Travellers all over the world are dreaming about it: standing, just once in their lifetime at the foot of the Matterhorn, face to face with this magic mountain! Let the dream come true on the wonderful, new hiking route of the Matterhorn Trail. You start from the Simplon Pass and each day come closer to the most well-known mountain in the Swiss Alps. The Matterhorn is your goal and the way is full of impressions, views and unforgettable moments in this fantastic mountain panorama of the Valais. The daily amount of hiking is considerable – but you will have time to relax in some of the famous places along the way, such as Saas Fee, Grachen and Zermatt.
Grade C: 5–7 hours daily hiking time.
Itinerary Day 1: Brig - Massaweg - Brig: Meeting point at the train station in Brig (for times see predeparture information). Here our representative will greet you and take care of your luggage. You go by post bus to Blatten, where the hike to the Massagorge starts. The famous glacier “Aletsch“ built a way to river Rhone. Hiking time 3 hours. Day 2: Brig–Visperterminen The post bus will take you along the new Simplon road to the Simplon Hospiz, founded by monks of the Order of St John in 1235. This is where the walking holiday really starts. The climb up to the Sistinenpass (2417 metres above sea level) is rewarded with a fantastic panorama view of the Bernese and Valais Alps – you can even see the Monte Leone near the Italian border. You then climb down into the lonely Nanztal from where water has been transported for more than 1000 years through old conduits, called Suonen, to the dry forests. On the Gebidumpass (2201 metres altitude) you can take a short diversion to a little lake before following an old pilgrimage route to Visperterminen. Walking time: about 6 hours. Overnight in Visperterminen. Day 3: Visperterminen–Saas Fee Visperterminen has the highest vineyards in Switzerland, stretching up to 1400 metres above sea level, where the Heida wine is produced. Passing by old houses and barns, you then reach well-watered Alpine pastures. From the mountain village of Gspon onwards you follow an impressive mountain path over the Mattwaldalp to Heimischgarten and then climb down to the village of Saas Grund. The famous Kapellweg offers an extra hour’s walk up to Saas Fee or you may prefer to take the bus. The walking time is about 7 hours. Overnight in Saas Fee. Day 4: In Saas Fee Either excursions from Saas Fee or a day’s rest. Saas Fee is a spa town which does not allow any motor traffic. It offers numerous possibilities for activities and excursions. Transfer to Grächen by public transport and overnight in Grächen. Day 5: Grächen - Europa hut- Randa - Zermatt The newly opened Europa Trail brings you high over the Mattertal, towards Zermatt. On the opposite side of the valley you can see the impressive quarry of the Langenflue, the rocks from which blocked the Vispa and flooded Randa. At the Europa hut you descend into the valley to Randa and travel by public transport to Zermatt. The walking time is about 7 hours. Overnight in Zermatt. Day 6: In Zermatt Today’s walk brings you to the foot of the Matterhorn and represents both the climax and the conclusion of this unforgettable holiday. You take a well-made road to Alterhaupt high up above Zermatt and then cross broad, flowering meadows to Hohbalmen (2’665 metres above sea level). There is no better place than this from which to admire the Matterhorn. The route then takes you to the foot of the Zmutt glacier and through the hamlet Zmutt back to Zermatt. The walking time is about 7 hours.
Requirements Our hiking tours in Switzerland have three grades: A = easy, 3–5 hours of hiking per day B = average, 4–6 hours of hiking per day C = demanding, 5–7 hours of hiking per day
Most of the above hiking times can be shortened by the use of public transport (cable cars, buses etc).
