Wilderness-Travel-2017-Catalog

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Zermatt, home of the pyramidal-shaped Matterhorn,
and the storybook realm of the Engadine Valley, with its
age-old villages and pure mountain air, are
the setting for this splendid Swiss journey.
We designed the trip with two different
hiking options each day (your choice!).
Whichever you choose, you’ll enjoy high
balcony trails with stupendous vistas of
glaciers, ice cliffs, cool lakes, sheer valleys,
and snowy summits. We use the country’s
ingenious transportation system—from
funicular railways to cable cars—to
whisk you high up into the mountains
for unbelievable views on each hike, and
our wonderful team of Trip Leaders makes each day a
delightful adventure.
Days 1-2 Zermatt / Matterhorn In car-free Zermatt, with its
ancient barns and horse-drawn carriages, all our hiking choices
offer show-stopping Matterhorn panoramas. One ramble
brings us through stone-pine forest to a charming hamlet of
slate-roofed wooden houses with good views of the northeast
ridge of the Matterhorn. We can
take the Gornergrat Railway up to
10,135 feet for surpassing views of
a ring of some 50 peaks, including
the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa,
or head out for a high-level hike
across the Matterhorn Glacier Trail,
close enough to the glacier to see
the meltwater running out.
Day 3 Glacier Express/ Engadine
An exhilarating rail journey (and a
champagne lunch) on Switzerland’s
most famous train, the Glacier
Express, carries us to scenic
Pontresina in the Engadine Valley,
where we are warmly welcomed
at the 4-star yet family-run Hotel
Walther, a Belle Epoque gem.
Days 4-8 Pontresina / Guarda
In the deep Engadine Valley, the
heartland of Romansch culture, our
trails lead to classic mountain
villages where traditional homes
are adorned with ancient floral
designs called sgraffitti. Alpine
farming is still done here the
traditional way, as it has been
for centuries. From Pontresina,
one hiking option brings us along
the moraine of the Morteratsch
Glacier, and another follows the Via
Engadina, a long-distance footpath
along the Inn River leading through
the graceful little towns of Zernez,
Susch, and Lavin. From the beautiful
village of Guarda, set a thousand
feet above the valley floor, we hike
past meadows grazed by pampered
Brown Swiss dairy cattle to reach
Tarasp, a dreamy medieval castle
and a perfect spot for our picnic
lunch. Depart on Day 8.
JOHN WARBURTON-LEE
“Every day was
filled with not only
grand hikes, but
cultural and
gastronomic
delights. Looking
forward to our
next adventure
with WT!”
Barbara H., Berkeley CA
HIGHLIGHTS
• Zermatt and the Matterhorn, the icon of
Switzerland
• The Engadine Valley, with its classic
stone-built villages
• Spectacular Glacier Express rail journey
from Zermatt to Pontresina
• Wonderfully atmospheric hotels, Swiss
culinary specialties from rösti to
Engadiner torte
DETAILS
• 8-day trip begins in Zermatt and ends
in Guarda
• 7 nights hotels
• All meals included except 2 dinners
DATES
Jul 11-18, 2017
Aug 5-12
Sep 11-18
TRIP COST
$4995 (10-14 members)
$5495 (6-9 members)
Single supplement: $690
Swiss transportation pass: $420 (subject
to change)
TRIP LEVEL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
6 hiking days on moderate to steep trails,
2-6 hours a day (depending on chosen
option), van support
This Swiss journey offers two hiking options a day—the choice is yours!