Wilderness-Travel-2017-Catalog

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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
This hiking journey is the quintessential experience of everything that’s magical about Switzerland. PHOTO: TOM DEMPSEY
YVES MARCOUX
DANUTA HYNIEWSKA
FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR EUROPEAN TRIPS, VISIT 24
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.
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
DATES
Jun 29-Jul 7, 2017 Aug 6-14
Jul 20-28 Aug 31-Sep 8
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
“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.”
Joe M., San Antonio TX