Switzerland
June 22-June 30, 2024
swiss rails & Alpine trails
This adventure is rated 2 out of 5 difficulty level. Moderate level activities (i.e. short to medium hikes up to 5 miles, some elevation, intro to new skill/activity that is guided by 3rd party like mountain biking, climbing, rafting, etc.). Activities are included, but optional if outside of your comfort zone.
*Please note that some hikes on this trip are rated a 3 out of 5 difficulty, but as they are optional the overall rating for this Getaway is 2 out of 5.
Switzerland's timeless beauty awaits you, promising an unforgettable travel experience.
Over the course of this unforgettable 8-day adventure, you’ll travel by train to some of Switzerland's most picturesque and iconic destinations including Zurich, Mürren, Zermatt, and St Moritz. These destinations offer a perfect blend of Swiss heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and outdoor adventures. Together we’ll hike to some of Zermatt’s most stunning viewpoints, conquer Mürren’s Via Ferrata, indulge in delicious fondue and Swiss chocolate, soak in the scenic views on Switzerland’s famous Glacier Express, and enjoy some free time to shop, relax or check off your personal Swiss bucket list activity.
The best part of it all will be the dynamic, fun and adventurous group of women you’ll share this incredible experience with forging new friendships and memories that will last a lifetime!
Day 1:
Welcome to switzerland!
Your Swiss journey begins in Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland. Upon your arrival at Zurich Airport, you'll be greeted with stunning views of the Swiss Alps in the distance. We’ll head to the hotel to settle in for the evening. If you’re up to explore, we suggest taking a stroll along Lake Zurich or exploring the city's vibrant old town, rich in history, culture, and delicious treats.
Tonight we will meet as a group and head out to enjoy our first Swiss dinner together as we get to know each other over a delicious fondue and share our excitement for our adventure.
Day 2:
Mürren & Lauterbrunnen Valley
Wake up, enjoy breakfast, and grab your bag! It’s time for our first train adventure!!
From Zurich we will make our way by train to the picturesque village of Mürren located in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. This valley is not only home to Staubbachfall, easily one of Switzerland's most famous falls, but it is also home to over 70 other waterfalls!
We will make our way to the train station located a quick walk from our hotel to hop aboard a scenic train ride through the Bernese Oberland with views that will literally take your breath away! Our journey ends in Mürren, a car-free village nestled at the foot of the Schilthorn peak. The village can only be reached by a gondola or on foot, making it a unique Swiss experience. We'll spend the next few days exploring the area and soaking in the jaw-dropping views of the Jungfrau, Eiger, and Mönch mountains that surround this perfect mountain village.
Once we arrive and get checked into our hotel, we will have the rest of the day to enjoy at leisure. Head down to the valley to wander through Lauterbrunnen village, check out the underground tunnel life to Trümmelbach Falls, take Europe’s highest railway to the famous Jungfraugjoch “Top of Europe” or take flight over the valley with scenic helicopter ride or a paragliding experience.
Tonight you can enjoy dinner at the place of your choice with sunset and a view. After a fun day of exploring, snuggle up and get some rest for another EPIC adventure tomorrow!
Day 3:
Mürren - Gateway to the Jungfrau Region + Via Ferrata
Good Morning from the Swiss Alps, it’s Via Ferrata Day!! Enjoy your coffee and breakfast with some insanely beautiful views before we head out on our thrilling activity for the day.
Today we will be taking on an intense and challenging adventure - the famous Mürren Via Ferrata. This activity is optional as it is not for the faint of heart. After breakfast, we will meet with our mountain guide, get geared up and go through a safety briefing. After we will spend the next few hours navigating our way along the mountain side following steel steps, zip lines, ladders, and a lofty suspension bridge 400m over the valley floor. We’ll enjoy some incredible views of the Lauterbrunnen valley as we complete the challenge.
