Above the clouds and below the sky, you’ll experience Switzerland from the perspective of mountains, lakes, rivers, valleys, and the transformative power of nature and your own two feet.
Not for the armchair observer of beauty, this week will place nature first. Whether climbing mountains, walking the Lauterbrunnen river valley, or strolling along the lakeshore of Lucerne, you’ll experience the Swiss mentality that treats the beauty of the natural world not as an expendable resource but a way of life.
Guided by this mentality, Switzerland will give you space and time to observe nature at a walking pace, to let the demands of daily life grow hushed by the silence of Alpine Lakes, and see your own reflection, not in the digital world of emails and the rush of modern life, but in the stillness of mountain pools or in your shadow falling across the path with the sun at your back.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or leaving the US for the first time, traveling with Sunshine and Alithea is an invitation to challenge yourself both physically and mentally, to let mountain paths be transformed into summit views, to get out of your comfort zone while trying something new, to learn the names of strangers who by the end of the week you’ll know as friends, to share in a life-changing trip, and to return home stronger, with a sense of accomplishment, purpose, and a new horizon of possibility.
Traveling to the mountains of Switzerland is an invitation to recalibrate a sense of time, not based on a check-list to be completed, but your own participation as an observer of the seasons, of the snow melt that feeds countless waterfalls, of the tapestry of spring flowers in alpine meadows, or of the emergence of stars on a cloudless night.
Come prepared to identify a sense of belonging in the context of natural beauty, to measure your wealth in an experience of friendship, and to let the vocabulary of success be defined by horizons reached, crisp mountain air, and a shared sense of camaraderie with all living things.
Arrive in Lucerne, a city where lake and mountains meet. After checking into our special hotel in the medieval old town, we’ll gather for a short orientation stroll through the cobblestone streets and iconic wooden bridges. The hotel itself is a fascinating experiment: it is the former medieval prison, transformed into a modern hotel.
This evening, we'll share our first Swiss meal at a local restaurant, and those who wish can enjoy a serene walk by the lake before resting up for the adventure ahead.
Today blends astounding infrastructure, adrenaline and alpine views. Weather permitting, our morning will begin before dawn to journey to Stoos in order to catch the first gondola and ascend to the ridge, hiking the breathtaking trail from Klingenstock to Fronalpstock—one of Switzerland’s finest panoramic walks.
Stopping for lunch en route, our afternoon will continue with a gondola ride to Fräkmüntegg where you can try the thrilling summer luge before continuing to the summit of Pilatus for sweeping views. The evening will see us back in Lucerne, enjoying the comforts of our medieval home one more time.
Leaving Lucerne, we head deep into the Engelberg Valley to begin our hut-to-hut adventure. Arriving near Engleberg, we'll ascend the trail climbs steadily through alpine pastures and forests before reaching the “Chrüzhütte” (Crucifix mountain hut), where a hearty meal and cozy alpine camaraderie await amongst the mountain tops.
Our second day of hut-to-hut hiking takes us along rugged high alpine paths toward Brunnihütte. Along the way, we’ll encounter sweeping views of snow-dusted peaks and turquoise tarns. For those seeking extra adventure and weather dependant, our afternoon will continue with an optional via ferrata before dinner and a night under the stars.
We descend through Engelberg’s alpine meadows to complete our trek, then transfer to Lauterbrunnen, famed for its 72 waterfalls and the inspiration to Tolkien’s Rivendell, the Elven home in The Lord of the Rings. If skies are clear, we’ll ascend to the Schilthorn peak, home to the James Bond movie showdown in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, to watch the sunset over the dramatic skyline of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peak triplet. Dinner is shared back in the valley.
A classic high trail leads us from Winteregg to Mürren, perched on a sun-drenched terrace above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. In the afternoon, choose your adventure: soar by paraglider over one of Switzerland’s most spectacular landscapes or ascend one of the nearby mountain peaks by foot or gondola.
This evening you'll celebrate your Swiss adventure with a classic mountain meal and time for toasts to your adventures and companions.
