As a landscape and travel photographer, Switzerland has always been one of the most appealing countries to me. Last year, I had the very fortunate opportunity to visit different parts of the country during what is perhaps my favorite season and arguably the most photogenic of the year, autumn.

While assembling my travel itinerary for the Swiss autumn, I kept in mind that the foliage reaches its peak colors around different times, highly dependent on local vegetation and the altitude of the specific place.

Although autumn generally is a great time of the year to travel in the mountains, you should specifically be prepared to encounter cold weather. That's why I packed enough warm and rainproof clothes for my Swiss autumn trip.

It's kind of a cliché, but every region has its own beauty. I particularly loved the rugged, fairly secluded Val d'Herens and Lötschental valleys in the canton of Valais. The Engadin probably is the best place to capture the golden larch trees. A morning walk from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen in the Jungfrau region was a dream coming true. As was the ridge hike to Fronalpstock. Lesser known places like the Muotathal and the rolling hills of Hirzel were a surprising discovery.

During a rainy day, I decided to take the traditional ferry for a ride around Lake Lucerne. I got to know a local, elderly couple who were telling me some nice and romantic stories about life in the mountains during their childhood. It was a captivating conversation and a perfect way to spend the day.

If you decide to visit Switzerland, autumn is a great choice! Many places are much less crowded compared to the high seasons, and there is a fair chance of sunny weather after a chilly night, which is perfect for hiking. Try to include some less famous destinations in your itinerary, you'll often be surprised!