Hiking Switzerland: From the Jungfrau to the Matterhorn

Outstanding - a trip of a lifetime with so many great experiences! Switzerland is breathtakingly beautiful and needs to be appreciated in person on a trip like this, as this trip really hits some of the Swiss “highlights”. While the hikes were wonderful and educational (how great to hike in the gorgeous Lauterbrunnen Valley!), the day to day itinerary was interestingly varied, mixing hiking with other cultural/educational experiences like visits to Ballenberg and Zermatt (two highlights). Road Scholar, Karin, our Group Leader, and Pierre, our Instructor, provided a phenomenal educational adventure that captured the culture and unique beauty of the Alps. Spending a week in the remote mountain village of Bettmeralp was truly magical - accessible only by gondola, no cars, spectacular scenery everywhere including views of the Matterhorn - is something I probably never would have done without this trip. But, I would gladly go back there again. And staying at the Hotel Waldhaus in Bettmeralp, with its fantastic staff, great food, and comfortable accommodations, felt like being a pampered guest at a private home (and, I could see the Matterhorn from my balcony!). If you’re looking for an amazing active adventure, don’t hesitate - - book this trip!

I have been home from this trip for about 3 weeks and cannot stop thinking of it! Karin is an excellent tour leader with amazing organizational skills. The daily itinerary, interesting traveling companions, stunning scenery and lovely accomodations/food made this a trip not to be forgotten.

This is an excellent walking/hiking program. The location is beautiful and vistas are everywhere from the hotel front door to the top of the mountains. You are busy moving everyday with unique visits to local Swiss culture spots and mountain trails with a high level of variation in terrain. The pace was not too challenging but did require effort and will get your heart rate up. There are large variations in altitude to keep you popping your ears. The education element was nicely integrated and you will learn new things. The hotels and food are a big part of the trip and were first class without being too much. The Guide, Daniela, was perfect and kept everyone moving with ease. Fantastic trip and it should be on your bucket list!

Superb group leader Daniela and Grindelwald hiking guide Marta, scenic trails, and Hotel Waldhaus in Bettmeralp, a unique historic small mountain hotel with wonderful character and family ownership and views of the Matterhorn and Weisshorn. No large modern cookie cutter or chain property.

What a great experience. The leader was well organized, the local guides informative . Meeting people from across the US was also part of the experience.

This trip was incredible from start to finish. It was only my second RS trip and my first time in Switzerland. I loved the country, thanks in large part to RS. I have already booked another RS Swiss trip for next fall, which I hope will be with the same leader, Karin Mattli. She is amazing, I can’t imagine a better guide. She was always very pleasant, appropriately friendly, flexible, enthusuastic and knowledgeable. The whole group came to love her. Given some unusual weather of early snow, she was able to easily adapt our hikes and travel it, including our most memorable hike in fresh snow, which she planned with our excellent Wengen guide Pierre Lanz, a group favorite. She is a master at organizing, seamlessly making changes, keeping all fifteen of us prepared and on time. Each night we knew what to expect the next day. Her communications to us in the Tripcast app and encouraging all of us to share photos really helped the group come together. We all got along, and were comfortable with the hiking level. Karin even arranged two optional trips on our free afternoons, which almost the entire group happily joined, even with our expense of extra train tickets. Even better, she joined us on those trips, to continue to answer questions, guide us, suggest individual hikes. She made it all seamless. No one missed a train. I loved our two hotels in Grindelwald and Bettmeralp, I’d definitely recommend them and stay there again, as well as the Dorint airport hotel in Zurich. On our last night, Karin even led a group of us into Zurich, buying us tram tickets and offering suggestions for the Saturday evening on our own. That was above and beyond. I loved the level and length of hiking on this trip. I hope Road Scholar offers even more trips like this with hikes of 5-6 miles. I loved our mountain top lunches in Bernese Oberland and the trail lunches we made for ourselves in Bettmeralp. The contrast was great between our two weeks. Thank you for a a great trip!

This is a truly awesome exploration of several places in Switzerland. The hiking is amazing, the sights beyond compare! Our particular guide, Daniela, is the best and added greatly to the total experience!

Incredible experience, scenery, accommodations, meals, and guides (esp. our main guide, Daniela.) Great hikes, wonderful group. Highly recommend!

