Jura Crest Trail
16 stages . 17 nights . Jura Mountains
A typically Jura hill of grass and rocks
Jura Crest Trail
Jura Crest Trail
16 stages . 17 nights
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Jura Crest Trail
Self-guided walking holiday

Key information

Start: Dielsdof near Zurich
End: Nyon near Geneva
Season dates: 1 June to 16 Sept 2027
Length: 16 stages, 1 rest day, 17 nights
Typical walk: 20km, 800m ascent
Total distance: 323km or 202 miles
Highest altitude: 1,679m at Mont Tendre
Grade: Blue (Walking grades)
Group size: 2 to 10 trekkers

From GBP 2,780 per person


Alternative trip options
Jura Crest Trail: East - The Eastern half of the Jura Crest Trail
Jura Crest Trail: West - The Western half of the Jura Crest Trail
Via Alpina: Bernese Oberland - Another Swiss national route
Tour du Mont Blanc - A classic trip in the Alps

The Jura Crest Trail is Switzerland's oldest long-distance hiking route with signposting beginning in 1905. Follow the ridgelines and summits of the Jura Mountains, a scenic range that runs parallel to the Alps to the North West. Known for its quiet forests, limestone ridges and craggy cliffs, the route offers a more manageable and relaxed hike than our high Alpine routes.

The full Swiss Jura Crest Trail stretches from Dielsdorf near Zurich to Nyon near Geneva. It runs East to West in 16 stages. We walk the whole way (every step), with one rest day in the middle at Neuchâtel (reached by bus and train from Vue des Alpes). Fall into a relaxing patten as, day by day, you ascend, traverse, and descend. Our route passes over the summits of the Burghorn (the first hill that we climb), Chasseral, Tête de Ran, La Soliat, Le Suchet, Mont Tendre, and La Dôle. High up, traverse over rocky paths, and lower down, walk through meadows and woodland pasture, along with the sound of cowbells.

Our self-guided hiking trips give you the freedom to walk at your own pace, with all the logistics handled for you. From optional luggage transfers to detailed route notes and cosy accommodations, we take care of the details so that you can enjoy the journey to the full. Alternatively, opt for a guided trip where you'll be accompanied by one of our International Mountain Leaders.

Map
Options
Our standard 16 stage trip splits the stages fairly evenly, making use of accommodation on or close to the route on most nights. Our trips are customisable and you're welcome to hike the trip in more or fewer stages, or walk only part of the route. Here we give details of some common variations. If you have ideas of your own, we welcome you to get in touch.

Make the trip shorter
For a shorter trip we recommend skipping the first stage after the rest day (so, our Stage 9). After your nights in Neuchâtel therefore, you take the train straight to Noiraigue and restart walking from there. This works well logistically and avoids long days.

Alternatively, if you want to walk the entire trip in 15 or fewer stages, we recommend firstly combining Stages 2 and 3 for a long 33km day. We can advise on more!

Make the trip longer
Our plan for a trip of more than our standard 18 nights would be to space out the sandard 16 stages with more rest days than the one standard rest day. Take as many as you wish! Our advice is to be prepared for the number of consecutive days of walking that you'll be doing. Please ask us!

Rest days
We already include one day in Neuchâtel as standard, but you're welcome to add more:
- After Stage 4 (to Balsthal) could be a good point to add a rest day. Balsthal is pleasant and is near towns like Olten and Solothurn off-route.

Stage 13 (to Le Pont) is quite short, giving you an afternoon to relax in this lakeside town.

We’d also recommend spending more time in Zurich at the start of your trip, Neuchâtel (half-way, off-route) or Nyon (or nearby Geneva) at the end of your trip. Please ask us if you’d like to add any extra nights at either end.

Hike with a guide
Hike with confidence in the company of one of our fully qualified International Mountain Leaders (IMLs). They'll take charge of the navigation and logistics, leaving you to enjoy leaving you to enjoy the day without worrying about the details.


Please see our In the Pipeline page for more details on trips coming soon.
2027 Prices
Jura Crest Trail
1 June to 16 Sept 2027
Classic
Self-guided
16 stages
1 rest day
(18 nights)
GBP 2,780
Singles 850
Main Trip
15 stages
(16 nights)

GBP 2,600
Singles 770
Options
Baggage transfer


Please ask us

A typical hotel room in Switzerland
A typical hotel room in Switzerland, here near Sainte Croix
Accommodation

Where we stay
Our Jura Crest Trail includes hotel stays every night in private ensuite rooms. Generally the nights are spent in quiet, rural villages, with simple, independantly run hotels.

Roughly (depending on what we book) seven of your hotels are not directly on the route, being in a town lower down the hillside from the Jura Crest Trail itself, and the other hotels are on the route. We make use of the excellent Swiss train system. Additionally, we book and pay for taxis to get between La Combaz and Couvet, after Stage 10.

We book breakfasts as standard apart from in Saint-Cergue on the night before last, at which our hotel doesn't include breakfast. In Saint-Cergue there are bakeries to choose from.

A Swiss breakfast is an uplifting affair with wholesome ingredients: plenty of eggs, yoghurt, fruit and bread.

