Lonely Planet Discover Switzerland by Lonely Planet & Ryan Ver Berkmoes & Kerry Christiani & Sally O'Brien & Damien Simonis & Nicola Williams

Author:Lonely Planet & Ryan Ver Berkmoes & Kerry Christiani & Sally O'Brien & Damien Simonis & Nicola Williams
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Lonely Planet
Published: 2012-12-01T18:00:00+00:00

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Valais & Zermatt Itineraries

The Matterhorn serves as a sentinel to start the first tour and finish the second. The first tour includes a spectacular glacier that leads back to the Jungfrau region while the second tour has all that’s best about Valais.

ZERMATT TO EGGISHORN Matterhorn

It’s the Matterhorn baby! And the lure of this international symbol of Switzerland rightfully draws people to (1) Zermatt literally by the trainload. From this car-free village on the side of the slopes, you can wander myriad trails in summer and ski myriad runs in winter. It’s a beautiful playground year-round. Too many people zoom in, grab an eyeful of the mountain through their viewfinder and zoom out again. Instead, spend a couple of nights here so you can explore this beautiful patch of Valais at your leisure and take yourself far from the maddening crowds. But be sure to join the mobs riding the cable car to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise , an icy landscape with spectacular views 4000m up.

Ride the train back down from Zermatt and start connecting the dots of Swiss Alpine treasures at Aletsch Glacier . Drive or catch a train to the cute little valley village of (2) Fiesch . From here catch a cable car and gondola up to (3) Eggishorn and clamp your hand over your mouth so nothing will fly in when your jaw drops – the views of the 23km glacier, which curves in a huge ribbon of ice back towards Jungfrau , are simply magnificent.

MARTIGNY TO ZERMATT Valleys & Peaks

Woof! Start your Valais adventure in the home of St Bernard dogs, (1) Martigny . The Musée et Chiens du Saint-Bernard honours the brandy-proffering, drooling pooch of lore. It’s a short ride by train and bus or car to one of those places that never seems far from the gossip mags: (2) Verbier . By equal measure posh and plebeian, this ski resort justifies the hype with spectacular powder in winter.

Back in the valley, pause for a vineyard ramble from spring to autumn at the wineries in the hills surrounding (3) Sion . The Bisse de Clavau is a centuries-old canal that today waters the grapes and leads to restaurants amid the vines. (4) Salgesch is another fine place to enjoy the local wines, particularly along the 6km-long Sentier Viticole , a trail through the vineyards.

If you're ready for a restorative break, take it at (5) Leukerbad , a lovely thermal spa set in the middle of staggering Alpine beauty. Return to the valley and catch a bus to (or park on the outskirts of) car-free (6) Saas Fee . Thirteen peaks and nine glaciers create a festival of natural beauty. From here, it’s a short jaunt over to (7) Zermatt and the essential prospect of the Matterhorn .

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