About the Experience
Switzerland is synonymous with so many cool things: Swiss cheese, fondue, the Swatch, muesli, the iconic Swiss Army knife and of course, the Alps. The country’s biggest bragging rights belong to the staggering 48 peaks that measure 4,000m (13,123ft)!
The Bernese Alps poke into the indigo skyline with the daunting summits of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The Eiger is notorious for its dangerous and perilous north face challenge while the aerial tramway of Jungfrau is celebrated for its uninterrupted view from “the top of Europe.”
The mighty jagged-tooth Matterhorn straddles the border of Switzerland and Italy making the region a magnet for hikers who love the punishing ascents and meadows blurred with the colour of alpine wildflowers.
On the Switzerland Hiking Adventure you’ll join a charged-up group of Wild Women eager to tear up some terrain in the face of granite mammoths. You’ll be rewarded with some serious panoramas from the Schynige Platte and Gemmi Plateau. The famed “Sprutz” waterfall, Monte Rossa massif, vineyards of Valais and car-free charms of Zermatt will make you wonder why you’ve waited so long to experience Switzerland.
Expect impromptu picnic lunches, fondue, lessons in goat-milking and cheesemaking from a local goat shepherd and deep insights into the impact of climate change on the glaciers. There will be several mesmerizing gondola rides that will offer an unforgettable view of the alpine folds below.
You’ll be hiking in the spirited shadows of Lucy Walker, the first woman to climb the Matterhorn back in 1871. The steely British climber was 35 when she started her ascent–wearing a long flannel skirt with trousers underneath to keep with the morals of the era. Imagine! What’s stopping you?
Please note: This brand new signature trip is for active, experienced hikers who are ready to knock-out an average 11km (6.6 miles) to 16km (10 miles) days. The elevation is real– this ain’t no walk in the park. You must be sure-footed, confident and comfortable with high altitude and steep, exposed trails.
About the Experience
Switzerland is synonymous with so many cool things: Swiss cheese, fondue, the Swatch, muesli, the iconic Swiss Army knife and of course, the Alps. The country’s biggest bragging rights belong to the staggering 48 peaks that measure 4,000m (13,123ft)!
The Bernese Alps poke into the indigo skyline with the daunting summits of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The Eiger is notorious for its dangerous and perilous north face challenge while the aerial tramway of Jungfrau is celebrated for its uninterrupted view from “the top of Europe.”
The mighty jagged-tooth Matterhorn straddles the border of Switzerland and Italy making the region a magnet for hikers who love the punishing ascents and meadows blurred with the colour of alpine wildflowers.
On the Switzerland Hiking Adventure you’ll join a charged-up group of Wild Women eager to tear up some terrain in the face of granite mammoths. You’ll be rewarded with some serious panoramas from the Schynige Platte and Gemmi Plateau. The famed “Sprutz” waterfall, Monte Rossa massif, vineyards of Valais and car-free charms of Zermatt will make you wonder why you’ve waited so long to experience Switzerland.
Expect impromptu picnic lunches, fondue, lessons in goat-milking and cheesemaking from a local goat shepherd and deep insights into the impact of climate change on the glaciers. There will be several mesmerizing gondola rides that will offer an unforgettable view of the alpine folds below.
You’ll be hiking in the spirited shadows of Lucy Walker, the first woman to climb the Matterhorn back in 1871. The steely British climber was 35 when she started her ascent–wearing a long flannel skirt with trousers underneath to keep with the morals of the era. Imagine! What’s stopping you?
Please note: This brand new signature trip is for active, experienced hikers who are ready to knock-out an average 11km (6.6 miles) to 16km (10 miles) days. The elevation is real– this ain’t no walk in the park. You must be sure-footed, confident and comfortable with high altitude and steep, exposed trails.
DAY 1 ZURICH to INTERLAKEN
Wilkommen to Switzerland! Plan to arrive in Zurich (ZRH) by mid-afternoon. The train system from the airport to Interlaken is very efficient with departures every 30 minutes (note: you will have to make your way independently to the hotel). Interlaken is a sylvan resort town located in Bernese Oberland, a region (or canton) that is naturally sandwiched between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.
At our hotel, we will meet for an official welcome drink and comprehensive trip briefing with our energetic local guide at 6:30PM. We will gather to swap travel stories and laughs over our first dinner together after the meeting.
