Hiking and Trekking in Switzerland 2024
Switzerland with its alpine landscapes is a true hiker's paradise
Best time: April–November
Put on your hiking boots and find out why the Swiss love hiking so much. There are over 50,000 km of trails to take with various levels of difficulty. Try Zermatt in the Valais region that boasts the Haute Route—a challenging trail that takes several days to complete, from Mont Blanc to Zermatt. Altogether about 400 kilometers of hiking trails cross Matter Valley, including ancient merchant trails which date back to the Middle Ages.
Another good hiking spot is Charmey, which lies at the heart of the Gruyère district, in the canton of Fribourg. It's perfect for Nordic walking with its various tracks. You can climb Vounetse mountain (1627 m high) and enjoy great views with maps and information along the way. If you take the cable-car, you'll find an alpine cheesery where Gruyère cheese is made in with ancient traditional methods.
Finally, don't miss the chance to approach the glacier on the Matterhorn Glacier trail, especially mid-July to the end of August. This trail will give you a perfect glimpse of the phenomenon of the glacier retreat where you will be able to see the meltwater run out and experience the mysterious world of glacier life.