Switzerland Holidays by Train:
Zermatt + Matterhorn in Valais - by rail
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Day 1: London to Zermatt
Travel from London to Zermatt by rail on your first day. The Eurostar leaves about 7am for Paris, where you will change to a TGV train headed to Lausanne.
In Lausanne change trains and travel along Lake Geneva to Visp, in Valais. Finally change for the narrow gauge single track train to Zermatt, arriving in the early evening.
Note: Alternatively you can fly to Geneva and start your train journey from there.
Days 2 to 7: In Zermatt
Spend seven nights enjoying the highlights of the Valais, making the most of your eight-day rail pass to explore its mountains, glaciers, hidden towns and villages.
Under the imposing stare of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is a charming Alpine resort immersed in Switzerland’s most sublime landscapes. It is best known for its winter sports and a haven for elite sports visitors and the glamorous. The town centre is car free, so retains a real sense of peace and serenity, without sacrificing its sophisticated, exclusive feel. A peaceful village in the summer months, it is a wonderful place for food lovers, with many gourmet restaurants serving typical Swiss cuisine. Quaint boutique shops are found within the chalet houses in the village centre.
The icy Matterhorn is Zermatt’s main attraction. You can hike or take the cable car up to view the glacier from Europe’s highest viewing platform. The Matterhorn Museum on the slopes of the mountain is divided into 14 huts that mimic the style of the original mountain villages.
You can also enjoy the sights from the smaller railways. Gornergratbahn, the world’s highest open air cog railway, takes you up from Zermatt to Gornergrat at 3,100m, from where you can walk to the Gorner Glacier and view the peaks of 38 surrounding mountains. The village of Gornergrat holds a great deal of historic significance, with a parish church containing intriguing murals, a collection of very old timber houses, a cemetery that is the final resting place of many mountaineers and the Alpine Museum.
Also consider visiting the famous Hornlihutte, where climbers have stayed for decades before advancing up the sides of the Matterhorn via the Hornli Ridge, the Zmutt Ridge, or through the north wall. To learn more of the intriguing history of the area you can visit the Zermatlantis Matterhorn Museum, an archaeological site that has been faithfully recreated.
At over 1,600m above sea level, Zermatt offers access to over 400 km of scenic paths that vein the Valais landscape around Zermatt, Tasch, and Randa - weaving between mountains, through valleys, around crystal clear lakes and past white glaciers. Nature lovers will find themselves at home here, with exceptional examples of Alpine flora, fauna and panoramas in abundance.
Parrotspitze on the Monte Rosa Massif is an almost perfectly conical summit, and looks particularly beautiful when it emerges through the layer of clouds. The Findel Glacier, east of Zermatt, is reportedly gaining mass. Trockener Steg Mountain Station is accessible by cable car, and from here you can walk to a nearby glacier and a collection of shallow pools. Schwarzsee (the ‘Black Lake’) is a small expanse of water not far from Zermatt that offers sublime views. It is named after the colour of its water when reflecting the dark surrounding rocks, and is accessible via cable car. Stausee Mattmark is a large lake with easy walking trails and trickling waterfalls. Lac de Moiry reservoir is contained by the Moiry Dam and has incredibly blue waters.
The Ice Pavilion at Saas Fee has an underground museum explaining the importance of glaciers and how they are formed. Above ground is a revolving restaurant. Aletsch Glacier is a river of ice. It is the longest glacier in the Alps, reaching from the Jungfrau to the Rhone River.
To the south is the Aletschwald, one of the highest pine forests in Europe and an excellent location for summer hikes. Riederalp is home to an Alpine dairy and an Alpine museum. Further north in Valais is the city of Brig, home to the 17th century Stockalper Castle, built out of granite and volcanic rock and recognisable for its onion domes. It is the emblem of Valais. The town of Brigerbad has the most open-air thermal baths in Switzerland, so is suited to those seeking their curative properties and a more leisurely visit.
You can play golf at Crans-Montana and Verbier, and there is summer skiing on the Matterhorn – with the Klein Matterhorn having the highest cable station in Europe at 3,820m. Hikers may wish to tackle the challenges of the Matterhorn, the Hohtalli, the Unterrothorn, the Breithorn, the Theodul Pass, the Riffelhorn or the Gornergrat.
The abundance of local activities, from exploring picturesque historic towns and villages to scenic walks and hikes, will ensure that each day in Valais is memorable. An Alpine Folklore Parade is held in Zermatt on 15 August each year, involving over 1,200 participants.
Day 8: Zermatt to London
On your last day in Valais, board a morning train from Zermatt back to Visp and Lausanne.
From Lausanne take the TGV back to Paris to meet the Eurostar, arriving in London in the early evening.
PRICING
Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. This price includes second class rail travel, with supplement for first class of about £640 per person.
We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.
Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information, including full directions and suggestions on places to visit, to help you get the most from your trip.
It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.