Best Women-Only Hiking Trips in the Swiss Alps

Jul 21, 2026

6 MIN READ

Lake Brienz and its valley in the Bernese Alps seen from Mount Faulhorn, Switzerland. imagoDens/Shutterstock

Lake Brienz and its valley in the Bernese Alps seen from Mount Faulhorn, Switzerland

Rebecca Crowe is a freelance content writer who loves writing about travel, food, drink and adventure. She specializes in budget and adventure travel content and can usually be found climbing some rocks, eating some tacos or waiting around at the nearest airport. Her best budget travel achievement was spending a weekend in Paris with Roland Garros tickets for under £150, although she’s always on the lookout for even better adventure and travel deals! Some of her favorite destinations includ…

Highlights

Summarized by AI

  • Writer Rebecca Crowe picks five women-only hiking trips across the Swiss Alps.

  • Try Experience Champéry for multisport variety; Sidetracked Adventure hikes Via Alpina hut-to-hut.

  • Outdoor Adventure Girls hike the French-Swiss Portes du Soleil, with yoga and zip-lining included.

  • Wild Women Expeditions covers Interlaken to Zermatt; Macs Adventure suits self-guided groups.

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According to booking data by Macs Adventure, women made up 64% of all solo travelers in 2025. This marks a growing trend of women who want to get out and explore the great outdoors in the company of other women.

And when we think of iconic hiking destinations, Switzerland always springs to mind. In fact, Virtuoso found it to be the eighth most popular travel destination for 2025. From the mighty slopes of the Matterhorn and the cross-border adventure of the Tour du Mont Blanc, to more underrated cantons, Switzerland has long been the destination for Alpine adventure in Europe.

It’s little wonder, then, that the ever-growing women-only small group adventure travel market has a well-established foothold in the country. So, which are the best women-only hiking trips in the Swiss Alps, and what makes them stand out?

1. Experience Champéry

Best for multisport options and varied scenery

A view of Chillon Castle on the lake side of Geneva lake, with the peaks of Dents du Midi in the background
Beautiful view of Chillon Castle, with the "jagged teeth mountains" of Dents du Midi in the background. Peter Stein/Shutterstock

Located in the stunning region of Dents du Midi, known for its “jagged teeth” mountains, Experience Champéry is the ultimate local company for outdoor adventure. With instructors covering snow sports, hiking, via ferrata, rock climbing, mountain biking and more, it’s a multi-sport haven.

Experience Champéry runs women-only four-day, three-night adventure tours of the area, encompassing incredible hiking trails, adrenaline-spiking via ferrata and more. Take in the alpine beauty of this underrated region, located on the border with France, and home to some truly breathtaking mountain pastures and meadows.

The company also runs women-only ski tours, climbing trips, e-bike adventures and snowboard tours. And they offer wellness retreats for women, embracing nature with woodland reset sessions, cold-water breathing, yoga, and more.

Where to try it: Enjoy a delicious post-hike meal at Cantine de Barmaz in the Barmaz Plateau at the base of the Col de Cou hut, on the French border. The food is home-cooked, hearty and full of flavor, and the hospitality of the owners, Olivier and Valerie, is just as amazing.

2. Swiss Alps Trek with Sidetracked Adventure

Best for soaking up the scenery

A small mountain hostel in Bernese Oberland with grass in the foreground and mountains in the background.
A small mountain hostel in Bernese Oberland. Andrii Shepeliev/Shutterstock

If you’re looking for a women-only Swiss hiking tour that gives an insight into local life, this 6-day trek from Sidetracked Adventure is going to tick a lot of boxes. Hike your way through the picturesque canton of Bernese Oberland along the legendary Via Alpina route. Each day, you’ll enjoy a guided hike, stopping along the way to admire the beautiful scenery.

This is also a hut-to-hut hiking adventure, which is a quintessential way to experience the Swiss Alps. These mountain huts are refuges for weary hikers or mountaineers, complete with dorm rooms, hot food and much-needed gear rooms for any muddy or damp hiking boots!

Along the way, you’ll arrive in Grindelwald, before experiencing the Doldenhorn, Gspaltenhorn, Mürren, the Jungfraujoch and the incredible Eiger.

