Arrive in Switzerland, and transfer by train to 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… that’s Mürren.

Enjoy your first evening in Switzerland as you settle in at your hotel.

Arrival: Zürich or Geneva. Plan to arrive by the day your tour starts. There is a train station in both the Zürich and Geneva airports, with hourly departures for this region.   Travel time, 4 hrs (Zürich) or 4:40 (Geneva)

One of our favorite hikes starts in town and gently meanders up the hills to the pastoral setting at Spielboden. Here you cross the Schiltbach Stream, and start a steep and invigorating ascent to the local peak of Bryndli. The Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger form a dramatic backdrop, but it is the massive Gspaltenhorn at the head of the Sefinen valley that spurs you onward.

Take your 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 becomes a relaxing stroll through flowery meadows to a quiet alpine Rotstock hut. Stop for a drink and the views before heading back. The trail back leads over a small ridge – more great views! – before dropping back down to Mürren. You’ll be on your own for dinner, and we will give suggestions for some of our favorite restaurants.

Head across the valley to Wengen and hike to the famous Kleine Scheidegg Pass.  Walk through one of our favorite alps, a quiet little-known trail with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains towering above.  Kleine Scheidegg is renowned for great close-up views of the Eiger North Face – perhaps the most notorious climb in the Swiss Alps.

If you have time and interest, hop on the Jungfraujoch train in Kleine Scheidegg for a fantastic journey to the glacier world high above. Return to Mürren for another night of Bernese Oberland bliss.

Now it’s time to head east, to the traditional Engadine region, nestled up against Italy and Austria.  The Engadine is home to St Moritz, Pontresina and the glacier-clad Bernina mountains.  It’s a hub for scenic train journeys such as the Glacier Express and Bernina Express and is also a fantastic hiking destination.

Today is travel day, as you’ll take a series of trains from Mürren to Pontresina, a 7 hr trip.  Arrive with time to settle in to the 5-star superior Hotel Kronenhof, a luxurious belle epoque hotel with fantastic spa.

The mighty Morteratsch glacier is an impressive destination, and an interesting one too. Signs along the path take note of where the glacier reached in years past, so you can trace its disappearance. It’s still big though, and this is a great place to walk right up to a glacier and touch it.

From the valley, a moderate climb to the Boval hut rewards you with panoramic views of white-capped giants in every direction. On a rainy day, a mellow walk through the woods and along the lake of St. Moritz is another option.  Be sure to leave time for the Hotel Kronenhof’s famous spa.

You get to relax today, with a 1st class ride on the Glacier Express, the “slowest express train in the World”.  Switzerland’s premier scenic train ride covers almost 300 km of mountain goodness, with 291 bridges and 91 tunnels from the Engadine to  Zermatt.

We’ll set you up with 1st class seat reservation and a full hot lunch served at your seat.  The Glacier Express has air-conditioned wagons and huge picture windows.  But it’s an 8 hr trip, so bring a book and prepare to relax!   In Zermatt, you’ll take a short ride on the Gornergrat cogwheel train to your 5-star resort above town.

If you’d prefer to stay in the village of Zermatt itself, let us know.  We love the Riffelalp, but there are many great options in town as well.

After a superb breakfast, you’ll start right from your hotel and take quiet trails through scenic meadows up the Gornergrat ridge. We’ll steer you away from the crowds on a favorite route to Gornergrat, past marmots and small glacial lakes, to what has to be one of the finest viewpoints in Europe.

From the top, the jumbled mass of the Gorner Glacier stretches out below you, and behind that, Dom, Monte Rosa, the Breithorn and the Matterhorn form a glacier-clad wall separating Switzerland and Italy. It’s stunning. There are lots of options for longer or shorter hikes today. Return to Riffelalp for a final night above Zermatt.

Leaving Zermatt, you’ll again head out by train, this time through Switzerland’s Rhone valley.  In Martigny, you switch to the Mont Blanc Express train to Chamonix, the world-famous resort and mountaineering center in France.

Enjoy your first impressive views of Mont Blanc, with perhaps time for a daytrip up the Aiguille du Midi cable car. Stroll along Chamonix’s vibrant village center or relax and enjoy the views from your charming Chamonix hotel.

The Mer de Glace – the “sea of ice”, is a Chamonix classic, with astounding views of France’s largest glacier. At 7 km long, the Mer de Glace is a sight to behold. Take the historic cogwheel train up, and stop for lunch or just a drink at the panoramic terrace of the Montenvers hotel just to take it all in.

Afterwards, enjoy an undulating hike the Grand Balcon Nord, a delightful trail that weaves through the forests and meadow to the mid-station of the Aiguille du Midi lift.

One of the classic Mont Blanc hikes leads to Lac Blanc, high above town. This high-mountain lake sits in the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Preserve, a rugged ridge across the valley from Mont Blanc, and commands one of the greatest mountain views anywhere.

Make good use of local cable cars to enjoy more time hiking near the lake, and keep an eye open for bouquetin – a mountain goat with long curved horns that are frequently sighted in this region.

Today we say adieu, and depart for our post-Chamonix destinations.  A private taxi to Geneva is included.

Departure: Geneva.  It is 1.5 hrs from Chamonix by private taxi.