After dinner, we’ll reorganize our luggage and repack for tomorrow night’s stay at the remote Mountain Hotel Faulhorn. We will be responsible for carrying our own overnight necessities (toiletries, pajamas, etc.) as well as water, lunch, snacks and extra layers for the hike up Schynige Platte. The rest of our luggage will remain secure at the Hey Hotel which we will return to on Day 3.
Cheat sheet: A “canton” refers to a district or a section of a part of a country. There are 26 cantons in Switzerland and the languages spoken within each canton differ. Some speak only French, German, Italian or Romansh.
Tonight’s sweet sleep: The Hey Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
DAY 2 TRAINING DAY
Rise, shine and yawn as breakfast will be at 7AM. Coffee, stat! At 8:30AM we will take a super scenic one-hour train ride from Interlaken to Wilderswill aboard a whimsical 19th century rack (cogwheel) railroad up to the Schynige Platte. The slate plateau’s name means “rock face reflecting the sun.” The journey in the historic carriage is short and sweet (7km/4.5 miles–around 50 minutes).
Double knot your hikers or trail runners as this is where we will strike off and begin our hike from the distinct terrace that hovers above Interlaken. The panoramas here are startling–the peaks of the Bernese Alps poke into the indigo skyline at 4,000m (13,123ft). Our guide will help us identify the soon-to-be-familiar summits of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The Eiger is notorious for dangerous and perilous north face challenge while the aerial tramway of Jungfrau is celebrated for its uninterrupted view from “the top of Europe.”
For Sound of Music sing-a-long fans, we will also visit the carefully curated botanical blooms and Swiss Flower Panorama Trail of the Alpen Garten Schynige Platte. Among the 750 native plant species on fragrant display, we’ll find the famed edelweiss flower (of the namesake song) in addition to alpine larkspur, the rare blue sow thistle, wolf’s-bane and common monkshood. Want a sneak peek? Check out footage from the Schynige Platte’s live cam here. This is where we chill out with a picnic lunch amid the blur of alpine flowers.
We may be lucky to hear locals playing the long wooden alphorn too. The path along the crete (mountain ridge) will snake around the cliff to reveal the surreal teal depths of Lake Brienz. It will be a full day of selfies and fresh air before we reach Faulhorn in the late afternoon. The cozy embrace of one of the oldest mountain hotels in the Alps (established in 1830) will be well-deserved. Depending on our group’s pace and selfie-taking, we should check into the hotel around 4:30PM.
Warning: You may have “Edelweiss” stuck on repeat in your head! “Edelweiss, Edelweiss, Ev’ry morning you greet me, Small and White, Clean and bright, You look happy to meet me, Blossem of snow may you bloom and grow…”
Fun fact: Faulhorn is derived from the crumbly black limestone shale of the mountain (“faul”) and “horn” meaning “peak.”
The skinny on today’s hike: 11.5km (7.2 miles), 4.5 hours depending on the group’s pace
Ascent: 1,070m (3,510ft)
Descent: 380m (1,247ft)
Tonight’s sweet sleep: The Mountain Hotel Faulhorn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3 EIGER’S SHADOW
Yesterday was truly a training day as breakfast will be at 6:30AM today. We will recharge our own batteries in the first rays of sun and begin hiking at 7:30AM to the crystalline marvel of Lake Bachalpsee. An early start will allow us to enjoy the peace of the lake and the backdrop of the mountains before the throngs of tourists arrive.
The iconic PostBus (listen for its trademark horn) will then transport us to Grindelwald, where we can walk below the daunting presence of Eiger through the vibey mountain village that’s typically feverish with ramped-up climbers anticipating their ascent up the iconic north face of Eiger. It is still one of the most difficult climbs in the Alps.
Fun fact: The story of the PostBus began in 1849 when the then Federal Mail took over the horse-drawn coach services of the cantons. The rural transport service carried not only letters and parcels but also schoolkids, villagers, tourists, milk cans, fridges and chickens to boot. As the network of postal lines increased, so did the connection between rural villages and modern cities.
After a picnic lunch, we will meet Martina, a goat shepherd and cheesemaker who lives in the idyllic mountain pasture of Steessiboden, high above Grindelwald. She will share her remarkable story and chosen life of simplicity in the Alps–one that is dictated by the rhythm set by her goats. Martina will demonstrate the goat cheese making process–and yes, there will be samples to taste! We will also have the opportunity to milk the goats if we wish!
At 4:30PM, we will take a bus (30 minute ride) to Grindelwald where we will have one hour to wander about before boarding the train at 6PM (30 minutes) back to Interlaken to check into our hotel at approximately 6:45PM.
