Trails of Romansch Switzerland - Tours in Review: Switzerland

June-July '02 we took a 14-day walking tour, "Trails of Romansch Switzerland" with Elderhostel (11 Ave. De Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111-1746; phone 877/426-8056 or visit www.elderhostel.org). The trip was exceptional, both for value and experiences. It cost $3,145 from San Francisco and was worth every penny.

We flew on Delta to Zurich, arriving a few days early so we could revisit Interlaken, where we had vacationed with our teenagers 18 years ago. Then we joined the tour in Disentis for six days of hiking, field trips and lectures that were scenic, fascinating and full of adventure.

We hiked out every day with a lunch and then returned to the wonderful Hotel Cucagna for a nice dinner, a shower and a soft bed every night.

Disentis has a 12th-century monastery and miles and miles of great hikes within a short distance. Mr. Swartz, the proprietor of the Hotel Cucagna, had also been governor of the canton a few years ago and he gave us two great lectures about the policies and educational system in Switzerland.

We also visited the NEAT tunnel, which will be a double train tunnel through the Alps to Italy in the vicinity of the Gotthard Pass and tunnel. We touted the site, complete with suits and hard hats, and learned about tunnel construction.

In the second week we traveled to Bettmeralp, which had to be reached by gondola. It was 6,500 feet up, and the mountains seemed to be within our reach. We hiked on trails and roads and rode chairlifts and gondolas and trains to reach each day's destination to begin our hikes.

We stayed in the marvelous Hotel Waldhaus, which served meals fit for a king. We also traveled to Zermatt one day to see the Matterhorn up close, but we could see it from our hotel too.

This was a well-planned tour with lots of variety, and the description in the Elderhostel catalog was very accurate. It was an "active outdoor" Level 2 tour, and we did need hiking boots. Our escort/guide, Tina Tesfaye, was excellent and we also had local guides at each site.

Elderhostel is also very good about arranging alternate travel dates if you want to arrive a bit early or stay on awhile after the tour. We have not found other companies nearly so accommodating. We hope that other travelers will take advantage of this wonderful trip.

If any readers have questions, they surely can contact us at any time by e-mailing awhitegolf@aol.com.

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