So, I am dead set on the Alps, but the tours are SO expensive. I just want to hike/trek and soak up the lakes and mountains and enjoy nature. I'm more than willing to camp. Surely there are cheaper ways to enjoy the alps. I know nothing will be cheap, and I can prepare for that, but I would like to avoid dropping 3-4 grand on a tour. What exactly can I do solo in that region? What do locals do? Can I hire a guide for a day once I get there? What if I arrived just before the peak season begins, like maybe in late May?

Tour? Don't be silly. We have enough experienced and helpful people right here to help you plan your trip. Think R/T airfare plus about $50 a day. Hostels are the way to go.

Sticker shock is unavoidable as long as the dollar is as weak as it is right now. My suggestion is to trade the Alps for a similar mountain range elsewhere, and go back to Europe in a few years when the US$ improves against the €. Chile or Argentina, for example.

Well, I won't be getting to the Europe leg of my trip (rtw, should have specified) for 2 years, so hopefully it'll improve by then.

I'd never even considered the possibility of taking a tour! (But then I can drive there in 12 hours.) You can do whatever you like solo. I love Love LOVE the Alps: the scenery, the fresh air, the relaxation and all the different nationalities that are there. The differences you'll notice as you pop over the border from France to Switzerland, for example, are surprising!

As far as hiring guides goes, yes you can do it. It's still pretty expensive, but worthwhile if you have a difficult peak to climb or something specialised. If you're going with someone then as long as you don't try anything too outrageous you can just take a tent with you.

Tour? Unless you are retired, immobile or unadventurous then please forget the idea. Switzerland, and the alps as a whole, are very accessible.

Show up at my door with a case of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and maybe we can work a 'tour' out. Seriously...ask about the forums and you'll be able to manage a more rewarding experience for less cost than anything a package tour can organize. (Just bring me the beer, please...tour or not)

Well, I kept trying to find info on hiking and camping in the alps, but I only came up with tours. So I thought maybe that was my only option. I'm glad it's not! Stoo, if you're willing to wait two years on that beer, I'll bring you some. What, are they short on beer in Switzerland?

I'm curious about this camping.... you can just move away from the road, and camp? Surely there are restrictions. I'm aware that I sound incredibly naive here, but it seems too good to be true.

quote:

Originally posted by AltoClariTone:
What, are they short on beer in Switzerland?

No, Stoo's just a grabber

Re. camping, you can't generally pitch a tent anywhere. In wilderness areas I would imagine it would be OK (I've never done it), but there are plenty of campsites across the region in towns and villages which are fairly cheap (maybe €10 a night without a car).

Well, if you want to do multi-day hikes in Switzerland, organizing it can be quite difficult, if you don't know your way around. On most long hiking routes, there are mountain huts where you can stay - but you might want to look into where they are and maybe make a call to the local tourist organization and ask about prices and availability.

For one day hikes you never need a tour.

DO NOT GO ON A TOUR!
Everything in switzerland is well sign posted, people speak english and are helpful and public transport is more than just good.
You can buy a ticket called the "swiss pass" or " swiss flexi pass" that allows you to take trains all around switzerland during a limited time period.find more infohere
stick with youth hostels, they can give you great advice on day hikes or even organized day trips. their homepage is www.youthhostel.ch

feel free to ask about any other questions on switzerland, will be pleased to help!