The month begins with a work-free day in many cantons, Ascension Day and Pentecost usually occur in May. These holidays are used by many families for 1-2 day hikes or a stay in a vacation home in the mountains or in the southernmost Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. The temperatures are already summery, at least during the day, and the vegetation bathes the country in bright colors. Ideal for hiking in picturesque places for a wide range of interests.
Hiking in the mountains attracts people looking for spectacular views, unusual flora and fauna and, above all, fresh, clean air. The routes can be adapted to suit a wide range of physical conditions: Leisurely walks that can be done by train, bus and mountain trains are suitable for families with young children, people who can’t or don’t want to walk long distances. Excursions that also involve climbing a few meters in altitude, but don’t require any special mountain experience, offer a bit of sporting activity and generally lead to places where there are no roads and can last from 2 to 4 hours. Finally, there are full-day or even multi-day routes that pass by mountain huts in unspoiled valleys and climb mountains. For these routes, you will need a local guide and maps, as well as a certain level of fitness. The reward for the effort is unforgettable views at any time of day, meetings with like-minded people and the chance to taste the local culinary specialties. You can find out which option is ideal during a personal consultation with Luci, who loves and manages the choices for all three options well.
Water excursions are very popular alternatives for families or grandparents traveling with their grandchildren. On the Rhine, near Schaffhausen or Basel, on Lake Constance, Lake Zurich, Lake Vierwaldstättersee, Lakes Thun and Brienz, in the Bernese Alps, Lakes Neuchâtel and Biel, on the border with French-speaking Switzerland, Lake Leman, on whose shores Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux are located, as well as in Ticino, on Lake Maggiore or Lake Lugano, there are countless opportunities for trips lasting from just over an hour to a whole day on modern or historic steamboats. Destination Switzerland will select the tickets for the right tour based on your preferences, or they are already included in your Swiss Travel Pass if you choose to travel by public transport.
Bicycle tours are another way to explore the country. Especially in recent years, with the advent of electric bikes, there has been an increasing number of rental stations, and specially signposted cycle paths, mostly separated from roads for cars, allow relaxed progress through nature and smaller towns, where you can go faster than on foot, but still cover longer distances. Destino Suíça works with partners who specialize in organizing these offers and who are also led by Brazilian women.