Getting there: The best and most eco-friendly way to get to Grindelwald is by train. SBB is the Swiss rail operator, and you can purchase multi-day passes to make life a little easier.

3. Summer In The Alps by Outdoor Adventure Girls

Best for cross-border hiking experiences

Mountain bikers stop for a break at a picturesque lookout over the Swiss Alps, in the Portes du Soleil region.
Mountain bikers stop for a break in the Portes du Soleil region. ELEPHOTOS/Shutterstock

Outdoor Adventure Girls have been running UK and overseas trips for their dedicated social media following for years now. Their Summer in the Alps trip combines adventures on both sides of the French and Swiss border.

While the trip’s chalet base is in Morzine, on the French side, it spans the beautiful Portes du Soleil area of Valais. A day hike to Pointe des Mossettes, the highest point in the Portes du Soleil, offers world-class views. Another hike to Le Lac de Chavanette offers a beautiful window through the Chavanette Pass between France and Switzerland. This hike brings you to the top of the Swiss Wall, an iconic Swiss ski route with 90% steepness. Steer clear if you have vertigo!

This trip also includes yoga, paddleboarding and zip-lining experiences. If you want to see both sides of the border, with plenty of adventures included, this is a great option.

Planning tip: Sign up for the OAG email newsletter to hear about the trip releases – the overseas trips often sell out quickly!

4. Switzerland Hiking Adventure by Wild Women Expeditions

Best for classic Swiss hiking destinations in the Bernese Oberland and the Valais

Traditional alpine village in Lauterbrunnen, with homes and trails throughout, and mountains behind
A traditional alpine village in Lauterbrunnen. Kochneva Tetyana/Shutterstock

There are some incredible hiking areas across Switzerland; however, one of the most popular itineraries runs from Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland down to Zermatt in the Valais. This trip from Wild Women Expeditions takes you through the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Lake Brienz, the Gemmi Plateau and more.

Along the way, you’ll be joined by views of some of the most iconic mountains in Switzerland. Across eight days, you’ll see the Eiger, Jungfrau, Mönch and the Matterhorn, amidst stunning plateaus, flower-filled meadows and jaw-dropping alpine lakes.

One of the cool things about this tour is that there are various hiking options throughout the itinerary. This means that you can choose the route and intensity that works for you that day, without feeling like you’re affecting the rest of the group.

Where to try it: This itinerary includes a stay at the Berghotel Fulhorn, one of the oldest and highest mountain hut hotels in the Alps. It’s been open since 1830 and provides incredible 360-degree views.

5. Macs Adventure

Best for self-guided adventures with your friends

Autumn foliage and rust-colored homes in Zermatt, with a truck cruising by on the local road.
A perfect autumn day in Zermatt. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

If you want to enjoy a Swiss alpine hiking trip with friends, you can also sign up for a Macs Adventure self-guided itinerary. This way, you and your group don’t have to plan anything; just follow along. This is often more flexible and cost-effective than a traditional small group tour, and this High Trail to the Matterhorn itinerary explores some interesting areas.

Starting in Brig, you’ll hike through Bistinepass, the Nanz Valley, the Matter Valley and more until you reach the outdoorsy hub of Zermatt. There is a range of hiking options on the itinerary – you can shorten them and then catch a bus or cable car to your accommodation, or trade up for more challenging options.

Highlights include the hike up to Grachen from Saas-Fee, and the King's Route section from Grachen to Zermatt. This follows the iconic Europaweg trail, which is one of the most popular in the Swiss Alps, and includes a stay at the beautiful Europahütte (2220m).

Planning tip: While in Saas-Fee, head up in the cable car for a hike to the iconic Britannia Hut. This incredible mountain hut sits at 3030m, with glacial views, and is popular with mountaineers, hikers and alpinists. Enjoy a post-hike drink on the terrace with awe-inspiring views.

Make it happen

To get to the Swiss Alps, either fly into Geneva or Zurich Airports. SWISS flies into both these airports from all around the world. From here, the SBB train network is the most comprehensive way to get around, and a multi-day rail pass is the most convenient option.

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