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Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Europe / France

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route

12 August 2023

Last Updated on 13 May 2025

The towering monarch of the Alps and the highest peak in Western Europe at 4,809m (15,778ft), Mont Blanc has drawn climbers for centuries with its jagged ridges, sprawling glaciers, and ever-changing alpine conditions. Despite being one of the most popular high-altitude climbs in the world, Mont Blanc is far from an easy ascent— its steep slopes, technical terrain, and unpredictable weather demand respect and careful preparation.

Following the classic Goûter Route, Mont Blanc is an achievable yet formidable solo challenge for those with solid mountaineering skills. This post contains absolutely everything you need to know to plan a self-supported ascent of Mont Blanc based on my successful solo climb in July 2023, including hut reservations, safety consideration, acclimatisation tips, a detailed route description!

🏔️ check out my Mont Blanc summit packing list for essential gear 🗺️ & my custom Mont Blanc summit GPS map for detailed navigation

What's in this guide

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  • Why I chose to climb Mont Blanc solo
  • Mont Blanc climbing routes
    • Goûter route to Mont Blanc summit
    • Alpine huts on the Goûter Route
    • Getting to the start of the Goûter Route
  • Safety considerations for climbing Mont Blanc
  • *Mont Blanc Goûter Route description
    • Nid d’Aigle (2373m) to Refuge de la Tête Rousse (3167m): 2hrs
    • Refuge de la Tête Rousse to Refuge du Goûter (3835m): 2hrs
    • Refuge du Goûter to Dôme du Goûter (4304m): 1.5hrs
    • Dôme du Goûter to the Vallot Emergency Shelter (4362m): 30min
    • Vallot Emergency Shelter to Bosses Ridge to summit (4808m): 1.5hrs
  • Trip report: 2023 solo ascent

Why I chose to climb Mont Blanc solo

In 2017, I set out on my first ever solo backpacking trip— the Tour du Mont Blanc, a 180km trail that gains more than 10,000m of elevation as it wraps around Western Europe’s tallest peak. I hauled the heaviest pack I’d ever carried, set up a tent alone for the first time, and struggled for 12hrs a day on the trail, determined to prove to myself that I had a place in the outdoors, even as a young solo woman.

Mont Blanc became a symbol of what I could accomplish when determined to push myself beyond my comfort level, not to give in to the fear of the unknown but to rise to the challenge. When life brought me back to Chamonix in 2023, now with years of solo hikes and challenging climbs under my belt, I finally imagined a new Mont Blanc dream. A return to the mountain that started it all for me, but this time, to stand on the summit completely alone— an ode to the way I first encountered her.

This post is a collection of all the research and planning I put into my own solo Mont Blanc climb, as well as everything I learned on the mountain as I made my way steadily to 4,808m! I hope it helps and inspires your own adventures on this legendary peak.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Mont Blanc from Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix

Mont Blanc climbing routes

Goûter route to Mont Blanc summit

Innumerable routes from 3 bordering countries lead to the snowy summit of Mont Blanc, each varying in length and technicality, but as a solo alpinist, the safest route is generally considered to be the Goûter Route (also called the “Normal Route”) that ascends from the French side of the mountain, near Chamonix in the town of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains.

It’s heavily trafficked (limiting the need for navigation or probing on the glacier), relatively direct, and doesn’t require the level of technical climbing demanded by some of the other routes. For added peace of mind, check out the custom Mont Blanc summit GPS map I built with dozens of critical waypoints and track notes!

*If you’re considering a guided ascent, there are several expert-led Mont Blanc climbs that handle logistics and ensure a safe summit bid from different and more challenging approach points.

Alpine huts on the Goûter Route

There are 3 huts along the Goûter Route that offer overnight accommodation:

  • Refuge du Nid d’Aigle (2,373m) ~8hrs to summit
  • Refuge de la Tête Rousse (3,167m) ~6hrs to summit
  • Refuge du Goûter (4,304m) ~4hrs to summit

Providing the highest night’s sleep and the shortest climb day, Refuge du Goûter is a popular choice— which means it’s always the first to book up. Many itineraries start from here, but it’s not what I’d recommend!

Staying at Refuge de la Tête Rousse means you are sleeping 700m lower than those at Goûter, potentially increasing your risk of altitude symptoms and adding 2hrs to your summit push, BUT you have the advantage of crossing the Grand Couloir in the dark hours of the morning, when the risk of rockfall is at its absolute lowest. I climbed from Refuge de la Tête Rousse and, all things considered, I think it is the best, safest, and most practical starting point.

Perhaps the most difficult part of climbing Mont Blanc is actually getting a reservation at one of the alpine huts along the route, without which you won’t be allowed on the mountain— my booking was checked when buying Tramway du Mont Blanc tickets to the trailhead at Nid d’Aigle, about halfway up the trail, at a small guard station just before Tête Rousse, and again when checking in at the hut.

These book up AGES in advance, but cancellations do happen, so the best advice is to just refresh the booking system every day until you find a date that will work. I got my booking at Refuge Tête Rousse about 6 weeks ahead of my climb date, after 10 days of refreshing the site. If you don’t want the hassle of securing your own reservation, some guided Mont Blanc expeditions include hut stays and full logistical support.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Mont Blanc from Le Tour in the Chamonix Valley

Getting to the start of the Goûter Route

  1. Either fly or arrive by train to Geneva Airport in Switzerland
  2. Take a bus from Geneva to Chamonix, France
  3. Catch a train from Chamonix up the valley to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains *I’d recommend staying a night in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains prior to the climb; you can connect onto the tramway either down by the Le Fayet/Saint-Gervais-les-Bains train station or up the hill in the town, where most of the hotels are located
  4. Board the Tramway du Mont Blanc in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains and ride to Nid d’Aigle (the Eagle’s Nest) *at the time of climbing, this tramway stop was exclusively open to climbers and operating on a reduced schedule
Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Mont Blanc from Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix

Safety considerations for climbing Mont Blanc

Technical demands and climbing experience aside, there are 3 primary risks I considered when preparing for my solo ascent of Mont Blanc:

RISK 1: crevasse/glacier conditions

This is particularly important if climbing unroped, as a fall into a crevasse or the collapse of a snow bridge can be fatal. The Goûter is generally considered to be quite stable, but conditions can fluctuate yearly and even weekly on the mountain, so it’s important to consult local guides/climbers to understand the state of the glacier before you begin your ascent.

To further mitigate risk, I climbed with a harness and glacier prusiks in case I reached terrain that couldn’t safely be crossed without tying to a passing rope team (I didn’t need to in the end, but it was great peace of mind).

🏔️ check out my Mont Blanc summit packing list for essential gear

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Crevasse on Mont Blanc

RISK 2: rockfall in the Grand Couloir du Goûter

The scramble above Refuge de la Tête Rousse en route to Refuge Goûter leads across a rough couloir that has become notorious for rockfall, particularly in the heat of the afternoon— the so-called “Death Couloir” has averaged 4 deaths and 9 injuries per season for the last 30 years. Sitting at Tête Rousse in the afternoon before my climb, I saw rocks drop approximately every 20 minutes, some the size of people; to be caught in this rockfall would be almost certain death.