After breakfast, we’ll say farewell in Lauterbrunnen. A transfer will be available to Zurich for onward travel.
For further questions don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Roundtrip flights (USA - Zurich) are not included in the tour price. We recommend using Skyscanner or Google Flights to search for international flights.
We recommend booking flights six to eight months prior to departure. Purchase tickets with departure from the USA on September 4th in order to arrive in Zurich on September 5th. We will meet at the first hotel at 4:00 pm.
For departures, purchase tickets on September 11th after 12:00 pm in order to account for the time it will take us to reach the airport from Lauterbrunnen.
For arrivals, the most straightforward and economical transport is public train. We will provide logistics help for those traveling from Zurich Airport to Lucerne by train or private car.
For departure on September 11th, we will provide one airport transfer at approximately 6:30 am to Zurich International Airport.
US citizens need to keep an eye on the upcoming visa waiver program and may need to apply for a visa waiver in 2026: https://www.etiaseu.com/us-citizens/etias-switzerland. Should the visa waiver become mandatory then we will notify you by email prior to the trip.
The deposit is $800 and is fully refundable within 30 days of payment.
Yes, payment plans are available as long as full payment is made by the start of the tour. Once you have paid the deposit, write to explore@alitheatravel.com or respond to the tour confirmation email to request a custom payment plan.
This is a full itinerary that visits many of the highlights of the Swiss Alps in just seven days. Whenever possible your guide will provide time to relax and enjoy a glass or have a conversation with new friends.
All activities except for paragliding and the via ferrata are included in the cost of the trip. All breakfasts and 3 lunches or 4 dinners are included, but you will want to bring spending money for souvenirs and for meals and snacks not included in the itinerary.
Come prepared to visit Switzerland as a Swiss local. Most hikes will be moderate based on the Swiss Alpine system (T1 and T2) but there may be occasional T3 sections.
If you are comfortable walking a maximum of 10-12 miles on flat terrain in one day then you should be physically prepared for the hiking on this tour.
The average mileage per day will be approximately 5-10 miles, which is not excessive, but trail hiking is more difficult than flat terrain.
For further questions don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Roundtrip flights (USA - Zurich) are not included in the tour price. We recommend using Skyscanner or Google Flights to search for international flights.
We recommend booking flights six to eight months prior to departure. Purchase tickets with departure from the USA on September 4th in order to arrive in Zurich on September 5th. We will meet at the first hotel at 4:00 pm.
For departures, purchase tickets on September 11th after 12:00 pm in order to account for the time it will take us to reach the airport from Lauterbrunnen.
For arrivals, the most straightforward and economical transport is public train. We will provide logistics help for those traveling from Zurich Airport to Lucerne by train or private car.
For departure on September 11th, we will provide one airport transfer at approximately 6:30 am to Zurich International Airport.
US citizens need to keep an eye on the upcoming visa waiver program and may need to apply for a visa waiver in 2026: https://www.etiaseu.com/us-citizens/etias-switzerland. Should the visa waiver become mandatory then we will notify you by email prior to the trip.
The deposit is $800 and is fully refundable within 30 days of payment.
Yes, payment plans are available as long as full payment is made by the start of the tour. Once you have paid the deposit, write to explore@alitheatravel.com or respond to the tour confirmation email to request a custom payment plan.
This is a full itinerary that visits many of the highlights of the Swiss Alps in just seven days. Whenever possible your guide will provide time to relax and enjoy a glass or have a conversation with new friends.
All activities except for paragliding and the via ferrata are included in the cost of the trip. All breakfasts and 3 lunches or 4 dinners are included, but you will want to bring spending money for souvenirs and for meals and snacks not included in the itinerary.
Come prepared to visit Switzerland as a Swiss local. Most hikes will be moderate based on the Swiss Alpine system (T1 and T2) but there may be occasional T3 sections.
If you are comfortable walking a maximum of 10-12 miles on flat terrain in one day then you should be physically prepared for the hiking on this tour.
The average mileage per day will be approximately 5-10 miles, which is not excessive, but trail hiking is more difficult than flat terrain.
