Day 1 Zermatt
Welcome to the stunning village of
Zermatt, home of the legendary
Matterhorn!
Upon arrival, make your transfer to your destination, arrive at your
hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see
and do.
We recommend starting your afternoon
in the beautiful old town village
of Zermatt. A great way to find out more about this area is to
take a tour of the village, which takes a couple of hours and provides great
history of the area. Admire the timber buildings dating back to the 16th
century, you`ll feel like you`re in an open-air museum, everywhere you turn is
stunning. Stop in one of the many charming cafes or restaurants for lunch.
You`ll also notice the many souvenir shops and watch shops lining the main
street as you explore.
We highly recommend a visit to the Matterhorn Museum to learn
the fascinating stories of the early climbers and see how the people here lived
in the earlier years. The museum is arranged like a traditional Alpine village,
with galleries contained in 14 authentic buildings that were dismantled and
rebuilt in this underground space. Outside the museum is one of Zermatt`s most
popular highlights, the charming 1906 Marmot Fountain.
In the late afternoon, take a stroll
up to one of the main viewpoints of the village to capture the twinkly lights
as the day turns into night.
Finish your day enjoying dinner at one
of the lovely restaurants in town. Zermatt really welcomes the world when it
comes to food. If you don`t feel like eating the traditional raclette, fondue
and rosti, you`ll find everything from Japanese, Mexican, Korean, French, Thai,
and anything else that may strike your fancy.
Day 2 Zermatt
Note: Your itinerary may
vary depending on the time of year you visit.
Wake up early today for a walk on the world`s longest hanging suspension bridge.
This is a new addition to the amazing things to do in Zermatt. The bridge is
called the Charles Kuonen
Suspension Bridge or Europabrücke
(Europe Bridge) that hangs 278 ft. above the Grabengufer ravine. It takes about
10 minutes to cross and boasts stunning views of the Matterhorn, plus other
peaks - the Wisshorn and the Bernese Alps. This is definitely one to be enjoyed
in the summer months (open around June to October).
Another fantastic way to spend the day is
to take the Sunnegga Express
and Underground Railroad up to Sunnegga, a well-known ski area with plenty to
do once you get there. You`ll find some prime mountain biking trails here in
the summer months. There are winter hiking trails, restaurants, and of course
plenty of opportunities for fantastic skiing.
At Sunnegga you can climb onto a four-seater chairlift to a little
cluster of farmhouses that make up the resort village of Findeln.
Up until 1954, rye and barley were grown on these slopes at a height of
6,889 ft. Findeln wasn`t occupied year-round, but was rather a Maiensäss, and
at the start of the summer villagers would embark on a grueling cattle drive to
this spot. And during the season they would cultivate grain, make cheese or
send the milk back down the valley to be sold. The old barns and farmhouses are
still standing, as is the chapel that dates from the 17th century.
During the winter months, skiers (and
non-skiers alike) come from all over the world year-round to ride the 15.5 miles
from Matterhorn Glacier
Paradise to Zermatt, the longest descent on
the entire continent of Europe and offers incredible panoramic views not only
of the iconic Mountain, but also the surrounding ski slopes. If you don`t plan
to ski, there is still plenty of fun winter sports to try such as snowshoeing,
skating and tobogganing.
Also
part of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the Glacier Palace. Take the lift down inside the glacier and
you`ll emerge in a magical walkway carved through the ice and filled with ice sculptures.
With colorfully illuminated ice cars, dragons, and even an ice throne and
slide, the mystical palace is a lovely contrast from the snowy views outside.
Before catching the cable car back down the mountain, stop off at the
restaurant for a warming hot chocolate or a bowl of soup before heading back to
your hotel for a restful night sleep.
Day 3 in Zermatt
Start your day off with an unforgettable excursion on the highest open-air rack railway
in Europe, the train to
Gornegrat (Gornergrat Bahn). The train goes 10,134 ft. above sea
level through the mountain wilderness where no fewer than 29 peaks rise above
13,000 ft. This railway was laid out back in 1896 when it became the world`s
first fully electrified rack line. The trip takes 33 minutes and ventures over
ravines and through stone pine and larch forest. The observatory deck at night
is magical, and you can even see an igloo village from here!
Alternatively,
spend today enjoying a helicopter
tour or hand-gliding through the sky. You will find plenty
of helicopter tours buzzing
around the Matterhorn. It`s a breathtaking view from the ground and absolutely
thrilling from the skies! And for the more adventurous, you may want to try paragliding.
There are flying schools that offer this experience with their tandem flights.
They also give courses for the more daring.
If you`re
looking for a more relaxing day we recommend you spend some time unwinding in
one of the many top-notch spas
and wellness centers in town. These facilities are offered in two
dozen Zermatt hotels that allow for outside guests to enjoy. All have saunas,
steam baths, heated pools, Jacuzzis (many outdoors) and long menus of
treatments for lasting relaxation. Spend a few hours or the entire day indulging
in relaxation. There`s something so soothing about looking out at a cold snowy
scene from the comfort of a bubbling spa!
Spend your
last evening taking in the legendary nightlife of Zermatt. After sports and spa visits, the
village comes alive! There are more than 100 restaurants, 60 bars, great live
music, countless nightclubs and energetic discos offering something for
everyone.
Additional Days in Zermatt
Should you be able to
spend additional days in Zermatt we recommend you check out the Schwarszee,
`Black Lake` in English. This body of water has a dark surface as it reflects
the brooding rock around it. The lake is served by a gondola, which takes only
12 minutes from Zermatt and has been shuttling between these points since 1954.
At the Schwarzsee you`ll have the best vantage point for the Hörnligrat ridge
on the Matterhorn, which is written into mountaineering lore. Right on the
water is the little chapel of Mary of the Snows, where mountaineers still come
to give thanks after their descent from the Matterhorn.
We also recommend a
visit to Gorner Gorge, located about 15 minutes on foot from
Zermatt. This is a wonderful landform that descends rather than rises. Since
the last ice age the glacial river, Gornervispe has sliced though the ancient
and green-tinged serpentine rock to produce a ravine that continues to deepen.
In the 1880`s the gorge was made navigable on foot, and wooden footbridges
provide a perfect viewpoint of the tortured rock and the crystalline water
below. If you visit in September, try to visit between 4 and 5pm when a strange
natural phenomenon takes place, a unique light that gives the water a
compelling turquoise glow.
Your Last Day in Zermatt
Depart your hotel for the train station or airport where you will head home or make your way to more Switzerland adventures. Savor the memories of a very special time in Zermatt.