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip both because of the experiences of hiking in many of the best mountain trails I have ever seen and because of the people, both the trip leader and guides and the other participants on this trip. The organization and leadership of the trip leader was outstanding. She always got us going on time and set up the transportation (train rides, bus rides , cog railways, gondolas, chairlifts, etc. so we got a lot of great experiences in every day. All 3 of the hotels we stayed in provided comfortable lodging and a very inviting atmosphere. I appreciated staying in the smaller ski communities of Wengen in the Bernese Overland and Bettmeralp, both of which had wonderful environments, and great hotels. By the way the meals provided were great, even the lunches which we packed ourselves for our hikes. The hiking guides were locals and filled us in with their knowledge of the surroundings and life in this spectacular country. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who likes hiking in the mountains. The hikes were challenging and long enough to make you sleep well at night and to be able to indulge in the wonderful cuisine.

This is an exceptional program. Hiking the Swiss Alps was spectacularly beautiful and exhilarating. Traveling on the Swiss trains and gondolas was clean, displayed Swiss precision for being on-time and put the American transportation to shame. And the accommodations were first rate. You will fall in love with Switzerland!

Take the recommended physical preparation seriously. I hiked 4.5 miles 3 - 4 times a week at 3mph at sea level to prepare and I was just fine with all the hikes. Hiking poles were essential for me and a broad brimmed sun hat was nice on some of the bright hot sunny days. You will be outide or in transit all day. It is an active trip for active people who love the outdoors. If you like short strolls and museums, pick another trip. I am 74 years old, male and found this an exceptional adventure. Kudos to our group leader Daniela!

This trip exceeded my expectations. I used the used the word "Wow" often. The hiking does require a certain level of fitness. Don't take it lightly.

I expect to book another Road Scholar trip within a few months. I just have to decide which one.

This trip, which featured hiking on a daily basis, was one of the best trips I've ever taken - anywhere. It exceeded my expectations. We visited some of the most beautiful places in Switzerland, and in the world. The Swiss Alps are amazing and we got to see them "up close and personal". Our accommodations were great, the itinerary was excellent, and our entire group had a wonderful time. I recommend this trip to anyone that enjoys hiking, especially at higher altitudes. Also, kudos to Karin, our group leader. She's knowledgeable, organized, professional, and personable.

This Road Scholar experience in Switzerland was well laid out and planned. Great hiking and views of the mountains.

This program was AWEsome. Switzerland is so impressive in her beauty, people and infrastructure. I highly recommend this trip providing you are not only fit but have the energy for long days. Hikes were amazing and varied. Leaders and guides outstanding. Accommodations first class. Highly recommend.

This trip was amazing. The precision that the train, cogwheels, buses and even other mode of transportation ran was unbelievable. It made for a great experience. The people were truly amazing,

Hiking in the Alps

One of the best trips I have ever taken! From the spectacular scenery to the well-organized itinerary, to the carefully curated culinary offerings, to the wonderful hotels, to the knowledgeable local guides and best of all, our superb Group Leader, Karin Mattli ... this is one trip I will do again soon! I was in tears when it ended, it was THAT good! Thank you, Road Scholar!! Suki P

This trip was amazing. Every day brought breathtaking sights from mountains to meadows. The hiking was great-very comfortable routes and lengths. Our group leader, Karin did a terrific job "herding adult cats" and adjusting the program due to trail closures and weather. We narrowly missed being stuck in Zermatt because of flooding. Both of our hotels were very comfortable with views of the mountains. The food was excellent, although some lunches were on the light side for our hiking appetites. Dinners were excellent. The days are full as you go from 8-8:30 until 5:30-6:30; dinner at 7. Most of us crashed after dinner! Pierre, our guide in Wengen, was so knowledgeable and easy to approach with questions. Pierre must have been a teacher in another life! It was great to have the same guide every day, unlike in Bettmeralp, where there were different guides each day. With the same guide they develop a sense of the group's interests and abilities. We had an option of going to the top of Jungfraujoch one day. The views were indescribable. The touristy atmosphere was a drag but part of the experience. I would recommend this trip in a heartbeat. It is well worth it to experience Switzerland in this way hiking the trails, using the train and gondola system eating in local restaurants and staying in small family owned hotels. +eating in local restaurants and traveling by train, funicular and gondolas.

