Packing List - Alps Walking and Sightseeing Tours

Packing for a Vacation in the Alps

"Any successful journey begins by packing your luggage full of imagination" --Kathrine Palmer Peterson.

This packing list is a great start for your planning and packing for a Switzerland sightseeing tour. It's ideally suited for Alpenwild trips such as Scenic Alps by Rail and Cheese, Chocolate and the Alps. If your travel plans involve more strenuous hiking or trekking, on a trip such as the Haute Route or and inn-to-inn walking tour, you'll want to refer to either our Alps Hiking or Trekking packing list, which are designed specifically for hikers and trekkers in the Alps.  

But even if you're not planning on doing some serious hiking on your vacation in the Alps, you can still expect to be outdoors and doing some walking, although not on mountain trails, so packing the right items will enable you to have a more enjoyable trip. For train travel and walking around towns and villages, the key is casual comfort. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes that are easy to pack and wear, and wash if needed. In the evening you'll be eating dinners in the hotel or at restaurants around town. You may want to wear something other than what you've been wearing during the day, but is still casual and not really very dressy. While we make some specific recommendations below, your own personal preference, experience, and comfort are ultimately the most important factors in deciding what to bring.

Packing List:

When selecting clothing, think about dual-purpose clothes and about layering for warmth and keeping dry. It is better to have several layers you can take off and put on one at a time versus one heavy layer. Up on the high mountain peaks it can be cool, especially if the wind is blowing. You won’t be outside for too long, but this is when your layered clothing will come in handy (also knit hat, gloves, jacket). If you are sensitive to cold or traveling during the early or late season tours, a lightweight down jacket or similar is also recommended.

Recommended Clothing & Footwear

• 1 pair comfortable walking shoes with a sturdy sole and good traction (preferably waterproof)
• 1 pair comfortable lightweight shoes or sandals for evenings and days without much walking
• 3-4 pair casual pants in cotton blend (easier to wash/dry and better than jeans). Must be comfortable when sitting for many hours in trains or walking around towns.
• A pair of capri-pants, shorts, or pants with zip-off legs can be useful for hot conditions
• 4-5 short-sleeve shirts in easy-wash, quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant fabric
• 2-3 long-sleeved shirts that can be worn on their own or over the short-sleeve shirts for layering
• Casual outfits for the evenings 
• Underwear and socks – can handwash halfway through tour
• Raincoat & Sunhat with a brim (It is likely to encounter both rain and sun, so be prepared!)
• Zip-up fleece jacket or softshell jacket. A light sweater is also useful for additional layering
• Knitted hat and a pair lightweight gloves (for mountain excursions)
• A lightweight puffy jacket for spring and fall tours
• Swimsuit – we stay in some hotels with great pools
• Sleepwear

Recommended Gear

• Water bottle (water is free and safe to drink in Switzerland!)
• A daypack to carry your valuables, railpass, water bottle, raincoat, snacks, sunglasses, sunhat, sunscreen, etc.
• Personal Toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, lip balm, hand sanitizer, etc. Hotels have hair dryers, shampoo, and soap. Not all hotels provide washcloths so you may want to bring your own if needed
• Personal medication as prescribed, in the original packaging with your name on it – remember to pack your meds in your carry-on luggage in case your suitcase gets delayed
• Simple first-aid supplies such as Band-Aids, blister aid, Neosporin, Ibuprofen, etc.
• Laundry soap for handwashing clothes at hotels. 
• Swiss plug adapter (Europlug–type C)
• Chargers for phones/electronic items

Try not to pack too much. Most people choose to check a suitcase for the transatlantic flight and use their small backpack as a carry-on piece. Make sure you have your rail passes & passport handy as you will need these upon arrival.

Walking Shoes

We recommend that you choose your shoes carefully, with proven comfort and good traction being your prime consideration. A good quality tennis shoe or low-cut hiker is a good choice.

Backpack

A small daypack is ideal for walking around villages, taking on excursions, or even on a walk from one village to another. In it you can carry a water bottle, snacks, a camera, or maybe even a fleece or rain jacket to put on in case there's a change in the weather.

Raingear

I wish we could say this isn't really needed, but a good lightweight rainjacket can make the difference between a miserable day and an enjoyable personal triumph. While we've long recommended waterproof-breathable (Gore-Tex) type raingear, some manufacturers make lightweight raingear using other fabrics.