Five herbal walks in Switzerland that enchant body and soul

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Wild herbs have been with us for centuries – as food, medicinal plants, or quiet accompaniments along the wayside. Today, they are experiencing something of a renaissance. For example, through enjoyable guided walks that offer a glimpse into a plant world that is often overlooked in everyday life.

Meret Bissegger in Ticino – one of the first of her kind

In the Blenio Valley, among chestnut groves and fragrant meadows, Meret Bissegger has been introducing her guests to the world of edible wild plants for many years. She began focussing on this topic back in the 1980s, later causing a sensation with ‘Casa Merogusto‘ and receiving 14 Gault Millau points for her cuisine. Today, she invites guests to join her on walks and multi-day excursions. A leaf is rubbed between the fingers, releasing the scent of aniseed or lemon, and later, the herbs are added to a salad or tossed in a pan. Cooking often takes place on the go and sometimes the day ends with a shared picnic. Participants immediately sense how closely nature and cuisine are intertwined here.

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With a view over the Bernese Oberland

From Schwanden near Sigriswil, a path leads up across flowering meadows and through sparse forests. Time and again, the view sweeps down to Lake Thun, deep blue and framed by snow-capped peaks. Herbal experts explain plants such as ribwort plantain and daisies along the way, letting participants taste them and imparting useful knowledge about the herbs. At the end of the hike, a simple, freshly prepared wild herb salad is served – a meal that will be remembered because it is so closely linked to the experience.

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Three seasons in the Emmental

In the Emmental, the flora offers a new experience three times a year: in spring, when the first green shoots bring smells of earth and new beginnings; in summer, when yarrow, oregano and wild mint fill the air with their scent; and in autumn, when berries ripen and fog hangs between the hills. Each of these tours ends with a small culinary gathering – sometimes a soup is prepared, sometimes a salad is made from the collected herbs, and sometimes even a multi-course meal. It is this combination of landscape, community, and taste that gives the days a special tone.

Wild herbs in Obwalden

Between Flüeli-Ranft and the rolling hills of Obwalden lies a realm full of plants that have held healing or ritual significance for centuries. Ursula Anderhalden from Echt Natur guides visitors through meadows, forests, and along streams. St. John’s wort with its golden flowers, mugwort, which was once used as incense at the summer solstice, or the delicate yarrow by the wayside – every plant tells a story. During the hike, participants collect, smell, and taste the plants; at the end, they prepare a small snack that allows them to experience what they have just learned in a culinary way. The combination of landscape, knowledge, and taste lends the tour a special intensity.

Holistic at the Haslihof

The Haslihof near Römerswil in Lucerne’s Seetal is much more than a farm – it is a place of learning. Host Margrit Steiner-Büeler combines herbal walks with workshops in which ointments, tinctures, and natural cosmetics are made. The day begins outside, where the herbs are collected, and continues in the workshop, where ancient techniques are taught amidst jars, mortars, and dried flowers. Those who want to get more involved can attend a year-long course and follow the plants through all seasons – from the first shoots to the final blossoms. It is this combination of nature, craftsmanship, and everyday life that makes the Haslihof such a special place.