Faq

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What's it like to be part of an Alpenwild hiking or walking tour?
Alpenwild adventures are built on a philosophy that the best and most enjoyable way to discover the Alps is on foot, with a small group of friends, and in the company of someone who knows and loves these gorgeous mountains and valleys. As a result, our clients are really guests and friends, and we find that they develop wonderful friendships along the way. Our programs are also wonderful learning and growth experiences so that you return richer, stronger, and wiser. Our goal for all guests is threefold (in this order) 1. Be safe 2. Have a great time, and, 3. Do your best.


Do I need prior hiking experience?
The Swiss Alps is the greatest hiking destination in the world, and it's also one of the most varied and adaptable. Even if you’ve never hiked outside of your own backyard, you can have a dream vacation hiking in the Swiss Alps. You should be in good health and enjoy walking in the outdoors, but you need not be an experienced hiker. Our hiking and walking tours in the Alps are suited to all experience levels and our Trip Leaders are expert at bringing out the best in all participants. Most of our trips are adaptable to various skill levels, so that the more energetic, high-performance hikers are able to get in all the hiking they want, and those that desire an easier route or a slower pace can “stop and smell the roses” and not feel excessively pushed or obligated to take the most strenuous routes. If you can play 18 holes of golf, a hiking tour in the Swiss Alps is well within your reach.


Which is best—the Jungfrau, Valais, Ticino, Appenzell, or the Engadine?
We love them all. Each region has its unique charm, breathtaking beauty, and natural wonders. They never grow old. And even our guides, who have hiked those areas repeatedly, can never agree on a favorite. That’s why we keep returning every year. And that’s why many of our guests will explore one area, then return the following year for another. Also, part of your decision on where to go will be influenced by the season. For example, hiking in Ticino is wonderful in May or October, when the Haute Route would be snowbound. And the Jungfrau is perfect in July when Ticino can be rather hot. 


Do I have to carry everything on my back?
We provide luggage transfers on all of our treks and inn-to-inn tours, so you can walk with just the items you need, knowing that your luggage will be waiting for you at the hotel when you arrive. On the Haute Route, the Matterhorn Circuit, and the Jungfrau Explorer you won’t have access to your luggage while in the huts; but after your hut stay, you arrive at a hotel knowing that your bags will be there waiting for you.

What does “BSD” mean in the itinerary?
It means that a Breakfast, Snack, and Dinner are all included in the tour price. Each day you’ll have a full Swiss breakfast at your hotel or mountain hut. While we’re walking in the mountains or out during the day, we’re not often near a place where we can stop for a lunch—besides most people don’t want to hang around a restaurant ordering and waiting for food, when they could be out enjoying the Alps. So we provide trail snacks and we generally stop around lunch time for a wonderful mountain picnic which often includes fresh bread, local cheese purchased on the alp, sausage or traditional air-cured meats, fruit, chocolate and other local treats. It’s always a highlight, and no one goes hungry. Dinners in the huts are filling and well prepared, while in the towns and villages we seek out the best restaurants available—with an emphasis on small locally owned restaurants and traditional cuisine—and the food is exquisite. Many guests rave about the quality of the dining experience, plus it’s a great time to socialize, meet the locals, and share stories of the day’s highlights

Does the Haute Route require technical climbing skills?
No. You’ll be benefited by being an experienced hiker, but the entire route can be done without any climbing or even scrambling. As best we know, there are only two or three places where you need to place your hand on a rock to steady yourself on a steep ascent or descent. The terrain on the Haute Route is steep, rocky, and rugged in places, but the trail is generally well marked, groomed, and graded.

Which tours include stays in mountain huts?
On the Haute Route, we stay in mountain huts for two consecutive nights, and on the Jungfrau Explorer and the Matterhorn Circuit we stay in berghotels or huts for two non-consecutive nights. Huts offer comfortable accommodation and hearty meals in an exquisite alpine setting. Most huts have flush toilets, hot showers, and bedding in a dormitory arrangement. Most of our guests find the atmosphere and location of the huts to be a memorable and distinctly enjoyable part of the trip.

How many miles per day do we walk?
That depends on the tour you’re taking. On the Haute Route, our most strenuous tour, we hike 8-12 miles and gain an average of 3,500 vertical feet per day. Each hiking or walking tour is rated easy, moderate, or strenuous, based on how physcally challenging it is. If you have any questions, call and we can answer specifics about the level of physical activity and skill requirements for each trip. We are committed to finding the adventure that’s right for you

I live in Colorado. What makes hiking in the Alps so much better?
Simply put, the Swiss Alps is the finest supported hiking destination in the world. You can hike for days on end and never have to carry a tent, sleeping bag, stove, or food. The vertical profile, glaciers, mountain scenery, meadows, waterfalls and dense forests are more spectacular than nearly any hiking destination in North America.

