What you get on this adventure: An experienced, UIMLA Mountain Leader with extensive knowledge of the area All-women 5-day Via Alpina hiking adventure (4 days of guided hikes) Accommodation for 4 nights in charming 4 and 5-star hotels in shared twin rooms All meals Breakfast from Day 2 to Day 5 Picnic lunch on hiking days (Day 2 to Day 5) Dinner from Day 1 do to Day 4 (including a 7-course dinner on Day 4) Use of the spa at hotels Luggage transfers Cable car to Oeschinensee Cable car to Lenk Tourist tax What’s not included: Transportation to starting point (Kandersteg) and from the finish point (Lenk) — both easily accessible by train Additional transfers for a potentially shorter route Snacks and drinks Any spa treatments Hotel gratuities Guide gratuities — optional Travel cancelation and medical insurance

How fit do I need to be?

In order to join the hiking trip of Via Alpina, great physical fitness is required . You can read detailed day-by-day distances and elevation gains in the itinerary, but below you’ll find a general overview. You’ll take breaks and take it easy when necessary, but make sure you’re fit enough to cover distances and elevation gains that you will find in the itinerary. This hiking adventure is not recommended for those with a fear of heights . You will be high up in the Swiss Alps, and occasional vertical drops are to be expected. 4 days of hiking 8-12 km (5-7.5 miles) per day Up to 1,251 m (4,105 ft) of elevation gain in a day 3-7 hours of hiking per day Keep in mind that you’ll also be carrying a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day. At the end of the day, charming hotels await with excellent spa facilities to relax your sore muscles!

What do I need to bring?

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring: Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag) Hiking poles — optional Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity) Week’s worth hiking clothing Elegant attire for deluxe restaurants Leisure clothing — optional Lightweight hiking boots or shoes Spare clothes for layering Waterproof rain jacket Sunhat Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.) Headlamp or flashlight Sunglasses Camera — optional (but recommended) Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and prices: For this guided all-women Via Alpina hiking tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1. It takes a minimum of 4 people to run this tour. The maximum group size is set at 6 participants. Hiking the Via Alpina can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to Lenk, the starting point of both the 5-day and the 8-day Via Alpina hiking tour, most people fly into Geneva International Airport (GVA) , one hour away. Once you arrive, there are several ways to reach your destination, including public transport. Day 1 of the trip is dedicated to arriving and settling into your hotel. Still, it’s recommended that you arrive in the afternoon and indulge in the spa facilities. In any case, aim to reach Lenk by 6 pm, as that is when you’ll meet up with your guide and your team, and have a welcome dinner at 7 pm.

Safety measures and insurance

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection . To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible , simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner ! Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered. Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

Guided Swiss Alps luxury hiking adventure

Pool in the Swiss Alps and hikers relaxing

Dinner together after hiking in the Swiss Alps

Spectacular views of the Swiss mountains, a guide and her dog

Five hikers resting by a lake in the Swiss Alps

Hikers walking downhill in the Swiss Alps

Three hikers on a sunny day in the Swiss Alps

SWISS ALPS | SWITZERLAND

Women’s Luxury Hiking Tour of Via Alpina, Switzerland

5.00 ()

Season

Summer

Accommodation

4 and 5* luxury hotels with spa facilities

Duration

5 days (4 days of hiking)

Difficulty

Guides

Famke van der Elst, Woody the Dog, Mountful Hikes

Questions, additional dates, private groups

Book a call

From $2,820 () / 5 days

Intro
Itinerary
Brochure
Guides
Reviews
Things to know

The vibrant summer hues of the Swiss Alps are the perfect setting for a luxurious hiking adventure—because if there’s one thing the Alps don’t lack, it’s the seamless blend of million-dollar views and deluxe facilities which will make you feel like a million bucks. This 5-day all-women hiking adventure will take us along some of Via Alpina’s most scenic routes in the Bernese Oberland, where an exquisite tapestry of Alpine landscapes unfurls before us. Mighty waterfalls, lush and lakeside towns, rugged mountains teeming with wildlife, the glossy Oeschinensee lake, it’s all part of the trip. And just as the day draws to a close, every night we’ll retreat to our upscale hotels for a rejuvenating massage, gourmet meals, signature cocktails, and pools surrounded by high peaks.

