19 May Hiking in the Alps with local experts

Hiking in the Alps with local experts brings a whole history of mountain myth and legend with it. For example, The Saint Glace has just passed, marking the final cold snap of the season. This ancient European agricultural tradition warns that freezing temperatures and frost can suddenly return in mid-May.

Local folklore

If we were to talk to our resident meteorologist Robert, who I have mentioned a lot over the years, he would say that this mid-May cold snap is a real recurring weather pattern. It is caused by the rapid, uneven heating of the land versus the ocean in spring, allowing cold air masses from the north to push southward. Of course nature does not always stick to the specific dates that the locals quote, between the 11^th and 15^th of May. This kind of local folklore adds colour when traveling the Alps from country to country, as we do on our European hiking trips. The locals who have been traveling these paths for hundreds of years are the real experts in the Swiss Alps. They know their backyards through centuries of experience and we love to talk to them all.

Timing changes everything

When embarking on your hiking in the Alps with local experts, it is important to consider the time of year you are traveling. Many people are choosing to travel outside the busy tourist season and off tourist trails, with good reason. There is nothing better than being in the mountains on your own and outside tourist season that is definitely the case. You may run into locals out and about but you will not see other explorers and families who have no choice but to travel in the school holidays.

The value of staying small

Staying small can mean a lack of consistency from year to year, but not in quality for us. Large-scale operations often lose the level of care, precision and presence that is required to deliver truly tailored experiences. These demand time, attention and a genuine investment in each guest.

Experts in the field of hiking in the Alps

Exploring in the shoulder seasons is when local experts come in handy. The Alps are a challenging yet extremely rewarding environment. However, like any environment that is beautiful due to its extreme nature, it is important to choose the right routes, be aware of weather patterns and understand opening and closing times of lifts and restaurants. If planned correctly these trips can be eye opening. There is so much terrain, history and tradition to discover between Switzerland, Italy and France. This is why we love this area so much and why we want to help you discover its secrets.

So if you are looking for expert local advice around hiking in the Swiss Alps, perhaps across the border of Italy and France, give us a call. We are delighted to guide you on a magical trip through the beautiful terrain that is the European Alps.

Warmest regards from the mountains,

Danielle