Staying in Noiraigue
At the end of Stage 9 we suggest taking the train back to Neuchâtel for another hotel night, and this is our normal plan. Alternatively, in Noiraigue there is one auberge offering non-ensuite accommodation in a mix of private rooms and dormitory places. If you prefer, we can book this for you; please note you'll need to pay for this night directly (including dinner and breakfast). We would reduce your price and agree this with you, if you prefer this Noiraigue option.

Single Room Supplement
If you would like to book a room for single occupancy, we would ask to add our single supplement fee. This covers the additional cost of booking a single occupancy room, compared to a double occupancy room.

We regret that we cannot take bookings for solo walkers on self-guided trips. Of course, if you are walking as part of a self-guided group (2+) then please ask us if you prefer your own room at night, and we will ask to add the single supplement above.

Route
Typical JCT terrain with a vaches aillatantes sign
Typical JCT terrain with a vaches aillatantes (suckling cows) sign
Our Routecards follow the official Jura Crest Trail, signposted as Swiss National Route 5 on the ground, in its entirety... all 16 stages. The JCT starts in Dielsdorf outside Zurich and ends in Nyon near Geneva.

Along the way, highlights are the initial clear ridge to Baden (beautiful), the Weissenstein plateau, high views from Chasseral, the Creux du Van (a rocky amphitheatre), Mont Tendre as the highest point in the Swiss Jura, and then a final summit at Crêt de la Neuve before the walk down to Nyon.

Jura Crest Trail Walking Guide - more about the trail

The Terrain
Underfoot, the Jura Crest Trail follows a mix of well-maintained paths, forest tracks, trails on grassy ridges, quiet farm roads and gravel lanes. In dry weather the paths will be dusty, or hardpack, and in wet weather more muddy. The route ventures into the hills, with climbs at times sustained, without the particular steepness of those Alpine trails to the South.

Is it for me?
The Jura Crest Trail will suit hikers who are up for a typical day of 6 to 8 hours. Hikers should come prepared for heat, which can be especially challenging in the woods, even at low altitudes. The Jura Crest Trail suits independent travellers looking for a less-crowded alternative to the Alps, and with perhaps more rural, authentic and agricultural situations.

Difficulty
We grade the Jura Crest Trail as a Blue. The route is a walk and there are no glacier crossings, via ferrata or rock climbing. The route includes steady ascents and descents and follows rolling ridgelines, rather than the steep Alpine terrain typical of many of our other treks. The easier terrain is a contrast to the stage lengths, which are generally quite long - averaging around 20km per day.

People at Alpine Exploratory
Latest research on the Jura Crest Trail by Alpine Exploratory's Pete

How to get there
Swiss buses outside Aarau train station
Swiss buses outside Aarau train station


Your first night is in Dielsdorf, a sweet Swiss village near to Zurich airport. There are 2 connetions per hour. One takes 40 minutes and the other 27 minutes; the time depends on whether there is a change for a bus, or a train all the way.

The trip finishes in Nyon on Lake Geneva, and now that we are at this end of Switzerland, Geneva is the most convenient airport - around 25 minutes by direct train to the airport.

Travel to and from the trip is not included in the holiday price, and we leave you to arrange your transfers individually. We do however take care to give the most useful notes possible about all travel options. We supply these on booking, in your Joining Notes. We also offer personalised tips based on our extensive travels across Switzerland and Europe.

Please ask us for advice and we'll be happy to help.
Included
  • Accommodation and Itinerary, tailored to your preferences
  • Breakfast every morning except in Saint-Cergue
  • Taxi transfers between La Combaz and Couvet (after Stage 10)
  • Routecards JCT1-16 on waterproof paper (the Exploratory system)
  • The topographical maps needed (1:50,000)
  • Downloadable GPX Tracks covering the route
  • Expert advice and local information
  • Our Season Update following our pre-season recce
  • Full support during your trip (9am until 9pm Alpine time)
Not included
  • Travel to and from your trip
  • Transport to off-route accommodation (by bus and train)
  • Any other local transport taken whilst on the trip
  • Travel insurance
  • Lunches, snacks, drinks and evening meals
  • Baggage transfer (available as an extra; please see below)

Baggage transfer

Let us move your bags along the route for you. We offer a baggage transfer service on the Jura Crest Trail, as an extra, to all stops.

Alternatively, if your trip is part of a longer holiday and you won't need your kit every night, we can send your bags directly from Dielsdorf to Nyon. This is a lower price.

Please ask us for details.
Questions about the Jura Crest Trail?
Feel free to ask any questions about your planning. Ben, Eve, Ione, Katy, Lucy, Rob, Simon, Skylar or Steph will reply with expert advice. We spend a lot of time hiking our routes (and trails around the world) so please ask us anything.


Enquiry Form
Jura Crest Trail, Self-guided

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Contact Alpine Exploratory
Email info@alpineexploratory.com
Phone +44 (0)131 214 1144
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The Alpine Exploratory Team
The Alpine Exploratory team
The town of Baden on the Jura Crest Trail
  The Swiss town of Baden on the Jura Crest Trail


Alpine Exploratory
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