cmstraf

We were so blown away by Glacier National Park that we are including Switzerland amongst our possibilities for a 70th birthday/25th anniversary celebration in 2018 (competition: trekking towards Everest as far as Nimboche with 4 days in Kathmandu, or maybe Jhomolari in Bhutan--scared it will be too difficult and we've already done a trek there).

What we'd like to do is a 5-6 trek hiking from village to village (about 10-15k a day), staying in comfortable, somewhat charming inns or hotels, a 3-5 stay at a magic hotel perhaps in the Engadine, and 3 nights in a city with some art/culture (Zurich?)

Although DH is Italian, neither of us has been to Switzerland. We have flexibility about when we could have, have problem of not liking crowds and loving wildflowers.

Can anyone help? I'm about to buy the Rough Guide for Switzerland so I'll be a little less ignorant soon. Also having some idea about costs would be helpful. We'd be happy in 3 star inns on trek, would like to do 4-5 star spurge in Engadine (or other lovely mountain resort)
We speak Italian and some French, no German, but I'd probably take a course if we end up in the German part of Switzerland (even though I'm sure that many people speak excellent English, it's a culture friendly courtesy that's important to me .

Thanks.

kja

I certainly can't help with the trek (sorry), but you might find some helpful information about the art and culture component in my trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...any-thanks.cfm

If art is a high priority Zurich and it's "suburb," Winterthur (with its 4 or 5 small art museums, each with some notable pieces) would be a good choice IMO.

Happy Birthday / Happy Anniversary!

Ingo

For the splurge I highly recommend the Hotel Waldhaus in Sils. www.waldhaus-sils.ch Very charming, old world with very good new spa!

As for the trek: Why not splitting it into two different parts? This way you could see more of the country. First in the Bernese Oberland, then a few days in the Engadine ending at the hotel Waldhaus in Sils. For the latter the Via Engiadina would be perfect - along the sunny slopes of the Engadine valley, half way up above the villages with great views. You can stay in charming villages like Sent, Ardez, Guarda, Zuoz e.g. and whenever you are tired you can quickly hike down and take the train to your destination.

Here's an English website for the Via Engiadina: http://steverabone.com/more%20swiss%..._engiadina.htm
(I'd walk it in the other direction, btw.)

In German, with many links, pictures and some maps:
http://www.wandersite.ch/ViaEngiadina.html

www.engadin.com has a special offer for the Lower Engadine with luggage transport for their part of the Via Engadina.

This is for a part in the Upper Engadine: http://www.wanderland.ch/en/routes/route-0760.html
(This site has more routes available, check regional and local routes, like Senda Sursilvana, Via Valtellina and so on.)

kja

Some other art / culture options:

Basel has a vibrant art scene and several art museums. You might want to see what exhibition is planned for the Foundation Beyeler, just outside Basel in Riehan.

And Lausanne has some worthy art collections and is near enough to Geneva to include it, as well. For this area, see what exhibition is planned for the Foundation de l'Hermitage.

Ingo

I second Basel for art. It's Fondation Beyeler Riehen, btw, (spelling).

kja

@ Ingo -- thanks! automatic spelling corrections are a pain. And its the Fondation de l'Hermitage.

cmstraf

Wow--thanks!! This gives me a lot to start on.