“The scenery each day was different and beautiful. The hiking was enjoyable and well paced by our guides. The passion our guides had for the culture and experience for that day made it extra special." - St Moritz to Italy guest
Yes! We recommend that you fly into the Zurich airport, and fly out of the Milan Malpensa airport. This is the most convenient option, as the tour starts in Switzerland and ends in Italy.
Each morning, a buffet breakfast will be provided at your hotel. The group will meet around 8:00 or 9:00am for the start of the day's hike. Some days will involve a scenic cable car or short bus ride to get to the trailhead. You'll hike most of the day, crossing alpine pastures, sparkling streams, and ancient stone villages. You'll skirt above lush valleys and below snow-capped peaks and stop for some well-deserved snack (or chocolate) breaks. Lunch will be a lovely picnic full of local specialties, or a nice mountain restaurant. Most days, you'll get to your next hotel in the afternoon, leaving time to shower and rest up a bit before a nice multi-course dinner with the group. Be prepared for fantastic hiking, beautiful views, and a variety of unique sights along the way.
You'll average about 7 miles per day - some days will be longer, others shorter. See this trip's itinerary page for more specific distance and elevation stats. Please note that the stats we provide may vary from what you record on the trip based on what device you use, or if your guides take you on an alternate route based on weather or group ability. Use our listed stats as an estimate and a good reference point when training for this trip.
As an inn-to-inn adventure, most days on this trip will require hiking to get to your next hotel. You will have a rest day halfway through the trip with an optional hike. If you are unable to hike one day, it's possible to take public transportation to your next hotel. Extra transportation outside of the tour schedule is not included in your tour price, so you will be responsible for covering that cost. However, your guides will be able to assist you with planning and scheduling your route if you can't hike.
You'll want to fly into Zurich (ZRH) to then board the train to the start of your tour in St. Moritz, Switzerland. We provide you with a 1-day rail pass which can get you from Zurich to St. Moritz (a 3.5 - 4 hour train journey) for the start of the tour. The group meets on Day 1, at 3:00 pm in the St. Moritz hotel lobby. Please plan your arrival flights accordingly.
This tour ends in Varenna, Italy, on the eastern shores of Lake Como. We'll spend 2 nights in Varenna before departure on Day 10 of the trip. A train ticket to the Milan Malpensa Airport is included for your departure. We will contact you about 2 months before the trip to schedule your train ticket based on your flight plans. The journey from Varenna to the Milan airport takes about 2.5 hours, with the earliest train leaving at 5:10am. Please plan your departure flights accordingly.
Pack to hike! You'll need to pack your own hiking clothes, rain gear, daypack, and trekking poles. You'll also want a few nicer outfits for dinners. Your trip leaders will be carrying first aid gear, navigation tools, and trail snacks. We will send out a packing list for your trip with your other documents about a month before departure.
Yes, we highly recommend trekking poles. Most days on this trip include portions of rocky, uneven terrain. You'll also encounter a few steep ascents, which will be made easier with poles.
No - luggage transfers are provided between hotels, so you'll only need to hike with a daypack carrying the essentials. Plan to bring a comfortable backpack that can fit water, sunscreen, rain gear, and a warm layer. You may also be asked to help carry some of the group's snacks on days when a picnic lunch will be provided.
2 of our hotels on this trip are historic buildings without an elevator. You'll need to carry your suitcase upstairs to your room - but your guides can most definitely assist you! These historic hotels (one of which is a palazzo) are beautiful and charming, and often a highlight for our guests.
Tour prices assume two people sharing a hotel room. If you are traveling solo and don't want a roommate, the single supplement covers the additional rooming cost.
We pre-book 7 guest rooms at each hotel on the trip, which means we can have up to 14 guests (up to 2 guests per room). We need a minimum of 6 guests to run the trip. Unless the group is particularly small, we will also have 2 guides on the tour.
Yes, this tour is best suited for hikers with previous experience. If you've trained on steep terrain and taken long day hikes, you're likely ready to enjoy this rewarding adventure.
Your guides will find a pace that suits the group. Some guests prefer to hike faster and wait at scenic spots, while others prefer a more leisurely pace. Your guides will accommodate. In general, you'll want to be capable of accomplishing 2500 feet of ascent in 3 hours. If bad weather is rolling in, you may be asked to temporarily speed up in order to avoid it. Our guides ensure everyone enjoys the journey safely and comfortably.
In Europe, it's pretty easy to get around speaking only English. However, this inn-to-inn trip passes through 3 different language regions - German, Romansch, and Italian. Any locals you meet will appreciate a friendly "hello" or "thank you" in their language. Try swapping hello with "gruezi" (German), "allegra" (Romansch), and "buongiorno" or "buonasera" (Italian).
Tips are appreciated but not required. Alpenwild guides work hard to ensure your experience is exceptional; tips are a thoughtful way to express your gratitude. It's customary to give your tip at the end of the tour.
We rate this trip as moderately strenuous. You should be capable of hiking 4 to 7 hours per day on both rocky and well-groomed trails at an elevation up to 9,000 feet above sea level. You should be capable of accomplishing 2500 feet of ascent in 3 hours. Please note that the stats listed on the itinerary can vary depending on the device used to record them. Use our listed stats as an estimate and reference point while training for this tour. Some hikes are adaptable according to the desires of the guests.
We rate this trip as moderately strenuous. You should be capable of hiking 4 to 7 hours per day on both well-groomed and rocky trails at an elevation up to 9,000 feet above sea level. You should be capable of accomplishing 2500 feet of ascent in 3 hours. Please note that the stats listed on the itinerary can vary depending on the device used to record them. Some hikes are adaptable according to the desires of the guests.
