Switzerland is every mountaineer’s dream, with awe-inspiring views of snowcapped peaks everywhere you look. Expect to find towering mountains, meadows dotted with wildflowers, thundering waterfalls, and cascading glaciers. This country is a popular destination that is home to a wide variety of hiking trails, from easy one-day treks to more challenging multi-day hikes. In this article, we’ll take you to our top ten Swiss alpine hikes. Read on!
1. Italy and Switzerland Lake District Hiking Tour
This idyllic eight-day hiking tour winds its way through spectacular landscapes of Italy and Switzerland’s Lake District, with easy to moderately strenuous hiking (3–4 hours per day). Panoramic lake and mountain vistas are always in sight as you traverse gently rolling terrains and some steeper mountain sections. The Swiss part of the hike takes you to lively Locarno, situated at the northern end of Lake Maggiore, and the splendid lakeside village of Morcote, voted ‘Switzerland’s most beautiful village’. Book this trip -> MT Sobek’s Italy & Switzerland Hiking Tour
2. Alps Village to Village Hiking Tour
The Eiger Trail, Iconic Matterhorn & Mont Blanc is an unforgettable 10-day alps trek through picturesque hamlets in the Swiss and French Alps, paired with sweeping mountain vistas. You’ll tackle the legendary Eiger Trail at the foot of the Eiger’s notorious north face, which has challenged mountaineers for over a century. Starting from Grindelwald, the perfect entryway for the ultimate Alps adventure, you will hike a series of trails and mountain passes in the Bernese Alps, with views of verdant meadows and alpine lakes. Admire icefalls and glacier lakes surrounded by the epic Blumlisalp peaks, before ending the Swiss part of the escapade with the famed Matterhorn, one of the country’s most remarkable and renowned mountains.Book this trip -> MT Sobek’s Alps Hiking Tour
3. Around the Matterhorn Trek
Circling Switzerland’s most celebrated mountain is on many a person’s bucket list, and we have devised this eight-day loop trek with just that in mind. The pyramid-shaped Matterhorn, with its high-altitude trails up to 11,000 feet and two glacier crossings, makes for the perfect adventure for seasoned hikers who want to be physically challenged and then rewarded with magnificent views of snowcapped peaks, shimmering alpine lakes, and charming pastoral hamlets cradled high in the mountains.
Book this trip -> MT Sobek’s Matterhorn Hiking Tour
4. Chamonix and Zermatt Hiking Tour
The Swiss part of this picturesque seven-day trek explores the majestic surroundings of Zermatt and trails at the foot of Matterhorn mountain. Highlights include hiking to the storybook villages of Zmutt and Schwarzsee and a small pretty lake just below the Matterhorn. You can also trek up to the Hörnli mountain hut at 8,490 feet, where alpinists spend the night before a Matterhorn ascent. The Monte Rosa side of Zermatt’s mountains is equally dazzling, with gorgeous views of the Monte Rosa massif and Dufourspitze, the second highest peak in the Alps.
Book this trip -> MT Sobek’s Chamonix & Zermatt Hiking Tour
5. Tour du Mont Blanc Hiking
This 12-day trip around Europe’s highest and most iconic peak is undisputedly on every serious hiker’s must-do list. The journey through the heart of the Alps takes you past giant glaciers and pristine mountain lakes, along ancient trails and through grassy meadows. Experience three countries, cultures, and cuisines on one trip. The Swiss portion takes in the lakeside resort town of Champex, with typical Swiss-style chalets and charming gardens. Up next is Martigny, where you can explore the Fondation Pierre Gianadda, an impressive art complex featuring a sculpture garden and museums.
Book this trip -> MT Sobek’s Tour du Mont Blanc Hiking Tour
6. Bernese Oberland Trek
Drink in the breathtaking alpine terrain of the Bernese Oberland on this eight-day trek through some the world’s most striking mountains, including Jungfrau, Monch, and Eiger. Start with the exquisite Rhone Valley and walk amid sweeping slopes, endless meadows, and massive cliffs, witnessing glistening glacial lakes high up from a ridge on the Chindbetti Pass. This is not just a hike; it’s also a journey back in time through postcard-pretty villages, all along paired with tremendous views. The tour includes spending a night on a rustic farm, a unique experience to cherish.
Book this trip -> MT Sobek’s Bernese Oberland Hiking Tour
7. Haute Route Trek
The Haute Route means the “high road” in French, and it aptly describes this challenging trek designed for devoted hikers. On this 11-day hike, some of the highlights include a visit to the delightful Swiss hamlet of Arolla and the picturesque village of Grimentz, with possibilities of spotting wildlife such as marmots and eagles along the way. Walk through fragrant forests of larch trees, heather, and blueberries and get to the top of Augstbordpass, with its superb views of the Weishorn, Breithorn, and Mischabel, all topping 14,000 feet. Wrap up the adventure in Zermatt, one of the world’s most iconic alpine resorts.
Book this trip -> MT Sobek’s Haute Route Hiking Tour
8. Mount Rigi Trail
This easy day hike showcases Switzerland’s spectacular views on a seven-kilometer route. Starting at the top of Rigi Kulm, and following the signs to Rigi, you take in the views of rolling green meadows, the Goldau mountain and the multitude of peaks rolling across the horizon. The route takes you through the Felsenweg area and ends at Rigi Scheidegg, where you get the cable car back down to the valley, for a thrilling finale.
9. Lauterbrunnental Glacial Valley Hike
Known as the valley with twelve waterfalls, this scenic region of Switzerland is full of short and easy yet breathtakingly beautiful hikes through landscapes full of waterfalls, steep snow-covered cliffs, rivers, and waterways. One slightly steeper hike goes in the direction of the small mountain village of Gimmelwald, taking you through shaded forests, past rivers, and across flowering meadows ringed by imposing mountains.
10. Höhbalmen Alpine Meadows Trek
Covered with pretty wildflowers, the Höhbalmen alpine meadow offers direct views over the Valais Alps. One of the region’s most attractive hikes, the Höhbalmen-Höhenweg route goes past the northern face of the Matterhorn. Make sure to prepare for a demanding 18 kilometers, starting at an altitude of 1,605 meters and going up to 2,740 meters. You’ll walk through sparse forests and meadows where sheep graze, past water reservoirs and roaring waterfalls.
Ready to explore? Check out all of MT Sobek’s hiking adventures in Switzerland here.
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