Your Questions Answered

(plus other essential things to know about your hiking trip to Switzerland)

These questions and answers match the sample trip you'll find in the under schedule section of the website.

So where are we going?

We’ll spend most of our nights in Kandersteg and Grindelwald, two towns nestled in the Alpine valleys of central Switzerland. They’re about an hour or so by train south of the capital, Bern.

Kandersteg is located near to one of the longest underground railway tunnels in the world (21½ miles!) and not far from one of the world’s most beautiful lakes. (It’s called Oeschinensee, which, for you trivia buffs, appears on the home page of the Wikipedia entry for “lake”.)

Fun fact: Kandersteg’s population (1,179) is nearly the same as its elevation (1,174 meters—or 3,852 feet). The town is also home to the Kandersteg International Scout Centre, a popular year-round destination for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from around the world.

Grindelwald is a movie star. Well, sort of. The town and the surrounding region have been featured in a “Star Wars” movie, a James Bond movie and also “The Golden Compass.” It’s also not far from the Jungfraujoch, also known as the Top of Europe, the highest railway station on the continent.

Grindelwald’s population is about 3,800. Its elevation is 1,034 meters (3,392 feet).

How large is our group?

We limit the size of the group to 14 people, but we’ll go even if only a few sign up. It’s hard to maintain camaraderie when there’s more than 14. Smaller groups are more fun, and they allow us to give you the personal attention you deserve.

What will the weather be like?

Think fall, with extra rain thrown in. Days are usually warm, occasionally hot. Nights are cool, sometimes cold. Highs in the 70s or low 80s, usually. Lows can be in the 40s, even the 30s. It's not unusual to wear shorts during the day, then have to put on a sweater, sweat shirt or light jacket at night. Spectacular sunny days can be followed by days of rain and fog, so sturdy rain gear is strongly suggested. (It's a good idea to have a rain jacket for yourself and a separate poncho or backpack cover to keep your daypack dry.) And, yes, we have seen it snow in July while on a hike in the higher mountains.

What about our accommodations?

We are staying in hostels. Not hotels—hostels. Like a hotel, but a bit more basic and much more sociable. Hostels are favorite resting spots for hikers and other travelers throughout Europe. They are wonderful spots to meet new friends and learn about other cultures. The quality of the hostels in Switzerland is particularly outstanding, and they are very good value in an otherwise expensive country. One of our favorite hostels in Kandersteg is Gemmi Lodge, where you have a full range of options from an open-room dorm setting shared with other travelers to a private room of your own—and many choices in between. Gemmi Lodge also has an indoor pool, and there are showers and toilets in every room.

Do I have to go on every hike? Can I just do one or two and spend the rest of the time sightseeing? Or what if I find the hiking is wearing me out and need to take a day off?

Hey, we are very flexible. Take only the hikes you want to take. While we're on the trail, you can spend the day relaxing, souvenir shopping, hopping on a train to sightsee or doing a mini-hike of your own. We understand some people just want a taste of the hiking experience. Others might want a day off to nurse a blister or a sore knee.

Keep in mind, however, that we do have free days built into the itinerary to give your muscles time to recover. One reminder: Anyone under 18 must always be accompanied by an appropriate parent or guardian on any guided activity.

Do you offer group discounts?

Yes! We’d love nothing more than to have your family, large group, Scout troop, church brigade—or whatever kind of group you are—along for the trip. Discounts are offered for groups of 6 or more people. Contact us for more information. Remember: Travelers under 18 must have appropriate and sufficient adult supervision.

What’s included in the price? And what’s not?

Included? Lots of stuff. All of your lodging. All of your breakfasts. All of your dinners. Some of your lunches. Train tickets to all the scheduled stops on our itinerary. Entrance fee to the High Ropes Park in Kandersteg. Any cablecars, gondolas or busses we take to reach the starting points of our hikes.

Not included? Some of your lunches. (It gives you a chance to explore the cuisine on your own.) Drinks with your dinners, or any dinner order above and beyond the preset menu established for the group. Personal purchases (souvenirs, etc). Phone calls. Optional sightseeing activities. Insurance. Airfare. Essentially anything not on the scheduled itinerary.

Airfare? Why can't you include airfare? After all, it would be so conveniently neat and tidy to include everything in one price.

Believe me, we'd love to. The big snag, however, is that you and your fellow hikers will be traveling to Switzerland from all over the United States. A flight from Kansas doesn't cost the same as one from Virginia or New York or California. (You get the idea.)

Plus, you or some of your fellow hikers might want to explore the wonders of Italy, Germany, France and/or other countries while you're in Europe. Booking your own flight gives you the flexibility of extending your vacation by arriving earlier or staying later.

That said, we'll be more than happy to give you tips on booking your flight, including when to book, which airports to use, how to get a good fare, etc. We don't do the actual booking for you—that's your bit of fun—but we'll help as much as we can.

What about insurance?

Yes, you should have some. Check your insurance policy, or call your insurance company, to make sure you’re covered for international trips. Some companies offer special tour insurance to cover misfortunes such as lost luggage, emergency evacuation, illness, accidents and/or cancellation of your trip. My Hiking Vacations does not take out insurance for you. We are responsible only for incidents that involve gross negligence or willful misconduct on our behalf.

Are these hikes for all ages? Can both grandpa and grandson keep up? What kind of shape do I need to be in?

