Hiking in the Swiss canton of Vaud (Waadt)

The Swiss canton of Vaud (Waadt in German) is not so well-known outside of Switzerland. Overshadowed by Geneva to the west, the Swiss Alps to the east, and Mont Blanc to the south, it’s usually not high on the must-see list for a trip to Switzerland.  Even so, there is a lot to do here.

The Jura run along the north of Vaud, along the border with France. While not as high as the Alps, this mountain range still has many lovely walks and canyons. The south is bordered by Lake Geneva, and includes the World Heritage Site of Lavaux — terraced vineyards rising steeply from the lake, whose walking trails offer fabulous views of the vines, the lake,  and the surrounding mountains. The Vaudois pre-Alps sit at the eastern end of Lake Geneva, and also offer lovely and very accessible walking trails. These become the Alps proper right at the eastern tip of Vaud, with peaks rising to over 3,000 m.

The capital city, Lausanne, is a vibrant university town full of cafes, bars, restaurants and hotels. The pretty towns of Montreux and Vevey, which sit right under the pre-Alps at the eastern end of the lake, would also make a good base — as would ski resorts such as Leysin and Les Diablerets.

All hikes in Vaud