A few days will be spent in the quaint Jungfrau Region, hiking, biking, shopping and exploring these idyllic villages.
Another seamless train-ride will then take us to the car free hamlet of Zermatt, home to the Matterhorn. Hiking abounds in this region, and we shall embark on several!
Next, it’s a train to the quaint French town of Chamonix, at the base of the towering Mont Blanc. We will hike the iconic Stage 10 Segment of the Tour Mont Blanc. Chairlifts should still be running as an option from the relentless downhill!
Annecy France will be our final destination, set on one of the cleanest lakes in Europe. We will meander around cobblestone streets, cycle the renowned lake side trail, tour a former prison and walk the Venice-like canals.
A one-hour bus transfer will take us from Annecy to Geneva Switzerland Airport for our flight home.
Packing List
Pack layers—-Not outfits.
September in the Alps is beautiful, but weather can change quickly. We will be going from lakes and valleys to high alpine elevations often in the course of one day. Mornings will be cooler with sunny afternoons, followed by cooler evenings once the sun sets. There is always a possibility of significantly colder conditions on exposed alpine ridges and at higher elevations. Think fog, wind, rain and even snow.
Pack for layers, not a fashion show! You’ll be much happier having versatile hiking layers that are easy to remove throughout the day than packing a different outfit for every destination. This is a Switzerland Hiking Adventure! The only days we aren’t “Actively Adventuring” are our travel days. And even then, that isn’t entirely true as we are walking to and from train stations, gondolas, ferries and backpacking our luggage along the way.
Between hiking, biking & walking, we will easily log 100 miles. Keep in mind as you contemplate the super cute sweater that would look oh-so-chic in ONE picture!
Stacey’s Practical Hiking List
2 pair hiking pants
2 pair hiking shorts
1 long sleeve dri-fit shirt
1 long sleeve smart wool shirt
1 long sleeve fleece (if you run cold)
2 short sleeve dri-fit shirts
2 tank tops
Lightweight “paper” jacket
Lightweight wind/rain jacket or shell
Lightweight down jacket (if you run cold)
Lightweight travel jacket
2-3 pair athleisure pants (for travel and evenings)
2-3 athleisure tops (for travel and evenings)
3 pair hiking socks
3 sport bras
1 pair Hiking shoes/boots
1 pair travel/casual shoes
1 pair sandals/teva’s/chaco’s
Pajamas
Swimsuit
Plenty of underwear if you don’t want to hassle with doing a laundry day. (Most hotels have drying racks in the room for socks/underwear)
Toiletries
Collapsible trekking poles
Day pack (18-25 liters)
Bladder or plastic flasks to carry a minimum of 2 liters of water
Sunglasses/Hat/Sunscreen
Small fanny-pack or crossbody bag for easy phone/passport access
**Packing Cubes will help keep your items organized. I like to have hiking clothes in one, bottoms in one, tops in one, ect…)
Anything over 22 pounds will start to feel HEAVY after about 10 minutes when carrying it on your back.
Remember you will be expected to transport your own luggage onto trains, chairlifts, gondolas, ferries and to walk with your luggage approximately ½ mile from final transport station to our lodging.
This is what adds to the adventure! We are backpacking across Switzerland!
Hike/Bike Details—Moderate to Challenging to Strenuous
Lucerne
Mt Rigi—1/2 mile=300 feet elevation gain/300 elevation loss (Easy) Stretch our legs from a long day of travel by climbing a short distance to a viewpoint overlooking Lake Lucerne.
Stoos Ridge —-7 miles RT=1600 elevation gain/1600 elevation loss (Challenging) Alpine hike along a narrow grassy ridge, from Fronalpstock to Klingenstock. Steep sections, exposure, ups and downs with many stairs. Sweeping 360 degree views of lakes and snowcapped peaks. Option to shorten=out and back.
Jungfrau
Schynige Platte/Faulhorn/First —-11 miles=2650 elevation gain/2650 elevation loss (Challenging/Strenuous) Long distance, exposed ridge. Jaw dropping panoramic views of the Eiger, Monch, Jungfrau and Lake Brienz. Lots of rocks and uneven footing. Some steep rocky downhill sections. No bailouts.