Moving quickly through this area is a necessity, but moving early is even better. I left Refuge Tête Rousse at 2.30am, crossed the couloir around 3am, summited by 8am, and was back through the couloir around 11am (just 1hr after the sun hit the rocks). I would strongly caution against crossing this area much later in the day, which is why Refuge de la Tête Rousse makes such an excellent starting point.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc
The “Death Couloir” behind me

RISK 3: the elevation

At 4810m, there is a real possibility of experiencing altitude sickness and associated symptoms during the climb. This concerned me more than anything, because altitude sickness has the potential to dull reaction time and impair judgement, both of which could have deadly consequences when you’re alone on the mountain. And indeed, I saw several climbers succumb to the elevation, including one who was curled in a ball near the summit vomiting while his guide held him on a short rope…

The best prevention for this is to spend adequate time acclimatising before attempting Mont Blanc. I’d recommend sleeping a few nights in a high hut, tackling a training climb or two (Aiguille du Tour and Mont Tondu are both great solo objectives), and taking the cable car to Aiguille du Midi at 3800m for a productive rest day.

🗺️ I built a custom Mont Blanc summit GPS map with a detailed track based on my summit itinerary, dozens of critical waypoints, and other essential navigational information to help you stay on route. For solo expeditions, this is essential!

Solo climbing Mont Blanc
(thankfully not too) breathless at 4810m

Wondering whether you’re prepared to climb Mont Blanc? Despite the belief by some that Mont Blanc is a long walk, any experienced mountaineer will tell you that “you have no business on this mountain unless you have at least six alpine peaks under your belt“. Rather than writing an entire article about preparing for a climb of this nature, I’ll just advise a realistic and honest appraisal of your own skills, acknowledging how many inexperienced climbers have died on these slopes. A popular gauge among climbing guides is Mt Rainier, a spectacular glacier climb in Washington State that rises to 4392m and presents similar terrain to Mont Blanc. I found the Emmons Route up Rainier significantly more challenging than Mont Blanc, but if you’ve climbed the more popular DC Route, Mont Blanc is indeed quite comparable.

And what about soloing Mont Blanc? Climbing unroped doesn’t add any technical difficulty to the ascent, but it vastly decreases the safety— without a rope team to catch your fall, you need to be extremely competent in self-arrest, adept at manoeuvring in crampons, confident in scrambling Class II-III in the dark, and experienced enough to make safety-conscious decisions on the fly. If you’ve never climbed solo before, this is not the place to start. Beginners should consider climbing Mont Blanc with a certified guide, where you’ll gain valuable experience and ensure a safe ascent.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Majestic Mont Blanc

*Mont Blanc Goûter Route description

The ascent (and descent) of Mont Blanc can be broken into several segments, each with different conditions and challenges:

  • Nid d’Aigle (2373m) to Refuge de la Tête Rousse (3167m): 2hrs
  • Refuge de la Tête Rousse to Refuge du Goûter (3835m): 2hrs
  • Refuge du Goûter to Dôme du Goûter (4304m): 1.5hrs
  • Dôme du Goûter to the Vallot Emergency Shelter (4362m): 30min
  • Vallot Emergency Shelter to Bosses Ridge to summit (4808m): 1.5hrs
  • summit to Refuge du Goûter: 1.5hrs
  • Refuge du Goûter to Refuge de la Tête Rousse: 1.5hrs
  • Refuge de la Tête Rousse to Nid d’Aigle: 1hr

Nid d’Aigle (2373m) to Refuge de la Tête Rousse (3167m): 2hrs

From the Tramway stop in Nid d’Aigle, ascend around 800m along a rocky trail to reach the hut. The bottleneck of climbers exiting the tram can be pretty extreme, but eventually people fan out according to hiking speed and you’ll be able to move a little quicker. Only the very start and the final 5min of this hike are on snow (not glacier), so no climbing gear is needed.

🏔️ check out my Mont Blanc summit packing list for essential gear

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Hiking from Nid d’Aigle to Refuge de la Tête Rousse

Refuge de la Tête Rousse to Refuge du Goûter (3835m): 2hrs

From the Tête Rousse hut, ascend for about 20min minutes on snow (a helmet is essential, but no crampons) before connecting to the Class 2-3 rock ridge that you’ll scramble all the way to Refuge du Goûter.

Shortly after reaching the rock, cross the Grand Couloir— subject to frequent rockfall, this is the deadliest part of the entire climb and the quicker/earlier you cross, the better.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Crossing the Grand Couloir

Staying at Tête Rousse ensures that you will pass the Grand Couloir in the dark hours of the morning, so this is ideal for minimising risk; the trade-off is that you’re navigating challenging terrain in the dark, but you can afford to take your time a little more here than those traversing in the afternoon.

Once across the couloir, the route continues upwards, following a series of orange dots through the rock. Conditions are generally great for scrambling, and particularly if you’re out in front of the guided groups (who will be roped and consequently moving much slower), you can make great time to Goûter.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Refuge du Goûter (with the new hut in the background)

Refuge du Goûter to Dôme du Goûter (4304m): 1.5hrs

The new Refuge du Goûter is a few minutes off the route, but at the same elevation, you’ll ascend a ladder onto the old hut and arrive face-to-face with a towering wall of snow; the remainder of the climb is on glacier, so put on crampons and get out your ice axe before continuing upwards.

The ascent to Dôme du Goûter is fairly gentle, with several visible crevasses that are easily avoided following the beaten track. Starting from Tête Rousse at 2.30am (and leaving Refuge du Goûter at 4.30am), most of this section was light for me and the most spectacular part of the sunrise happened when I crested onto the Dôme du Goûter for my first view of Mont Blanc!

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
The Vallot Emergency Shelter visible on the slopes of Mont Blanc

Dôme du Goûter to the Vallot Emergency Shelter (4362m): 30min

Now with the summit in clear view, the route drops slightly to the Col du Dôme before climbing via switchbacks towards the Vallor Emergency Shelter (visible in the photo above), which marks the approximate halfway point from Refuge du Goûter.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Looking back at the Vallot Emergency Shelter

Vallot Emergency Shelter to Bosses Ridge to summit (4808m): 1.5hrs

The route continues to steepen towards Bosses Ridge, a narrow track of snow that drops off into oblivion on either side, demanding careful footwork and a real head for exposure. The views here are among the most spectacular on the entire climb, looking down at much of the Mont Blanc massif and up at the nearing summit.

In its final moments, the climb flattens to deliver you gloriously onto the highest point in the Alps!

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Rope teams on Bosses Ridge
Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
View from the top of the alps!

Trip report: 2023 solo ascent

Setting off from my hotel in Saint-Gervais-les-Baines this Saturday, 8 July at the leisurely hour of 11am, I walked a short distance down the road to the Tramway du Mont Blanc Station to present my proof of hut reservation and receive the “special mountaineer’s ticket” that would allow me to travel all the way to the Eagle’s Nest, Nid d’Aigle, at 2373m.

Tram maintenance has closed this stop to all but climbers for the season, so there was something decidedly exciting about being ushered into a car filled entirely with ropes and axes and glacier glasses.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route

Within an hour, we arrived at Nid d’Aigle and an absolute torrent of climbers flowed out of the tramway, all marching purposefully up the trail towards Refuge de la Tête Rousse and, some, beyond to Refuge du Goûter.