Dinner is not included tonight so you are free range–absorb the local vibe with no timelines!
The skinny on today’s hike: 10km (6 miles), 3.5 hours
Ascend: 280m (919ft)
Descend: 1,150m (3,773ft)
Tonight’s sweet sleep: The Hey Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Packed Lunch
DAY 4 THE SPRUTZ
After a solid fix of carbs, protein and coffee (7AM) we’ll board a train (8AM) that will slice us through the glacier-incised Lauterbrunnen valley before we crack off on today’s hike from the small village of Gimmelwad. Powered by several handfuls of trail mix, we’ll have a dense woodsy stretch before we reach “Sprutz”, a dazzling waterfall fed by Grauseeli lake, Schiltbach river and the mad runoff from the Schilthorn and Schiltalp. We’ll follow the path that leads to the backside of the pounding ribbon that falls over the high rock face. If there has been recent rainfall, the steep sections can be slippery but handrails will help steady us.
At Bryndli, we’ll swoon over the viewpoint high above the Lauterbrunnen valley. The trail then will unfold in an easy stretch to Schilt and continue on (and downward) to Mürren, one of the most traditionally-steeped car-free villages of the Swiss Alps. This sunbathed terrace sits opposite the mighty giants known as Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger. This area is a former settlement of the people from Valais (a canton in southern Switzerland) and their influence is evident in the distinct house designs.
We will eventually land on top of Piz Gloria (3,048m/10,000ft above sea level) after a short ride on the gondola. For 007 trivia buffs and fans, the name is a nod to the classic 1969 James Bond flick On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Bond fan or not, you will love the 360° panoramas from the Schilthorn summit, the world’s first revolving restaurant built in 1967 at 3,000m (9,842ft) altitude. This is where James Bond made his entrance!
The sky-high cable car will bring us back to Mürren where we will pull up seats at Restaurant Regina for martinis shaken, not stirred and enjoy a incredible dinner. Afterwards, we will return to Interlaken and flop into our hotel beds!
Time to reorganize our luggage and repack for tomorrow night’s stay at the Gemmi Lodge 2350. We will be responsible for carrying our own overnight necessities (toiletries, pajamas, etc.) Your main luggage will be securely transferred onwards from Interlaken to Zermatt.
The skinny on today’s hike: 8.8km (5.5 miles), 5 hours
Ascend: 900m (2,953ft)
Descend: 640m (2,100ft)
Tonight’s sweet sleep: The Hey Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5 GEMMI PLATEAU
Breakfast will be at 7AM as we’ll be boarding the train (90 minutes) to Kandersteg at 8:30AM this morning. At the end of the 19th century, during the bougie Belle Epoque era, Kandersteg was a magnet for European holiday makers, romantics and dreamers. These were the carefree years before World War I, when economic growth inspired timeless artistic and cultural foundations. Everything was extravagant and in excess–lending to the term the French dubbed la belle époque—literally, “the beautiful age.” The feeling is still tangible and witnessed in the grandeur of the Belle Epoque Hotel Victoria and the surrounding parkland. We have two hiking route options for today–if we choose the shorter hike through the plain of Gemmi, there would be time to squeeze in a coffee in the opulence of the grand dame Belle Epoque hotel.
Today’s hike is from the canton of Bern to Valais. A cable car will take us to Sunnbühl where we can opt for an easy hike through the vast plain of Gemmi, past the tall stands of mountain pine and the Daubensee up to our hotel hugged by the mountains. Alternatively, we can hike up to Üschenengrat ridge, which is a more remote alpine route of varied terrain down to Daubensee. This option also loops around to the same end place, Gemmi Lodge 2350, located smack dab on a rocky cliff high above Leukerbad between Bern and Valais.
Tonight we’ll indulge in the specialty from Valais–the classic Gemmi Fondue! From the beautiful age to beautiful aged cheese! This unique take is made with velvety whipped cream and onion and typically served with dense dark bread.
The Gemmi Lodge 2350 is a peaceful respite in the mountains with little light pollution. The knock-out sauna and spa views of this boutique hotel definitely put the ahhhhhhhhhhh in spa. Be sure to get outside too, and wish upon one of the thousand stars shimmering above!