If you want to see the Swiss Alps up close - this is the trip you want to take. Great leader, great scenery, great itinerary. Hotel in Bettmeralp is a wonderful quaint family run hotel.

The most amazing trip I have ever been on. Highly recommended. Our guild was excellent. Thank you Road Scholar and Switzerlan.

We thoroughly enjoyed our hiking experience in Switzerland. The age span on the group was probably about 25 years and physical ability was just as diverse. However, our trip leader, Daniella, made every effort to accommodate everyone’s ability and interest. There were frequently options for shorter or longer or more challenging hikes. i did not expect this much choice on a group trip. I found the group of 19 participants friendly, respectful and more than willing to accommodate and support each other. Both hotels were comfortable but I thought the second one in Betmeralp particularly homey. The town was like one out of a story book with minimal gas powered vehicles, and many e-bikes, e-scooters and a few e-cars. Gondolas took us up to some of our hikes right from or a minimal distance from town. Some days we had to travel further distances by train but they were all clean and our group received special privileges due to a prior group reservation. Daniella had our agenda precisely planned so that we spent minimal times waiting for our transportation. The only excursion I felt was not worth the time was a 1 1/2 hour boat ride. I enjoyed the scenery for the first 15 minutes but struggled to stay awake for the remainder of the trip. Although not a major emphasis on this trip, there were educational aspects with experts leading some of the hikes. We also spent a morning at an outdoor museum which depicted the differences in the history of architecture and life styles around Switzerland.

If you want to get into the Swiss mountain countryside, this is the trip for you. Our RS group leader, Daniela, added immeasurably to our enjoyment.

The word "walking" in the title of the program may be deceiving as this is a hiking trip. The description "Walking 4-8 miles daily; well-marked trails and dirt roads, some uneven and hilly terrain. Sturdy walking/hiking shoes are required." may be too generalized. So read all of the descriptions of the hikes and mileage. "Some uneven and hilly terrain" is misleading. Each hike had hilly terrain and all paths have uneven terrain. Most days departure was around 8:30 AM with breakfast as early as 7 AM. Dinners were amazing but often lasted until 9 PM. The long days can be exhausting so take a day off if needed. Hiking poles were necessary on some of the hikes and helpful on most of the hikes. Consider a backpack that has an internal or external frame and an internal bladder. There is little time to do laundry so plan to do it in the sink or shower. Look for clothes that will dry quickly or that do not need washing (such as merino wool). Meals that are not covered will be expensive unless you go to the local grocery store and get local cheese and bread. Speaking of the local cheese it is amazing! The first hotel has a wonderful pool so bring your swimsuit. The second hotel is a beautiful family run hotel whose service is unmatched. Participants who came early appreciated the time to adjust to the time difference. The altitude may be difficult for some in the beginning. Prepare for the mileage posted and for hills and rocky paths. Consider preparing by including building eccentric strength to help take the strain off your joints. The cost of the trip is reasonable considering the area and the many forms of transportation that have to be taken. Dinner in Switzerland often costs between $35 and $50 per person. Guides are included and are very informative. The trip is planned with typical Swiss precision and is worth every penny. Your camera will be filled with amazing pictures and your heart will be filled with beauty.

Amazing views and hikes with history and geology thrown in. Make sure you take a good camera with a zoom lens because you don't want to miss some of the sights you will see.

I thought this was a wonderful trip. Karin was an excellent guide, often going up and beyond what normally would be expected, such as staying on the phone for seemingly hours, tracking down my husband's suitcase. I also thought that the local guides were good. My main disapointment was how short the alternative walk was on the last day. I also would have liked a talk or materials on the geology and climate of the area. The former was touched on briefly, but not to any depth. I realize that that might have been presented the first night, which we missed because of travel delays. Forrest Roberts

The scenery is spectacular! The food is great! The trains, cable cars, and gondolas are just plain fun! The hiking is serious so takw time to get in shape beofre you come.

What a great way to experience Switzerland! Every hike provided amazing views and took us to places we would not have found on our own. Staying in just two primary locations allowed us to unpack and relax, yet Swiss transportation (trains, cogwheel trains, gondolas, cable cars, etc.) took us in different directions for our daily hiking adventures. Karin and the local guides (especially Pierre) took excellent care of the group!

