Best of Via Alpina: 8-Day Hiking Trip in the Swiss Alps
Hike on the #1 National Trail Via Alpina, one of world’s most spectacular hikes
Tour Overview
8 Days | From USD 3,310 | Self-Guided Hiking Tour | June to September
On our 8-day The Best of Via Alpina Hiking Trip you will hike on Switzerland’s National Via Alpina #1 signposted trail, constantly surrounded by breathtaking panoramas of the Swiss Alps.
During the Best of Via Alpina Hiking Trip, you’ll experience some of the most stunning landscapes in central Switzerland and the Bernese Oberland, offering an unparalleled mix of dramatic peaks, lush meadows, and cascading waterfalls.
Enjoy mesmerizing views along the way from Engelberg to Melchsee-Frutt, Grindelwald, and Mürren, visiting waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, and other natural wonders. Thanks to the semi-guided character of this trip, you can enjoy your independence without having to worry about the logistics.
Highlights
- Meet & Greet at the Airport
- Luggage transfers throughout the trip
- Private tour with flexible schedules
- Semi-guided: discover Switzerland independently
- Flexible Hiking Routes provided in the Travel App
- Most scenic Swiss Alps panoramas
- Overnights in Engelberg, Melchsee-Frutt, Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren
- Dedicated helpine available from 9 am to 5 pm
Featured Sites
- Jungfrau Region
- Famous trio: Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau
- Overnight in the car-free village of Mürren
- Grindelwald - gate to the Jungfrau region
- Overnight in Melschsee-Frutt at 6,300 ft
- Lauterbrunnen & Trümmelbach Falls
- Gimmelwald – A postcard-perfect Swiss village
- Optional: ride to the summit of Schilthorn (Piz Gloria) and Jungfraujoch
Book the Best of Via Alpina hiking tour today!
The Best of Via Alpina Hiking Trip Itinerary
This captivating journey will help you immerse yourself in the beauty of the Swiss Alps. The best of Via Alpina self-guided hiking trip has been designed to showcase the varied landscapes of Switzerland and deliver a well-rounded experience available to more and less experienced hikers.
Want to ease into your Swiss adventure? Add a pre-tour overnight stay in Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s most charming and walkable cities.
Your experience begins the moment you land: enjoy a warm welcome at Zurich Airport with a personal meet & greet by one of our local English-speaking guides.
Then arrive in Lucerne and wander the cobblestone streets, cross the iconic Chapel Bridge, and soak in lake and mountain views before your tour officially begins.
Just connect with our experts, and we’ll make it happen seamlessly.
Accommodation: Hotel Walstätterhof (or comparable lodging).
Our Guide will meet you outside the customs area at Zurich Airport. After a warm welcome, the guide will lead you to the airport train station and help you get to your hotel in Engelberg comfortably.
Our Guide will give you a detailed briefing of the itinerary and will provide you with all the documentation for the trip. During the briefing, you can ask any questions about your Trip.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy Engelberg. Your guide is available all day and is happy to show you the best walking routes around this beautiful village.
Accommodation: Hotel Schweizerhof (or comparable lodging).
Our Guide will meet you at the hotel at 8:15 am.
Place your luggage by reception with MyMountains Tags in place. It will be transferred to your next hotel in Melchsee-Frutt.
Pack light – just sufficient things for the day.
Then we’ll begin the day’s hike.
Our guide will accompany you on today’s hike to help you familiarize yourself with the Swiss hiking trails and trail signs. You have the entire day to ask all your questions about how the hiking trails in Switzerland works.
By the time you reach Melchsee-Frutt, you will feel very confident to continue your hike independently.
Today’s Hike
The hike is flexible, and your Guide can adjust the route depending on your fitness level.
Shortest route:
Distance: ~9 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation Gain: ~280 m (918 ft)
Elevation Loss: ~324 m (1,063 ft)
Time: ~3-4 hours (depending on pace & stops)
Hiking Difficulty Level: Moderate (varied terrain with steady ascents and descents)
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.
Hiking routes: When booking, in your Travel App you will find the official Via Alpina route plus our shorter and most scenic alternatives.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Frutt Mountain Resort (or comparable lodging).
At an elevation of 1,920 m/ 6,300 ft, Melchsee-Frutt offers you that “Swiss Alps experience” you envisioned. It’s nestled in between green mountain pastures, the air is filled with clanging cowbells and the air smell impossibly clean and fresh. Now wonder: this place is only accessible on foot or by a cable car.
