Hold yourseat.

Each journey has an effort score from 1 to 5. Rails and Lakes weeks (1–2) need nothing more than comfortable shoes. Peaks weeks (3–4) mean 4–6 hours on foot with up to 900 m of ascent — if you hike at home on weekends, you will be fine.

Mountain weather changes quickly. In summer expect 20–28°C in the valleys and near-freezing at 3,000 m on the same day. We plan every day with a bad-weather version and send a packing list built around layers.

Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area. Many nationalities can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but rules depend on your passport and are changing with the EU’s new entry systems. Always check the official Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) website before booking flights.

Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (CHF), not the euro. Cards and contactless payment work almost everywhere; we suggest carrying a little cash for mountain huts, farm shops and honesty boxes.

You travel light. Your suitcase is forwarded between hotels by rail luggage service, so on travel days you carry only a daypack. We handle the labels and the timing.