The weather was absolutely phenomenal and I nearly gasped to see Tête Rousse come into view across the snowfield around 2pm, the northwest face of Aiguille du Bioannassay looming large in the background.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Refuge de la Tête Rousse

In the previous days, I’d climbed Aiguille du Tour, hiked around Le Tour, and spent a day at Aiguille du Midi as part of my acclimatisation strategy, but I was still eager to get to the hut early today for a few extra hours at elevation. With the better part of the day still in front of me (and absolutely no where to be), I settled in for an afternoon of reading, loafing, and general relaxation ahead of what I hoped would be a very early bedtime.

I faced some of the usual alarm that I was climbing alone. Perhaps not as extreme as I encountered on Aiguille du Tour, where several people told me outright that I was foolish and unprepared (how they determined this, it was never clear), but enough to exasperate me somewhat. Mont Blanc is no small task and to underestimate her could be fatal, yet I always wonder whether men arriving to the hut alone are also being queried on whether they have crampons for the climb, because of course, it’s not a hike. I can only smile and nod.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Incredible view from Tête Rousse

Whatever the European hut system takes away from the backcountry experience (and of course it does), there’s something pretty wonderful about carrying a light pack free of camping gear, spending a night in a warm bed, and eating a hot meal prepared by someone else. As is often the case before a big climb, though, sleep still proved somewhat elusive, and I spent many hours tossing and turning in excitement in my bunk before finally nodding off around 12.30am to an hour of sleep.

My 1.30am alarm could not have been less welcome, especially as the guided group sharing my bunk room wasn’t getting up until 4am, but after a quick round of snooze, I pried myself out of bed (already dressed), shovelled in some of the extremely meagre breakfast, and stomped off by headlamp around 2.30am.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route

Ascending for about 20min through a narrow packed-track of snow, I soon reached the infamous Grand Couloir. At this time of morning, rockfall is thankfully not a significant issue, but it was still challenging to navigate across slippery rocks and flowing water in the pitch black, so I was relieved to finally reach the rock ridge that I’d scramble for the next hour to reach Refuge du Goûter.

Following a line through the rocks was surprisingly easy, thanks both to the frequent orange dots and a general high quality of rock that presents many possible routes upwards, never complicating beyond Class 3. By 4.30am, I’d crossed the old hut, put on crampons, and taken my first steps onto glacier.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route

There’s something about glacier climbs, begun in the middle of the night by headlamp, thick with anticipation and focus yet extending for hours up a white slope with little variation, that feel so magical to me.

Little scenery in the dark and with no sounds or distractions other than the crunch of your crampons on the snow, the continual upward clomp seems like it might be wildly monotonous, but I’ve come to find it almost meditative and I relish these moments up here on the mountain all by myself.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Looking back at Aiguille du Bionnassay

By about 5am, conditions were light enough that I turned off my headlamp, electing instead to walk by a combination of moonlight and sunrise glow. Aiguille du Bionnassay behind me was incredibly captivating, but once over the crest of the Dôme du Goûter, I had eyes for only one mountain.

It was my first glimpse of the summit since I began my approach yesterday, and in the golden light of early morning, it’s no wonder I’ve elevated Mont Blanc to such a mystical status.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Golden light on Mont Blanc
Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Sunrise on Mont Blanc

Now under the warm glow of the early morning sun, my solo journey towards Mont Blanc felt even more surreal, quickly dropping to the Col and then ascending in earnest towards the Vallot Emergency Shelter. Where so much of my climb had felt blissfully solitary, the slopes towards Vallot appeared thick with climbers, multiple routes converging here, plus the addition of other climbers who began at Goûter and stopped for a rest.

It was another opportunity for climbers and guides to query me about being alone (which, again, I notice they don’t seem to do to the several male soloists on the mountain), but I found some satisfaction in being called brave rather than unprepared, though the implication is still likely the same. Only I know what I know, I reminded myself often.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route

Without a cumbersome rope or anyone to wait for, I easily passed groups as they switchback up the mountain towards the sharp line of Bosses Ridge. This presents by far the greatest exhilaration of the entire route, a knife-edge ridge snaking dramatically up to the summit as both sides fall away to steep slopes and jagged peaks.

Climbing higher through thin air, yet feeling no real effect of the altitude (a testament to my acclimatisation program, thank goodness), I began to see Mont Blanc looming ever-closer. There was a fresh wind blowing, but not a single cloud in the sky, the entire glacier bathed in warm sun. By the time I crested the ridge and saw a flat walkway stretching towards a cluster of people, I was already crying.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
On the summit!!
Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route
View from the summit

Standing on the summit that morning, brandishing my ice axe like a trophy, tears blowing across my cheeks, there’s hardly a more tangible representation of how far l’ve come from the nervous, under-prepared but determined version of myself who first laid eyes on Mont Blanc 7 years ago.

And just like the TMB, this was a journey I was meant to make solo, a sacred pilgrimage to the place that has come to hold an almost spiritual reverence in my eyes. I am beyond thankful for everything this mountain has given me— confidence, ambition, perseverance, grit, wonder, and so much respect.

Solo climbing Mont Blanc via the Goûter Route

Read about more adventures in the Alps

🏔️ Mont Blanc summit packing list for essential gear

🗺️ custom Mont Blanc summit GPS map for detailed navigation

The ultimate guide to solo hiking & camping the Tour du Mont Blanc

Alta Via 2: complete hiking + via ferrata route guide

Alta Via 4: complete hiking + via ferrata route guide

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brooke beyond

Hey, I'm Brooke and I'm obsessed with getting off the beaten path, exploring backcountry gems & travelling beyond the ordinary! I left Australia 5 years ago after finishing a PhD in Biomechanics & have been travelling the world full-time ever since (joined by my life/climbing partner, James). Whether it’s road-tripping through Mexico, climbing alpine peaks in the Andes, scuba diving in the Red Sea, or tackling epic via ferrata in the Dolomites, I hope this blog will inspire your future adventures & help you find wonder in every corner of the globe. xx bb

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The Comments

  • Michelle
    18 September 2024

    I have just come across this amazing blog! Beautifully written and I am even more excited for my summit attempt this weekend! I have also attempted many mountains as a solo female and I completely agree that solo men are not looked at in the same way. Again, thank you so much for this tremendously detailed account of your summit, massive congratulations! You truly are inspiring. Keep exploring <3

    Reply
    • brooke brisbine
      Michelle
      26 March 2025

      Thanks so much for your comment, Michelle! Hope you had great summit success on Mont Blanc, I LOVE to see other women out there pushing the boundaries a little bit too– give em something to talk about 🙂

      Go girl!!
      xx bb

      Reply
  • Andreas
    30 July 2024

    You are one tough cookie. Congrats on this fantastic achievement! And thanks for the description. I haven’t been up yet, so this is very helpful.

    Reply
    • brooke brisbine
      Andreas
      26 March 2025

      Thanks so much for reading, Andreas!

      Reply
  • tony
    23 September 2023

    thanks you, so inspired!

    Reply
  • Mikel
    31 August 2023

    Congrats on soloing Mont Blanc! I really enjoyed reading this and the pictures are fantastic. I climbed Mont Blanc last 3-5 September (although with a guide) and this brought back many great memories. I wish I could do it all over again! It was my first solo trip to Europe and I spent two weeks based in Chamonix. I could really relate to your feeling of accomplishment and knowing how far you’ve come. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • brooke brisbine
      Mikel
      28 September 2023

      Thanks so much for reading, Mikel, and congrats to you too on a successful summit! I love Chamonix for all the climbing opportunities, I plan to go back in the next couple summers to tackle more peaks in the area!