Adventure highlights

Magical moments on the Via Alpina

Traverse some of Via Alpina’s most scenic routes in the mesmerizing Switzerland
Get royally pampered & spoiled

Indulge in upscale hotels, luxury spas, and delicious Swiss cuisine
Witness Alpine classics

The trip gathers Alpine quintessential landscapes with possible wildlife sightings

Itinerary

If you like getting back to a luxurious spa, upscale restaurants, and delicious cocktails after a day out in nature, the Swiss Alps are your go-to place. Over the course of 5 days, we will explore Via Alpina—an intricate web of trails offering endless marveling! With day hikes, we will witness quintessential Alpine gems, from cow-dotted pastures and high peaks to rushing waterfalls and spectacular lakes. All your meals, accommodation, and luggage transport is taken care of—all you have to do is show up and indulge in this deluxe adventure.

Please note that great physical condition is a must for this hiking adventure. The most we’ll gain in a day is 1,250 m (4,100 ft), which can get quite intense if you’re not physically fit enough. Additionally, if you have a fear of heights, this trip may not be suitable for you.
Make your way to Kandersteg, a charming Swiss village where we’ll stay for the night. Today is all about arriving and settling in. We recommend reaching Kandersteg in the afternoon in order to indulge in the spa facilities our hotel has to offer. At any rate, aim to arrive by 6 pm at the latest, since that is when we’ll all meet up and have a briefing at the hotel. This will be followed by a welcome dinner at 7pm. Have a good night’s sleep, as tomorrow the hiking begins!

Accommodation: 4-star hotel & spa resort in Kandersteg
Meals: Dinner
We begin our adventure with a bang! Today we’re going to the spectacular Oeschinensee Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of Via Alpina’s highlights. It’s the perfect start to our journey, and we’ll take our time soaking up the stunning views and the peaceful atmosphere of the lake. After exploring the area, we’ll go back to our nice hotel for the night, chill out in the spa, and enjoy a delicious dinner.

Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Kandersteg
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 8 km / 5 miles (3 hours without breaks)
Elevation: +450 m (+1,480 ft) / -450 m (-1,480 ft)
Probably hard to leave your comfort(able) zone, but the trail is calling! Today is all about the rugged mountains, allowing you to spot wildlife, such as ibexes and marmots! Hike up facing the three Lohner summits to the Bunderchrinde Pass, and then go down to the picturesque village of Adelboden featuring romantic wooden chalets. Spend the night here in another luxurious hotel and enjoy a well-deserved delicious dinner.*

*This stage can be shortened by taking a taxi (not included in the price)

Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Adelboden
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 12 km / 7.5 miles (7 hours without breaks)
Elevation: +1,251 m (+4,105 ft) / -1,251 m (-4,105 ft)
Let’s kick off the day with a hearty breakfast at our upscale hotel. Today we’re taking on the Wildstrubel massif, crossing the Bummerepass. We’ll be surrounded by spectacular mountain views. For the final stretch to Lenk, we’ll descend by a cable car and (optionally) take a bus to reach it. We’ll be staying at the best hotel in the area, complete with spa facilities for relaxation and a well-deserved 7-course dinner to celebrate our last night together!

Accommodation: 5-star hotel & spa in Lenk
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 10 km / 6 miles (4.5 hours without breaks)
Elevation: +838 m (+2,750 ft) / -100 m (-330 ft)
On the last day of our Via Alpina adventure, we’ll go on a more relaxed hike to give our tired legs a break! It’s certainly no less beautiful, though—we’ll walk to a spectacular waterfall and then make our way to the source of this waterfall, just the perfect spot for a lovely picnic. We’ll return back to Lenk, enjoy our last drink together, and bid farewell! If you’d like to stay longer here and keep on exploring the area, just ask us for recommendations.

Meals: Breakfast and picnic lunch
Hiking: 11 km / 6.8 miles (3 hours without breaks)
Elevation: +198 m (+650 ft) / -198 m (-650 ft)

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Meet your guides

5.00

Famke van der Elst

UIMLA Mountain Leader

Thanks to her parents, Famke has been spending time in the mountains since a very early age—she was even selected in the Young Netherlands Ski Team! Though Famke soon realized that competitive skiing isn’t for her, she kept on skiing and exploring the mountains with her friends. There’s nothing nicer for her in the world than setting off for a hike with her friends, her dog, and a delicious picnic, which inspired her to sign up for the International Mountain Leader training course in Switzerland. Having completed the course in 2018, Famke’s been taking other travelers to explore the Alps. Whether it’s snowshoeing, trekking, wildcamping, backpacking, or hiking, Famke is happy to show you the beauty of the Alps!

5.00

Woody the Dog

Woody is a beloved and an essential member of the Mountful Hikes team. This cheerful and energetic Golden Retriever is known for bringing good vibes to the group, always making everyone laugh with his playful antics. When Woody suddenly stands still and perks up his ears, you can be sure there are marmots nearby!

