Arrive in Switzerland, and transfer by train to our meeting point in Mürren. The trip itself is incredibly scenic, and takes about 4 hours. Mürren is an idyllic, car-free village, perched atop a sheer 3000 ft. cliff above the waterfall-filled Lauterbrunnen valley (picture Yosemite with a Swiss village on top).

There is a train station in both the Zurich and Geneva airports, and transferring to Mürren will be a memorable journey in itself, convenient and quick. You’ll meet your guide and talk about your tour before settling in for our welcome dinner.

One of our favorite hikes starts in town, and winds through meadows and forest to the dairy farm at Spielboden. Here you cross the Schiltbach stream, and start a steep and invigorating ascent to the local peak of Bryndli.  We’ll take our lunch enjoying birds-eye views of Mürren and the Lauterbrunnen valley, perhaps with a soaring golden eagle for company.

From here the trail levels off, and winding through high alpine meadows to Rotstock hut, a quiet alpine hut at Bogangen with views up to the Schilthorn. Stop for a drink and enjoy this beautiful corner of the Alps. The trail back leads over a small ridge before dropping back down to Mürren.

The Upper Lauterbrunnen valley curls back beneath the white-capped Breithorn – considered by many to be the most perfect mountain in the region. This valley is also a nature preserve, with stunning waterfalls, lots of wildlife and many wonderful hiking trails.

One of our favorite hikes leads to the small farm at Obersteinberg, where the proprietors keep cows and make cheese by the same simple methods that have been used for centuries.  Return on a loop trail.  Dinner will be on your own tonight in Mürren.

After breakfast, we’ll take a morning transfer to Zermatt, the lively village at the base of the Matterhorn.   You’ll have a chance to check out the town, take a short walk around Zermatt, or even take the cable car up to the glacier views of Klein Matterhorn.  Afterwards, enjoy the wonderful pool and spa before settling in for our welcome dinner at the very friendly Hotel Europe.

There’s also time for a great half-day hike today, and the walk from Zermatt up to Zmutt is hard to beat. Zmutt is a cluster of 400 year old barns, formerly used only in summer for a month or so while the cattle grazed nearby. Today there is a wonderful restaurant tucked amid the blackened huts, with the Matterhorn overhead. It’s a great destination for a shorter hike.

We like to get off the beaten path in Zermatt, and the Trift valley is ideal for quiet trails and sweeping views. There are no cable cars into the side valley, and it’s relatively easy to leave the crowds behind on one of the many trails on this side of town.

Take a secret trail to a favorite viewpoint high above town, then enjoy a refreshing stop at the Trift inn, known for their homemade ice tea made from local alpine herbs. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy exquisite food and great Matterhorn views from our hotel on the outskirts of town.

Starting with a comfortable cogwheel train, take quiet trails through high meadows to the wide ridge of Gornergrat.  Hike past marmots and small glacial lakes, with the Matterhorn by your side, to what has to be one of the finest viewpoints in Europe.

From the Gornergrat ridge, the jumbled mass of the Gorner glacier stretches out before you, and behind that, Dom, Monte Rosa, the Breithorn, and the Matterhorn form a spectacular backdrop. There are lots of options for longer or shorter hikes today. Enjoy a final celebratory dinner at your hotel tonight.

After breakfast at your hotel, say good-bye to your guide and leave at any time for your post-trip destination.