LONG WEEKEND ESCAPE IN SWITZERLAND
Hike the best trails in the Matterhorn Valley
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What's included
- A rich and healthy lunch pack on each stage
- Accommodation (shared bedroom / dormitory)
- All planned transportation according to the itinerary
- Full qualified international mountain leader (IML)
- Half-Board (breakfast, 3 course dinner)
- Equipment rental
- Luggage Transfer (max. 15kg per unit)
- Pre- / post-trek accommodation
- Private expenses (souvenirs, drinks, etc.)
Probably the most famous mountain on earth
The Matterhorn & Zermatt Highlights Tour combines the best trails in the famous Matterhorn valley. The tour is a challenging 4 day trek in one of the most famous mountain areas in the world. Zermatt, the tiny village on the foot of the Matterhorn became world famous and developed a wide range of amazing hiking trails so that we can explore the beautiful nature that surrounds it. Far away from the busy main street of Zermatt you’ll enjoy world-class hiking on rugged alpine trails with magnificent views over so many 4000m peaks.
The Tour
The tour has been created by Happy Tracks and combines everything: a good physical workout with amazing scenery, good food and great company. During the 4-days trekking you’ll hike along famous paths such as the Europaweg and you’ll cover parts of other classic long-distance trekking tours such as the Haute Route, the Monte Rosa Tour, the Tour du Cervin and many more. Along the way you will cross over 3 suspension bridges, however the Charles Kuonen Bridge (or Europabrücke) claims the title as the longest suspension bridge in the world of its type. The tour is challenging and requires a good physical condition, however every step, every drop of sweat is absolutely worth it. What do you need more for an amazing weekend in the heart of the Alps, far away from the busy cities!
What to expect
The Matterhorn & Zermatt – Highlights Tour is one of the most impressive weekend escapes in the Alps:
- Hike over the longest suspension bridge in the world
- Sleep in cozy and authentic mountain huts
- Enjoy culinary specialties and taste the best chocolate in the world
- Take award winning photographs from the Matterhorn
- Swim in the Stellisee (crystal clear mountain lake) with the Matterhorn in the background
- Climb the summit of the Pulfwe on over 3000m above sea level
- YOUR ITINERARY
DAY 1
The Matterhorn Valley
Arrival in Geneva, Transfer to Randa, Randa > Europahütte
You will be picked up from Geneva International Airport (arrivals no later than 09:30h, departure from the airport at 11:00h) and driven to the Matterhorn valley where you’ll spend your long-weekend adventure. The transfer from Geneva up to Randa, the location from where you’ll start your adventure takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes. After a quick gear check you’ll tackle the steep and rugged trail up to the Europa trail. The trail brings you up to the so called Chüebodmen, a nice alpine meadow with magnificent views on the Weisshorn peak and the massive landslide from the 90’s. After a nice break and the possibility to refill your water reserves, you’ll take the second stretch of the day and enter the alpine world. The trail gets steeper and rocky. On the way up you’ll admire noisy waterfalls and glacier streams. Once you get above the tree line its not far anymore to join the traversing Europa trail. You’ll be following it to reach the location for the overnight stay the famous Europahut. The hike will take around 3 hours to get there so you’ll reach the location just before dinner is served. After a nice and hearty meal you’ll spend the night in a cosy dormitory on over 2000 meters above sea level and don’t forget to bring your camera to take a few pictures of the ibex behind the hut!
DAY 2
It’s Time for a World Record!
Europahütte > Täschalp
After an exciting first day in the Matterhorn valley, this day is loaded full of adventure. The amazing path from the Europahut to the Täschalp is a true adventure. The absolute highlight of the first part of the day is the Charles Kuonen suspension bridge. With a length of 500m it’s the longest suspension bridge in the world. After crossing the bridge the next highlight is following. You’ll ascend the steep and exposed trail up to the Kinhütte and there will be definitely some thrills and spills! Once you reach the hut you can enjoy fantastic views of the matterhorn and enjoy a cold drink on their terrace. From the Kinhut you’ll follow the Edelweiss trail to the Täschalp, which you’ll reach in the early afternoon. After some cake and coffee you can explore with your guide the local cheese farm or do an extra loop to one of the surrounding peaks.
