Swiss Alps Hiking Solo

[UconnFlyer]

So, I'm thinking of doing a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps this summer. I don't have anyone to bring, so I figure I have two options:

 

1) Do a hiking trip solo

2) Join a guided hiking tour

 

I think both options have their ups and downs. I've done other trips before where I've joined groups and those have usually worked out, but now I'm getting to an age where I don't quite fit in. Many of the tour groups I've found seemed to be aimed at the very young (18-30) or the somewhat older crowd (50-65). I'm in between those two. So this time, I'm strongly thinking I might want to try this on my own, however I do worry that I might get a bit lonely for that long (we're talking 8-10 days of hiking/traveling).

 

Does anyone have any advice or experience? Any thoughts on hiking in the Swiss Alps in general? They look gorgeous and I love hiking, so I think that part will work out nicely. I'm in good shape, so I'm not too worried about the physical aspects.

[+ Gar1eth]

I am not athletic in the least- I wish I were in shape enough to be able to go on a trip like this. It sounds like a wonderful trip. So I can only give my thoughts about being alone. One of the questions would be how will you spend your evenings. Will you be camping or spending nights in the villages. If you will be camping, how do you feel about camping alone? If staying in villages, how good are you at making friends in taverns or guest lodges? It seems to me- if you aren't particularly good at meeting people- 8 to 10 days by yourself will be a long time. As someone who for most of my life has had to vacation alone, I find it rather lonely. No one to share the good as well as bad times with. I don't know if it's possible- but are you sure you can't find a 30+ group you might feel comfortable hiking with?

 

Whatever you decide, I hope you have an incredible time.

 

Gman

[jakeleyman]

I suspect some of the trips have you staying at the hostels which dot the mountainsides of villages in the Alps. I'd go with the younger crowd myself. They would likely keep a good pace, and... shallow as I am, there just may be some nice eye candy. Grindelwald is my favorite area for hiking and the legendary Zermatt is a close second.

[Jondar]

The Alps south of Interlaken is a very nice place to hike. You can base yourself half way up and do daytrips/hikes from there. The "top of Europe" is Jungfrau and you can make a summit via a one hour train which goes through the glacier. Also Mt. Blanc has a great cable car which takes you from France to Italy over the top of the mountain.

 

The Dolomites are awesome as well in Northeast Italy. Lots of hiking opportunities there.

[Steven_Draker]

http://www.jonathandoctor.net/images/facebook_like_button_big-small.jpg

 

I haven't done a proper hiking trip in the Swiss Alps since my young childhood, when I spent 4 years with my parents in Switzerland. I vividly remember the Matterhorn overlooking the small town of Zermatt.

 

http://swisshiking.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Hiking-to-Zermatt-James-Fitzgerald.jpg

 

http://www.andiamoadventours.com/Images/Banner_SwissPaths.jpg

 

I think you can find some valuable information online. Here are a few examples of guided hiking tours:

http://swisshiking.com/

http://www.alpinehikers.com/guided.html

http://www.alpenwild.com/faq

[UconnFlyer]

All, thanks for your responses and feedback. I've definitely considered going with the younger crowd, but being the "old man" of the group can get old fast...even though I'm not old in the grand scheme of things. Even when I was in my late 20's and traveled with these groups, I often felt a bit like a fish out of water. The younger crowds tend to be very alcohol focused on many trips and I'm not a big drinker....though the eye candy was nice!!

 

I'm aiming to do something that combines the Jungfrau region and plus get over to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. I also hope to try out a few trains/cable cars which I've heard are plentiful. The challenge for me is that when it comes to hiking I tend to move at my own pace and often struggle to keep to someone else's pace.

 

Of course, the one thing that always burns me on these trips is the "single supplement." I'm not embarrassed to travel solo, but I don't need someone hitting me with extra fees because of it.

[+ FreshFluff]

The hiking groups described by UConnFlyer sound like a lot of fun. I'm not a big drinker myself but don't mind watching others do so.

 

Has anyone stayed at the inns (not the dorm-style huts) described in this article?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-hobica/hiking-in-the-swiss-alps-_b_1271715.html

[UconnFlyer]

The hiking groups described by UConnFlyer sound like a lot of fun. I'm not a big drinker myself but don't mind watching others do so.

 

Has anyone stayed at the inns (not the dorm-style huts) described in this article?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-hobica/hiking-in-the-swiss-alps-_b_1271715.html

 

In Australia, the group mostly was a blast. I think, in part, that's because I was the only American in my tour group...everyone else was from Europe! We were like a family most of the time, cooking meals together, camping together and doing lots of fun Australia adventures. I had a huge crush on one guy in my group who was a total sweetie and so fun to be around, but alas did not play on my team.

 

In Europe, I find the younger tour companies tend to be filled with Americans and the outcome isn't always so good. Plus, I'm getting a wee bit older so I'm not as interested in hearing 22 year olds fight about dumb stuff.

 

Like you, I am curious about some of the inns and huts. I don't need anything too fancy except a decent clean bed and maybe some running water to bathe as much as possible. I am planning to treat myself and fly business class there, so I'll get a little luxury that way.

[Guest boiworship08]

I'd prefer to go solo. I've hiked the Italian Alps in Gran Paraiso in Aosta. I've been to Cortina in the Dolomites but cycled rather than hiked. I'm part of the older crowd but physically very fit and a triathlete, so I could keep up with the younger crowd, but probably would feel a bit awkward. You should definitely do it!

[Jondar]

Get a Rick Steves Swiss/Italy book or go online to do your research... You can do the trip without a group and avoid the "single" overcharge. I have met plenty of folks on trips by myself who have welcomed the company of someone on a hike up the mountain.

[+ FreshFluff]

Hmm, guys, you are really talking me into a trip to Europe. I'd love to go to Rome and Venice again too.

 

I like traveling alone too. But the nice thing about a group is that you have someone to talk to while hiking. Also, I think it would be nice to have a trained guide who could stay with us (generic us) in case we got sunstroke etc.

[UconnFlyer]

Hmm, guys, you are really talking me into a trip to Europe. I'd love to go to Rome and Venice again too.

 

I like traveling alone too. But the nice thing about a group is that you have someone to talk to while hiking. Also, I think it would be nice to have a trained guide who could stay with us (generic us) in case we got sunstroke etc.

 

The funny thing with me is that while hiking I actually don't mind being on my own. Give me beautiful scenery and a little music and it's a pretty transcendental experience for me. However, it's the downtime in between hiking where I think I might get lonely with no one to talk to. A guide could be helpful, though might throw me off my pace.

 

I'm definitely going, it's just a matter of picking the right method...and how much I want to spend!

 

Thanks again to everyone for your responses, you've been very helpful and supportive.

[foxy]

You might want to look at the Road Scholar website. It used to be called Elder Hostel which of course sounds like it's going to be all old people. I've never taken any of their trips but a friend who does says that most of the groups tend to be more middle age especially those trips that are more vigorous. They have quite a few hiking trips. You might even want to do half and half. Part of the time on your own and part a group tour depending on how much time you have to travel.