Precision. You strive for it at work. Hope for it in a mechanic. But for a vacation? Precision permeates the Swiss Alps. The way the mountains cut into the sky. The snow perfectly crowns each cap. Glacial lakes shimmer precisely. The people are direct. Friendly, but direct. Your accommodations are perfect, especially the personal touches and Matterhorn views at the Riffelalp Resort. Even the cable cars, gondolas and funiculars always arrive on schedule. When you come to the Swiss Alps, prepare to be pampered, awestruck and exhilarated, precisely.
Day 1 Experience quintessential Switzerland with breathtaking hikes
starting with a ridgeline walk above the Adelboden Valley 
Alpine pastures, tumbling waterfalls and glistening glaciers stretch out before you.
Days 2-3 Trek from high mountain passes to wildflower-strewn meadows
A challenging route to Leukerbad leads past a shimmering glacier-fed lake and over Gemmi Pass, crossed for centuries by traders Cable cars whisk us over the toughest ups and downs Get the skinny on Swiss cheese at a traditional farm Cross a thermal gorge on a suspension bridge that looks onto a thundering waterfall Do your hiking muscles need TLC? You're in the right place: Leukerbad's healing waters have attracted travelers since the 19th century.
Day 4 Riffelalp Resort, the epitome of luxury, with panoramic views of the Matterhorn
Catch the Glacier Express train to Zermatt, a picturesque village that is blissfully automobile-free En route through the Zmutt Valley, stop for a lager or slice of apple strudel in one of the historic mountain hamlets 
Feast on fondue paired with regional wines.
Days 5-6 Jaw-dropping views of Gornergletscher,
a glacier with bright blue pools and deep crevasses, reached by foot or cog railway As you listen to the ice field groan, creak and rumble, the Monte Rosa and Breithorn peaks stand watch Savor crisp morning air en route to an alpine lake which offers magnificent vistas of Zermatt Enjoy a tour of historical Zermatt with local expert Edith Villeger.
Trip Highlights
- Heart-pumping hikes reveal quintessential Switzerland
- Trek from high mountain passes to wildflower-strewn meadows with soft-eyed dairy cows
- Jaw-dropping panoramic vistas of Gornergletscher, a glacier with bright blue pools and deep crevasses
- Feast on fondue paired with regional wines
- Riffelalp Resort, the epitome of luxury, with stunning views of the Matterhorn
Premiere Inns
The Cambrian (1 night): Spectacular views of the Bernese Oberland surround us at this mountain retreat with modern design sensibilities. (pool, spa)
Les Sources des Alpes (2 nights): An elegant hotel celebrated for its scenic setting, delightful cuisine and spring-fed thermal baths. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)
Riffelalp Resort (2 nights): A "stylish resort sanctuary offering breathtaking panoramas of the Matterhorn from a 7,300-foot wooded plateau above Zermatt," said Andrew Harper. (pool, spa)
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 2.0* | 300 | ||||||||
| 3.3* | 300 | |||||||||
| 4.1* | 500 | |||||||||
| 2 | 2.5 | 300 | 5.3* | 1300 | 6.6 | 1500 | ||||
| 3 | 3.4 | 700 | 5.7 | 900 | 7.9 | 2200 | ||||
| 4 | 3.5* | 1300 | 4.5* | 1300 | 5.8 | 2600 | ||||
| 5 | 2.5* | 2000 | 3.5* | 2900 | ||||||
| 4.5* | 3000 | |||||||||
| 6 | 2.1 | 300 | ||||||||
| 3.5 | 300 | |||||||||
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 6/30-7/5 Price: $4798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $760 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/14-19 Price: $4798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $760 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/28-8/2 Price: $4798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $760 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/4-9 Price: $4698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $760 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/11-16 Price: $4698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $760 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/18-23 Price: $4798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $760 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
The scenery was breathtaking (what can beat the Matterhorn, touched with fresh snow, looming over its surroundings from a clear blue sky on a sunny day?), the accommodations and food were excellent, and the Backroads leaders were the tops in every way.- North Attleboro, MA
It was the trip of a lifetime for me. Every morning I arose excited for what the day held. I was never disappointed. We met terrific people, the scenery was fantastic, we learned so much about the area, and just loved our leaders.- Chathan, NJ
This was a truly outstanding adventure. Not even one day of pouring rain could diminish the fun and sense of accomplishment. The hotels were spectacular; our leaders better than first-rate.- McLean, VA
Backroads has the greatest guides and the best variety of hiking choices within each trip so that every trip is wonderful.- Wake Forest, NC