You’ll spend the night in a cosy mountain hut surrounded by glaciers and 4000m peaks.
DAY 3
Summit Day!
Täschalp > Zermatt
Now it’s time for some more and serious adventure. The hike starts gently along the flat Täschalp towards the Pfulwe with its small glacier. The trail is rugged, rocky but simply beautiful. You’ll hike up to the Pfulwe pass with the option of climbing the summit of the Pfulwe on 3313 meters above sea level. From up there you can admire a perfect panorama on the Matterhorn, the Monte Rosa (highest mountain in Switzerland) and endless glaciers. On the way down you hike over the Fluealp down to Zermatt. You’ll pass the famous Stellisee, one of the most amazing locations to take pictures of the Matterhorn with a reflection in the lake and of course for a refreshing swim in the ice cold water. For those who feel tired there are quite a few options to take a cable car to shorten the downhill. You’ll spend the night in a cosy hostel in Zermatt and head out with your guide for a great and typical meal in the evening. Zermatt is a vibrant mountain resort with many shops and restaurants. There will be definitely some time to check it out.
DAY 4
The Toblerone Mountain
Round Trip in Zermatt, Transfer to Geneva Airport
Wake up bright and early after a cosy night in the Zermatt. Fuel yourself for the day ahead by indulging in a traditional Swiss breakfast; complete with local jams, marmalades, honey and cheeses. From the accommodation you’ll start a nice hike up to the Edelweiss traverse. The day will be full with amazing views and if you are lucky you can spot the famous black nose sheets. You’ll finish the hike with a walk through the impressive Corner gorge. After the day’s hike you’ll get back into Zermat again. Time to enjoy a nice drink out in the fresh air before piling back into the train and van and making your way to back Geneva Airport. If time allows you’ll have a couple free hours before your airport transfer is scheduled.
More about Matterhorn Valley
Matterhorn Valley
The Matter valley is a side valley of the Rhône valley and start in the town Visp and ends in Zermatt. Since the end of the nineteenth century Zermatt can be accessed by the Matterhorn Gotthard train from Visp. A highlight is also the panoramic Glacier Express train connecting Saint Moritz and Zermatt on a spectacular route. The road between Täsch and Zermatt closed is not accessibly by car (only with special permit). This is why Täsch provides for several car parks and taxi shuttle companies.
Zermatt
Zermatt is a world-famous summer and winter resort. While it is located on the foot of the world`s most photographed mountain – the Matterhorn, there are 38 4000 meter peaks accessible from the village. The village is only accessible by a shuttle train from Täsch or by foot. Electric cars replaced horse carriages and are the principal mean of transportation. The Bahnhofsstrasse is the most important street passing several restaurants, bars and shops. To keep the street traditionally the inhabitants are only allowed to plant red and white geranium flowers on their balconies.The Gornergrat train is a cog railway leading up to an altitude of 3089 meter. The summit offers spectacular views over the Monte Rosa massif. The Klein Matterhorn cable car top station is the highest cable car in Europe (40 meter higher than the Aiguille du Midi). The platform at 3883 meter offers panoramic views of the Matterhorn and summits of the French, Italian and Swiss Alps.
More about this tour
Luggage Transfer
On the Matterhorn & Zermatt Highlights tour we do not offer luggage transportation, for the simple reason that you'll be staying remotely in places which cannot be reached by car. Of course we offer a free luggage storage for excess luggage which you don't need during the trek. You'll need to pack your excess luggage in a duffle bag, to prevent any damage or loss to your belongings. We do not have a size restriction of the bags but the weight is limited to 15kg per bag. Please note that loose single items or open bags (e.g. shopper bags) cannot be transported. Furthermore short-life food products (e.g. cheese, fresh meat etc.) are not allowed in your excess luggage.
A general note about the accommodation
On a long distance trekking, you will experience the mountain lifestyle and sleep in authentic places. Mostly you will be staying in mountain huts. The accommodation along the way offers a charming and friendly atmosphere in a mountainous atmosphere. You will experience both: accommodation high up in the mountains far away from civilization or located in a typical mountain village or even a small town. The accommodation offers many services such as a hot shower and running water. You’ll stay in bunk beds or similar with a pillow and blankets (a thin and light sleeping bag liner is advisable for hygienic reasons), In every place, there is electricity to charge your batteries for free. WiFi and phone signal are not available at each place.
