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Of course, the heart of our event beats largely around Montreux and Lake Geneva. But our various races also highlight the fabulous long-distance hiking trail known as the Via Alpina, which crosses the Swiss Alps from east to west from the Principality of Liechtenstein.

The Montreux Trail Festival remains a Montreux event, but is increasingly becoming a showcase for Swiss alpine tourism, with this 'backbone' linking the two sides of the country and bringing together several Alpine cantons and two countries.

MONTREUX

The Montreux region and surrounding area boasts a host of attractions that are well worth a short, extended stay to enjoy the post-race period. Why not start with a tour of the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage site that probably seduced Charlie Chaplin, whose career is summed up in Chaplin’s World, to the delight of young and old alike. And what about the Château de Chillon, one of the most visited places in Switzerland and probably the most beautiful medieval building in the country. What's more, like Roger Federer, you can reach several of the race venues by taking the GoldenPass Express line, recently voted "most beautiful train in the world" by National Geographic. And that's not all!

And if you stay in the region, you can take advantage of the Riviera Card, which offers a large amount of benefits.

“If you want peace of mind, come to Montreux”, Freddie Mercury

You can of course book your hotel in Montreux via the usual reservation websites. If you book by telephone, you can take advantage of a 10% discount on your room and evening meal at the Hotel de Chailly, ideally situated just off the motorway in Montreux and just a few minutes from the start. Simply mention that you are taking part in the race

ALPES VAUDOISES

With the crossing of the Pays-d’Enhaut, the Vaud Alps remain at the heart of our routes. And to mark the occasion, the Montreux Trail Festival will be introducing you to a region that has kept its traditions alive, notably in the production of its famous alpine cheese, l’Etivaz but also in its architecture and magnificent chalets in Rougemont, Château-d'Oex and Rossinière. And if you're in the region, why not take the opportunity to discover the rest of the Vaud Alps, with Leysin and Diablerets just a stone's throw from our routes, offering a host of activities. Château-d'Oex, the world capital of hot-air ballooning , can also offer you a different, aerial way of discovering the region.

BERN

With 7 refreshment posts, 2 base camps and 3 starts : Lauterbrunnen, Lenk and Saanen, the canton of Bern is obviously likewise at the centre of the 8th XXL edition. You'd almost forgive them for having occupied the Canton of Vaud in the Middle Ages.

This immense canton, which alone represents the variety of the Swiss landscape, is of course known far and wide for its Jungfrau region, with no less than 9 peaks over 4,000 metres. Crossing Switzerland is also an excellent way to discover the canton from top to bottom, from Engstlenalp at the foot of the Titlis to Saanen and the border with the French-speaking part of Switzerland.

VADUZ

The capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein welcomes us for the Grand Depart. A pretty little city at the foot of the mountains, overlooked by the prince's castle. Not only does Vaduz provide a pleasant stop-off point for exploring the Rhine Valley and, in particular, the Heidiland region it also gives you the chance to explore the Alpine part of Liechtenstein. It's well worth the diversions. The Liechtenstein Center in the centre of the capital, which marks the start of the Via Alpina, provides useful information for exploring the country.

LAUTERBRUNNEN

Lauterbrunnen is quite simply one of the symbols of Switzerland, with its emblematic Staubbach waterfall and its cog railway leading to Wengen and then to the foot of the Eiger North Face. On the other side, the Schilthorn, at an altitude of 2971m, is famous for having been the setting for the filming of the James Bond 007 classic: "Her Majesty's Secret Service".

In 2024, Lauterbrunnen is offering us the chance to be the starting point for CROSSING ALPS, as well as being a base camp for the 390km route.

ADELBODEN LENK KANDERSTEG

Adelboden-Lenk-Kandersteg, the magical triplet, Made In Bern ! Three charming villages in the heart of the Alps. Countless activities to enjoy in both summer and winter. Some of the most iconic spots in the Alps, such as the splendid Oechinensee.

