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1/8

Via Jacobi Highlights

6 days / 5 nights

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Discover the beauty and culture of Switzerland on an ambitious pilgrimage on the Via Jacobi, hiking across its rolling green hills and lakes.

Starting point

Rorschach

Finish point

Einsiedeln

Season

From March to October

Technical level

2/5

Fitness level

4/5

Tour type

Inn-to-Inn

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  • Enjoy a more relaxed multi-day hike from Lake Constance to Lake Zurich
  • Explore everyday Swiss life around its northern lakes
  • Hike across farming pastures and through peaceful woodland paths
  • Visit some of the most beautiful baroque cathedrals and medieval abbeys
  • Admire the white Alps against the green hills
  • Relax in comfortable accommodations in historic towns on the way

What’s included in the price?

Self-guided

5 nights in 3-star hotels with breakfast
Digital guidebook with itinerary, route instructions, and practical information
GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app
Tour design and organization
Service and support during your hike

NOT INCLUDED

Tourist tax

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Extra nights
Hotel upgrades
Luggage transfer
Single supplement

What to bring to the tour

  • Hiking shoes/boots
  • 25 to 45-liter backpack
  • Base layer
  • Sports T-shirts
  • Hiking shorts
  • Hiking water-repellent pants
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Midlayer
  • Sports socks and underwear
  • Leisurewear for evenings
  • Down jacket
  • Gloves
  • Shade hat/cap
  • Warm headwear
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Headlamp
  • Hiking poles
  • ID card or passport
  • Snacks
  • Cash
  • Water bottles or hydration pack
  • Sleeping liner
  • Toiletries
  • Toilet paper
  • Small first aid kit

Introducing the Via Jacobi Highlights — a journey through the heart of Switzerland where you can discover the hidden gems and breathtaking scenery of the country's northern lakes.

This walking holiday offers a unique perspective on Switzerland, exploring the regions where most of its population lives. With the rolling green hills as your playground, you'll experience the true essence of this magnificent country. 

It’s part of Camino de Santiago or Way of St. James, a pilgrimage route network leading to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. We chose the best days of its Swiss section, taking you from Lake Constance to Lake Zurich, exploring the stunning regions in between. Along the way, you will discover hidden gems, such as baroque cathedrals, historic monasteries, and delicious local cuisine.

The Via Jacobi Highlights offers a change of pace from the more strenuous Alpine hikes, taking you on a scenic journey through charming lakeside towns, pastures, and wooded areas. Everyone can experience the culture and beauty of everyday Switzerland while marveling at the stunning backdrop of the white Alps. Even off-season (available from March to October), when the higher mountain passes are fully covered in snow.

Daily distances average around 20 kilometers, which is typical for pilgrimages. However, the added challenge of gaining approximately 600 meters in altitude each day makes it especially rewarding, perfect for those looking for more than just a leisurely tour. To accommodate the longest stages of the hike, the itinerary includes two scheduled rides by train and bus.

At Walking Holidays Switzerland, we strive to provide a hassle-free and delightful experience. To accomplish this, we handle all your logistics, including booking your accommodations and providing a comprehensive itinerary booklet, and GPS routes. Additionally, we are available for 24/7 support, so you can fully immerse yourself in your walking journey without any worries.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to experience the beauty of Switzerland like never before. Inquire now to learn more about the Via Jacobi Highlights and start planning your adventure today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Hiking in light rain can be done comfortably with the right clothing, but it’s important to understand that hiking during a storm can pose serious risks. To avoid the threat of thunderstorms, it’s advisable to plan your hikes for early in the day during the summer. If the weather forecast predicts extreme conditions, it’s recommended to either change the hike date or seek alternative tour options, which we’d be happy to help you with.

Switzerland is an alpine country, which means it receives lots of snow during the winter months. That means hiking is almost impossible during those months. The best time to come to Switzerland for a walking holiday is between July and September when the snow on the mountain passes has mostly melted, and the routes are walkable without major problems.

If you want to have an off-season Switzerland walking holiday, we recommend hiking on the Via Jacobi.

Most of the accommodations offer vegetarian and vegan options for breakfast. You also will not have any trouble finding such menus at restaurants. When you eat at mountain huts, though, they might not serve vegan meals. In such cases, it is best to bring your own food. Either way, tell us in advance and we’ll find a solution together.

Yes, children are welcome to participate in our walking tours, provided they are physically fit and have good footing. To guarantee the safety and enjoyment of young participants, we suggest a minimum age of eight years old to join the tours.

Our tours are created to accommodate people with varying fitness levels, however, some days may involve long walks with significant elevation changes. To balance the intensity of the hikes while providing an exceptional experience, the walks usually last 4-6 hours and involve climbing up to 600 meters of elevation.

