Hiking in Switzerland

Links for General Information & Suggestions

Hiking and mountain vacation info from the official Swiss tourism service
Tips (in German) and many links about hiking on wandersite.ch
General info in English on europeforvisitors
Information in English and links on slowtravel switzerland
Information about the Swiss National Park (multilingual)

Safety

It is prudent to carry a map and compass - and to know how to use them. You should also take a first-aid kit, whistle and torch (flashlight) in case of emergencies. Leave a note of your planned itinerary and expected time of return with a responsible person who is staying behind in a fixed location, and when staying in mountain huts enter your route details in the book provided. If for some reason you can't reach the destination where you're expected, try to send a message ahead to prevent the mountain rescue team being called out. In an emergency the International Distress Signal is six short blasts on a whistle (or flashes with a torch), followed by a minute's pause. Repeat until you receive an answer - the response is three signals followed by a minute's silence.

Switzerland has no free mountain rescue service, and the cost of an accident can be extremely high. Standard travel insurance policies do not cover such emergencies, so if you are devoting all or most of your holiday to serious walking in the mountains, it's sensible to choose a policy which specifically covers mountain activity and includes emergency rescue.

Huts

General Information

Mountain huts (in German: Hütten) provide simple accommodation for climbers and walkers, are invariably situated in remote and scenically spectacular locations and are owned either by local groups of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), other clubs, or by private companies or individuals. Many are staffed by a guardian during the summer months - usually from mid-June to mid-September - who will prepare simple meals and drinks. Mixed-sex dormitories with large, side-by-side sleeping platforms are the norm. Blankets and pillows, but not sheets, are supplied. Prices vary, but hover around 25-30 CHF for a bed, plus about the same again if you include dinner and breakfast. Always phone ahead to book a place, and also if you cannot make it to the hut.