Alpine Walking in the Spectacular Swiss Alps

Walk among picture perfect postcard views of indigo colored skies, towering snow-capped peaks and the vividness of clear mountain air. Let Club Toscana introduce you to the best of Switzerland, its awesome mountain panoramas, massive glaciers, crystalline lakes, gorges and waterfalls, chic mountain resorts and charming gingerbread chalets. Pamper yourself in Switzerland's most luxurious lodgings. Feast on hearty mountain fare at "bärgli" alpine huts, and relax over dinners of Switzerland's unique German-French inspired menus. Follow scenic pathways and hiking trails using Switzerland's ingenious system of cable cars and cog-rail trains. Walk through emerald green meadows covered with gentians, edelweiss, anemones and Alpine asters while serenaded by the sounds of cow bells and glacial running streams. Join Club Toscana in one of Europe's most spectacular settings.

Day 1 - Schynige Platte - Meet at your hotel in the fashionable resort town and adventure sports capital of Interlaken.Take a cog rail train up to Schynige Platte, a high alpine meadow. Enjoy the views over a welcoming lunch in a mountain hut before hiking down to our hotel in Grindelwald, resting on an verdant plateau with stunning views of the glacier crested Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn and Eiger mountains.

Day 2 - Itramenwald Plateau - Journey by cable car to the high mountain ridge at Männlichen for stunning views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the Schynige Platte and the majectic Mönch and Jungfrau mountains.Enjoy a Club Toscana lunch of traditional mountain specialties at Kleine Scheidegg.Walk through the Itramenwald plateau where cow bells ring and farmers are busy producing mountain cheese.

Day 3 - Lake Oeschinen - Travel to Kandersteg, a mountaineering center surrounded with picturesque chalets and snow capped 12,000 foot high mountains.Take a cable car to a 5,500 foot high ridge.Walk along an alpine plateau with gentle grazing cows for spectacular views of the Oeschinenhorn glacier.Hike along a mountain trail overlooking the glacier fed Lake Oeschinen to an alpine "bärgli".Venture through the Öschiwald with the sounds of swift running streams, cascading falls and a symphony of cow bells on the way to our family-run old-world lodging.Dine on traditional Bernese cuisine including rösti and alpkäse, and discover the differences between raclette and fondue.

Day 4 - Matterhorn Trails - Travel the route of the Glacier Express to Zermatt, a car free village surrounded by 36 snow covered 13,000 foot peaks.Discover this alpine resort town under the sheer mountain sides of the awe-inspiring Matterhorn where mountaineering is a time honored tradition.Walk through its streets past weathered-wood chalets with stone roofs and colorful flower boxes into the peaceful countryside of its mountain paths and rushing rivers.Walk up a hidden valley to Zmutt, a quaint village of weathered wooden chalets and the perfect spot for an alpine lunch.Drop in at the Ricola Gardens, where natural medicinal herbs are grown.Take a cog-rail train or hike up to our lodging with spectacular views of the Matterhorn's west face.Dine on regional mountain specialties in a traditional restaurant.

Day 5 - Gornergrat - Hike or take Europe's highest open-air cog-rail train up to 10,000 foot high Gornergrat, surrounded by an expanse of Europe's highest peaks and glaciers.Walk onto the Gorner Glacier, where its groans and crackling sounds attest to its slow progrssion into the valley.Take postcard photographs of the Matterhorn at the alpine Riffelsee lake.Stroll among Zermatt's shops and boutiques, or enjoy time at the spa at Riffelalp Resort.For the ready adventurous, take an optional ride to 12,700 foot Klein Matterhorn, where skiers enjoy summer snow and an ice cave offers wine tastings, and where the Matterhorn is so close, you can reach out and touch it.Celebrate your Swiss walking adventure at a final dinner overlooking Switzerland's most beautiful mountain.

Day 6 - Homeward bound - Bid a final farewell to the majestic Matterhorn and take a cog-rail train to the train station in Zermatt for convenient train connections to Geneva and Zurich, or extend your stay in beautiful Zermatt.As always, we would be more than pleased to help you with any of your post-trip travel planning.
auf Wiedersehen !