      Happy trails 🙂

      xx bb

      Reply

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hi, I’m brooke!

I'm obsessed with getting off the beaten path, exploring backcountry gems & travelling beyond the ordinary! I left Australia 5 years ago after finishing a PhD in Biomechanics & have been travelling the world full-time ever since (now joined by my life/climbing partner, James). I hope this blog will inspire your future adventures & help you find wonder in every corner of the globe. xx bb

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@brookebeyond_
brooke ✨travel & mountain gal

@brookebeyond_

  • it’s another “if it wasn’t so stupid beautiful, I’d never set foot in this country again because it’s bleeding me dry” kinda summer 🇨🇭🌸☀️🏔️🦋✨

(hands up if you feel personally victimised by Swiss prices but you can’t stay away because MOUNTAINS 😭😭)
  • magical summer sunsets in Switzerland ✨
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#swissalps #stoosridge #swisssummer #sunset
  • BEST EASY HIKES IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭❤️‍🩹

just 2 months after knee surgery, I found myself travelling through Switzerland— in search of easy hikes that were actually accessible post-op 🩼 

luckily, there’s hardly a better place in the world for easy hiking than the Swiss Alps!!

so whether you’re recovering from an injury, hiking with older parents/young children, or just a non-hiker who loves an epic view, this short list of HIGH VALUE viewpoints & hikes offer the most spectacular mountain scenery with minimal challenge

💸 BUDGET TIP: buy the Swiss Half Fare Card to save 50% all these gondolas and trains, which can seriously add up!!

- Stoos Ridge: take the Stoosbahn to the little village of Stoos + walk about 15min to the chairlift that can take you all the way up to Fronalpstock— you can walk as little or as much as you want up here, the views are amazing right away
- Riffelsee: take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Riffelsee + hike 20min to the 2 beautiful alpine lakes (then either hike 1hr up to Gornergrat or catch the train)
- Saxer Lücke: catch a gondola + hike 1hr (2.5km, 250m gain) to this amazing viewpoint— hardest on this list and not suitable for those with extremely limited mobility 
- Kleine Scheidegg: take the train or the gondola from Grindelwald + hike about 20min uphill to the lake
- Jungfraujoch: from Kleine Scheidegg, take the gondola to Jungfraujoch + walk around the viewing platforms
- Trockener Steg: take the gondola from Zermatt + walk 10min from the top of the cable car to the lake for incredible Matterhorn views
- Oeschinensee: 20min walk from the top of the Kandersteg cable car to the lake (bus also available), then you can walk as little or as much as you want around the lake or on the famous Panorama Trail
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#easyhikes #swissalps #matterhorn #jungfraujoch #oeschinensee #stoos #switzerland
  • This is my 2nd summer back in Zermatt to climb the Matterhorn— and my 2nd summer NOT climbing the Matterhorn 😑

In 2023, a wicked snow storm blew through the night before my planned ascent and grounded all climbing parties… and then I had knee surgery less than 2 months before our repeat trip to Zermatt this year. I won’t lie, it’s been extremely disappointing to spend nearly 2 weeks in one of the most expensive places in the world, and STILL not do the thing I came here to do 😅

But alas, here we are in Zermatt again! (and apparently not for the last time)

Even though we are slowly going bankrupt, it’s a gorgeous place to be in the summer with no shortage of amazing trails!

Can’t wait to share some of what we’ve been up to— my first little hikes since surgery 🤩
  • we’ve spent the last several weeks in Switzerland and, in many ways, I couldn’t have chosen a better destination for post-knee-surgery recovery— where else in the world can you get views like THIS with 1hr of easy hiking?!

I’m not sure I’ll ever truly prefer the accessibility of the Alps to true backcountry… but there’s no denying that I couldn’t be outside any other way right now and it’s given me a whole new appreciation for the hundreds of gondolas, funiculars, and trains that connect non-hikers or mobility-impaired enthusiasts like myself to otherwise unreachable heights!

I’m enormously grateful for the opportunity to rehab my knee under legendary peaks rather than fluorescent indoor lights, so THANK YOU Switzerland 😍
  • NICE MINI GUIDE 🇫🇷🌊✨

some of our favourite experiences from last month in this charming town on the French Riviera!

WHAT TO DO
☕️ stroll through Old Town: beautiful alleyways with charming shops + bars (pass by Palais du Justice, Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate de Nice, Église Sainte Rita for photos)
🏖️ Ruhl Plage: picturesque beach club with striped umbrellas + chairs (but the free beach immediately beside it works just as well for a quick dip!!)
🪴 Jardin Albert 1er: leafy park separating central Nice from the Old Town
📸 Colline du Château: elevated park on the headland with excellent views of the coastline
🚃 day trip to Eze + Monaco: both can be done in a single day with public transport or inexpensive Ubers!

WHERE TO EAT/DRINK
🧀 La Cave du Fromager: fondue/cheese restaurant located in a wine cellar in Old Nice, beautiful and amazing food!
🦆 La Route du Miam: intimate 6-table restaurant serving legendary duck— the menu is bascially 3 options, but the duck-fat potatoes are mind-blowing, the wine selection is excellent, and the owners are impossibly charismatic (expect to leave with multiple kisses)
🍨 Finoccio: local-fave ice creamery with endless flavours
☕️ La Claque: small cafe with excellent coffee, matcha, kombucha etc
🍷 La Treille Bar à Vin: natural wine + small plates with charming outdoor seating
🍸 Soho: trendy bar with a good value happy hour 5-8pm
  • paris on (fuji)film 🇫🇷🥐🧀✨

we’d originally planned to spend June climbing in the French + Swiss Alps… but after I had knee surgery at the end of April, we had to pivot to something a little more recovery-friendly.

so we changed our flights from Geneva to Paris and instead spent a couple weeks sipping cocktails, making croissants, wandering through charming galleries, catching up with some of our favourite humans, and racking up steps around the city in an effort to get me hiking-capable asap. 

not exactly the summits we’d planned, but time well-spent all the same 💛 #fujifilmx100vi
  • 2-WEEK KYUSHU ITINERARY ✨

the perfect active road trip for exploring Japan’s 3rd largest island!