Hiking in the alps (with the help of cable cars, cog railways, trains, buses, and gondolas) was excellent. Karin planned every day to perfection and communicated that plan clearly and completely. The lodging was superb, the food was delicious and varied, the local guides were knowledgeable and interesting, and the variety of activities was just right. Add the stunning beauty of the Alps and you have the recipe for a wonderful trip.

A wonderful trip providing great value for the expense. While Switzerland has picture perfect Alps, glaciers, wildflowers, and enchanting cows that just beg you to take photo after photo, our leader Karin Mattli knocked it out of the park. Her seemingly effortless leadership, organizational, communication, people skills & sense of humor united a group of strangers into a finely knit team of friends. Attentive to the needs of everyone, permitting flexibility wherever possible or desired. Local guide in Wengen, Pierre was also outstanding. His love of teaching about the land he treasured was evident throughout, as well as his care for the comfort of each participant. Great rapport between Pierre & Karen. Treats during the hikes and on the train were welcome surprises: Swiss cookies, cheese, ice cream, chocolates, apricots, even Prosecco, and Pierre gifted each of us with postcards of his original alps paintings. The hotel in Wengen was well-located; many rooms with spectacular mountain views. However, under new management it lacked the ambience of the smaller family-run Hotel Waldhaus in Bettmeralp, especially noticeable in the dining rooms. Waldhaus provided personal welcome notes, nightly turn-down service with chocolates & elegantly prepared, scrumptious dinners. Cheese fondue & raclette were to die for! The welcome lunch on our first day, & 3 additional restaurant meals along the hikes were ample & beautifully presented. The hikes were in beautiful settings, mostly easy on gravel or dirt paths, none were overly long. Some acclimatization to the elevation is helpful; the sequence of hikes took that into account. There were also options on many days for those desiring a shorter route with bus or cable car options with Karin. Staying in one hotel for 6 nights and the other in 5 made for a relaxing trip, without having to pack and unpack numerous times.

This was my sixth Road Scholar trip and I have never been disappointed. This trip was outstanding in so many ways. Our hikes were varied and exciting; the landscapes were often breathtaking and sometimes peaceful and serene, with belled cows roaming the hills. The hikes were demanding but not excessively so if one is in relatively good physical condition. The rewards of hiking in these areas are remarkable. We learned about Switzerland's glaciers as well as its history. We discovered a lot about glaciers through the education of our hiking guides. One day we spent on a large historical demonstration farm and villages, reenactments of ancient times. This was interesting and a welcome break from hiking. We had numerous picnics which were so much fun! In our last location, an array of food was put out and we made our own lunches to bring on our hikes. Our leader Karin was personable, good humored and very well informed. Her organized, affectionate leadership helped things to run smoothly. Certainly the hotels were wonderful, particularly in Bettermalp. (the second location) with its panoramic views and elegant, exquisite cuisine. I was sorry to see our time in Switzerland come to an end! Thanks, Road Scholar!

This is a well planned and executed program. We had the best guide in Daniela who made the trip run smoothly. It is a busy program which can be physically demanding because of the altitude as well as the full day of transportation, hikes, and activities. The locations are incredibly beautiful.

Loved this program. Everything about this program was five-stars, especially thanks to our group leader, Daniela, and our hiking guide in the Wengen portion, Marta. The beauty of the hikes in the Jungfrau to Matterhorn areas of Switzerland is a sensory overload, especially in June/July when the wildflowers cover all the meadows and hillsides along the hikes. The hikes are moderate (avg 7 miles a day) but getting in shape would be a good idea for this trip. The field trips and educational content were all great, especially learning about the Aletsch Glacier - the largest in the Alps - and the visit to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. It is an active trip with daily rides in trains, buses, and gondolas to get to hiking trails and field trips. Educational content is also excellent. If you love hiking and learning in a stunningly beautiful area, this is a trip for you!

Highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in the Swiss Alps, with hikes and walks selected to enjoy the beauty of the country and those amazing views of the Eiger, Monch, Jungfrau, and Matterhorn without being overly strenuous. Accommodations were top-notch, and set up mainly as two bases from which to do the daily excursions, and meals were very good at the Bettmeralp hotel. Our guide, Karin, was wonderful with our group, keeping us well informed of the next day's logistics and options, keeping us together on all the transortation transfers, flexible in modifying some itinerary items to accommodate for weather, and provided a lot of inside info as we hiked and rode. The local guide in Wengen was exceptional -- lots of well presented info with easily understood slides that he occasionally brought out. We really enjoyed this trip, and were really pleased with the leaders and the itinerary.

