Wilderness Travel 2017 Catalog of Adventures

Heart of Switzerland LAKE LUCERNE, THE BERNESE OBERLAND, AND LAKE GENEVA’S LAVAUX WINE COUNTRY

In a land of fairytale mountain beauty, we’ve crafted a fantastic journey using the remarkable Swiss system of cable cars and cogwheel trains

to bring you high into the Alps for spectacular—yet moderate—hiking adventures. Near enchanting Lucerne, hike the panoramic trails of Mt. Rigi and craggy Mt. Pilatus, and in the Bernese Oberland, follow stunning pathways that bring you to the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau—the magnificent North Face of the Alps—and to the otherwordly Lauterbrunnen Valley. Our grand finale is in charming Vevey, in classic Swiss wine country, for wine tasting and hikes along terraced vineyards above Lake Geneva. Days 1-4 Lucerne / Pilatus and Rigi / Murren We hike the high trails of Pilatus and Rigi amid classic Swiss farmsteads, visit an artisan cheesemaker, and make a scenic return to Lucerne by cogwheel train and boat. In the dramatic Bernese Oberland, the sheer faces of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau are the reward for our hike to Männlichen (7,687'). Another hike brings us into the immense, U-shaped Lauterbrunnen Valley, with its 3,000-foot-high walls. Overnights are in charming Lucerne and car-free Murren, where the only sounds are of cowbells and waterfalls. Days 5-6 Kandersteg / Lake Oeschinensee From the gorgeous Swiss village of Kandersteg, a cable car whisks us to a high viewpoint for a delightful picnic

“Of our many WT trips, this may be our favorite— great leaders, spectacular scenery and hikes, wonderful hotels and food, and an experience of Switzerland that will remain with us forever.”

YVES MARCOUX

before we head out on the trail above Oeschinensee, a turquoise lake nestled in an amphitheater of jagged peaks. Our hike in the deep Gasterntal Valley brings panoramas of the summits and glaciers of the Jungfrau- Aletsch World Heritage Site, home to the Aletsch, the largest glacier in the Alps. Days 7-9 Vevey / Lake Geneva A beautiful train ride changes the scene entirely, bringing us to Lake Geneva and beguiling Montreux, with its lakeshore lined by Belle Epoque villas and a grand backdrop of the Savoy Alps. Ancient vineyards rise high above Lake Geneva’s Lavaux wine country, and we hike through vineyards from St-Saphorin to a lovely chateau above Villette. Depart on Day 9.

Joe M., San Antonio TX

HIGHLIGHTS • Cable cars and gondolas do the steep climbing—you enjoy hiking and top-of- the-world views! • Spectacular rock peaks and glaciers of the Bernese Oberland, heart of the Swiss Alps • Picturesque alpine villages of Grindel- wald, Murren, and Kandersteg • Wine country of Lavaux above Lake Geneva, charming Old Town of Vevey DETAILS • 9-day trip begins in Lucerne and ends in Vevey • 8 nights hotels • All meals included except 3 dinners TRIP COST $6295 (11-14 members) $6795 (5-10 members) Single supplement: $720 Swiss transportation pass: $550 (subject to change) TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 hiking days on moderate trails, 2-6 hours a day, altitudes up to 7,900 feet, van support, team of up to 3 Trip Leaders DATES Jun 29-Jul 7, 2017 Aug 6-14 Jul 20-28 Aug 31-Sep 8

This hiking journey is the quintessential experience of everything that’s magical about Switzerland. PHOTO: TOM DEMPSEY

DANUTA HYNIEWSKA

FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR EUROPEAN TRIPS, VISIT WWW.WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM/TRIPS/EUROPE 24