Lenk in the Simmental Valley, with its famous cows, is the starting point for CROSSING HIGHLANDS, a great way to discover this region, where the huge number of hiking trails means you can discover many little-known places, a paradise for runners of all levels.

Pack HighlandsThanks to our partners Lenk Tourisme and Kuspo, we are able to offer a very attractive package which includes the shuttle bus from Montreux on Friday at the end of the day, the pasta party in Lenk, the night in a dormitory and breakfast on the morning before the race.

The package costs just CHF 30.-

Order now your Pack Crossing Highlands CLICK HERE

Pack Highlands

GSTAAD SAANEN

The Gstaad region is far more than just a luxury boutique; it's also a place to discover nature and traditional architecture. The most beautiful chalets in Switzerland are here!

The village of Saanen, Gstaad's more discreet little sister, welcomes us for the start of Crossing Sarina on the banks of the river that gives the race its name. Its central square and church alone are well worth a visit.

GLARNERLAND

This part of the Glarus region is probably the most secret part of the Via Alpina, at least for French-speaking regions. And that's a shame, because it's full of incredible places that are accessible via the Via Alpina. The family resort of Braunwald, Elm and the natural phenomenon of the Martinsloch or the picturesque lake of Klöntal are all places that are a must-see.

ENGELBERG

Engelberg at the foot of the Titlis is THE resort of Central Switzerland, with its Belle Epoque style and a Benedictine abbey founded in 1120 at the heart of the village. With more than 500km of trails, Engelberg is also a paradise for trail-running, particularly towards Truebsee, which leads to the 3238-metre-high Titlis, as well as the soon-to-be legendary Crossing Switzerland peaks of Surenenpass and Jochpass.

ALTDORF

When you think of the capital of the canton of Uri, you obviously think of Switzerland's national hero, William Tell, some 700 years before Roger Federer. The runners will pass in front of the statue of the man (William, not Roger), which every good Swiss schoolboy should visit at least once in his life on the way back through the famous Gotthard Tunnel, just a stone's throw away. Fortunately, Altdorf is much more pleasant than this well-known holiday route, and a great way to discover the beautiful Lake Lucerne region.

MELCHSEE FRUTT

The Melchsee-Frutt resort and the municipality of Kerns welcome Crossing Switzerland, particularly as they pass by the magnificent Tannensee, surrounded by mountains that are no less magnificent.

Melchsee-Frutt can be reached by cable car from Stöckalp and offers a magnificent setting and a little-known place if you don't live in the region. A small tourist train takes visitors past two lakes and up to the Tannalp Alp. For the more athletically inclined, former European marathon champion Viktor Roethlin is an ambassador for the region's trail routes.

CAMP GROUNDS

Given the high cost of hotels in Switzerland, camping is often an economical solution, and always in magnificent locations. Here is a selection of campsites close to your departure and arrival points.

Camping de la Maladaire, la Tour de Peilz (2 km from Montreux-Clarens)
Camping les Grangettes, Noville (10 km from Montreux-Clarens)
Camping des Horizons Bleus, Villeneuve (7 km from Montreux-Clarens)
Camping, Saanen (Crossing Sarina)
Seegarten, Lenk (Crossing Highlands)
Camping Hasenweide, Lenk (Crossing Highlands)
Schützenbach, Lauterbrunnen (Crossing Alps)
Camping Jungfrau, Lauterbrunnen (Crossing Alps)
Camping Mittagsspitze, Triesen - Liechtenstein (Crossing Switzerland)

CAMPER VANS

It's not always easy to find an authorised site for camper vans, but here are a few ideas and a website to help you.

La Tronchenaz , Villeneuve around 7 km from Montreux-Clarens
Les Paccots (Châtel-Saint-Denis), Zone des Joncs around 17 km from Montreux-Clarens
Bühlberg, Lenk (Crossing Highlands)
Reichensteinstrasse 1, Zweisimmen (Crossing Sarina) around 14 from Saanen
Lake Hongrin, Château-d'Oex (directly on the course)