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Zermatt

Head to chic Zermatt in the very heart of the High Alps and you can enjoy some truly thrilling high-altitude walks. Here you are surrounded by thirty peaks over 4,000 metres, including the mighty Matterhorn, its striking profile making it the most fêted of these towering mountains. Well-signposted paths cross the meadows and the rockier landscapes above, rewarding you with memorable views in all directions.

Hotel la Ginabelle, Zermatt

As befits its romantic location in the atmospheric, traffic-free village of Zermatt at the foot of the impressive Matterhorn, the 4-star Hotel la Ginabelle is elegant and full of charm, with carved wood-panelled ceilings and delicate hand-painted motifs. Bedrooms are spacious and well-appointed, as are the hotel lounge and the intimate restaurant, where we include your first night’s dinner (choose from a wide choice of restaurants in Zermatt on subsequent evenings). Other facilities include an attractive garden and a small spa complex complete with a sauna, steam bath and whirlpools.

Walking

The walking here is suitable for all levels (ie grade 1, 2 & 3), such is the ready availability of the local cable cars and the funicular railway (pay locally in all cases). In all, there are 400 kilometres of (mostly waymarked) paths, many of which reward you with unforgettable views of the pyramid-shaped Matterhorn, and we make several suggestions, including the two below:

Lunar landscapes: after a short ride in the funicular and cable car to take you well above the tree line, you ascend into a lunar landscape in which the rocks – which shelter a few hardy, vividly coloured flowers – are covered in lime-green lichen. At this altitude you are too high to hear cowbells, but you often walk accompanied by the shrill of marmots, and part of the steady descent back to the funicular station takes you along a special marmot trail with information boards about these furry creatures. The views of the Matterhorn are fantastic.

Reflections of the Matterhorn: take the train to Riffelalp, from where paths lead uphill through lush pastureland, the gains in altitude bringing more peaks and glaciers into your line of sight. A good target is Riffelsee, a small lake in which the Matterhorn is reflected with great clarity in good weather, though you can continue towards the Gorner Glacier if you wish.

Prices & travel 2008

*Price includes: 3 nights' bed & breakfast, plus 1 dinner; return rail from any Swiss airport (please contact us for journey lengths)
#Per person per night on B&B basis
Recommended destination airports: Basel, Geneva & Zurich
Latest flight arrival time: Basel 1330; Geneva 1430; Zurich 1400
Earliest flight departure time: Basel 1430; Geneva 1330; Zurich 1430
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