Don’t forget grandma and granddaughter while you’re at it. Anyone can do these hikes as long as they are reasonably fit. Can you walk a mile in 15 minutes? If so, you’re well on your way to being in shape for these hikes—whether you’re 10 or 70. We don’t race up the mountains—we take our time and enjoy the experience.

That said, you’ll want to be active and do plenty of hiking before the trip so that you’ll be ready and eager to go once you arrive in Switzerland. If you’re 30 and significantly overweight, then you’ll want to find another vacation. The Alps are steep.

Important note: Get to know your doctor! A physical exam is always a good idea before any sort of high adventure activity—and we recommend it for this trip—regardless of your age or level of fitness. Please don’t attempt to go on these hikes if you’re not in the proper shape. It not only spoils the fun for you, it spoils the fun for everyone else.

Do you suggest any specific type of training?

Obviously, the best way to prepare for this trip is to do a lot of walking and take some weekend hikes in your local area, preferably ones involving hills and/or mountains. But if you really want to be well prepared, take a Red Cross course in First Aid and/or CPR.

I never learned a lick of German or French or any other language when I was high school. Can I survive on this trip? What do they speak there, anyway?

You’re in luck. Switzerland is an international country if there ever was one, and English is spoken by seemingly everyone in the service industry. The country actually has four official languages—French, German (actually Swiss German), Italian and Romansh—but we’ll be staying exclusively in the German-speaking part of the country. While you can certainly get by functioning solely in English, we suggest you learn at least a few basic German words. (A good place to start: "Danke" means "Thank you"). The locals appreciate it, plus you’ll get more out of your trip.

I’ll get hungry doing all that hiking. What’s the deal with meals again?

We’ll feed you breakfast and dinner every day, either at the hostel, in a mountain hut or at a local restaurant. We’ll have a hearty, preset dinner menu established for our group—you have to pay for anything extra. We’ll also supply packed lunches on days that we take long hikes.

On other days, lunch is on your own. That’ll give you a chance to sample the local cuisine on your own. Fondue, anyone?

You’re also on your own for any snacks, drinks, etc., that aren’t a part of the regular meals.

What's the money like? Isn’t Switzerland an expensive country?

They use Swiss Francs. The dollar has been fluctuating all over the place, but lately the Swiss Franc and the dollar have been worth about the same.

That’s not great news for us, frankly. It means that a quick lunch that used to cost American visitors $7 or so now costs $10-$15. The Swiss economy has always been incredibly strong—that’s why everyone likes to stash money in their banks—but it makes it pricey for those of us who visit.

If you’re on a tight budget, it’s a good idea to stock up on snacks and drinks at the local supermarket—which also makes for a fascinating addition to your cultural experience.

What's the best way to get/spend money? They have ATMs, don’t they?

Most of the cost of this trip is paid before your leave, but you'll want to spend some money once you get there on souvenirs, optional activities and lunches.

Credit cards are the simplest way to pay for many items. And, yes, they do have ATMs in Switzerland—and that’s generally the best way to get cash.

However, we strongly suggest you make simple calls to your credit card company AND your bank BEFORE leaving the U.S. to check on the following:

  • Some credit cards/ATM cards aren’t accepted overseas. Make sure that yours is.
  • Tell them you are taking an international trip and give them the dates. If you don’t, those charges/withdraws made in a foreign country will raise a red flag in their computers—and they might suspend your card.
  • While you’re on the phone, ask about your credit card’s "foreign transaction fee." The lower, the better. Many charge 3%, but some don’t charge anything. If you plan on spending a lot of money, it’s worth it to get the lowest rate possible. For ATMs, ask about your ATM fees for overseas withdrawals. It’s usually to your advantage to make one bigger withdrawal rather than several smaller withdrawals. Of course, don’t make it too big—you never want to carry too much cash at one time. Switzerland has a low crime rate, but there’s always a chance a pickpocket will come along and ruin your holiday.

More Good Advice

No smoking or alcohol during our hikes

Such vices are at your discretion during your free time, including the behavior of any minors under your supervision. In case you’re wondering, the drinking age is 16 in Switzerland.

Don’t bother bringing anything that plugs in.

They use 240 volts. We use 110.

Switzerland is 6 hours ahead of us.

Keep this in mind if you plan to make calls home. We will also give you advice as to the best ways to beat jet lag.

Laptops

If you’re planning to take one—or something else that’s electronic and expensive—we suggest you register it with U.S. customs before leaving the United States. Otherwise, unless you can prove previous ownership, you might be asked to pay duty (essentially an entry tax) on it when you return.

Knives

A pocketknife is an outdoorsman’s staple. You might even want to buy a mammoth Swiss Army knife while you’re there. But, again, our key bit of advice: Pack it in your checked luggage!!!! If you attempt to bring it on the plane with your carry-on luggage, security will take it away at the metal detector.

Under 18s

We love young people, but we can’t babysit them for you. Minors must be accompanied by an adult or appropriate guardian during all guided activities. Also, if a minor is traveling with one parent, we recommend the other parent sign a notarized document granting permission for the trip. (Yes, it’s a bit of a pain, but officials recommend this to help alleviate any custody questions that might arise.)

One Last Question...

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Joseph White

toll free 877-407-1548
571-245-7477