Switzerland travel advice

“I would say that walking the Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn, Chamonix to Zermatt, a classic haut route, is significantly beyond your introductory Mont Blanc circuit trip. It does require more ability in remote higher altitude areas and so it’s somewhere that you will find experienced trekkers, you’re likely to encounter snow in the further reaches even as early as late August and early September. It’s a challenging grade 5 route, but it takes you through a really quite stunning area. You do a lot of camping on this trip – most of it is done for you, but there is a participatory element to it too.”

“The Mont Blanc circuit is one of our most popular Switzerland walking vacations and for good reason. You do need high quality boots, with ankle support essential. Trails are well marked but loose terrain is not uncommon. I’ve seen people wearing trainers really struggle, especially on the descents. Having once sniffed at walking poles, I borrowed a pair and now I swear by them.”

“It’s incredibly clean up there in the Swiss Alps, so following the Leave No Trace principles is very important. There is a drive towards going plastic-free on vacation now which is a great thing, but you do need to be careful when it comes to refilling water bottles. I have seen people filling up with glacial melt water, and I’ve seen whole groups get ill from it. There are mineral particles in the water which can give you stomach upsets, and of course there are lots of animals up there in the alpine pastures too, doing their business in streams. So always fill up at taps in designated areas, rather than streams however tempting the water might look.”

“I’ve done the Mont Blanc circuit both clockwise and anti-clockwise, and always recommend the clockwise route as easier and more enjoyable with the undulations that way round from Chamonix.”

“Although Switzerland is indeed known for its mountainous geography, it is important to keep in mind that wherever there are mountains, there will also be valleys. Therefore, it is possible to find a great variety of terrains in Switzerland, which translates into many different tour options for riders of all levels. We can just as easily offer leisurely tours on flat ground for families with kids or challenging mountain tours for avid and experienced riders. Additionally, the infrastructure in Switzerland is such that it is almost always possible to hop on a train to avoid cycling through a tough section. E-bikes have also made it easier for cyclists who may want to tackle the highest peaks but are not confident in their fitness levels. Although our tour involves quite a bit of climbing (with a day over 1,000 meters of climbing), using public transportation, there are ways to avoid the toughest sections (the climb to Chatel-Saint-Denis from Vevey for instance).”

“There are spots in Switzerland where over-tourism has taken hold. One such example is the top of the Jungfrau, which Bollywood movies have turned into a must-see for travelers from Asia. Our tours, however, make the most of small, family-owned hotels to give travelers a more authentic Swiss experience away from the large crowds and tour buses. This helps the local economy and supports family businesses over big, often foreign-owned multinational chain hotels.”