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Some information on walking in Switzerland






"There is no sense being precise when you don't even know what you're talking about."

-- John von Neumann.


Although I have walked in the Swiss alps for only four years, and mostly on quite easy trails, I receive a lot of email queries on walking in Switzerland, mainly from the visitors to my online albums. As much as I would like to, I cannot reply to all of them. Here are some of the links, books and maps, which should answer many of those questions, or at least point in the right direction.

I would like to point out that most of my walks are days hikes accessed from Lausanne. So the information below is mostly on walks that are close to Lausanne (especially the sections on books and maps).




Some of the best walks (that I have done)

1. Aletsch: Fiescheralp - Marjelesee - Bettmeralp. Hands down the best scenery. Downside: strenuous.

2. Faulhorn: First-Faulhorn-Schynige Platte. A spectacular high traverse. Downside: too popular.

3. Emmental: Wasen-Luderenalp-Langnau. I doubt if rolling hills and flowery meadows get better than this. Try this in early May. Downside: sometimes on roads.

4. Schonbielhutte: Zermatt-Schonbielhutte-Zermatt. A close look at Matterhorn. Downside: return on the same route.

5. Jura: St. Cergue-Col du Marchairuz. Green.




Links: walks

Wandern und Trekking in der Schweiz (In German): A very comprehensive website on walks in Switzerland. Armed with an online translator, and the search facility on the website, one can get loads of practical information.

Activity Workshop: A nice collection of walks, mostly in Swiss-German part.

MySwissAlps: Detailed website with lots of hiking suggestions and pics.

Myswitzerland: Official website of Switzerland Tourism. Check the hiking link on the left.

Hiking and walking in Central Switzerland,Zug,Zurich,Lucerne: This webpage also has a small section on winter walking (at the bottom of the webpage).

La page du Cyber-Noth: Hiking

Walking Switzerland




Links: practicalities

SBB: Public transportation schedule (trains, post buses, boats ...).

Meteoswiss: Weather forecast.

Meteonews: Another weather forecast website.

Swiss Youth Hostels

Rega: An inexpensive insurance cover that provides helicopter rescue service. Highly recommended.




Books

Walking Switzerland - the Swiss way: Marcia and Philip Liebermann. (publisher: The Mountaineers) Focuses on limited number of regions, but all walks I tried from this book turned out to be quite nice.

Walking in the Valais: Kev Reynolds. (publisher: Cicerone) Very large collection of walks in Valais. Nicely written and nice pics.

Valais West - Rother walking guide: Michael Waeber and Hans Steinbichler. (publisher: Rother) Provides detailed practical information. Has colored map for each walk.

Chemin des Cretes du Jura Suisse, Guide Pedestre. (publisher: Edition MPA Verlag, Topo Guide). In French. Provides detailed practical information. Has colored map for each walk. Covers the well-known trail on the ridges of Swiss Jura.

Alpes Vaudoises, Guide Pedestre. (publisher: Edition MPA Verlag, Topo Guide). In French. Provides detailed practical information. Has colored map for each walk. Covers Alps in Canton of Vaud.

Itineraires pedestres (publisher: Golden Pass Services) In French. Inexpensive booklet (3 CHF). Good walking suggestion on the mountains near the scenic railway line from Montreux to Zweissimmen.

Walking in the Alps: Kev Reynolds. (publisher: Cicerone) General walking guide for the whole of Alps. More of an overview than a detailed guide.





Maps

Hauts de Montreux (Itineraires pedestres), 1:25,000, has some walking suggestions (in French).

Oron-Vevey, 1:25,000. (Societe de Developpment D'Oron et Environs), has some walking suggestions (in French).

Lausanne-La Cote-St. Cergue-Vallee de Joux (Excursion Map), 1:60,000. Kuemmerly+Frey.

Pays D'Enhaut, 1:25,000. Kuemmerly+Frey, has some walking suggestions (in French).

Tourist offices in important hiking centers, e.g., Zermatt, Grindelwald, Gstaad etc., provide walking maps either free of charge or for a nominal charge.




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Disclaimer.

The information on this webpage and the links to external websites are provided in good faith. I do not take any responsibility for any problem faced while tackling the walks, or due to the contents of any books, maps or linked websites, that are mentioned on this webpage.