If you’d like more information about a specific holiday, or advice on choosing the right grade or holiday for you, please get in touch – our friendly experts will be happy to help.
We try to vary each day’s route, but you’ll no doubt fall into a pattern, perhaps setting off at 9am after familiarising yourself with the route on the map while you enjoy a leisurely breakfast. You can pause as often as you like to admire the views, the flowers or the birds – there’s no rush. Linger over your picnic at a panoramic spot, then continue on your way, arriving at your next hotel some time in the mid to late afternoon, with time to freshen up and explore the village before a dinner of delicious regional cuisine.
First, pick a grade and a style of walking (hotel to hotel, centred, or with your own guide). Then think about your preferences in terms of country, scenery, style and standard of accommodation. You can ask our experts to suggest a shortlist, or use the holiday search facility.
Holiday pages usually either state the cumulative ascent/descent for each day, or feature elevation charts which show the distance and an approximation of the ascents and descents involved. Pay attention to the scale of the chart, as this varies.
The descriptions of the walking routes on the holiday pages usually make it clear if walks are suitable for vertigo sufferers, but if you need more detailed advice, please contact us and we’ll arrange for you to speak with someone who has walked the routes.
Often you follow waymarked trails, but even where not, we provide very detailed route notes, which are checked on a regular basis, and a map (usually 1:25,000, but sometimes 1:50,000). As well as guiding you from A to B, the route notes provide information about the places of interest you pass. If there’s a worthwhile detour, we point this out too, and even suggest picnic spots.
We aim to take care of every detail, so things rarely go wrong. If they do, the hoteliers – many of whom have worked with us for years – are able to solve most problems, but for added peace of mind we provide a 24-hour emergency line.
It depends on the holiday. If you would prefer not to, choose a hotel-to-hotel walking holiday that features two nights at each hotel, or a centred walking holiday on which you stay at just one hotel and can decide each day whether to walk, sightsee or rest.
You’ll need walking boots or shoes, depending on the terrain and your personal preference, plus a compass, water bottle and waterproofs. Walking poles and a GPS device are useful, but not essential. Clothing-wise, you should pack for all eventualities, remembering that it is often cooler at altitude and in the evening. We’ll provide more detailed information when you book. (Our arrangements generally allow for one large item (15-20kg) and one small item (up to 10kg) per person. On most Swiss holidays, there is a limit of one piece of luggage per person.)
Just a camera, your picnic, drinks, sun cream and waterproofs – we transfer your luggage if you are moving on to another hotel. All we ask is that you leave your luggage in reception as you leave.
Most of our walking holidays are suitable for older children who walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved in the chosen holiday. Please note, however, that family rooms for more than 2 or 3 people are uncommon at many of the smaller hotels.
