We have suspended our custom and self-guided tours for 2024 due to a lack of hotel availability. We have all our hotels secured in advance for our guided tours, but we can no longer accommodate self-guided. We still have availability on some of our guided group tours for 2024. 

Recapture the Golden Age of Alpinism

From 1854 to 1865 the attention of Europe was fixed on mountaintops during an era that came to be known as the Golden Age of Alpinism. During that eleven year span, most of the 4000-meter peaks in the Alps were first conquered, frequently by British mountaineers. It started with the ascent of the Wetterhorn in Grindelwald and concluded with the first ascent of the Matterhorn.

World-Class Hiking, Rich with Tradition

On this tour, you will link two mountains, both as iconic as they are fearsome. In addition to the Eiger Mountain and the Matterhorn, two mountain ranges are linked—the Bernese Alps and the Pennine Alps. Recapture the Golden Age of Alpinism in a traditional traverse of the Bernese Alps, over the legendary Gemmi Pass, across the Rhone Valley, and into the heart of the Pennine Alps. On the way to Zermatt, you can get off the train to hike up to the Europabrücke, the longest pedestrian-only suspension bridge in the Alps. From there you can continue by train to Zermatt. Experience a glorious conclusion near the base of the Matterhorn where you’ll be surrounded by more 4000-meter peaks than anywhere else in the Alps. 

Follow a Classic Route Through the Alps

You will start your journey in Grindelwald and ascend the Eiger Trail into the glacial realm. Your initial days parallel the Via Alpina, one of the great long-distance trails in Europe. Your route continues through the deep-cut Lauterbrunnen Valley where 72 waterfalls plunge off the upper rim. Stay in Griesalp, a remote alpine hamlet with a surprisingly luxurious hotel. You’ll skirt the shore of the Öeschinensee, the most beautiful lake in Switzerland, before dropping into Kandersteg for the evening. Then follow the favored route of Jules Verne and Mark Twain over the Gemmi Pass into the resort of Leukerbad above the Rhone Valley. You can cross the Europabrücke, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the Alps before taking a train to Zermatt where you will have commanding views of the Matterhorn. While in Zermatt, you can take the Gornergrat cogwheel railway, the highest train in Europe, and ascend to one of the finest panoramic views in the Alps. Here at the Gornergrat summit, you'll be surrounded by more 4000-meter peaks than anywhere else in the Alps.    

Historic Hotels, Delicious Regional Cuisine

Throughout your journey, you stay in historic hotels, selected specifically for this trip while enjoying cuisine that reflects the great culinary tradition of the region.

Trip Videos

Overview Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Grindelwald

Day 2 – Eiger Trail from Grindelwald to Wengen

Day 3 – Wengen to Lauterbrunnen Valley and Mürren

Day 4 – Mürren to Griesalp

Day 5 – Griesalp, Wildwasser

Day 6 – Griesalp to Kandersteg

Day 7 – Kandersteg to Leukerbad via the Gemmi Pass

Day 8 – Leukerbad to Zermatt - Europaweg Skywalk

Day 9 – Zermatt - Gornergrat

Day 10 – Depart

View Detailed Itinerary
View Detailed Itinerary

Tour Price

$3,595 USD per person double occupancy

$1,325 single supplement

Reserve your place on this tour with a $500 per person deposit

Trip Dates

01 July 2024 - 15 September 2024 for 10 days

01 July 2025 - 15 September 2025 for 10 days

Or, book a private departure

Trip Highlights

  • Ascend snowy Jungfrau by cog railway to Europe’s highest railway station and overlooking the Alps’ longest glacier
  • Cross the Gemmi Pass along the historic route used by Picasso, Lenin, Mark Twain, Jules Verne, and even Sherlock Holmes
  • On your way to Zermatt, hike on a route crossing the Europabrücke, the Alp's longest pedestrian suspension bridge
  • Explore mountain trails around Zermatt on foot and by cogwheel excursion, with stunning views of the Matterhorn

Trip Videos

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