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Journey some of Zermatt's less-traveled hiking trails

Hiking in Switzerland: Frequently-Asked Questions about Alpenglow

Hiking under the Matterhorn is a classic adventure with a variety of pleasures. Our base camp (condo) is in the beautiful city of Zermatt. A charming place of fresh mountain air and a world without cars. Perfectly situated in the foothills of the Alps, there are numerous well-marked footpaths and trails (400 km in all) which will lead us through pine-scented mountain forests, to the shores of calm clear lakes and to the ice-blue glaciers. We’ll spend a week exploring the trails and sleep one night in a mountain hut, allowing us to climb higher and awake in the rosy glow of the morning sun-Alpenglow.

This FAQ page is intended to accompany other pages about this trip and about our company (see links at left). Some of the answers below may include links to other other sites; please use the BACK key of your browser to return to this page.

Contents:

• How do your various Swiss hiking trips differ?
  
• Where is Zermatt? How do I get there?
  
• Should I get a Swiss rail pass?
  
• When does the trip start and end?
  
• This is called a 7-day trip. Exactly what does that mean?
  
• I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
  
• What's the weather like around Zermatt?
  
• I don't hike much. Will this trip be too strenuous for me?
  
• How much extra money should I budget for Alpenglow?
  
• Will I need good map-reading skills for this trip?
  
• What language do they speak in this part of Switzerland?
  
• Will Zermatt's high altitude make me tire faster?
  
• What is the Glacier Express?
  
• Can I talk with someone who's previously traveled with you?
  

How do your various Swiss hiking trips differ?
We currently offer three hiking trips in Switzerland: Edelweiss, Alpenglow, and Grindelwald.

Each is designed so that those wanting shorter or easier hikes can have a good time, while avid hikers will never run out of new trails to explore. However, there are differences that may help you select the best holiday for you.

Edelweiss was the first hiking trip we ever offered, and we designed it to accommodate all levels. An inexperienced hiker, or someone with less energy, can use the trams to enjoy a variety of hikes and terrain while hiking just two or three hours a day - or, for that matter, not hiking at all. Typically, most of our group heads out together in the morning, and during the day, our guide suggests options for those who want a shorter, or longer, day.

Grindelwald, too, easily accommodates both lower and higher levels of hiking energy and enthusiasm. It's notably well situated for anyone who hopes to take several day trips that don't involve hiking. From Grindelwald, it's simple to catch a train to the medieval town of Thun, to nearby Interlaken, or for a steamship ride on Lake Brienz.

Alpenglow, our newest Swiss hiking trip, was planned to take advantage of trails around Zermatt that go further from the cog-rail and tram lines. The hiking routes we plan each day will be most fun for those able to hike five or six hours a day, with plenty of stops. If you want shorter hikes, however, that's not a problem. Some days you can start out with the group and our guide will suggest ways to easier routes. Other days, our guide will help you plan a shorter but scenic hike you can do independently.

Where is Zermatt? How do I get there?
Zermatt is a small mountain town in the Swiss Alps, tucked under the Matterhorn just a few kilometers from the Italian border. It is reached by a spectacular 1-hour ride on cog railway from the towns of Brig and Visp valley below.

If you’re flying to Switzerland, Geneva is the closest major city to Zermatt. Milan, Italy is equally close, but is convenient only if you're flying into the Linate airport, which offers fairly easy access to the city and train station; Milan's Malpensa is much further out. Zurich and Basel are only slightly farther, and Swiss rail transportation is excellent, so you can pick an entry point based on what city you’d like to visit, or where you get the best fares.

Some people fly into Paris, Munich, or another cities they’ve always wanted to see. You’ll need to change trains in Brig or Visp, at the bottom of the valley and about an hour from Zermatt, no matter where you come from.

Should I get a Swiss rail pass?
Swiss transportation is among the world’s best -- but not the simplest. The simple Eurail pass of a generation ago has given way to dozens of pass types. Some cover one country; some several. Some cover travel on a certain number of days, i.e., any 5 days in a 30-day period. It's particularly complicated in Switzerland, which has many privately-owned rail lines. Some give a discount for some passes; some do not, and it's virtually impossible to get accurate information about what's covered, until you're actually there.

If you are not doing additional travel within Switzerland, we recommend the Swiss Card (not to be confused with the Swiss Pass), which will (as of this writing -- subject, but not likely, to change), get you from your entry point (the Swiss border, or any airport in Switzerland) to most destinations (including Zermatt and Grindelwald), and back; it also gives you a 50% discount on additional travel (including some of the lifts and railroads from Zermatt.) You can find out more about various passes from RailEurope. But please remember: We never promised that this was simple.

When does the trip start and end?
As for most of our trips, the official starting time is 6:00 pm on our official "start date". At that time we'll have a reception and orientation, followed by dinner. It ends after breakfast on the last day. You can arrive earlier or depart later, but please note that (as of this writing) check-in time is 4:00 pm, and check-out time is 9:00 am. Our pre-trip newsletter will keep you posted on any changes in these times, as well as tips on what to do with luggage if your travel schedule allows you to fit some activities on your arrival or departure dates.

This is called a 7-day trip. Exactly what does that mean?
Our trip officially begins at 6:00 p.m., with a reception and orientation, followed by dinner. We officially end after breakfast on the last day, although you can leave as early as you like. Or stay around all day, for sightseeing with your new friends.