The skinny on today’s hike: 10.6 to 12.7km (6.6 to 7.9 miles), 5 hours
Ascend: 620m (2,034ft)/ 1,094m (3,590ft)
Descend: 1,230m (4,035ft)/ 689m (2,260ft)
Tonight’s sweet sleep: Gemmi Lodge 2350
Meals Included: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6 LAKE SCHWARZSEE
Breakfast will be at 7AM–are you sensing a pattern now? At 8AM we will be caffeinated and effortlessly floating on a silent gondola over the rock cliffs down to Leukerbad. Look for the zig zag ribbon of trail cut into the face of the mountain. Every spring and fall, farmers herd sheep up and down this seemingly impossible route.
We’ll then take a PostBus followed by a train to the main valley of Valais, one of the driest places in Switzerland. This arid climate is ideal for growing grapes–so, cheers to that! From Visp, we will be riding on the “glacier express line” which connects St. Moritz to the resort town of Zermatt where the pyramid-shaped peak of the Matterhorn looms large. We’ll learn about indomitable Lucy Walker, the first woman to climb the Matterhorn back in 1871. The steely British climber was 35 when she started the ascent–-wearing a long flannel skirt with trousers underneath to keep with the morals of the era. Imagine!
The journey to our destination will be around 3.5 hours but the route is spectacular as it cuts through the narrow and verdant valley of the Mattertal. We’ll have an early lunch (11:15 AM) at a restaurant in Zermatt after our busy planes, trains and automobiles-style morning.
In Zermatt, we will have time to wander through the village (known as the “mountaineer metropolis”) before taking a cable car up into the heart of the alpine. From Trockener Steg, we will hike the glacier trail that winds in front of the Theodul and Furgg glaciers next to the monster Matterhorn. The trail will slice through a periglacial environment–we’ll take pause here to learn more about the impact of climate change and glacier recession.
At day’s end (around 5:15PM), we will retreat to our rustic-chic hotel in the buzzing nerve centre of car-free Zermatt.
Dinner is not included tonight so this is your opportunity to forage for more fondue!
The skinny on today’s hike: 6.6km (4.1 miles), 2.5 hours
Ascend: 220m (723ft)
Descend: 570m (1,870ft)
Tonight’s sweet sleep: Hotel Zermama
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 7 CHASING MATTERHORN
Yawn. Stretch. Breakfast at 6:30AM! We will depart Schwarzsee at 7:45AM early in the morning because early birds get the worm AND spectacular sunrise pics. High up on the Matterhorn, from our cable car seats (30 minute ride) we’ll see mountaineers inching towards the peak as we prepare to reach the “queen stage.”
We’ll pass over undulating mountain meadows before reaching the Staffel pasture. Here, we’ll follow a high trail that will take us over the opposite valley to hike towards Trift. The view towards the dominant Matterhorn is a stunner–as are the peaks of the entire Monte Rosa massif. Switzerland’s impressive bragging rights include 48 peaks that measure 4,000m (13,123ft) and most of them are in the Valais mountains.
Cheat sheet: A massif is a compact group of mountains, especially one that is separate from other groups.
In Trift, we will take a KitKat break and boost our energy and refuel with homemade jerky, a decadent slice of apple pie or maybe a crispy Rösti (rööschti is a traditional Swiss dish consisting mainly of potatoes, sautéed or shallow-fried in a pan) before taking the path that leads through the Trift gorge step by careful step, down to Zermatt.
We’ll have time for steamy showers and a refresh before gathering for a sumptuous farewell dinner at 6:30PM. It’s time to clink glasses, celebrate and reminisce about our alpine experience and challenging hikes conquered.
Your homework: Look for the fancy-pants Poire Williams brand of brandy. A bottle is attached to a branch with a small pear that is tucked inside the bottle, allowing the fruit to continue growing. When ripe, the fruit is cut off the branch and the distilled spirit is poured inside.
The skinny on today’s hike: 16.3km (10.1 miles), 6 hours
Ascend: 680m (1,969ft)
Descend: 1,630m (5,348ft)
Tonight’s sweet sleep: Hotel Zermama
Meals Included: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8 DEPARTURE
Sigh. Departure day. After breakfast (at your leisure, depending on the hotel’s breakfast service time) you can take the train to either the Zurich airport (ZRH) or Geneva Airport (GVA), depending on your travel plans (trains are available every 30 minutes). You can schedule your departure flight for anytime after 2pm today or continue on your merry fondue journey in the Alps.
It’s time to swap emails, AirDrop photos, big hugs and to start planning your reunion with your alpine Wild Women crew!
Meals Included: Breakfast
Click here to see upcoming trip dates to book your spot!
