Zermatt is a mountain village in the canton of Valais in Switzerland, best known for its view of the Matterhorn. It is also one of the few places in Switzerland offering eternal snow and the possibility to reach an altitude of 4,000 meters thanks to the cable cars, and this year, this is where we decided to go on vacation with our dog, Kitsune.
Day 1: Zermatt (village)
We arrived by train in Zermatt in the early afternoon. The first thing we did was directly collect the passes purchased online from the tourist office next to the station. As a reminder, Zermatt is a car-free village, you must take the train to get there. The train is included in the GA travelcard.
After collecting the Zermatt Peak Passes, we went to settle into our hotel, the Schloss Zermatt, located 5 minutes from the station.
Around Zermatt, there are several places to see marmots. There is the marmot hike starting from Sunnegga, but be aware that you can also see them from the village and for free! From the end of the village (Zermatt Kirche), follow the Edelweiss Weg and instead of heading up into the mountain, walk along the pastures to head back towards the station. There are marmots in the pastures. Both times we came, they were there. You should hear them whistle, and then all you have to do is look. The walk takes about 1h-1h30 depending on your pace. Since we arrived at 3 p.m., it was perfect for us and allowed us to stroll through the village before starting the hike.
Upon our return, we simply enjoyed eating on our balcony with the sunset over the Matterhorn
Chosen hotel:
Schloss Hotel: We paid an extra CHF 20.– per night for Kitsune.
Day 2: Sunnegga
Two years ago, we did the 5 Lakes Hike. This year, we wanted to try a different hike and we started from Sunnegga to walk back down to Zermatt. Like the previous day, we wanted to see marmots, and this is one of the well-known spots to spot them.
When arriving at Sunnegga, after taking the funicular from Zermatt, an elevator takes you to the marmot observation platform. We didn't see any at that exact moment, but we spotted some further down on our way back to Zermatt. 5 minutes from the platform is the Leisee, a small lake where you can swim. You can continue the 5 Lakes Hike, go back down by funicular, or, like us, walk down. The journey takes about 2h30, but it depends on the chosen route and takes place mainly in the forest.
Practical info:
The funicular up to Sunnegga cost us CHF 20.– for two, one way with the GA travelcard. Free for Kitsune. As a side note, Sunnegga is included in the Zermatt Peak Pass, but to have enough time to enjoy it, we preferred to go there on a separate day.
Day 3: Gornergrat & Blacknose sheep
Our first day with the Zermatt Peak Pass activated. For this day, we planned to visit the Gornergrat, then walk down to Riffelberg to see the famous Blacknose sheep. Be careful, they can be afraid of dogs. If there are two of you, it is preferable to take turns seeing the sheep without the dog.
To reach Gornergrat, you just need to take the train opposite the SBB station. Go in advance, because it quickly gets very crowded if you want to get a seat. The train runs every 15-20 minutes.
Gorner Glacier
Arriving at Gornergrat, we were able to admire the Gorner Glacier from the panoramic platform. We then walked down to the Gorner lake, then followed the trail to the Riffelsee along the glacier. A spectacular view of the glacier as well as a waterfall awaits you just before arriving at the Riffelsee.
Riffelberg (Riffelsee & Blacknose sheep)
The Riffelsee is THE lake to get the photo of the Matterhorn with the small white flowers. We chose this spot for our picnic break. Note: the surroundings of the Riffelsee are muddy, so if you want to take pictures with the flowers, it is best to wear waterproof or Gore-Tex shoes.
We then continued on the trail to Riffelberg in search of the Blacknose sheep. The latter are equipped with a GPS tracker, which makes locating them easier. The sheep are in the pastures between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., so plan your visit accordingly if you want to meet them.
After that, it was already 4 p.m. We went back down to enjoy the hotel spa, then went out to eat a herbal fondue in Zermatt.
Practical info:
The Zermatt Peak Pass cost us CHF 382.– for two people with the GA travelcard. Free for Kitsune, our dog. We took the two-day pass because the price difference between one day and two days is minimal. If you want to do the hikes, I highly recommend getting a multi-day pass. It is possible to do everything in one day (without hiking), but you need to be well organized.
Day 4: Matterhorn Paradise & Glacier Trail
Second day of hiking with the Zermatt Peak Pass. We got up quite early in the morning to take the cable cars towards the Matterhorn Paradise. Goal: arrive at the top around 10 a.m., then start the Glacier Trail around 11 a.m.
Matterhorn Paradise
To go to the Matterhorn Paradise, the best way is to take the cable cars directly from Zermatt. There is a change to make at Trockener Steg. Arriving at the top, we started with the ice cave, then we went to the panoramic platform at 4,000m before going for a walk on the slopes to walk on the snow. It always makes an impression to see eternal snow in the middle of summer. Note: it is possible to ski all year round in Zermatt, but this is not included in the Peak Pass.
Glacier Trail
In the second part of the day, we went back down to Trockener Steg to take the Glacier Trail. This hiking trail offers an impressive panoramic view at the foot of the Matterhorn, with a lunar landscape and glaciers. We started by visiting the Theodul glacier lake, then we continued through a mix of stony paths and small glacial lakes before arriving at the foot of the Matterhorn. The trail continues towards Schwarzsee, where the landscape changes to a classic alpine setting. With a bit of luck and attention, you might spot a few marmots.
Practical info:
The activities were included in the Zermatt Peak Pass.
Day 5: Heading home
Last day in Zermatt with a relaxing & chilling morning on the agenda. We took our breakfast quietly, took one last walk, prepared the check-out, and then it was time to leave!
We hope we have made you want to discover Zermatt and its region.
