Ultimate Roadtrip of Switzerland
Drive & Hike Tour
Holiday Type:
Drive & Hike
When:
June to October
Centres:
St Moritz, Saas-Fee, Kandersteg & Grindelwald
Length:
13 days (suggested)
Grade:
Flexible
2024 Price:
From £ 2,200.00
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Stay in the mountain towns of St Moritz, Saas-Fee, Kandersteg & Grindelwald
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Complete the famous 5 Lakes Hike beneath the Matterhorn
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Walk through the Swiss National Park, a haven for wildlife
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Discover quaint mountain villages and local cuisine
This grand tour takes in the very best of hiking destinations in Switzerland, from the Engadin, to the Valais, ending in the Bernese Oberland.
Start off in a quiet corner of Switzerland - the beautiful Engadin valley is a paradise for lovers of nature and gentle walks. Here you’ll be based in St Moritz, close to Switzerland's only National Park. Discover traditional hillside villages, try the famous Engadiner Nut Tart at a local bakery, and dip your feet in a cool lake at the end of your hiking day.
From the Engadin it’s a journey of many mountain passes, as you traverse one spectacular valley after another before reaching Saas-Fee in the Valais. Saas-Fee is surrounded by snow capped peaks, Alpine wildflower meadows and pine forests, where you’re likely to spot Marmots, Chamois and Ibex. Here we suggest the Gemsweg (“Chamois trail”), a beautiful circuit of the valley.
Then it’s on to Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland, a great base for hiking, via the Lötschberg car train. From here head up to the Öeschinensee, a stunning lake and Unesco World Heritage Site. Finally, a short hop takes you to the bustling mountain town of Grindelwald. It’s here that you’ll find quintessential chocolate box Switzerland. Wander Alpine pastures, filled with the sound of cowbells in the shadow of famous mountains such as the Eiger and Jungfrau.
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Our Drive & Hike holidays take you to some of the best hiking destinations in Europe, on a self-drive basis, giving you complete flexibility to travel on your own timetable. Spend a few nights in each location, in comfortable accommodation, rather than checking in and out daily. Our itineraries are designed to feature walks which are all within approximately 1 hour’s drive of your accommodation, with a few hours’ driving whenever you change location. Our packages include a hire car as default, but you are also welcome to use your own vehicle if you prefer.
Each day we have set out a specific hiking route which makes the most of the area. A detailed guidebook, map, online mapping and GPX route is provided for each route. However, as this is a self-guided trip, you can of course choose an alternative hike, depending on your preference, and perhaps the weather! Your information pack will therefore also include plenty of alternative hiking routes in each area, of varying difficulty.
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Ultimate Roadtrip of Switzerland Itinerary
▼ Day 1: Arrive in St Moritz
Tucked away in the far southeastern corner of Switzerland, reaching the Engadin does take a little more travel time, but it is still only a 3 hour drive from Zurich. Popular with the rich and famous, St Moritz is certainly swish, but it has accommodation, restaurants and shops to suit all budgets and is a pleasant town to wander on an evening.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in St Moritz
▼ Day 2: The Fuorcla Surlej pass
13.3km & 101m ascent (8.3 miles & 331ft)
One of the classic viewpoints in the Alps. From St Moritz it’s either a 30 minute bus or a 1.5 walk to Silvaplana, where a cable car will whisk you up 800m to Murtèl, high above the treeline. From here, begin your walk across a wild, rocky landscape, arriving fairly soon at the Fuorcla Surlej pass. Views at the high point are stunning, across to the huge Piz Bernina massif, the Piz Roseg, and down into the Val Roseg. It's then a gradual descent into the Val Roseg, and a walk along the valley floor to Pontresina, where you can catch a 10 minute train back to St Moritz.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in St Moritz
▼ Day 3: Val Trupchun & National Park from Varusch
13.8km & 429m ascent (8.6 miles & 1407ft)
It’s a 25 minute drive to Varusch, from which you can access the Val Trupchun, southernmost valley in the Swiss National Park. This protected area is a haven for wildlife - ibex and herds of red deer are common sightings on the hillsides above the treeline.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in St Moritz
▼ Day 4: St Moritz to Saas-Fee
Approximately a 5 hour drive
Today, take a spectacular journey straight through the middle of the Alps. This 5 hour drive is a long one (and can be split if you prefer) but takes you through some of the most scenic valleys and over some of the highest passes in Switzerland. Arrive in Saas-Fee, a mountain village sitting in a large bowl on the side of the Saas valley.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Saas-Fee
▼ Day 5: The Gemsweg
10km & 840m ascent (6.2 miles & 2755ft)
The Gemsweg provides a perfect tour of the side valley around the village of Saas-Fee. To start with, head uphill by foot or Gondola towards Plattjen, where the views across the Saastal valley and up to the mighty wall of ice and rock that is the Mischabel group really open up. A straightforward path then traverses around the valley, passing through the old glacial moraine of the Feegletscher glacier above. Gemsweg means Chamois Trail, so as the name suggests, this trail is a great opportunity to spot wildlife. Lots of refreshment stops are available on route. Upon arrival at Hannig, you can either zig-zag back down to Saas-Fee on foot, or take the cable car.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Saas-Fee