RS got us to more places in the Swiss Alps than we could have ever done alone, and did it with flair and efficiency!

If your dream is to see the peaks of Switzerland and all their beauty, this trip is for you. We saw them all! If you want to experience quiet villages and walk small trails, this is not your trip. In order to access the viewpoints, we used every conveyance means possible - trains, cogwheels, trams, gondolas, ski lifts. This in itself is interesting. But since the trip was designed for "bucketlist" viewpoint access, all of the access took us to well traveled areas and most of our walking was on gravel roads. We spent one day at a large demonstration farm community, which was very well done. Other than that though, it was hiking. I would have prefered a mix that included more cultural content, but then again, it wasn't part of the program description.

This tour is for hikers, not walkers. The more experienced hikers set the pace, while those who want a slower pace to observe the beautiful country may feel pressured to "keep up."

If hiking in spectacular mountain scenery fills you with awe, then this trip will blow your hair back.

This program was fabulous from start to finish. The mountain scenery stunning, the hiking experience exhilarating, the food delicious, the instructors and host knowledgeable and engaged in making our trip memorable, A definite thumbs up!!

I would certainly encourage those who like hiking in a beautiful country to choose this Road Scholar trip! Everyday is filled with rides on cogwheel trains, funiculars and gondolas taking you to see mountains, glaciers and the beauty of the Swiss Alps ! Accommodations are 5 star ratings in my book and the guides are the best guides to have on this particular trip ,

Fall in love with Switzerland through hiking the countryside and learning all about the Swiss way of life! It is a stunningly beautiful country with much to admire and to learn, from a unique group of people with a passion to live sensibly and well!

It is a physically channeling program in beautiful surroundings. The leader, Karen, was excellent.

Walking Switzerland was an amazing experience and exceeded all my expectations. The hikes were varied and interesting, showcasing some other f the most incredible landscapes in this amazing country. The group leader, Karin, was fun, happy, kind to everyone, and exceptionally professional. The hotels and the food were excellent, 5-star quality in my book. I only wish there were more hiking trips in Switzerland because I want to return!!2

Beautiful trip, hiking in the Alps is not hard, very good trails, outdoors all day, just be sure of your physical ability to keep up.

Our spectacular RS trip included majestic mountains; plunging waterfalls; alpine hikes for experienced hikers but paced to be accessible to newer hikers; a boat ride on a glacier-fed lake; a huge outdoor architecture museum; an impressively loud waterfall located “inside a mountain” (an alpine slot canyon); a catwalk perched above slopes of wildflowers dotted with bell-ringing cows; another catwalk above a river roaring through a steep gorge; lodging in two wonderful hotels (see my review of Bettmeralp’s outstanding Waldhaus Hotel on TripAdvisor); iconic Swiss foods such as fondue, raclette, rosti and chocolate; a group of wonderful travel companions; engrossing presentations about the geology, flora, fauna, and history of this region…and more. Karin Mattli’s expert, good-humored, and infinitely patient leadership was dazzling. She managed our group and itinerary like a magician…communicating clearly to prepare us for each adventure (and identifying early exit and alternative activities) and sharing her impressive knowledge of everywhere we visited…juggling multiple responsibilities with ease and humor. For a week, our group also included Marina Kubala, an RS staffer from Luzern, whose vitality and playfulness were contagious. Our trip also featured the creativity, expertise, and kindness of gifted educator, local guide, and artist Pierre Lanz. For the week he was with us, we joked that Pierre created the extraordinarily beautiful landscapes we hiked through by painting the mountains and sky freshly every morning. Tips: Be prepared for everything in Switzerland to cost much, much more than in the U.S. Consider bringing a handful of thin metal hangers and plastic clothespins to wash and hang your clothes in your room each night—all other alternatives were time-consuming and very expensive. A sun hat and sunscreen are essential, hiking poles may not be needed by everyone, but many of us depended on them. Bring tennis/walking shoes for non-hiking days.