Days 1-2: Fukuoka
-  pick up hire car
-  Momochi district
-  Nanzo-in reclining Buddha
-  Gion district temples
-  Fukuoka yatai
-  Itoshima coast + Keya No Oto hike

Days 3-4: Beppu
-  Jigoku Seven Hells
-  Mt Tsurumi or Mt Yufu hike
-  Himeji-jo Castle
-  stay at Kunisakisou & make use of private onsen

Days 5-6: Aso
- Mt Aso National Park (countless amazing hikes!)
- best restaurants: 阿蘇内牧カレー屋 BATH (katsu curry) + Meshi no Yamaichi (beef bowls with endless toppings)
- best onsen (tattoos ok for private bathing): Yunoyado Irifune + 阿蘇内牧音泉 湯楽

Day 7: Kumamoto
- Takachiho Gorge
- GorogoTaki Waterfall

Days 8-10: Kirishima
-  Mt Karakunidake (10km hike)
-  Mt Kaimondake (7km hike)
-  Sakurajima Nagisa Foot Bath (free 100m baths with view of volcano) + Sakurajima active volcano

Days 11-13: Yakushima (car ferry to island)
-  Anbo Trail to Jomon Sugi
-  Mt Miyanoura scramble
-  Seibu Rindo Forest Path scenic drive

Day 14: return to Fukuoka
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#fukuoka #kyushu #japan #roadtrip #beppu
#onsen #takachiho
  • The famous bowing deer of Nara 🦌✨

The ancient city of Nara is home to around 1,300 sacred deer (believed to be messengers to the gods!) roaming freely around the parks and temples. They are SO cute & friendly, and feeding the deer in Nara was a top highlight of my 6 weeks in Japan 🥹

Tips for visiting the deer:
🦌 head to Nara Park & you’ll find deer everywhere near Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha & Kofukuji. Look for shikadamari (deer meeting spots) & approach respectfully!
🍘 buy shika senbei (deer crackers) for ~¥200 from local vendors. Hold one up, bow & watch the deer bow back!
🚃 get here in ~45min from Kyoto or Osaka by train
🏯 this is a popular day trip, but I definitely recommend staying overnight in a traditional ryokan & eating at some of the amazing local restaurants
⏱️ the park is prettiest early in the morning or around sunset when it’s quieter, the light is soft & the deer are more relaxed
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#nara #naradeer #japan #japantravel #traveljapan #wheninjapan
follow @brookebeyond_

travel beyond the ordinary

Explore my travel guides, custom itineraries & blog posts with an interactive world map ✨

all destinations

  • it’s another “if it wasn’t so stupid beautiful, I’d never set foot in this country again because it’s bleeding me dry” kinda summer 🇨🇭🌸☀️🏔️🦋✨

(hands up if you feel personally victimised by Swiss prices but you can’t stay away because MOUNTAINS 😭😭)
  • magical summer sunsets in Switzerland ✨
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#swissalps #stoosridge #swisssummer #sunset
  • BEST EASY HIKES IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭❤️‍🩹

just 2 months after knee surgery, I found myself travelling through Switzerland— in search of easy hikes that were actually accessible post-op 🩼 

luckily, there’s hardly a better place in the world for easy hiking than the Swiss Alps!!

so whether you’re recovering from an injury, hiking with older parents/young children, or just a non-hiker who loves an epic view, this short list of HIGH VALUE viewpoints & hikes offer the most spectacular mountain scenery with minimal challenge

💸 BUDGET TIP: buy the Swiss Half Fare Card to save 50% all these gondolas and trains, which can seriously add up!!

- Stoos Ridge: take the Stoosbahn to the little village of Stoos + walk about 15min to the chairlift that can take you all the way up to Fronalpstock— you can walk as little or as much as you want up here, the views are amazing right away
- Riffelsee: take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Riffelsee + hike 20min to the 2 beautiful alpine lakes (then either hike 1hr up to Gornergrat or catch the train)
- Saxer Lücke: catch a gondola + hike 1hr (2.5km, 250m gain) to this amazing viewpoint— hardest on this list and not suitable for those with extremely limited mobility 
- Kleine Scheidegg: take the train or the gondola from Grindelwald + hike about 20min uphill to the lake
- Jungfraujoch: from Kleine Scheidegg, take the gondola to Jungfraujoch + walk around the viewing platforms
- Trockener Steg: take the gondola from Zermatt + walk 10min from the top of the cable car to the lake for incredible Matterhorn views
- Oeschinensee: 20min walk from the top of the Kandersteg cable car to the lake (bus also available), then you can walk as little or as much as you want around the lake or on the famous Panorama Trail
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#easyhikes #swissalps #matterhorn #jungfraujoch #oeschinensee #stoos #switzerland
  • This is my 2nd summer back in Zermatt to climb the Matterhorn— and my 2nd summer NOT climbing the Matterhorn 😑

In 2023, a wicked snow storm blew through the night before my planned ascent and grounded all climbing parties… and then I had knee surgery less than 2 months before our repeat trip to Zermatt this year. I won’t lie, it’s been extremely disappointing to spend nearly 2 weeks in one of the most expensive places in the world, and STILL not do the thing I came here to do 😅

But alas, here we are in Zermatt again! (and apparently not for the last time)

Even though we are slowly going bankrupt, it’s a gorgeous place to be in the summer with no shortage of amazing trails!

Can’t wait to share some of what we’ve been up to— my first little hikes since surgery 🤩
  • we’ve spent the last several weeks in Switzerland and, in many ways, I couldn’t have chosen a better destination for post-knee-surgery recovery— where else in the world can you get views like THIS with 1hr of easy hiking?!

I’m not sure I’ll ever truly prefer the accessibility of the Alps to true backcountry… but there’s no denying that I couldn’t be outside any other way right now and it’s given me a whole new appreciation for the hundreds of gondolas, funiculars, and trains that connect non-hikers or mobility-impaired enthusiasts like myself to otherwise unreachable heights!

I’m enormously grateful for the opportunity to rehab my knee under legendary peaks rather than fluorescent indoor lights, so THANK YOU Switzerland 😍
@brookebeyond_
@brookebeyond_
•
Follow
it’s another “if it wasn’t so stupid beautiful, I’d never set foot in this country again because it’s bleeding me dry” kinda summer 🇨🇭🌸☀️🏔️🦋✨ (hands up if you feel personally victimised by Swiss prices but you can’t stay away because MOUNTAINS 😭😭)
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
1/5
magical summer sunsets in Switzerland ✨
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#swissalps #stoosridge #swisssummer #sunset
magical summer sunsets in Switzerland ✨
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#swissalps #stoosridge #swisssummer #sunset
magical summer sunsets in Switzerland ✨
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#swissalps #stoosridge #swisssummer #sunset
magical summer sunsets in Switzerland ✨
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#swissalps #stoosridge #swisssummer #sunset
magical summer sunsets in Switzerland ✨
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#swissalps #stoosridge #swisssummer #sunset
magical summer sunsets in Switzerland ✨
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#swissalps #stoosridge #swisssummer #sunset
magical summer sunsets in Switzerland ✨
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#swissalps #stoosridge #swisssummer #sunset
@brookebeyond_
@brookebeyond_
•
Follow
magical summer sunsets in Switzerland ✨ . . . . #swissalps #stoosridge #swisssummer #sunset
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/5
BEST EASY HIKES IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭❤️‍🩹

just 2 months after knee surgery, I found myself travelling through Switzerland— in search of easy hikes that were actually accessible post-op 🩼 

luckily, there’s hardly a better place in the world for easy hiking than the Swiss Alps!!

so whether you’re recovering from an injury, hiking with older parents/young children, or just a non-hiker who loves an epic view, this short list of HIGH VALUE viewpoints & hikes offer the most spectacular mountain scenery with minimal challenge

💸 BUDGET TIP: buy the Swiss Half Fare Card to save 50% all these gondolas and trains, which can seriously add up!!

