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I'm going to be backpacking through Europe with a friend next summer, and wanted to spend a few days hiking the alps (I'm thinking 2-3 days, easy to moderate difficulty). Any suggestions for how to do this? It seems like an organized tour would be the easiest option, but I'm on a strict budget.
Also, what areas are the best for amazing views? I don't want a very touristy area, but this is my first time in the alps and I want to make the most of it.
Hiking in Switzerland on a budget
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The best area of Switerland to spend a few days is the BO area. From here you can easily get to hiking trail, Jungfrau, some small vehicle free villages,, etc. Not sure about accomodation costs in different town, maybe someone with more knowledge about Switzerland could suggest where to check for budget accomodation. I'd sugesst looking at options in Interlaken since it is the largest town/city in the area it has the most accmodation options in all price ranges. However, Interlaken is very touristy.
Also, check prices for a Swiss Pass, this will cover most transport in Switzerland.
Regarding tours, most people on this forum travel independently, so you won't find many suggestions for tours.
We hiked through the Val D'Anniviers a couple years ago and the tourist board took care of the reservations, maps, luggage transfer and meals. They have a 7 day and a 4 day package. The mountains are gorgeous and you can pick the hikes you want to do according to length and difficulty. It's definitely not a "touristy" area (no big skiing resorts) and the hotels are small, family run places but you will have your own bathroom.http://www.sierre-anniviers.ch/en/Activities/Summer/Summer-Hiking/index_0.html
We liked it so much that we spent a week in the Val D'Herens last month. It's the neighboring valley. Absolutely gorgeous. You could take a bus and hike from Nax to another small village or hike to Evolene or Les Hauderes. I recommend Arolla as well- an incredibly beautiful unspoiled area. There are small hotels and pensions there. I love the BO as well, but it's generally a bit more expensive due to the popularity. The other valley we did this year was the Lotschental Valley. We stayed in the beautiful village of Blatten. This is probably the least touristed place I've seen in Switzerland and one of the most breathtaking. People here are lovely and many wear traditional clothing. Another wonderful place to visit is the Engadine. Villages such as Guarda and Ardez are gorgeous. We get the Swiss pass, but that's because we're there for 2 weeks and hop off and on many trains and buses. You may be better off just paying fares for a short visit. All the remote and charming villages are well serviced by the postal buses.