The Alpine Pass Route in Switzerland, Via Alpina 1
The 360 km long Alpine Pass Route (Via Alpina 1) crosses Switzerland from east to west, from Sargans, near the Liechtenstein border, to Montreux on Lake Geneva.
Most of the Alpine Pass Route's landscape is essentially Swiss, rocky peaks rising above flower-filled meadows, traditional wooden chalets nestled in green valleys. Each pass has its own character, from the spectacular Hohtürli to the bustling Kleine Scheidegg, opening up new vistas and horizons.
Crossing sixteen Alpine passes, it takes in some of the country's most impressive mountain scenery, with views of iconic peaks such as the Wetterhorn, Eiger, Jungfrau and Les Diablerets. The route accumulates more than 20,000m of vertical gain and includes some demanding sections. It can be completed in 2-3 weeks, and postbus, cable car and rail connections can be used to allow for a tighter schedule.
Practical guide
When to go?
From early July to September. August can be wet, and tackling the route too early may encounter snow on the higher passes, so adequate additional equipment (ice axe, crampons) would be essential.
Difficulty and tips
For experienced mountaineers, the route is difficult: the route accumulates more than 20,000 metres of vertical drop and almost every day there is a steep pass. Some higher passes and ridges present occasional exposure and technical difficulty.
Not to be missed
- The Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau near Grindlewald.
- Lauterbrunnen Valley.
- The Oeschinensee over Kandersteg
City & Services
Sargans, Elm, Linthal, Altdorf, Engelberg, Meiringen, Grindlewald, Lauterbrunnen, Kandersteg, Adelboden, Lenk, Gstaad, Col des Mosses, Montreux.
The stages
- Stage 1 Sargans - Mels - Weisstannen
- Stage 2 Weisstannen - Foopass - Elm
- Stage 3 Elm - Richetlipass - Linthal
- Stage 4 Linthal - Braunwald - Urnerboden
- Stage 5 Urnerboden - Klausenpass - Altdorf
- Stage 6 Altdorf - Surenenpass - Engelberg
- Stage 7 Engelberg - Jochpass - Engstlenalp
- Stage 8 Engstlenalp - Planplatten - Meiringen
- Stage 9 Meiringen - Grosse Scheidegg - Grindelwald
- Stage 10 Grindelwald - Kleine Scheidegg - Lauterbrunnen
- Stage 11 Lauterbrunnen - Mürren - Sefinenfurke - Griesalp
- Stage 12 Griesalp - Hohtürli - Kandersteg
- Stage 13 Kandersteg - Bunderchrinde - Adelboden
- Stage 14 Adelboden - Hahnenmoospass - Lenk
- Stage 15 Lenk - Trüttlisbergpass - Gstaad
- Stage 16 Gstaad - Col de Jable - L'Etivaz
- Stage 17 L'Etivaz - Col de Chaude - Rochers de Naye
- Stage 18 Rochers de Naye - Sonchaux - Montreux