If an adrenaline type of activity like the Via Ferrata isn’t on your bucket list, then you can spend the day checking off your personal bucket list activity in the valley. The area has lots of hikes through lush alpine meadows and gorgeous views like Murren Flower Trail or North Face Trail or you can hop over to Grinnewald on local train and take a cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch (the "Top of Europe"), explore the sky walk hike/bike ride down or simply relax and soak in the tranquility of this mountain paradise.
Tonight dinner is on your own, check one of the lovely patios to enjoy in town or head up to the Piz Gloria for a dinner with unforgettable views.
Day 4:
Zermatt - Home of the Matterhorn
Coffee never tasted so good with views like this! We’ll enjoy breakfast, pack our bags and make our way to Zermatt, a car-free mountain resort town, known for its view of the iconic Matterhorn peak.
On the train ride you’ll have some downtime to relax as you take in the stunning Swiss countryside. Once we arrive in Zermatt, we’ll settle into our hotel and enjoy some free time to stroll around town and enjoy lunch.
Around 1:45 p.m. we will reconvene as a group and head out for a guided walking tour of this enchanting alpine village. We will meander through charming old town streets, explore historical buildings and hear stories from Zermatt’s past. At the end we will be treated with a scenic viewpoint of the breathtaking Matterhorn.
The tour wraps up around 4 p.m. and the rest of the day is yours to explore local shops, check out the local Matterhorn Museum, enjoy dinner and take a sunset stroll.
Day 5:
Hiking The Five Lakes Trail
Morning sunshine! We suggest an early rise to enjoy your cup of coffee with a beautiful view of the magnificent Matterhorn. After filling up on a delicious breakfast, it’s time to head out for an awesome day of adventure!
Today is a choose your own adventure day with the option to join your trip host for a group hike! Zermatt offers a wide range of outdoor activities from paragliding to hiking to mountain biking to year round skiing - this place is truly an outdoor mecca!
For those who want to explore by foot, your trip host will be hiking The Five Lakes Trail in the morning. After breakfast the group will head over to Sunnegga station where we will take a funicular car and a gondola to reach the trailhead. Once we reach the top, we will begin making our way down the trail enjoying the views and each other’s company. This is a 9.8 km (6.1 mile) hike that is mostly downhill passing by 5 different lakes, Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee, and Leisee. It should take approximately 3-4 hours to complete.
After the hike you can choose to continue to explore the trails or head back and spend time exploring this cute, cozy mountain town on your own accord. Zermatt has so much to offer - you can check out the Matterhorn Museum to learn more about the history of this area, grab a delicious burger at the Brown Cow Pub, stop by the Blacknose Sheep Farm, or wander around local shops. Enjoy dinner at a place of your choice this evening.
Hike details:
Distance: 6.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 925 feet
Day 6:
gornergrat + the matterhorn
Rise and shine…it’s adventure time. Wake up and enjoy a delicious breakfast before packing your bags for another fun day of hiking in the Swiss Alps!
With our daypacks in hand, we will make our way over to the train station and hop on the first fully electric cogwheel train in the world. Make sure to grab a seat on the right side of the train so you can catch the sweeping views of Matterhorn and Swiss Alps on the way up!
The train’s final stop drops us at Gornergrat located at an altitude of 3,089 meters (10,314 feet). From here we will begin a short hike around a scenic loop offering a unique view of 29 mountains towering over 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). From here we’ll also be able to see Europe’s second largest glacier, the Gorner Glacier, along with Switzerland’s highest peak, the Dufourspitze, the Monte Rossa Massif, and of course, the Matterhorn.
We’ll have a quick break to enjoy a coffee at the Klumhotel, Switzerland’s highest hotel, before we start our hike down to Riffelberg. Along the way we’ll be captivated by the view of Matterhorn as we make our way closer towards this iconic mountain. We will take time to enjoy a delicious Swiss snack along with the incredible view at Riffelberg Lake. After we will continue along the trail with views of Zermatt in the distance. When we arrive in Riffelberg, you will have the option to continue on your own adventure or extend the hike down to Zermatt.