 I see some of your tours offer early booking discounts. What's the deal?
It's a great deal! By offering an early booking discount we can jump-start the booking season, insuring that the tour will be a "go" months in advance. You get a great tour with substantial savings, and we are able to book the best possible arrangements and Trip Leaders before they are booked or otherwise unavailable. It also saves us having to desperately advertise late in the game to fill a tour. You'll find early booking discounts on some of our most exiciting summer tours as well as on our winter cross country skiing packages.

Are these prices guaranteed?
Once you are on deposit, you can have full confidence that the quoted price will not change, even in the face of currency fluctuations.

What is the typical group size?
We keep our group size small—typically between 6 and 10 guests—so that you can receive the highest level of service and attention. On some of our tours, like the Swiss Alpine Wonders, we have a larger group (15-20 guests) and include additional guides so that each day you'll be able to choose a longer, more challenging hike or a less strenuous, more relaxed option.

What’s the difference between walking, hiking and trekking?
The definition varies from one location to another, but generally speaking, “hiking” is just walking outdoors on a natural trail surface. “Trekking” is a hiking journey of several days from one place to another. By that definition, our Haute Route adventure and our Exploring the Jungfrau are classic treks, while our Best of the Alps trip is a wonderful collection of day hikes. The Alps Photo Workshop includes short walks and hikes to scenic panoramas and other especially photogenic settings. By calling and talking with an Alpenwild tour specialist you'll be able to determine which option is best for you.

Should I purify water in the Alps?
Water in the villages and towns throughout the Alps is pure and safe for drinking. Unlike in North America, Giardia is extremely rare in Swiss alpine streams and most guests feel comfortable drinking the water without purifying it. We’ve never had reports of any problems from drinking it. Still, for your protection, we bring water purification with us which you’re always welcome to use. For more information, see our Haute Route Essentials video series which explains this and other topics in greater detail.

Where can I change money?
You can change money at any ATM or bank, most SBB train stations, as well as at currency exchange offices in some larger cities and resort towns. You’ll generally get a favorable exchange rate by using an ATM.

I live in Florida. Will I have a hard time with the altitude?
Most of our hiking in the Swiss Alps is at an elevation between 3,000 and 8,000 feet above sea level. On the Haute Route we cross a pass each day at an elevation nearing 10,000 feet. If you’re not used to the altitude, you’ll certainly feel the difference, feel easily “winded,” and may want to take a slower pace initially. At elevations above 8,000 feet you may even notice some nausea, a headache, or loss of appetite. These are normal symptoms of altitude sickness and should disappear as you descend into the valley.

I’ve never really done much in the way of hiking or outdoor adventure. Will I be able to keep up?
Because we keep our group sizes small, we’re able to easily adapt to individual need. On some hikes you may want to take the tram up and hike down or vice versa. At the start of each day we carefully explain the distance, elevation gain, timetable, and options.

What is the pace for hiking the Haute Route?
Again, it’s very much tailored to the capabilities of the hikers in the group. While we generally stay within close range, faster hikers are free to move at their own pace and wait for the group at a pre-arranged destination. Our Trip Leaders don’t rest until all hikers have arrived safely in the village or at the mountain hut.

What gear do I need to bring? What group gear do you provide?
Prior to departure, we’ll provide you with a detailed packing list tailored to your adventure, which is also available on our website. You will be responsible for bringing your own clothing, daypack, and other personal outdoor gear such as trekking poles and raingear. Group gear provided by your Alpenwild Trip Leader includes a first aid kit, navigational aids (maps, compass, and guides), trail snacks, and water purification.

Do you offer specialty tours?
Do you belong to a garden club and want to spend a week discovering Alpine wildflowers? We can show you over 500 species, many of which are endangered, protected, and endemic to the Alps? Are you a geology professor who wants to lead your students on a field study of glaciers? There are over 600 glaciers in Switzerland and we can show you some exceptional examples of icefall, glacial retreat, and lateral moraine. We also conduct photo workshops and can arrange culinary tours (cheese, wine, chocolate), Swiss farm stays, or enterprise exchange programs.

I’m a vegetarian. Can you accommodate special dietary needs?
Yes. You’ll find the Swiss diet is based around dairy products, with a good variety of fresh fruits and vegetables during the summer season. Just let your guide know of your dietary preferences and we should be able to find excellent meals that satisfy your preferences. Over the years we have successfully accommodated guests with celiac disease, nut allergies, lactose intolerance, and many other specific allergies.

Will I get Wi-Fi and cell phone service hiking in the Swiss Alps?
We generally have good cell service even on remote alpine passes and in most of the villages where we stay. Our guides carry a cell phone in case of emergency, although we rarely use them. You may choose to bring your phone or leave it at home and not be bothered by it. Nearly all the hotels we stay in offer free Wi-Fi, normally accessible from the room.

Will I lose weight?
We can’t guarantee it.

And most importantly—will I have fun?
We guarantee it.

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