5.00

Mountful Hikes

Mountful Hikes offers hiking and snowshoeing adventures in Switzerland. Apart from leading individual clients through endless riches of the Swiss Alps, they also offer company outings, breakout session, and teambuilding. All trips and wishes are entirely customisable as Mountful Hikes works with their clients to arrange perfect getaways into the mountains. Basic camping, hut-to-hut, luxurious hotels—whatever you’d like, they can make it possible!

5.00 (5 reviews)

Emi Lehane (source: Facebook)

A super mountain guide who can guide you around the mountains safely. Olle, her dog was very welcoming to my dog too when we both joined for a Thursday morning hike. I highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a nice way to spend time in nature

Ana Gabriela Fac (source: Facebook)

Famke and her dog Olle are great companions to explore the Swiss mountains. On top of being very professional and knowledgeable, she is a very nice person! Highly recommended!

Nienke Veerstra (source: Facebook)

Famke is a very well prepared guide, who adjust the trip / tour to the level and condition of her guests. She is a pleasent company with a no-nonsense attitude and her very sweet and tough dog, Olle is really an addition to the company.
Besides a nice hike through a fantastic environment, you can have good conversations, or just enjoy the silence and maybe (as in our case) encouter a gems or deer!

Felipe Sandoval (source: Facebook)

Hiking is about you, nature and hopefully someone else who loves being out as much as you do. Famke loves what she does… and you can tell. I would recommend hiking with her to anyone who’s interested in connecting with the overwhelming beauty of nature. Also… hiking is just a great way of meeting nice people.
Thanks a lot Famke!
See you soon!

Jasmine van der Pol (source: Facebook)

Thanks to Famke, we had a fantastic hike in the snow. We even saw our favorite mountain goat, the Chamois!

Things to know

What you get on this adventure:
- - An experienced, UIMLA Mountain Leader with extensive knowledge of the area
  - All-women 5-day Via Alpina hiking adventure (4 days of guided hikes)
  - Accommodation for 4 nights in charming 4 and 5-star hotels in shared twin rooms
  - All meals
    
    Breakfast from Day 2 to Day 5
    
    Picnic lunch on hiking days (Day 2 to Day 5)
    
    Dinner from Day 1 do to Day 4 (including a 7-course dinner on Day 4)
  - Use of the spa at hotels
  - Luggage transfers
  - Cable car to Oeschinensee
  - Cable car to Lenk
  - Tourist tax
What’s not included:
- - Transportation to starting point (Kandersteg) and from the finish point (Lenk) — both easily accessible by train
  - Additional transfers for a potentially shorter route
  - Snacks and drinks
  - Any spa treatments
  - Hotel gratuities
  - Guide gratuities — optional
  - Travel cancelation and medical insurance
In order to join the hiking trip of Via Alpina, great physical fitness is required. You can read detailed day-by-day distances and elevation gains in the itinerary, but below you’ll find a general overview. You’ll take breaks and take it easy when necessary, but make sure you’re fit enough to cover distances and elevation gains that you will find in the itinerary.

This hiking adventure is not recommended for those with a fear of heights. You will be high up in the Swiss Alps, and occasional vertical drops are to be expected.
- - 4 days of hiking
  - 8-12 km (5-7.5 miles) per day
  - Up to 1,251 m (4,105 ft) of elevation gain in a day
  - 3-7 hours of hiking per day
Keep in mind that you’ll also be carrying a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day. At the end of the day, charming hotels await with excellent spa facilities to relax your sore muscles!
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
- - Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
  - Hiking poles — optional
  - Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
  - Week’s worth hiking clothing
  - Elegant attire for deluxe restaurants
  - Leisure clothing — optional
  - Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
  - Spare clothes for layering
  - Waterproof rain jacket
  - Sunhat
  - Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
  - Headlamp or flashlight
  - Sunglasses
  - Camera — optional (but recommended)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
- - For this guided all-women Via Alpina hiking tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
  - It takes a minimum of 4 people to run this tour. The maximum group size is set at 6 participants.
Hiking the Via Alpina can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Lenk, the starting point of both the 5-day and the 8-day Via Alpina hiking tour, most people fly into Geneva International Airport (GVA), one hour away. Once you arrive, there are several ways to reach your destination, including public transport.

Day 1 of the trip is dedicated to arriving and settling into your hotel. Still, it’s recommended that you arrive in the afternoon and indulge in the spa facilities. In any case, aim to reach Lenk by 6 pm, as that is when you’ll meet up with your guide and your team, and have a welcome dinner at 7 pm.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits
- - When booking a trip, you can either pay for it in full or reserve your spot with a 50% deposit. The remaining 50% of the trip price is to be paid 120 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Cancellations
- - Booking fees are non-refundable.
  - In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  - For cancellations 120 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 0-119 days before the trip, there is no refund.