Gimmelwald/Bryndli/Rotstockhutte—8.5 miles=2600 elevation gain/2600 elevation loss (Challenging) A spectacular Alpine loop through Sprutz waterfall with switchbacks up to Bryndli Ridge boasting 360 views of the Eiger-Monch with an optional short rope climbing section. Option to shorten=out and back.
Lauterbrunnen Valley Bike 10 miles/minimal elevation (Easy) Cycling flat roads alongside cascading waterfalls with sounds of cowbells fill green pastures.
Zermatt
Sunnegga-Stellisee -Findeln-Zermatt 8 miles =1,200 elevation gain/3000 elevation loss (Moderate) An alpine loop starting on a rockier, more technical trail before transitioning to a smooth, scenic path past a glacial lake with Matterhorn reflection. A scenic descent from Stellisee through the charming hamlet of Findeln, with a memorable lunch stop at one of Zermatt’s top-rate alpine restaurants before continuing to Zermatt. Optional gondola up to Blauherd. NO bailouts on the descent.
Gornergrat Bahn to Gornergrat (10,135 feet elevation) to Rotenboden to Riffelsee to Riffelberg to Riffealp to Zermatt—3 miles=300 elevation gain/1800 elevation loss (Easy/Moderate) A breathtaking high-alpine descent on packed snow filled trails with non-stop views of the Matterhorn and surrounding peaks. Along the way we stop at the iconic Riffelsee Lake for one of the most spectaular Matterhorn reflections (on a calm day) before continuing our descent toward Riffelberg. Your Gornergrat Bahn ticket allows you to descend at any of these stops back down to Zermatt
Gorner Gorge to Furi Suspension Bridge—8 miles/1,500 gain (Moderate) Narrow gorge walkway with stairs, shaded forests trails, steady climbing through mountain hamlets to a dramatic suspension bridge. Optional Furi gondola down.
Chamonix
Tour de Mont Blanc Stage #10: Tre-le-Champ to La Flegere 9 miles=3200 elevation gain/1800 elevation loss (Strenuous). Rocky. Uneven footing. Technical. Exposed. 9 sets of ladders, platforms and fixed handrails. Lac Blanc is the breathtaking reward at the top of the TMB ladder section. Turquoise alpine waters reflect the snow-capped peaks of the Mont Blanc massif. One of the most spectaular viewpoints of the entire hike. Optional Flegere gondola down. If La Flegere gondola is not in operation this will add another 2.5 miles and 2500 elevation loss.
Annecy
Lake Annecy Bike Loop—-24 miles=1000 elevation gain/1000 elevation loss. (Moderate) A scenic cycling path traces the shoreline of one of Europe’s cleanest lakes. As we cylce we will be surrounded by mountains, turquoise water and stopping to have lunch at one of the quaint waterfront villages.
Criteria & Pricing
A good cardiovascular base and endurance hiking experience.
Once the initial deposit had been made, I will start to secure bookings. Each deposit will be non-refundable.
At Registration-$1390
April 1st-$1000
May 1st-$1000
June 1st-$1000
Included
Packing checklist— PACKING CORRECTLY is going to come in clutch
Coordinating & booking /hotels/ferries/gondolas/trams/trains/cable cars
8 Day Swiss Pass ($550+)
Remaining modes of transport our 8 days in SWITZERLAND (not including optional cogwheels/trams) not covered or only 50% covered by the Swiss Pass ($200+)
Bus from Chamonix to Annecy
Bus from Annecy to Geneva
Hotel in Lucerne-one night
Hotel at Stoos Ridge-one night
Hotel in Jungfrau Region-three nights
Hotel in Zermatt- three nights
Hotel in Chamonix France-two nights
Hotel in Annecy France-one night
Breakfasts, if included at lodgings (4 of our mornings have breakfast included)
Bike rental in Lauterbrunnen Valley
Trummelbach Falls entrance fee
Bike rental in Annecy
Guided hikes/bike rides/city center navigation
*E-bikes will incur an additional charge
Not Included
Flight into Zurich Switzerland
Flight out of Geneva Switzerland
All meals, other than what is served at hotel (4 breakfasts)
Transport from Zurich to Chamonix (not included with the STP appx $100)
Any mode of transport/hotels/medical assistance deemed necessary to exit the trip (or hike) prematurely
*Travel Insurance is recommended for medical necessity, flights or natural disasters.
*Any of the bailout options for chairlifts will be at your own expense (notated above in bold under the HIKE descriptions)