A guidebook to walking the Swiss Via Alpina from Sargans to Montreux on Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Covering 400km (250 miles), this long-distance trek in the Swiss Alps takes around 3 weeks to walk and is suitable for experienced trekkers.

The route is described from east to west in 19 stages, each between 12 and 29km (8–18 miles) in length. A 27km (17 mile) prologue stage from Liechtenstein is also included, as well as detour stages via Lenk and Gsteig.

• 1:100,000 maps included for each stage
• GPX files available to download
• Detailed information on mountain huts, facilities and public transport
• Advice on planning and preparation

CONTENTS

Overview map

Mountain safety

Key to profiles

Map key

Route summary table

12 days on the trail – a two-week trek

Preface

Introduction

The Swiss Via Alpina

Suggested itineraries

Options for the last few stages

When to go

Getting there – and back again

Accommodation

Languages

Notes for walkers

Paths and waymarks

Recommended maps

Apps

Safety in the mountains

Using this guide

Information at a glance

The Swiss Via Alpina

The Liechtenstein start

Prologue Gaflei to Sargans

The main route

Stage 1 Sargans to Weisstannen

Stage 2 Weisstannen to Elm by the Foopass

Stage 3 Elm to Linthal by the Richetlipass

Stage 4 Linthal to Urnerboden by Braunwald

Stage 5 Urnerboden to Altdorf by the Klausenpass

Stage 6 Altdorf to Engelberg by the Surenenpass

Stage 7 Engelberg to Engstlenalp by the Jochpass

Stage 8 Engstlenalp to Meiringen by Planplatten

Stage 9 Meiringen to Grindelwald by Grosse Scheidegg

Stage 10 Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen by Kleine Scheidegg

Stage 11 Lauterbrunnen to Griesalp by the Sefinafurgga

Stage 12 Griesalp to Kandersteg by the Hohtürli

Stage 13 Kandersteg to Adelboden by the Bunderchrinde

Stage 14 Adelboden to Lenk by the Hahnenmoospass

Stage 15 Lenk to Gstaad by the Trütlisbergpass

Stage 16 Gstaad to L’Etivaz by the Col de Jable

Stage 17 L’Etivaz to Rossinière

Stage 18 Rossinière to Rochers de Naye by the Col de Sonlomont

Stage 19 Rochers de Naye to Montreux

Alternative route after Lenk

Stage 15A Lenk to Gsteig by the Trütlisbergpass

Stage 16A Gsteig to Col des Mosses by the Col des Andérets

Appendix A Useful addresses

Appendix B Bibliography

Appendix C German–French–English glossary

Appendix D Stage facilities planner

Seasons

From the start of July through to September. August can be wet, and an early season trek may find snow on the higher passes, so suitable additional equipment would be essential.

Centres

Sargans, Elm, Linthal, Altdorf, Engelberg, Meiringen, Grindlewald, Lauterbrunnen, Kandersteg, Adelboden, Lenk, Gstaad, Rossiniere, Gsteig, Col des Mosses, Montreux

Difficulty

It's pretty tough: the route amasses nearly 23,000m of ascent over 20 stages and nearly every day involves a pass crossing. Some higher passes and ridges present occasional exposure and technical difficulty.

Must See

The Todi and Titlis; Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau near Grindlewald; valley-pass landscapes every day; the Lauterbrunnen valley; the Oeschinensee above Kandersteg; Blumlisalp and Les Diablerets.

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