2019 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

In a land of fairytale mountain beauty, we’ve crafted a special 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. Around mountain-ringed Lake Lucerne, we’ll hike the panoramic trails of Mt. Pilatus and Mt. Rigi, and in the famed Bernese Oberland, crowned by the breathtaking summits of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau (the North Face of the Alps), a gondola whisks us to incredible high trails with views stretching across the “top of Europe.” High above pristine Lake Oeschinensee, we hike through Heart of Switzerland FROM LAKE LUCERNE ACROSS THE ALPS TO WINE COUNTRY Days 1-2 Lucerne / Pilatus and Rigi In Lucerne, we travel by the world’s steepest cogwheel railway to the summit of Mt. Pilatus (6,994') for an easy walk with magnificent views. A classic lake steamer brings us across Lake Lucerne to the village of Weggis, where a cable car carries us up Mt. Rigi (5,896'), known as the “Queen of the Mountains.” We’ll visit an artisan cheesemaker here and descend by cogwheel train to lakeside Lucerne. Days 3-4 Lauterbrunnen Valley / Mürren In the dramatic Bernese Oberland, where 37 peaks top 12,000 feet, we view the sheer, snow-capped faces of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau as we hike to the top of Männlichen (7,687'). From our perfect perch in the car-free village of Mürren, we hike high above the gorgeous Lauterbrunnen Valley through a hanging valley dotted with hay barns and chalets to the Schilthorn summit (9,744'), descending to the tiny farming hamlet of Gimmelwald. Days 5-6 Kandersteg / Lake Oeschinensee We travel by train to the quintessential Swiss alpine village of Kandersteg. Ringed by mountains, this wildly picturesque glacial valley of traditional chalets has attracted hikers since the 19th century. A cable car whisks us above town for a short but steep climb to an amazing viewpoint overlooking turquoise Lake Oeschinensee, surrounded by a backdrop of sheer cliffs and snow-clad peaks. Our hike above the deep Gasterntal Valley brings panoramas of the glaciers of the Jungfrau-Aletsch World Heritage Site, home to the Aletsch, the largest glacier in the Alps. Days 7-9 Vevey / Lake Geneva / Lavaux A beautiful rail journey changes the scene entirely, bringing us to Lake Geneva and beguiling Montreux, with its lakeshore lined by Belle Époque villas. We walk the lakeside promenade to one of Europe’s most impressive castles, the 13th century Château de Chillon, and in famed Lavaux wine country high above the lake, we hike through centuries-old terraced vineyards. Depart on Day 9. “This trip really exceeded my expectations. The variety of hikes, the awesome scenery, the wonderful guides—one of the best trips I have ever taken!” Sandy S., New York NY fragrant fields of gentian and edelweiss, and our grand finale is in charming Vevey for wine tasting and hikes through the historic World Heritage-listed vineyards above Lake Geneva.

CHRISTOF SONDEREGGER ANDREAS STRAUSS

We’ve created a unique route through Switzerland’s famed mountain realms, using cable cars and cogwheel trains to bring us to high trails. CHRISTOF SONDEREGGER

DETAILS • 9-day trip begins in Lucerne and ends in Vevey • 8 nights hotels • All meals included except 3 dinners

DATES Jul 18-26, 2019 Aug 4-12 Sep 1-9

TRIP COST $6695 (11-14 members) $7095 (4-10 members) Single supplement: $495

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 Grindelwald, Mürren, and Kandersteg • Vevey’s charming Old Town, wine country of Lavaux above Lake Geneva

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

QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL EUROPE@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 44