markport

Hello my friends - we are planning a two week trip in September for two couples to do level 2 hiking in Switzerland. All of us are in our late 50’s/early 60’s and though my wife and I are physically fit our friends have faced some recent health challenges that will limit them to no more than level 2 yet they are capable of walking for 5-6 hours per day.

We would also like to see if it would be feasible, or worthwhile, to spend a week in Switzerland then move for a week to Northern Italy. We have no wish to be in a big city through any part of our visit.

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. I’ve looked through prior postings so I hope I’ve answered any questions that may help you provide answers.

mokka4

Have you been to Switzerland before?
Hiking (IMHO) is best in the Berner Oberland area, with plenty of less strenuous options (yet glorious views) available.
Google 'Grandfather's' and 'Grandmother's ' walks.
I would look at the towns around Interlaken, Thun, Brienz, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen for best small town/ease of transport options in an area with two beautiful lakes as well.

markport

We haven’t been to Switzerland, no. Closest we came was last summer we had a week in Annecy after a week in Lyon. Thank you very much for the quick reply and great advice!

kleeblatt

There is always Berner Oberland which is gorgeous and a must see. However, the Engadin (the area around St. Moritz) is another fairy tale area of Switzerland that offers innumerable hikes. For another kind of holiday, you could rent e-bikes and explore the region of Emmental. It has a plethora of bike paths that will lead you into the heart of Switzerland, where time almosts has stood still.

Melnq8

If you want to add a week in Italy, it would make sense to head to the Engadine for a week, and then head into Northern Italy from there - easy access to Chiavenna (small town in Italy), and various towns along Lake Como. If you do opt to visit the Engadine, don't miss Soglio, very near the Swiss/Italian border.

But honestly, there is so much to see and do in Switzerland and so many amazing hikes, that you might just want to split your time between two areas in Switzerland.

markport

thank you Meinq8

neckervd

Switzerland has more than 60 000 (sixty thousand) km of well signmarked hiking trails. The most crowded and the only one's where you may hear more English than local languages are in the Bernese Oberland.
The nicest of them are in the Cantons of Valais and Graubunden, followed by Ticino.
The hiking trails in Aosta Valley and South Tyrol (both Italy) are as good as the Swiss one's, but many lifts and hotels in these areas may already be closed in September whereas everyhing is working in Switzerland.

You can easily stay a whole week at a Swiss alpine transport hub like Martigny, Sion, Sierre, Leuk, Visp, Brig, Domodossola (Italy), Aosta (Italy), St. Moritz, Pontresina, Scuol, Locarno and go from there by local bus in 30 minutes or so every day into another valley or yo can hike from village to village and sleep every night in another hotel.
Be aware that there will usually be more shade and more rain along the Northern slopes of the Alps (Bernese Oberland, Lucerne area, Glaris, Appenzell, Vorarlberg) than in the South.

mokka4

For first time visitors, I have found that the Engadine area offers far less of a tourist infrastructure (a good reason to CHOOSE it for many).
Yes, the BO is known as a main hiking paradise for a reason.
On SUBSEQUENT visits, yes, delving deeper into those other glorious areas is a MUST!

markport

thanks neckervd, I appreciate the help

neckervd

Yes, the BO is known as a main hiking paradise for American and Asian people, but certainly not for Swiss one's.
Of course, i's a nice place and a lot of people from Bern and Thun spend their weekends there. But it's not better for hiking than:
the fine weather areas Valais, and Aosta Valley with their Roman buildings (Aosta, Martigny) and their endless list of accessible glaciers, mountain spas and castles
Graubünden (above all Engadin with a famous thermal spa,a local airport, trains and buses from everywhere to everywhere (to Italy too) all 30 to 60 minutes, cableways to glaciers, a stunning local architecture, world known luxury hotels since 1 1/2 centuries as well as small pensions and b&bs affordable for everyboy, several alpine high schools, museums of world famous artists born in this valley (not only Giacometti), etc. etc.),
the stunning mountain lakes and glaciers of Ticino and the tons of Unesco sites below them,
the Italian province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola between the glaciers of Zermatt and Lake Maggiore

neckervd

neckervd
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FarleyJo

For your two-week trip, start in Switzerland, exploring charming mountain towns like Grindelwald and Zermatt. Enjoy level 2 hikes such as the Eiger Trail and Five Lakes Walk, then move to the Jungfrau region for more stunning vistas.

Finish your Swiss leg by relaxing by Lake Geneva. Transition to Northern Italy for a slower pace, exploring the Italian Alps around Courmayeur and the beauty of Lake Como in towns like Bellagio and Varenna. It's a balanced mix of breathtaking hikes and scenic relaxation, tailored to your group's preferences and abilities.

neckervd

Farley Jo: The Eiger Trail IS in the Jungfrau aera
You recommend to go first to Interlaken etc., then to Zermatt, then to Lake Geneva, then to Courmayeur (obviously either via Geneva - Chamonix or via Martigny - Chamonix, (at least 4 hrs journey in both cases), then from there all the way to Bellagio (7 1/2 hrs journey by bus,metro, train and bus, with 5 changes), knowing that Bellagio is all but a good hiking destination,
And all that in only 2 weeks?