Getting there
- Flights to Zurich (ZRH) 80 km from the start
Treks / Switzerland
Swiss Via Alpina
Switzerland · Nearest city: Zurich (also Bern, Montreux, Lucerne)
TypeMulti-day trek
Days18–20
Distance≈ 390 km
Climbingvaries
Highest point2,778 m
Switzerland's national long-distance trail crosses the whole Swiss Alps from east to west over 14 passes, passing Engelberg, Grindelwald and Lauenen.
Fitness
Very hard
Best seasonJuly to September
High pointHohtürli
Watch out: It's a long trek with many passes. Most people walk it in sections using Switzerland's excellent trains.
Why people choose it
It's the whole of Switzerland's Alps in one walk, and the Swiss train network makes it easy to do in sections over several years.
What makes it different
- Crosses 14 passes and 6 cantons
- Easy to walk in stages thanks to trains and postbuses
- Passes Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau views near Grindelwald
Before you go
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Phone and data
EU 'roam like at home' doesn't apply in Switzerland, and many plans charge extra there. A Europe data eSIM covers Switzerland too.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
This trek reaches 2,778 m, and many policies stop covering hiking at 2,000 to 3,000 m unless you add an activity upgrade. World Nomads needs its Level 3 activities above 2,000 m, Heymondo its Adventure add-on above 3,000 m, and SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance covers trekking up to 4,500 m.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section, or join an Alpine club: membership of the Austrian Alpenverein (it has an English-speaking UK section) includes rescue cover of up to €25,000.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
Wild camping rules are set by each canton. A single night above the tree line is often tolerated; it's banned in the Swiss National Park and nature reserves.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Straight lines between stops Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Sargans → Elm → Altdorf → Engelberg → Meiringen → Grindelwald → Kandersteg → Lenk im Simmental → Montreux
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- Book huts or accommodation as soon as reservations open, starting with the busiest nights.
- Best time to go: July to September.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Zurich.
- Trains or buses reach the trailhead, so you don't need a car.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early each day, so you arrive before the afternoon weather and the rush for beds.
- In huts, boots stay in the boot room, dinner is served at a set time and lights go out around 10 pm.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: July to September
June to early July
Early season
Snow patches linger on north-facing slopes and high passes. Huts are just opening, meadows are full of flowers and paths are quieter.
Bring
- Microspikes or light crampons for snow patches
- Gaiters
- Warmer layers for cold mornings
Mid-July to August
Peak season
Most reliable weather, but also the busiest huts and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Hot in the valleys.
Bring
- Sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Rain jacket for storms
- Hut bookings made months ahead
September
Late season
Clear, stable days and fewer people, but shorter daylight, cold nights and some huts closing mid to late September.
Bring
- Down jacket for cold evenings
- Headlamp for early starts
- Check hut closing dates
Be ready for
Big climbs
Some days climb 1,000 m or more. Train with stairs and a loaded pack, and use trekking poles.
Snow patches
Early in the season, snow can cover the path on high ground. Microspikes or crampons and some experience make these sections safer.
Afternoon storms
Thunderstorms often build after midday in summer. Start early, cross passes and summits before noon, and never shelter under lone trees or on ridges.
What you'll see
7 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Swiss Via Alpina
Photo credits: Kandersteg Church by Eleazar, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Oeschinensee-Panorama, Kandersteg - stitch by Günter Seggebäing, Coesfeld, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Schloss Sargans by upload by Adrian Michael, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Gandstock, Plattengrat, Guldergrat by Oli, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Wärgistal locality seen from Endweg Grindelwald by Leonhard Lenz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Barn Simmental by Parchaco, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Wildstrubel seen from Lenk by Björn S..., CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
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