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.
From Melchsee-Frutt, you can either enjoy a scenic hike or a quick cable car ride from Alpentower to Mägisalp. Either way is going to be amazing. From Mägisalp, continue your journey to Meiringen. Once there, the Post bus will take you to Grosse Scheidegg, a stunning mountain pass known for its panoramic views of the Bernese Alps. This highlight offers an unmatched perspective of the surrounding peaks and valleys, providing a perfect spot for a pause.
From the Grosse Scheidegg, continue your hike or take the local bus to the resort of Grindelwald.
Today’s Hike
The hike is flexible, and you can adjust the route depending on your fitness level.
Shortest route:
- Distance: ~6.6 km (4 miles)
- Elevation Gain: ~510 m (1,643 ft)
- Elevation Loss: 187 m (613 ft)
- Time: ~2-3 hours (depending on pace & stops)
- Hiking Difficulty Level: Moderate (gentle terrain, stunning views)
In the afternoon, enjoy the alpine village of Grindelwald, surrounded by the majestic trio: Mönch, Jungfrau and Eiger.
Your luggage will be delivered not later than 6 pm.
Hiking routes: When booking, in your Travel App you will find the official Via Alpina route plus our shorter and most scenic alternatives.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel Alpina (or comparable lodging)
The Jungfrau region is a world famous mountain getaway that faces the Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau mountain peaks.
During your stay in Grindelwald, you can hike a selection of summit trails showcasing the best of the Jungfrau region. If you wish to do so, you can take the famous Jungfrau Bahn to visit Jungfraujoch located at a staggering 11,362 ft/3,463 m above sea level. From here you can admire the panorama of Aletsch, Europe’s largest glacier. Your Half-Fare card provides you a reduction on the Jungfrau railway.
During the briefing with our guide in Engelberg, we will discuss the many safe, Grindelwald-based sign-posted mountain trails. This way you choose your hikes on the day according to prevailing weather conditions and your energy levels.
Insider tip: we have local English speaking guides in Grindelwald available. They are experts on all the trails and will make this part of the tour even more stunning.
Hiking routes: When booking, in your Travel App you will find the official hiking route plus our shorter and most scenic alternatives.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel Alpina (or comparable lodging).
Today you’ll experience one of the most breathtaking hikes in the Bernese Oberland – from Grindelwald to Wengen – through the iconic Jungfrau region, surrounded by the Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau peaks.
We suggest following the classic alpine route: start in Grindelwald, surrounded by the drama of the Eiger North Face. Continue to Kleine Scheidegg, a mountain pass with views so epic it feels like a movie set. Then descend into Wengen, a stunning car-free village perched above Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Today’s Hike
The hike is flexible, and you can adjust the route depending on your fitness level.
Shortest route:
- Distance: ~11 km (8 miles)
- Elevation Gain: ~/ m (/ ft)
- Elevation Loss: ~776 m (905 ft)
- Time: ~2-3 hours (depending on pace & stops)
- Hiking Difficulty Level: Moderate to Challenging (longer duration with sustained uphill and downhill sections)
Your luggage will be delivered not later than 6 pm.
Hiking routes: When booking, in your Travel App you will find the official hiking route plus our shorter and most scenic alternatives.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel Schönegg (or comparable lodging).
Today you’ll journey into the enchanting Lauterbrunnen valley, famous for its 72 waterfalls. While here, we highly recommend a visit to the Trümmelbach Falls.
Afterward, you have two great options:
Take a scenic hike up to Gimmelwald on peaceful alpine trails, with views of the valley below.
From Gimmelwald, hike further up to Mürren, a charming mountain village perched at 1,661 m (5,450 ft), directly facing the Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau.
Otherwise, you can take the cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Gimmelwald, then hike or take the cable car to Mürren for a gentler day. Either way enjoy the panoramic view of the Staubbach Falls.
All trail maps and route suggestions will be in your Travel App, so you can decide based on weather and mood.
No worries about luggage, it will be waiting for you at your Mürren hotel by 6:00 p.m.
Hiking routes: When booking, in your Travel App you will find the official hiking route plus our shorter and most scenic alternatives.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel Edelweiss (or comparable lodging).
Today you have a full day to experience the beauty of Mürren and its surroundings.