- Plan to arrive in Zurich (ZRH) by noon or early afternoon on Day 1.
- Using your half-fare Swiss Pass that you will receive pre-trip, independently make your way to the Hey Hotel in Interlaken. The train system from the airport to Interlaken is very efficient with departures every 30 minutes and the train ride is approximately 2 hours.
- Please see section about using the SBB Mobile App – this App is a game changer when using the public transportation system in Switzerland.
Group Rendezvous Point
- Date: Day 1
- Time: 6:30 PM
- Location: Meet your guide and group at the The Hey Hotel in Interlaken.
- Depending on your travel plans, you can take the train to either Zurich airport (ZRH) or Geneva Airport (GVA)
- Plan your departure flight for any time after 2 PM.
Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel
Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.
Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. For these reasons, we encourage you to consider arriving a day early, which will also help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!
The app will open a new webpage (swisspass.ch). You should answer the questions on each page and tap ‘Next’ when completed.
(Note: On the first registration page you will be asked if you hold a public transport travelcard. In the majority of cases, tourists visiting Switzerland will NOT hold a public transport travelcard.)
Using the SBB app
Before you get started
If you have a Swiss Half Fare Card, be sure to add this to your Passenger info following these steps:
Settings → Edit passengers → check the Half-Fare travelcard box, then tap ‘Save’.
Standard Timetable
To search timetables and fares, tap ‘Standard Timetable’ at the top of your screen.
Tap the word ‘From’ and then type in the name of the town you wish to depart from.
Then, tap the word ‘To’ and type in the name of the town you wish to travel to.
Next, tap the line when the date appears and use the scrolling calendar to select the date you wish to travel and your preferred time of departure. Then tap ‘Done’.
If you want fares to show in your search results, click on the icon next to the clock (three straight lines with a o on them) and check the box next to Show prices in timetable. You can also select the different means of transport (ie train, bus, cableway) that you wish results to be displayed for.) Tap ‘Accept’ to confirm your selection.
A list of services will be displayed showing the departure and arrival time of each service.
- Train number – shown next to the train symbol (eg. IR70)
- How many stops the train makes en route – indicated by a o on the line between departure time and arrival time (eg. 1 stop on the S1 service departing at 09:51)
- The platform from which the train departs – indicated by Pl. with a number next to it (eg. Pl. 6 in the first example above)
- Which classes of travel (ie. 1st class and 2nd class) are available on that service
- The expected popularity of the service – this is shown by the people icons next to each class. The more ‘people’ that are shown are red, the busier the service is expected to be.
- The duration of the journey – shown in minutes
- Starting price of fares (if selected in Settings, as mentioned above)
You can scroll up and down to view all the different services.
To find out more about a particular service, tap on it.
If a service requires a change of train, this will be mentioned in the expanded listing. Details of arrival and departure platform numbers will also be displayed.
By tapping the three red dots on the right of the screen, you can choose to add this trip to your ‘My Trips’ within the app, add it to your calendar or share it.
By tapping the red bar at the bottom of the screen that says ‘Tickets from’, you can view a list of available fares for that service.
Be sure to select either one way or return and 2nd class or 1st class by tapping the black button under the Passenger information.
To purchase a ticket, first you should enter the Passenger information if you have not already created an account.
To do this, tap ‘Edit passengers’ at the top of the screen. Then, tap ‘Enter passenger information’ and enter the First name, Surname and date of birth of the first passenger. If you (or the first passenger) hold a Half-Fare Card, make sure you select the box. Next, tap ‘Save’ to save these details.
Repeat the process for any additional passengers.
Now, select the fare option that you would like to purchase by tapping the circle next to the fare type. (If, in the previous step, you confirmed you hold a Half-Fare Card, the reduced fare will be displayed.) Tap ‘Purchase ticket’.
Need help with activating or using your Swiss Half Fare Card?
Click on this link here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/swisspass/swisspass-account.html. – this will hopefully help to solve any troubleshooting questions and to setting up your login. Otherwise it is very easy and convenient to purchase tickets as well from the ticket machine at the train stations or from the desk.
- Passport
Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.
- Visa
Canadian and US passport holders are not required for stays up to 90 days
For more information about visas, please visit https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/switzerland-visa/
Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.
- Rooming Arrangements
Our trip price is based on shared accommodations. Private room upgrade is subject to availability. Please contact support@wildwomenexpeditions.com if you want to upgrade to a single room.
- Potable Water
Water is safe to drink out of the tap throughout Switzerland.
If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!