- Stoos Ridge: take the Stoosbahn to the little village of Stoos + walk about 15min to the chairlift that can take you all the way up to Fronalpstock— you can walk as little or as much as you want up here, the views are amazing right away
- Riffelsee: take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Riffelsee + hike 20min to the 2 beautiful alpine lakes (then either hike 1hr up to Gornergrat or catch the train)
- Saxer Lücke: catch a gondola + hike 1hr (2.5km, 250m gain) to this amazing viewpoint— hardest on this list and not suitable for those with extremely limited mobility 
- Kleine Scheidegg: take the train or the gondola from Grindelwald + hike about 20min uphill to the lake
- Jungfraujoch: from Kleine Scheidegg, take the gondola to Jungfraujoch + walk around the viewing platforms
- Trockener Steg: take the gondola from Zermatt + walk 10min from the top of the cable car to the lake for incredible Matterhorn views
- Oeschinensee: 20min walk from the top of the Kandersteg cable car to the lake (bus also available), then you can walk as little or as much as you want around the lake or on the famous Panorama Trail
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#easyhikes #swissalps #matterhorn #jungfraujoch #oeschinensee #stoos #switzerland
BEST EASY HIKES IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭❤️‍🩹

just 2 months after knee surgery, I found myself travelling through Switzerland— in search of easy hikes that were actually accessible post-op 🩼 

luckily, there’s hardly a better place in the world for easy hiking than the Swiss Alps!!

so whether you’re recovering from an injury, hiking with older parents/young children, or just a non-hiker who loves an epic view, this short list of HIGH VALUE viewpoints & hikes offer the most spectacular mountain scenery with minimal challenge

💸 BUDGET TIP: buy the Swiss Half Fare Card to save 50% all these gondolas and trains, which can seriously add up!!

- Stoos Ridge: take the Stoosbahn to the little village of Stoos + walk about 15min to the chairlift that can take you all the way up to Fronalpstock— you can walk as little or as much as you want up here, the views are amazing right away
- Riffelsee: take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Riffelsee + hike 20min to the 2 beautiful alpine lakes (then either hike 1hr up to Gornergrat or catch the train)
- Saxer Lücke: catch a gondola + hike 1hr (2.5km, 250m gain) to this amazing viewpoint— hardest on this list and not suitable for those with extremely limited mobility 
- Kleine Scheidegg: take the train or the gondola from Grindelwald + hike about 20min uphill to the lake
- Jungfraujoch: from Kleine Scheidegg, take the gondola to Jungfraujoch + walk around the viewing platforms
- Trockener Steg: take the gondola from Zermatt + walk 10min from the top of the cable car to the lake for incredible Matterhorn views
- Oeschinensee: 20min walk from the top of the Kandersteg cable car to the lake (bus also available), then you can walk as little or as much as you want around the lake or on the famous Panorama Trail
.
.
.
.
.
#easyhikes #swissalps #matterhorn #jungfraujoch #oeschinensee #stoos #switzerland
BEST EASY HIKES IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭❤️‍🩹

just 2 months after knee surgery, I found myself travelling through Switzerland— in search of easy hikes that were actually accessible post-op 🩼 

luckily, there’s hardly a better place in the world for easy hiking than the Swiss Alps!!

so whether you’re recovering from an injury, hiking with older parents/young children, or just a non-hiker who loves an epic view, this short list of HIGH VALUE viewpoints & hikes offer the most spectacular mountain scenery with minimal challenge

💸 BUDGET TIP: buy the Swiss Half Fare Card to save 50% all these gondolas and trains, which can seriously add up!!

- Stoos Ridge: take the Stoosbahn to the little village of Stoos + walk about 15min to the chairlift that can take you all the way up to Fronalpstock— you can walk as little or as much as you want up here, the views are amazing right away
- Riffelsee: take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Riffelsee + hike 20min to the 2 beautiful alpine lakes (then either hike 1hr up to Gornergrat or catch the train)
- Saxer Lücke: catch a gondola + hike 1hr (2.5km, 250m gain) to this amazing viewpoint— hardest on this list and not suitable for those with extremely limited mobility 
- Kleine Scheidegg: take the train or the gondola from Grindelwald + hike about 20min uphill to the lake
- Jungfraujoch: from Kleine Scheidegg, take the gondola to Jungfraujoch + walk around the viewing platforms
- Trockener Steg: take the gondola from Zermatt + walk 10min from the top of the cable car to the lake for incredible Matterhorn views
- Oeschinensee: 20min walk from the top of the Kandersteg cable car to the lake (bus also available), then you can walk as little or as much as you want around the lake or on the famous Panorama Trail
.
.
.
.
.
#easyhikes #swissalps #matterhorn #jungfraujoch #oeschinensee #stoos #switzerland
BEST EASY HIKES IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭❤️‍🩹

just 2 months after knee surgery, I found myself travelling through Switzerland— in search of easy hikes that were actually accessible post-op 🩼 

luckily, there’s hardly a better place in the world for easy hiking than the Swiss Alps!!

so whether you’re recovering from an injury, hiking with older parents/young children, or just a non-hiker who loves an epic view, this short list of HIGH VALUE viewpoints & hikes offer the most spectacular mountain scenery with minimal challenge

💸 BUDGET TIP: buy the Swiss Half Fare Card to save 50% all these gondolas and trains, which can seriously add up!!

- Stoos Ridge: take the Stoosbahn to the little village of Stoos + walk about 15min to the chairlift that can take you all the way up to Fronalpstock— you can walk as little or as much as you want up here, the views are amazing right away
- Riffelsee: take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Riffelsee + hike 20min to the 2 beautiful alpine lakes (then either hike 1hr up to Gornergrat or catch the train)
- Saxer Lücke: catch a gondola + hike 1hr (2.5km, 250m gain) to this amazing viewpoint— hardest on this list and not suitable for those with extremely limited mobility 
- Kleine Scheidegg: take the train or the gondola from Grindelwald + hike about 20min uphill to the lake
- Jungfraujoch: from Kleine Scheidegg, take the gondola to Jungfraujoch + walk around the viewing platforms
- Trockener Steg: take the gondola from Zermatt + walk 10min from the top of the cable car to the lake for incredible Matterhorn views
- Oeschinensee: 20min walk from the top of the Kandersteg cable car to the lake (bus also available), then you can walk as little or as much as you want around the lake or on the famous Panorama Trail
.
.
.
.
.
#easyhikes #swissalps #matterhorn #jungfraujoch #oeschinensee #stoos #switzerland
BEST EASY HIKES IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭❤️‍🩹

just 2 months after knee surgery, I found myself travelling through Switzerland— in search of easy hikes that were actually accessible post-op 🩼 

luckily, there’s hardly a better place in the world for easy hiking than the Swiss Alps!!

so whether you’re recovering from an injury, hiking with older parents/young children, or just a non-hiker who loves an epic view, this short list of HIGH VALUE viewpoints & hikes offer the most spectacular mountain scenery with minimal challenge

💸 BUDGET TIP: buy the Swiss Half Fare Card to save 50% all these gondolas and trains, which can seriously add up!!