▼ Day 6: Mattmark Reservoir and Monte Moro Pass
13.7km & 638m ascent (8.5 miles & 2093ft)
From Saas-Fee, it’s a 30 min drive to the huge dam at the Mattmark reservoir, surrounded on all sides by high, snowy mountains. Take an easy walk around the reservoir through Alpine pasture and flower meadows, before starting the hike up an ancient trade route to Italy, culminating at the Monte Moro pass, where a convenient Rifugio awaits. From here enjoy amazing views down into Italy.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Saas-Fee
▼ Day 7: Saas-Fee to Kandersteg
Approximately a 1.5 hour drive
Today travel through the mountains from the Valais to the Bernese Oberland. The 1.5 hour journey includes the Lötschberg train - where you will drive your car onto a flatbed carriage which will then take you through the Lötschberg tunnel, to Kandersteg. A popular base for many outdoor activities,the Kandertal valley offers a wide range of hiking options.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Kandersteg
▼ Day 8: The Öeschinensee
8.3km & 512m ascent (5.1 miles & 1680ft)
Today visit one of themost beautiful lake in the Alps. The turquoise blue waters of the Öeschinensee sit beneath dramatic high cliffs, with high, icy peaks of the Doldenhorn and Blüemisalphorn rising immediately above. Allow 1-2 hours for the walk up from the village of Kandersteg, though this can be almost entirely skipped by cable car. You’ll then want to spend plenty of time exploring the shores of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Kandersteg
▼ Day 9: The Kanderfirn Glacier from Selden
10.7km & 623m ascent (6.6 miles & 2043ft
From Kandersteg it’s a 30 minute drive to the tiny hamlet of Selden. From here, set off to the upper reaches of the Kandertal valley, breaking out above the treeline to reach the bottom of the Kanderfirn glacier. This is a walk with a true feeling of wilderness, amongst empty and rocky terrain. Return the same way to Selden.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Kandersteg
▼ Day 10: Kandersteg to Grindelwald
Approximately a 1 hour drive
It’s a 1 hour drive from Kandersteg to Grindelwald, via Lake Thunersee. The bustling village of Grindelwald sits in a green valley of Alpine pasture and forest, with the snow-capped peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau (to name a few) looking above. The layered village has no end of fantastic restaurants and cafes, where you can sample local specialities such as roesti or raclette.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Grindelwald
▼ Day 11: Jungfraujoch
4km & 288m ascent (2.5 miles & 945ft)
From Grindelwald head up to Kleine Scheidegg by mountain railway, where you will change onto one of the most amazing train journeys in the world. The Jungfrau Railway winds its way up through tunnels inside the mighty Eiger mountain, and emerges at Jungfraujoch, in a world of snow and ice. At 3454m this is the highest railway station in Europe - and the views over the Jungfrau glacier beneath are simply breathtaking. Amazingly, there is even a small hiking option up here - a 2km marked footpath across the snow to the nearby Mönchsjochhütte refuge.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Grindelwald
▼ Day 12: Bachsee & Faulhorn
15.6km & 539m ascent (9.7 miles & 1768ft)
From Grindelwald take the gondola up to First, saving yourself over 1000m of ascent. From here it’s a short walk yet another stunning Alpine lake - Bachsee, where the snowy peaks of the Bernese Oberland are wonderfully reflected in its blue waters. Above Bachsee, continue a gradual climb up to the summit of Faulhorn, unusual for having a hotel on the top. From here, head down the quieter side of the mountain to Mittelläger, through green farmland ringing with the sound of cowbells. To get back to Grindelwald, it’s either a 2 hour walk, or a 30 minute bus.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Grindelwald
▼ Day 13: Depart from Grindelwald
From Grindelwald it’s just a 2.5 hour drive to Zurich, and 3 to Geneva.
Ultimate Roadtrip of Switzerland Route Map
What’s Included?
✔ 12 nights accommodation
✔ Breakfast every morning
✔ 13 Days Hire Car
✔ Detailed Itinerary, Map & Guidebook
✔ GPX Waypoints and online mapping
✔ 24/7 Emergency Phone Number
What’s not Included?
X Travel Insurance
X Flights to and from the holiday
X Lunches
Optional Extras
? Rail Transport to and from the holiday
? Taxi Transfers to and from the holiday
? Luggage Transfers
Accommodation & Prices
On our Drive & Hike itineraries we aim to book all accommodations on a B&B basis. However, we will always ensure that there are options for dinner either at your accommodation or nearby, and provide restaurant recommendations in your information pack. Our packages are priced on the assumption of an Economy Manual Hire Car - please just let us know if you would prefer to upgrade or remove this.
Standard
2024 Price: from £ 2,200.00 GBP per person (Request a Quote)
Accommodation will be in en-suite rooms, in a mixture of 2 to 3 star hotels, or good quality, comfortable Guest Houses.
FAQs
What is a self-guided holiday? When is the best time to travel? How do I get to the start of my holiday?
Please head to our FAQs page for all answers. Alternatively, please don’t hesitate to send us an email or give us a call with any questions about our holidays.