Testimonials about guided hiking tours with Echo Trails
Beautiful hike and tour of the Jungfrau region in Switzerland
August, 2022
My wife and I did the “Swiss Alps Via Alpina #1 Jungfrau Region Hike.”
SUMMARY: ECHO TRAILS HAS SELECTED A “BEST-OF” HIKING TOUR OF THE JUNGFRAU REGION. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND THE HOTELS HAD GREAT VIEWS.
The trip was eight days and seven nights.
On day 1 the guide (and owner) met us at the Zurich airport, then guided us on trains to Engelberg.
The next day (day 2) he was with us for beautiful hiking and tram rides past lakes through Swiss cow country to Melchsee-Frutt. He pointed out to us where to hike the next day. That night we had a beautiful view of the lake and the storm that came in both from our room and from the spa.
Day 3 we were on our own for the longest day. We hiked along a ridge with fantastic views in all directions to a tram down to Meiringen. We walked around the town and got lunch, then took two buses to the Grindelwald region. We got off before Grindelwald and hiked through more cow country with classic Swiss houses and barns before reaching Grindelwald. We spent three nights in a hotel room facing the Eiger, which was hiding in the clouds most of the time. We had two full days in Grindelwald to hike and tour where we pleased.
Day 4 we chose to ride the tram and train up to Jungfraujoch (very touristy but, hey, we are touring). On the way back down we skipped the tram and hiked along the based of the Eiger.
Day 5 we took the bus up to Grosse Scheidegg and attempted to walk to First. We followed the signs, but somehow got off track. This turned out fine as walked through more classic Switzerland with barely another soul around. We ended up at the Schreckfeld tram stop and rented little karts to coast down the road to the next tram stop in Bort before taking the tram back to Grindelwald.
Day 6 we took trains to Lauterbrunnen. The valley upstream from here is known as “The Valley of 70 Waterfall.” It was raining and we didn’t want to miss any waterfalls, so we walked from there. We paid to go into Trimmelbackfalle, which is deep cuts in the rock containing ten little waterfalls. We walked from there to take a tram up to Gimmelwald and on to Murren, which is at the top of the cliff. I love Yosemite. Murren and the valley below rival Yosemite Valley for beauty. The hotel for the next two nights again had a fanstastic view, this time of the mountains and waterfalls.
Day 7 we chose to hike above Murren through the clouds up to Birg. From there we rode the tram up the the Schilthorn. There was no view due to the clouds, but we got to see the James Bond exhibition inside before taking the tram back to Murren.
Day 8 we checked out and were on our own. We rode trains and trams to Zermatt for our next adventure.
“Thank you René and Suzanne for the most wonderful vacation/experience we had over the past 10 days.
You took us to the most beautiful places and showed us the best of Alps. I can’t stop thinking about some of the peaks we explored and how we challenged ourselves to higher elevations. I now have to contend with our photos of a great trip. I think the trip was very well organized, the accommodations were great and the food was excellent.
Your care and generosity was exemplary. I shall live with the memories of this great trip for life”
Dr. F., Los Altos, California – July 2019
Guided Hikes of the Swiss Alps
Reviewed July 30, 2018 – Trip Advisor
Guided Hikes of Swiss Alps – First to Bussalp and North Face/Via Alpina to Rotstockhütte
During our visit to the Swiss Alps this past July, I was able to perform two guided hikes with ECHO Trails led by Rene Welti.
The first of the two was from First to Bussalp via Bachalpsee where we were able to hike to up to a wonderful view of the valley and a small Alpine Hut.
Our second hike was the North Face /Via Alphina to Rotstockhütte where we stopped for some home made pies before walking back to Mürren.
Both hikes were outstanding
August 6 ·
5 stars!
The week with Rene and Suzanne in the Alps exceeded all expectations. Beautiful weather, amazing scenery, great company and lots of happy hiking.
I would love to do another trip with Echo Trails.
August 12 ·
There are soo many reasons that my husband and I loved this trip with Rene and Suzanne as our guides. The main reason: they made it magical!
We hiked with a small group from hotel to hotel along the Alpina 1 and they transported our luggage. This was the best glamping imaginable!
Their knowledge of the trails, the region, and the accommodations made it possible for us to just show up and enjoy the scenery!
I loved the hiking options they made available for our group, too. The options were so well planned that even if someone chose to hike less on any day, they would still enjoy the mountains, trails and Swiss Alps.
My husband found the hard to find Edelweiss on a small steep alp below the Matterhorn. And yes, the Sound of Music tracks played in my head over and over.
It was the best trip