In your Travel App, you’ll find a handpicked selection of our absolute favorite hikes in the region. 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.
Here too, you can use your Half-Fare card and receive a reduction on the cable car rate.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel Edelweiss (or comparable lodging).
Departure to your next destination after breakfast.
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 Half-Fare card offers you a 50% reduction 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.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Not ready to go home?
The Post-Tour option extends your Via Alpina Hiking Tour with 3 nights in Zermatt. Via Apina Post-Trip Information and Pricing.
Please note: The Via Alpina Post-Tour Extension is available exclusively to guests booking the Via Alpina Hiking Tour. During the booking process, the post-tour extension will appear as an optional add-on that can be selected before checkout.
Book the Best of Via Alpina hiking tour today!
Details and pricing
Party of two, double room: USD 3,550 pp
Party of three, triple room: USD 3,315 pp
Party of four, two double rooms: USD 3,375 pp
Party of five, two double rooms & one single room: USD 3,435 pp
Party of six, three double rooms: USD 3,310 pp
Single Supplement applies.
If your rooming differs from the above or you are traveling with Kids or Teenagers, please contact our sales team for the adjustment, or simply book, and we will adjust your invoice afterwards.
- Meet & Greet at the Airport and transfer to Engelberg
- Full Day hiking with a local English-speaking guide – accompanying you on first hike from Engelberg to Melchsee-Frutt
- 7 nights stays at authentic 3* or 4* hotels or lodges
- Extensive breakfast buffet daily
- Luggage Transfers from Engelberg to Melchsee-Frutt, from Melchsee-Frutt to Grindelwald, from Grindelwald to Wengen and from Wengen to Mürren (One piece of Luggage per person; each piece must not exceed 23 kg/50 lbs; for further details check the Terms & Conditions) If you would like to include additional luggage, please connect with our Travel Advisor Team before your trip so we can make the necessary arrangements.
- Half-Fare Card that offers unlimited half price tickets on trains, buses, boats and public transport in cities valid 1 month. Also offers reductions up to 50% discounts on most mountain excursions. Expected expenses can vary from 20 CHF to 40 CHF per day per person. Tickets can be purchased at any station. Always bring some spare cash with you
- Complete digital itinerary including all documentations, delivered to you 3 weeks in advance to ensure the smoothest travel experience
- Dedicated helpline from 9 am to 5 pm
- First-Aid Safety Kit
- Taxes & fees
- Lunches and dinners
- Ground transportation – cable car, local postal bus, train tickets (with your Half-Fare card these all at 50% reduction rates)
- International flights
- Items of personal nature
- Travel Insurance
- Optional tips to the Guides
Tipping in Switzerland is not mandatory but appreciated.
Restaurants: Leave a tip if you’re happy with the service. Usually, it’s around 10% of the bill.
Guides: Typically a tip varies from 10$ to 20$ per person, per day.
For reliable travel insurance, we are proud to partner with a top-notch company, ensuring your peace of mind on every journey. Check out our Travel Insurance Partner and get in touch for a quotation.
Visa, Maestro, and Mastercard are commonly accepted in Switzerland. American Express is not so popular and many businesses don’t accept it. The country is becoming more and more cashless with contactless and mobile payments (Google and Apple Pay). Still, it’s useful to have some cash on you while travelling. All banks provide currency exchange services at a favorable rate.
Good Fitness Required
This is a hiking tour and while most of the trail do not involve any challenging up or downhill stretches, you require good physical health, endurance, sense of balance and sure-footedness.
Many paths are uneven and rocky, sometimes very narrow with steep hills on both sides. Previous experience in mountain hiking is advised. Make sure you bring good gear: sturdy hiking boots to protect your ankles, clothes made of breathable materials, a hat, a good backpack, sunblock and water bottle. For a full guide on packing list, click here.
- Click on any of the “Book now” buttons on the page.
- You will be redirected to our dedicated booking platform.
- Choose a desired date for your trip and add number of participants. Select departure time, if applicable.
- Fill out the form with all travellers’ details and click “Confirm booking”.
- Once we receive your booking request you will be sent an email with payment instructions from our partner Flywire.
- Follow the instructions in the email.
- Once the payment is processed, your booking is confirmed.
See our Cancellation Policy for more details.
Here you can find all the information about Switzerland Hiking Trips packing list.