This hiking trip in Switzerland is awesome and one of the best I have ever taken with Road Scholar. The group leader - Karin- was a perfect host, navigating the intricate logistics each day with ease and insuring that all we had to do was enjoy the experience. The days are very active and the hikes take you to amazing places. Hiking poles and good shoes are a must. The two hotels are local and lovely with superb service and food. Our group became fast friends under Karin’s leadership and every day was pure joy. I would love to do this trip again…it was that good!!

This is a great trip! The scenery is spectacular, the hikes are pleasant, the food is excellent, and the trip leader is terrific.

Wonderful itinerary in one of the most beautifull countries in the world.

This was a simply magical trip! The hikes were challenging, invigorating and inspirational, with every view of Swiss villages, the grazing cows, the lush forests and the snow-capped peaks more beautiful than I could have imagined. Karin Mattli, our tour leader, did an outstanding job of making us feel welcome; being attuned to individual and group needs; keeping us on track; and adeptly adjusting the itinerary as needed without missing a beat. She teamed perfectly with local experts (especially Pierre!) to make this an unsurpassed learning experience. Lodging and meals were excellent throughout the trip, but Hotel Waldhaus in Bettmeralp was an exceptional treasure, with service and food that far exceeded expectations. In spite of the unpredictability and the challenges of traveling in the times of COVID, this was a truly flawless and unforgettable trip.

I liked this trip so much in 2018 that I did it again in 2021 with my best friend. Beautiful mountains, great hikes, good food and accommodations, and an excellent head guide. I appreciated the vaccination requirements and the planning for covid tests so we could reenter the US.

Fabulous hiking trip! Beautiful scenery every day. Great guides and instructors. Great accommodations. Loved it all!

This trip cannot be missed. It was sensational. I believe that you will so enjoy traveling to small villages and hiking in areas that are organized by these great teams. This is a look at Switzerland that you will not see traveling on your own. See the heart of Switzerland with Road Scholar !

A wonderful trip. Accommodations and food were terrific. Hiking was tough at times but spectacular scenery and the experience was as expected. The trip met my expectations.

These comments are based on my experience of twenty RS trips, half of them hiking. It doesn't get any better than the trails we hiked during this program. Spectacular. The lodging in the isolated villages was delightful especially the magical Waldhaus. and breakfast/lunch options were great even for this picky vegetarian. But, it's always about the group leader. Karin Mattli is unsurpassed. . She was constantly on top of everything. Deep familiarity with all the transportation matters, flexible, attuned to the needs/mood of every participant. Available. Unfailingly cheerful. Generous with her fund of information and stories. Enthusiastic. Obviously loved her role, never just going through the motions. Pierre Lanz, our hike captain for the first week: there are not enough adjectives to describe his many talents. Personable, cultured, full of relevant stories, attendant to interests and abilities/limitations of everyone. An artist and athlete. but unassuming. (The first really knowledgeable "naturalist" I've encountered on hikes, despite RS's usual claims.). The group was kept busy and engaged throughout the program. The trains, cable cars, and bus transfers were trouble-free and fun. Especially Karin's bags of Swiss chocolates.

The Road Scholar program "Walking Switzerland from the Junfrau to the Matterhorn" was excellent; I highly recomend it. RT

If you are looking for an energetic trip to explore the Swiss Alps, I would highly recommend this program. Karin Mattli was a terrific leader who made this trip very enjoyable as she tended to every detail from transportation to accommodations so there was not stress on the participants' part. This trip was thoroughly enjoyable and I would love to do another Switzerland trip perhaps in the Appenzell Alps in the future. There is public transportation sometimes involved but that did not impact my view of participation.

Fantastic trip. Photos cannot describe the beauty of the scenery. Tremendous fun, great company, great food, and excellent hiking.

This was an exceptionally good trip. The scenery was spectacular, the hikes just challenging enough, and the local guides very well informed and creative. The daily logistics are occasionally a bit messy--multiple changes of train/cable car/bus--but the time spent to get to the various locations was worth it in my view. The only disappointment was the optional side trip to the Jungfrauhoch, which was horribly crowded. All in all, a great experience!

This was one of the best of the 30 RS trips my wife and I have joined. The leader, Daniela, was wonderful is all ways. The scenery was just fantastic during hikes and at the hotels. Food was wonderful also!