The Riffelberg Express will bring you back to Zermatt if you’d like to relax, grab lunch or shop. For those who would like to continue hiking, we will take the cable car to Furi making our way over to Blatten. There is an option to we take another short hike to the walk across the 100m long suspension bridge which floats over the Gorner Gorge. We will make our way back to the Furi cable car station, and again from here you can choose to take the cable car or hike down to Zermatt. If you hike down, there will be an option to stop for lunch at the Zum See Restaurant or another eatery in Blatten, and on the way back to Zermatt, we will finish the day with a stop to visit Gorner Gorge.
After we arrive back at the hotel, the rest of the evening is yours to relax, enjoy a beverage with a view or pick up some souvenirs. Dinner will be at the place of your choice tonight - we recommend the Brown Cow Pub and we won’t judge you if you go back more than once!
Hike Details:
360 Loop Gornergrat
Distance: 0.5 km/0.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 19 m/62 feet
Gornergrat to Riffelberg
Distance: 3.7 km/2.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 10 m/32 feet
Additional Recommended Hikes:
Fuir to Zermatt (Kirchbrucke Bridget)
Distance: 3.6 km/2.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 50 m/150 feet
Gorner Gorge
Distance 1.9km/1.2miles
Elevation Gain: 38 m/127 feet
Cost: $6.50 USD (as of 2023)
Day 7:
Zermatt to St. Moritz - The Glacier Express
We’ll wake up and enjoy the view of Matterhorn with breakfast before we pack our bags and make our way to the train station. Today is not about the destination, it is all about the journey!
From Zermatt, we’ll make our way to St. Moritz on the infamous Glacier Express also known as the window to the Swiss Alps. On this 8-hour journey we’ll enjoy panoramic views unfold as the train meanders gently across valleys and over passes, through countless tunnels with constantly changing views of mountains, lakes, and glaciers.
Along the route we will pass through Andermatt, the heart of the alps, cross Oberalp Pass, enjoy the spectacular views of the Rhine Gorge, also known as the Swiss Grand Canyon, and travel across the Landwasser Viaduct before ending in St. Moritz.
Once we arrive, we will make our way to the hotel to settle in and the rest of the evening is yours to explore as you’d like. We suggest a stroll along the lake, make sure to visit the Leaning Tower, and enjoy a drink at the historic Kulm Country Club or Chesa Veglia. Enjoy dinner at a place of your choice this evening. St. Moritz is home to some incredible restaurants including three Michelen Star restaurants.
Day 8:
Explore St. Moritz & Back To Zurich
We’ll wake up and enjoy coffee and breakfast before checking out of our hotel. Today we’ll make our way back to Zurich in the early afternoon. After breakfast, you’ll have a few hours to explore St. Moritz, check off an optional hike or book yourself a relaxing spa treatment.
St. Moritz transforms into a captivating outdoor resort town in the summer. Set against a backdrop of lush green landscapes and pristine lakes, St. Moritz provides an array of activities for adventure enthusiasts such as hiking, mountain biking, and water sports. Your trip host will offer a couple hiking suggestions or you are welcome to plan your own activity today. St. Moritz also offers world-class spa facilities so if you are looking for a relaxing day, book yourself a rejuvenating treatment and soak up the natural serentiy and relaxation you deserve.
The group will meet back at the hotel at 2:30 p.m. sharp to catch the next train back to Zurich. Please note that if you miss this train you will be responsible for making your way back to Zurich on your own. The ride takes just over 3 hours to arrive in Zurich. From here we will have a short walk to our hotel where we will check in, drop our bags and head out for a final dinner together.
As the sun sets on this unforgettable Swiss journey, you'll depart with cherished memories and a deep appreciation for the natural and cultural wonders of Switzerland.
