Switzerland Lodge-to-Lodge Hiking Tour
Epic Mountain Passes & Charming Villages Along the Via Alpina
Traverse ranges and valleys on your own two feet… but forget the hikers’ hostels. Instead, think extravagant Alpine spa hotels. In Switzerland, you can have your strudel and eat it too.
We rate our trips based on a range of activity levels from 1-5.
See this trip's Activity Options & Terrain for more details.
From $6,399 - $6,499/person
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Snapshots from the Trip
Trip at a Glance
Highlights
- Get away from the tourist crowds in the serene western arm of Switzerland’s iconic Bernese Oberland
- There’s no van in sight on this backcountry-centered itinerary where epic hikes lead straight from hotel to hotel
- Chase waterfalls like Adelboden’s thundering Engstligenfall and Lenk’s Seven Fountains
- Mix with the jet set in glitzy Gstaad
- Local friends, from cheesemakers to artisans to a professional hiking guide, join us at every step of the way and bring the Alps to life
Sample itinerary. Trip details may vary by departure.
Start Zweisimmen Airport & Travel Details
- A morning gondola ride and lunch at a cozy mountain hut set the tone for the coming week
- Hike down into Gstaad, where our glorious spa hotel welcomes us with country house-style elegance
- Walk Gstaad’s cobblestone main drag to ogle boutiques frequented by part-time residents including Julie Andrews and Madonna
- Views stretch forever as we hike across the top of the Wispile Mountain
- Stop trailside at the dairy of a local cheesemaker who shows us how he makes Alpine cheese in a giant copper pot
- Stroll along the shore of jewel-like Lake Lauenen.
Nights 1-2
Luxury Hotel
Set amid manicured gardens in central Gstaad, Le Grand Bellevue offers a refined escape centered around one of Switzerland's most impressive spas. Bright and tranquil chalet-inspired rooms offer luxurious, cozy furnishings with breathtaking Alpine views. (pool, spa)
Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.
- Traverse from Gstaad to Lenk through phantasmagorical gypsum formations located high on the mountain
- Relax in our grand hotel’s Seven Sources spa
- A local hiking guide joins us for a loop trail that links the valley’s waterfalls, from towering Simmenfall to Seven Fountains, where you can get close enough to feel the spray
- Spend evenings immersed in Swiss traditions, from the sounds of an alphorn player to a local artisan's introduction to Scherenschnitte, the intricate art of Swiss paper-cutting.
Nights 3-4
Luxury Hotel
You're invited to revel in the steamy thermal waters and gourmet cuisine at this historic grande dame. Have your torte and eat it too with world-class luxury and creature comforts set right in the heart of the towering mountains of the upper Simmental. Relais & Châteaux. (pool, spa)
Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.
- Make our final mountain crossing over the Hahnenmoos Pass, which Catholic priests once used to flee from the Reformation
- Chase a grand finale of 360-degree views if you choose to bag the peak of the Regenboldshorn
- Opt to hike through flower-covered slopes down into Adelboden, our final destination, or hop on a Trotti bike: a uniquely Swiss type of downhill scooter
- Toast to our adventure together as alpenglow lights up the Engstligenfall, Adelboden’s iconic cascade, then spend your last morning strolling up to the falls’ thundering base.
Night 5
Luxury Hotel
Here grand-hotel sensibilities come with modern interiors in a jewel-box package. Unwind in the welcoming gardens or take in views of the thundering Engstligen Fall from the infinity pool perched on the edge of the valley. Relais & Châteaux. (pool, spa)
Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.
End Spiez Airport & Travel Details
This trip has an activity level range of 3-5
All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
All accommodations on your Backroads trip
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Expertise and services of Backroads Trip Leaders
Lightweight carbon hiking poles
Backroads On Trip App with route maps, elevation profiles, daily snapshots and more
Additional local guides and experts, plus equipment for included activities as detailed in your itinerary
Exclusive activities, tours and cultural experiences, as detailed in your itinerary
All luggage transfers and porterage during your trip
Snacks and beverages between meals
Private cocktail and wine receptions on the first and last nights of your trip
Choice of Backroads t-shirt or hat, plus water bottle and luggage tag
Detailed Travel Planner with destination tips and pre-trip information