- Switzerlands’s Currency: Swiss Franc – CHF
- Currency Exchange Offices & Banks
If you need to change currency you will usually find a currency exchange counter at international airports. You may have to show your passport in order to be able to exchange money and a fee is usually associated. Best to change large amounts so you only pay the fee once.
Please check online for current exchange rates. Wild Women Expeditions likes XE Currency Converter
We highly suggest you read this article: Where to Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees for more information about this for your trip.
- Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
One of the most convenient ways to get cash is by using an ATM. You will often receive better exchange rates, even though you have to pay a service fee, as with most ATMs outside your bank network. Ask your bank if there are branches at your destination where you can avail of free cash withdrawals. (ex. Scotiabank (in Canada) and Barclay’s Bank (in the UK) have this arrangement).
- Credit Cards
Widely accepted in Switzerland. If you have a credit card, you can use the ATM to purchase local currency directly. Your monthly balance usually shows the exchange rate you received on purchases made with the credit card.
- Cash
Cash is the easiest and most reliable way to pay for inexpensive items in the smaller communities we will be visiting, but most shops will accept credit cards. Local artisans and craft shops may not have credit/debit machines. As well, cash is best for tipping your guides.
This is a true hiking adventure! We would like you to be comfortable with the following:
- Be prepared to hike up 6+ hours, with a few short rest stops.
- The altitude difference on this trip and elevation can impact your breathing, endurance and pace (up to 3000m above sea level)
- Please prepare for this trip with fitness training in addition to hiking challenging terrain.
- Expect steep to moderately steep trails with exposed sections. Surefootedness and stability are required.
- You will be on your feet all day and should have advanced hiking experience–this ain’t no walk in the park!
Getting Fit
You don’t have to be a professional athlete to enjoy your Wild Women expedition. Not by a long shot! You’ll be surprised at what you can achieve with our experienced guides at your side and a little camaraderie.
That said, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself far more if you do some preparation so your body is conditioned and ready to enjoy and make the most of the outdoors.
Here are a few ideas to help you get ready:
- Take every opportunity you can to be active.
You can improve your fitness a lot just by adopting some new habits; take the stairs at work, go for a walk at lunchtime, park your car away from work and walk. Aim for 30 minutes a day and keep a diary so you can look back on it and feel proud. These may sound trivial but they’re all building blocks!
- Rev up your ticker!
Think ‘interval training’, which means doing short bursts of high intensity work with recovery time in between. Depending on how fit you are this can mean strolling with bursts of power walking, or jogging with sprints. Either way the aim is to get your heart rate up.
- Join a local walking or running group.
This is a great way to get fit and you’ll also see new places, meet great people… and make them all jealous when they find out what you’re about to go on your travels.
- Warm up, cool down and stretch.
If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.
- Hydration.
When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.
- Nutrition.
Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!
- Have fun!
The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.
Riding Skills
This trip can accommodate intermediate and advanced riders. The ability to comfortably trot (rising trot) is essential, and the ability to canter comfortably in the open is desirable. Adventurous riders will have opportunities to gallop on the beach, while others choose to trot or canter. All riders must be confident stopping a strong horse, and riding with distractions such as traffic, farm equipment, other animals and people. It is recommended that participants have as much time in the saddle (English style) before the trip as possible. You will spend 5 – 6 hours/day in the saddle for 5 days, which is demanding on the body even for a regular rider.
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Starting At$5,195Deposit$995Duration8 DAYS
- 🇺🇸USD PRICEFOREIGN EXCHANGE FEES MAY APPLY
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Is this trip right for me?
You should be prepared to hike up to 6 hours as all hiking times are continuous without rest stops. The altitude difference on this trip and elevation can impact your breathing, endurance and pace. Please prepare for this trip with extensive fitness training in addition to hiking challenging terrain. Expect steep to moderately steep trails with exposed sections. Surefootedness and stability are required.
You will be on your feet all day and should have advanced hiking experience–this ain’t no walk in the park!
What's Included
- AWESOME female trip leaders and expert hiking guides
- Ground transportation from Interlaken
- Luggage transfer
- 7 nights accommodation at hotels, guesthouses and mountain lodges
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners
- All activities as outlined in the itinerary
- Gondolas, cable cars and PostBus shuttles
- All fees associated with park entry and activities
- Note: We encourage you to bring your own hiking poles and to familiarize yourself with them pre-trip but rentals are available.
- Optional private room upgrade, subject to availability
- All applicable taxes are included in the trip price