Additionally, we plan our hikes near cable cars and chairlifts, offering options to shorten the ascent or to provide a means of descending in case of fatigue.

Having the right footwear is crucial for hiking in Switzerland. We highly recommend wearing sturdy hiking shoes with ankle support for all of our tours. The terrain in the Swiss Alps can be uneven, rocky, and slippery, so it’s important to avoid wearing sneakers, which could increase the risk of injury, especially if you are not experienced in hiking on such terrain.

Having a car can be a convenient way to get around, but it’s definitely not necessary. The public transportation system in Switzerland and the entire Alps is really well-organized and makes it easy to travel from place to place, even across different countries.

Plus, using public transportation is a great way to support sustainable tourism and help preserve the beautiful environment of Switzerland. So don’t stress too much about having a car – the options for getting around are plenty.

It’s important to keep in mind that the Swiss Alps are a highly sought-after tourist destination year-round, and accommodations can fill up quickly. Booking early is essential to secure the housing of your choice, but we will always do our utmost to find the best possible lodging for you based on your preferences.

Ratings & Reviews

Google Reviews

5.0 average rating

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Kristin Stone

Verified customer · 10 months ago

1) Stunningly beautiful places with perfect weather! Good balance of countryside and old city walking. 2) The Trip App was incredible!!! 5 stars! Loved the write ups on each location. The links to all restaurants, hotels, attractions, tickets! The GPS app also worked. 3) PERFECTLY located hotels and rooms with two beds and thoughtful staff! Loved being right in the old towns with amazing views. I did not mind carrying bags up or down in order to have the locations but much appreciated when we did have help with this 4) Breakfast being included with the rooms (even though there was a mix up the first morning). I don't like to have to plan breakfast spots and the buffets were incredible. 5) The kindness and promptness of the drivers, Nice transport vehicles and easy drop off and pick up points. Plus help with our bags. 6) The Walking Holidays Croatia team was helpful and easy to work with. We appreciate all they did to customize out trip.

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Terry Finstad

Verified customer · 29 days ago

All of the arranged hotel accommodations were great! Trip planning and gps apps were extremely valuable. I was pleased with the degree of communication.

Alex Shih's profile photo

Alex Shih

Verified customer · about 1 month ago

Solid experience booking Haute Route through H2H Hiking. They were responsive whenever I ran into small hiccups during the trip and were able to resolve the issue very quickly. Provided great recommendations and daily briefs for each day's hike. Definitely recommend H2H Switzerland.

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Julio Duran

Verified customer · about 2 months ago

A great experience, especially since it was our first hut-to-hut adventure. Everything went according to plan, quick and efficient responses, a great route with beautiful landscapes. I would definitely do it again.

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Megan Duggan

Verified customer · about 2 months ago

We had an incredible trek! The itinerary was exactly what we wanted, communication was excellent with the company. They were so helpful throughout the planning process and when we were in country. Slovenia exceeded our expectations. We can't recommend them enough!

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Elizabeth Henne

Verified customer · 2 months ago

Hut to Hut made the coordination process of the hikes super easy. Was a great experience !

All available guidance options

Join a Group

For solo hikers or hikers who wish to meet other like-minded souls, and don’t want to stress about tour-planning and other annoying details. We’re going to find you a group of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts and take care of all the other details. The tour will be led by our guide, who’ll make sure everything runs smoothly, ensuring maximum hiking enjoyment.

Private Guided Group

Experience the great outdoors on a private guided tour tailored just for your group. It’s for those who want a hassle-free adventure and enjoy the flexibility of a small private group and not stress about the details of everyday planning. The guide will be fully at your disposal to make this experience as personalized as possible, maximizing enjoyment during and after the tour.

Self-guided

Those who like a good adventure and limitless flexibility should go on a self-guided tour. We prepare the itinerary and book your accommodations while you enjoy the journey without our guide, being fully in charge of all the daily decisions. While you’ll have the full support of our team in case of any emergencies or concerns, a certain level of self-reliance is required.

Hassle-Free

Hassle-Free

We handle itineraries, accommodations, and anything else you prefer not to deal with, so you can enjoy a carefree hike.

Book with Confidence

Book with Confidence

We are a financially protected company, fully bonded and insured, keeping your money safe and allowing you to travel with confidence.

Tried & Tested Adventures

Tried & Tested Adventures

Only the best walking tours of Switzerland, cherry-picked by our local team with an in-depth knowledge of the region.

Unbeatable Support

Unbeatable Support

Our 24/7 customer support is where we show our passion, bringing you a better experience by making your well-being our number one priority.

from 1.059 € /person
Unwind and immerse yourself in nature with our Switzerland walking holidays. Hike through the Swiss Alps and create memories to last a lifetime.

Have questions? Talk to us.

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Samo Korelec
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