Day 9:
Adieu switzerland
Wake up and enjoy breakfast before you pack your bags, check out and head on to your next destination. Now that you're an expert at the Swiss train system, head off to explore your next destination or make your way to the airport to catch your flight home. Either way we wish you safe travels and we look forward to the next EPIC adventure we get to share together!
Ready to Book?
Ready to Book?
Questions? Please reach out to Lindsey Egan at LINDSEYEGAN@womenwhoexplore.com
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$3,895 double occupancy
If you are traveling solo, you will be assigned roommates upon request. If you are traveling with a friend, mention that at booking and we’ll ensure you’re roomed together.
A deposit is due at booking to hold your spot with regular monthly payments. Additional payments may be applied to the trip balance prior to payment due dates.
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• 9 days/8 nights in double occupancy in 3-4 star hotels and guesthouses in Zurich, Murren, Zermatt and St. Moritz
• 8-day Swiss Travel Pass with access to unlimited travel by train, bus and boat, plus free admission to more than 500 museums, and additional discounts on mountain excursions, gondolas and other activities
• Train rides from Zurich to Murren, Murren to Zermatt, Zermatt to St. Moritz, and St. Moritz to Zurich
• 8-hour panoramic train journey on The Glacier Express
• Gornergrat Bahn Scenic Train Ride
• Guided walking tour in Zermatt city
• One private group transfer to/from the Zurich Airport to the hotel in downtown Zurich
• Meals as noted in itinerary, in total this includes 8 breakfasts, 2 charcuterie lunches, 2 dinners and some hiking snacks
• Trip checklists, detailed packing list, training guide, and pre-travel support provided in a private Facebook and/or WhatsApp group
• WWE Trip Host available 24/7 during the trip for support
• WWE Swag to make your heart happy!
• Small group; maximum of 11 women + your WWE trip host
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• International flights to/from Zurich International Airport (ZRH)
• Airport transfers outside of designated times and meeting location
• Mürren Via Ferrata and any other additional excursions or activities not included in the above itinerary
• Alcohol, additional beverages, snacks and meals as noted above - 5 lunches and 7 dinners not included. Guests are always welcome to eat out at any meal when preferred
• Tips and gratuity for lead guides (at the discretion of the client)
• Visa and entry requirements as applicable and any pre-travel medical expenses such as immunizations or required Covid-19 testing
• Travelers insurance to cover medical expenses while traveling abroad (proof of insurance required)
• Personal expenses not included in the itinerary such as additional accommodations, transportation, meals, souvenirs, etc.
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All meals will be provided as noted in the itinerary. Please reach out to the trip host after booking if you have any food allergies/sensitivities. We always do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions but cannot make any guarantees.
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This trip requires a minimum number of ladies to register in order for it to be confirmed. Once the trip reaches the minimum participant number, you will receive a trip confirmation email and a link to be added a private Facebook group just for trip guests. In this group further trip details will be provided along with pre-travel support. Please let us know if you do not have or use Facebook (see contact information below).
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Please see our Terms of Service.
*Please note: some of our trips have a non-refundable fee that will be stated in the trip description.
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Women Who Explore guests will be required to follow the local Covid-19 guidelines and requirements as set forth by the local governing body of the destination being visited.
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Travel (and medical) insurance is required for anyone traveling on a Women Who Explore adventure. Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. Your insurance policy should also include specific Covid-19 cover, including cancellation and curtailment cover if you or a close relative are diagnosed with Covid-19.
For recommended travel insurance providers click here.
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Please note that the itinerary provided for your adventure is subject to change. While we strive to adhere to the proposed plan, unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions, safety concerns, or other factors beyond our control may necessitate adjustments to the itinerary. We prioritize your safety and enjoyment throughout the adventure, and any modifications made will be done with careful consideration. We will make every effort to inform you in advance of any changes and provide suitable alternatives to ensure a fulfilling experience.