Private Accommodation
Due to the nature of this trip, private accommodation is not available.
Food
During the trekking, you will have the chance to taste the great variety of local specialities. The accommodations offer always half-board with your stay which includes a breakfast and a three-course dinner. The breakfast contains always coffee / tea, bread, butter and jam. Depending on the location of the accommodation there is also orange-juice, cereals, yoghurt, fruits, cheese and meat available for breakfast. The three-course dinner in the evening is hearty and the plates are quite big. A typical menu could be a soup for the starter, a main course with meat, vegetables and a side dish (rice, polenta, pasta) and a dessert which can be for example vanilla pudding, crème brulée or fruit salad. For the dinner only tap water is included, soft drinks such as wine or beer are on your own charge.
During the day we provide a rich, healthy and daily fresh prepared lunch-pack for you. We try to offer you a big variety of lunch packs so that it does not get boring after 4 days. Our lunch packs consist usually one big unit such as a sandwich, a wrap, a salad and of course a selection of fresh fruits, muesli bars, chocolate, nuts, dried fruits, juice, crackers, cakes etc. If you have any food restriction (vegetarian, vegan, gluten intolerance etc.) please let us know as soon as possible. It is no problem to arrange the meals and lunch packs according to your preference when we know this in advance.
Water
To do a long distance trekking is a great challenge and a good physical workout. During the summer it can be quite warm in the Alps so it is important to carry enough water. We strongly recommend to take between two and three liters of water on such a trekking. We recommend taking at least two one-litre bottles (plastic or aluminium) or a camel bag (water bladder). The tap water is usually drinkable, but there are limited resources on the trails to fill up your bottle. Your guide will give you an advice for each day.
Weather
During the summer in the Alps (June – September) we experience usually fair and quite warm weather. It is often sunny and the temperatures can reach up to 30° Celsius, although it is a dry heat. The weather in the mountains can be sometimes quite unpredictable and meteorological situations can change very quickly. Therefore, it is necessary to be always prepared for such a change. Another fact is that you will be hiking in different altitude levels, so there will be a significant change between the valley ground and the high mountain passes. On a rainy day temperatures can drop quite low and it is necessary to have a good rain jacket and depending on the season even a hat and a pair of gloves. If you stick to our equipment list, you will be ready for any weather situation. Please do not hesitate to ask us if you have any questions about this topic.
Trail / Conditions
From the moment you start the trekking we highly recommend you to have a valid travel, medical & mountain evacuation insurance, which is a very important factor in case of an accident. You will need full travel & holiday insurance suitable for a trekking holiday. This will need to be organized by you before the trek starts. It is essential that you have the correct insurance in case of a medical emergency on the mountain, as rescue can be costly. In Switzerland you will always be asked to pay and this could be several thousand Swiss francs, especially if a helicopter rescue is necessary. The cost of hospitalization and subsequent care is normally the most expensive part of any accident if you do not have the correct cover and are hospitalized without insurance. The cost could easily reach an immense level. It is your responsibility to take out the correct level of insurance and we accept no responsibility for any costs that occur as a result of inadequate insurance. If you have any questions about this topic please do not hesitate to contact us.
Currency
Along the Matterhorn & Zermatt Highlights Tour you will travel through Switzerland. It is always worth to have some Swiss Francs (CHF) in cash with you, if you would like to buy some drinks and souvenirs along the way. In the bigger villages (Randa, Zermatt) or at the airport in Geneva there are also ATM cash machines. Most of the places also accept the most common credit cards (VISA, Mastercard, American Express), but please bear in mind that there might be a small commission fee or a minimum amount.
Trip Data
| Day | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
| Day 1 | 13.80 km | 668 m | 1344 m |
| Day 2 | 20.70 km | 1650 m | 1073 m |
| Day 3 | 12.00 km | 828 m | 460 m |
| Day 4 | 12.70 km | 492 m | 1274 m |
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