- Stoos Ridge: take the Stoosbahn to the little village of Stoos + walk about 15min to the chairlift that can take you all the way up to Fronalpstock— you can walk as little or as much as you want up here, the views are amazing right away
- Riffelsee: take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Riffelsee + hike 20min to the 2 beautiful alpine lakes (then either hike 1hr up to Gornergrat or catch the train)
- Saxer Lücke: catch a gondola + hike 1hr (2.5km, 250m gain) to this amazing viewpoint— hardest on this list and not suitable for those with extremely limited mobility 
- Kleine Scheidegg: take the train or the gondola from Grindelwald + hike about 20min uphill to the lake
- Jungfraujoch: from Kleine Scheidegg, take the gondola to Jungfraujoch + walk around the viewing platforms
- Trockener Steg: take the gondola from Zermatt + walk 10min from the top of the cable car to the lake for incredible Matterhorn views
- Oeschinensee: 20min walk from the top of the Kandersteg cable car to the lake (bus also available), then you can walk as little or as much as you want around the lake or on the famous Panorama Trail
.
.
.
.
.
#easyhikes #swissalps #matterhorn #jungfraujoch #oeschinensee #stoos #switzerland
BEST EASY HIKES IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭❤️‍🩹

just 2 months after knee surgery, I found myself travelling through Switzerland— in search of easy hikes that were actually accessible post-op 🩼 

luckily, there’s hardly a better place in the world for easy hiking than the Swiss Alps!!

so whether you’re recovering from an injury, hiking with older parents/young children, or just a non-hiker who loves an epic view, this short list of HIGH VALUE viewpoints & hikes offer the most spectacular mountain scenery with minimal challenge

💸 BUDGET TIP: buy the Swiss Half Fare Card to save 50% all these gondolas and trains, which can seriously add up!!

- Stoos Ridge: take the Stoosbahn to the little village of Stoos + walk about 15min to the chairlift that can take you all the way up to Fronalpstock— you can walk as little or as much as you want up here, the views are amazing right away
- Riffelsee: take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Riffelsee + hike 20min to the 2 beautiful alpine lakes (then either hike 1hr up to Gornergrat or catch the train)
- Saxer Lücke: catch a gondola + hike 1hr (2.5km, 250m gain) to this amazing viewpoint— hardest on this list and not suitable for those with extremely limited mobility 
- Kleine Scheidegg: take the train or the gondola from Grindelwald + hike about 20min uphill to the lake
- Jungfraujoch: from Kleine Scheidegg, take the gondola to Jungfraujoch + walk around the viewing platforms
- Trockener Steg: take the gondola from Zermatt + walk 10min from the top of the cable car to the lake for incredible Matterhorn views
- Oeschinensee: 20min walk from the top of the Kandersteg cable car to the lake (bus also available), then you can walk as little or as much as you want around the lake or on the famous Panorama Trail
.
.
.
.
.
#easyhikes #swissalps #matterhorn #jungfraujoch #oeschinensee #stoos #switzerland
BEST EASY HIKES IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭❤️‍🩹

just 2 months after knee surgery, I found myself travelling through Switzerland— in search of easy hikes that were actually accessible post-op 🩼 

luckily, there’s hardly a better place in the world for easy hiking than the Swiss Alps!!

so whether you’re recovering from an injury, hiking with older parents/young children, or just a non-hiker who loves an epic view, this short list of HIGH VALUE viewpoints & hikes offer the most spectacular mountain scenery with minimal challenge

💸 BUDGET TIP: buy the Swiss Half Fare Card to save 50% all these gondolas and trains, which can seriously add up!!

- Stoos Ridge: take the Stoosbahn to the little village of Stoos + walk about 15min to the chairlift that can take you all the way up to Fronalpstock— you can walk as little or as much as you want up here, the views are amazing right away
- Riffelsee: take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Riffelsee + hike 20min to the 2 beautiful alpine lakes (then either hike 1hr up to Gornergrat or catch the train)
- Saxer Lücke: catch a gondola + hike 1hr (2.5km, 250m gain) to this amazing viewpoint— hardest on this list and not suitable for those with extremely limited mobility 
- Kleine Scheidegg: take the train or the gondola from Grindelwald + hike about 20min uphill to the lake
- Jungfraujoch: from Kleine Scheidegg, take the gondola to Jungfraujoch + walk around the viewing platforms
- Trockener Steg: take the gondola from Zermatt + walk 10min from the top of the cable car to the lake for incredible Matterhorn views
- Oeschinensee: 20min walk from the top of the Kandersteg cable car to the lake (bus also available), then you can walk as little or as much as you want around the lake or on the famous Panorama Trail
.
.
.
.
.
#easyhikes #swissalps #matterhorn #jungfraujoch #oeschinensee #stoos #switzerland
BEST EASY HIKES IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭❤️‍🩹

just 2 months after knee surgery, I found myself travelling through Switzerland— in search of easy hikes that were actually accessible post-op 🩼 

luckily, there’s hardly a better place in the world for easy hiking than the Swiss Alps!!

so whether you’re recovering from an injury, hiking with older parents/young children, or just a non-hiker who loves an epic view, this short list of HIGH VALUE viewpoints & hikes offer the most spectacular mountain scenery with minimal challenge

💸 BUDGET TIP: buy the Swiss Half Fare Card to save 50% all these gondolas and trains, which can seriously add up!!

- Stoos Ridge: take the Stoosbahn to the little village of Stoos + walk about 15min to the chairlift that can take you all the way up to Fronalpstock— you can walk as little or as much as you want up here, the views are amazing right away
- Riffelsee: take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Riffelsee + hike 20min to the 2 beautiful alpine lakes (then either hike 1hr up to Gornergrat or catch the train)
- Saxer Lücke: catch a gondola + hike 1hr (2.5km, 250m gain) to this amazing viewpoint— hardest on this list and not suitable for those with extremely limited mobility 
- Kleine Scheidegg: take the train or the gondola from Grindelwald + hike about 20min uphill to the lake
- Jungfraujoch: from Kleine Scheidegg, take the gondola to Jungfraujoch + walk around the viewing platforms
- Trockener Steg: take the gondola from Zermatt + walk 10min from the top of the cable car to the lake for incredible Matterhorn views
- Oeschinensee: 20min walk from the top of the Kandersteg cable car to the lake (bus also available), then you can walk as little or as much as you want around the lake or on the famous Panorama Trail
.
.
.
.
.
#easyhikes #swissalps #matterhorn #jungfraujoch #oeschinensee #stoos #switzerland
@brookebeyond_
@brookebeyond_
•
Follow
BEST EASY HIKES IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭❤️‍🩹 just 2 months after knee surgery, I found myself travelling through Switzerland— in search of easy hikes that were actually accessible post-op 🩼 luckily, there’s hardly a better place in the world for easy hiking than the Swiss Alps!! so whether you’re recovering from an injury, hiking with older parents/young children, or just a non-hiker who loves an epic view, this short list of HIGH VALUE viewpoints & hikes offer the most spectacular mountain scenery with minimal challenge 💸 BUDGET TIP: buy the Swiss Half Fare Card to save 50% all these gondolas and trains, which can seriously add up!! - Stoos Ridge: take the Stoosbahn to the little village of Stoos + walk about 15min to the chairlift that can take you all the way up to Fronalpstock— you can walk as little or as much as you want up here, the views are amazing right away - Riffelsee: take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Riffelsee + hike 20min to the 2 beautiful alpine lakes (then either hike 1hr up to Gornergrat or catch the train) - Saxer Lücke: catch a gondola + hike 1hr (2.5km, 250m gain) to this amazing viewpoint— hardest on this list and not suitable for those with extremely limited mobility - Kleine Scheidegg: take the train or the gondola from Grindelwald + hike about 20min uphill to the lake - Jungfraujoch: from Kleine Scheidegg, take the gondola to Jungfraujoch + walk around the viewing platforms - Trockener Steg: take the gondola from Zermatt + walk 10min from the top of the cable car to the lake for incredible Matterhorn views - Oeschinensee: 20min walk from the top of the Kandersteg cable car to the lake (bus also available), then you can walk as little or as much as you want around the lake or on the famous Panorama Trail . . . . . #easyhikes #swissalps #matterhorn #jungfraujoch #oeschinensee #stoos #switzerland
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/5
This is my 2nd summer back in Zermatt to climb the Matterhorn— and my 2nd summer NOT climbing the Matterhorn 😑

In 2023, a wicked snow storm blew through the night before my planned ascent and grounded all climbing parties… and then I had knee surgery less than 2 months before our repeat trip to Zermatt this year. I won’t lie, it’s been extremely disappointing to spend nearly 2 weeks in one of the most expensive places in the world, and STILL not do the thing I came here to do 😅

But alas, here we are in Zermatt again! (and apparently not for the last time)

Even though we are slowly going bankrupt, it’s a gorgeous place to be in the summer with no shortage of amazing trails!

Can’t wait to share some of what we’ve been up to— my first little hikes since surgery 🤩
This is my 2nd summer back in Zermatt to climb the Matterhorn— and my 2nd summer NOT climbing the Matterhorn 😑

In 2023, a wicked snow storm blew through the night before my planned ascent and grounded all climbing parties… and then I had knee surgery less than 2 months before our repeat trip to Zermatt this year. I won’t lie, it’s been extremely disappointing to spend nearly 2 weeks in one of the most expensive places in the world, and STILL not do the thing I came here to do 😅

But alas, here we are in Zermatt again! (and apparently not for the last time)

Even though we are slowly going bankrupt, it’s a gorgeous place to be in the summer with no shortage of amazing trails!

Can’t wait to share some of what we’ve been up to— my first little hikes since surgery 🤩
This is my 2nd summer back in Zermatt to climb the Matterhorn— and my 2nd summer NOT climbing the Matterhorn 😑

In 2023, a wicked snow storm blew through the night before my planned ascent and grounded all climbing parties… and then I had knee surgery less than 2 months before our repeat trip to Zermatt this year. I won’t lie, it’s been extremely disappointing to spend nearly 2 weeks in one of the most expensive places in the world, and STILL not do the thing I came here to do 😅

But alas, here we are in Zermatt again! (and apparently not for the last time)

Even though we are slowly going bankrupt, it’s a gorgeous place to be in the summer with no shortage of amazing trails!

Can’t wait to share some of what we’ve been up to— my first little hikes since surgery 🤩
This is my 2nd summer back in Zermatt to climb the Matterhorn— and my 2nd summer NOT climbing the Matterhorn 😑

In 2023, a wicked snow storm blew through the night before my planned ascent and grounded all climbing parties… and then I had knee surgery less than 2 months before our repeat trip to Zermatt this year. I won’t lie, it’s been extremely disappointing to spend nearly 2 weeks in one of the most expensive places in the world, and STILL not do the thing I came here to do 😅

But alas, here we are in Zermatt again! (and apparently not for the last time)

Even though we are slowly going bankrupt, it’s a gorgeous place to be in the summer with no shortage of amazing trails!

Can’t wait to share some of what we’ve been up to— my first little hikes since surgery 🤩
This is my 2nd summer back in Zermatt to climb the Matterhorn— and my 2nd summer NOT climbing the Matterhorn 😑

In 2023, a wicked snow storm blew through the night before my planned ascent and grounded all climbing parties… and then I had knee surgery less than 2 months before our repeat trip to Zermatt this year. I won’t lie, it’s been extremely disappointing to spend nearly 2 weeks in one of the most expensive places in the world, and STILL not do the thing I came here to do 😅

But alas, here we are in Zermatt again! (and apparently not for the last time)

Even though we are slowly going bankrupt, it’s a gorgeous place to be in the summer with no shortage of amazing trails!

Can’t wait to share some of what we’ve been up to— my first little hikes since surgery 🤩
@brookebeyond_
@brookebeyond_
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This is my 2nd summer back in Zermatt to climb the Matterhorn— and my 2nd summer NOT climbing the Matterhorn 😑 In 2023, a wicked snow storm blew through the night before my planned ascent and grounded all climbing parties… and then I had knee surgery less than 2 months before our repeat trip to Zermatt this year. I won’t lie, it’s been extremely disappointing to spend nearly 2 weeks in one of the most expensive places in the world, and STILL not do the thing I came here to do 😅 But alas, here we are in Zermatt again! (and apparently not for the last time) Even though we are slowly going bankrupt, it’s a gorgeous place to be in the summer with no shortage of amazing trails! Can’t wait to share some of what we’ve been up to— my first little hikes since surgery 🤩
7 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/5
we’ve spent the last several weeks in Switzerland and, in many ways, I couldn’t have chosen a better destination for post-knee-surgery recovery— where else in the world can you get views like THIS with 1hr of easy hiking?!

I’m not sure I’ll ever truly prefer the accessibility of the Alps to true backcountry… but there’s no denying that I couldn’t be outside any other way right now and it’s given me a whole new appreciation for the hundreds of gondolas, funiculars, and trains that connect non-hikers or mobility-impaired enthusiasts like myself to otherwise unreachable heights!

I’m enormously grateful for the opportunity to rehab my knee under legendary peaks rather than fluorescent indoor lights, so THANK YOU Switzerland 😍
we’ve spent the last several weeks in Switzerland and, in many ways, I couldn’t have chosen a better destination for post-knee-surgery recovery— where else in the world can you get views like THIS with 1hr of easy hiking?!

I’m not sure I’ll ever truly prefer the accessibility of the Alps to true backcountry… but there’s no denying that I couldn’t be outside any other way right now and it’s given me a whole new appreciation for the hundreds of gondolas, funiculars, and trains that connect non-hikers or mobility-impaired enthusiasts like myself to otherwise unreachable heights!

I’m enormously grateful for the opportunity to rehab my knee under legendary peaks rather than fluorescent indoor lights, so THANK YOU Switzerland 😍
we’ve spent the last several weeks in Switzerland and, in many ways, I couldn’t have chosen a better destination for post-knee-surgery recovery— where else in the world can you get views like THIS with 1hr of easy hiking?!

I’m not sure I’ll ever truly prefer the accessibility of the Alps to true backcountry… but there’s no denying that I couldn’t be outside any other way right now and it’s given me a whole new appreciation for the hundreds of gondolas, funiculars, and trains that connect non-hikers or mobility-impaired enthusiasts like myself to otherwise unreachable heights!

I’m enormously grateful for the opportunity to rehab my knee under legendary peaks rather than fluorescent indoor lights, so THANK YOU Switzerland 😍
@brookebeyond_
@brookebeyond_
•
Follow
we’ve spent the last several weeks in Switzerland and, in many ways, I couldn’t have chosen a better destination for post-knee-surgery recovery— where else in the world can you get views like THIS with 1hr of easy hiking?! I’m not sure I’ll ever truly prefer the accessibility of the Alps to true backcountry… but there’s no denying that I couldn’t be outside any other way right now and it’s given me a whole new appreciation for the hundreds of gondolas, funiculars, and trains that connect non-hikers or mobility-impaired enthusiasts like myself to otherwise unreachable heights! I’m enormously grateful for the opportunity to rehab my knee under legendary peaks rather than fluorescent indoor lights, so THANK YOU Switzerland 😍
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
5/5

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