Our "7-day" trip thus consists of 6 full days and two partial days. Some companies promote a trip of this length as being 8 days since it includes pieces of 8 different days. We feel it's more accurate to refer to this as 7 days.

I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
Most of our trips draw more single travelers than couples. When couples do join us, it's usually because they're looking forward to interacting with a gay group; if they wanted a holiday by themselves, they wouldn't have signed up to travel with us. Furthermore, the activities included with our trips serve as natural ice-breakers. Within a day, you'll be traveling with friends.

You don't need to pay the single supplement if you're traveling alone. We'll be happy to match you with a roommate. Pay the single supplement only if you want a bedroom to yourself.

What's the weather like around Zermatt?
When hiking here from June through mid-September, daytime temperatures in Zermatt will generally range from the mid 60s to the high 70s, and will drop 5 or 10 degrees as you get to higher elevations. On some days, you'll probably be comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt all day, but you should be prepared with a sweater and long pants in your pack. (Convertible pants, which you can turn into shorts by zipping off the legs, are a comfortable, weight-saving device here.)

We don't quite get the meteorology, but somehow the Matterhorn and the adjacent Alps serve as a moisture block, making the Zermatt region fairly dry. On our trips in June through September, we've rarely had more than half a day of rain during the course of a week. However, mountain weather anywhere can change quickly, and we recommend that you always carry a light waterproof top.

I don't hike much. Will this trip be too strenuous for me?
Alpenglow has been set up to be most enjoyable for people with hiking experience, who are comfortable on all-day hikes, with frequent breaks, over rolling terrain. By splitting off from the group, or simply enjoying some of the other activities offered in Zermatt, you could still enjoy the week.

But if you have very little hiking experience, we recommend our Edelweiss trip, which is well suited for hikers of all abilities and is offered in alternate years. You'll still get great Matterhorn views every day, and you'll have more company on days when you want to take it easy.

How much extra money should I budget for Alpenglow?
Switzerland can be expensive for the independent traveler, but we've designed Alpenglow to help you keep costs down. Once you get to Zermatt, your expenses are likely to be as follows:

Breakfast and lunch: We stay in a condo hotel. That means you get the comfort of a living room and the convenience of a kitchen. The lodge now also provides continental breakfast, and you can take a picnic lunch some days.

Dinners:Four dinners are included: an opening night buffet and reception; two mid-week dinners; and a dinner toward the end of the week. On our last night, we've traditionally had a pot-luck dinner. So that leaves only two dinners open: You can cook in your apartment inexpensively, enjoy a good meal at a restaurant for as little as $12-$15, or pay up to $70 for a gourmet dinner with wine.

Lifts: One appeal of Zermatt is that it's easy to get to higher elevations, and other mountains (including Klein Matterhorn), by way of trams, lifts, and Europe's highest open-air cog railroad. You don't need to use these; there's a great variety of hikes right from the town. But using the lifts will give you access to a greater range of sights. Our package includes two of these. Most people spend $30-$60 a week on further lift and mountain railway tickets.

Will I need good map-reading skills for this trip?
It's always helpful to be able to read a map, and if you don't feel you're good at it, this trip is a good time to practice. (Our affiliated hiking and climbing website offers advice on map, compass and route-finding skills.)

However, the more popular hiking trails in the Alps are generally well marked, with clear signs that indicate distances in walking hours (Std.=stunde, German for hour.) Yellow signs mark a wanderweg, a relatively easy trail. The more difficult Bergwegs (mountain trails) are marked with white-red-white blazes at the top. These may involve scrambling over rocks occasionally, or narrow trails that occasionally wind near a vertical drop.

Swiss trails occasionally cross onto private property. You’re welcome to hike here, but close the gates after you, to keep the sheep or cows in. You’ll see signs that say, Bitte die Tur Schliessen, which means literally Please the gate close.

Some fences are electrified. You’ll see the telltale plastic or glass insulators. Gates on such fences have plastic latches for you to use.

What language do they speak in this part of Switzerland?
Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansch. The prevalent language in this region is Swiss German, a distinct German dialect. If you know German, they’ll understand you, but you may have some trouble understanding them. Fortunately, from a very young age Swiss children learn many languages. Not everyone speaks English, but enough speak some English that you should be able to get by.

Will Zermatt's high altitude make me tire faster?
Zermatt’s altitude is about the same as Denver’s. You probably won’t consciously feel the altitude change when you arrive, but you will when you’re hiking. The first day, you may even feel it when you climb a few flights of stairs. Hikes that take you up more than 1000 meters are best saved until after you’ve spent a couple of nights at Zermatt altitudes.

You'll certainly feel the thin air when we take a aerial tram up to the top of Klein Matterhorn, but there's no actual hiking to do up there, so it won't be a problem.

What is the Glacier Express?
The Glacier Express connects the mountain towns of Zermatt, Chur, St. Moritz and Davos, along one of Europe's most spectacular mountain railways. The journey takes about 8 hours, and passes through 91 tunnels and over 291 bridges, showing off spectacular Swiss engineering skills as well as panoramic scenery: glacier landscapes, alpine meadows and forests, and rushing mountain streams.

If your schedule allows, we encourage you to travel to or from Zermatt via the the Glacier Express. You can take it all the way to or from St. Moritz, or you can go to Chur and transfer to a direct train to Zurich. If you've got a choice, taking the train at the end of the week gives you a chance to share the journey with new friends. You can use the web to check Glacier Express Schedules.

Can I talk with someone who's previously traveled with you?
We encourage you to do so.

Our website includes a full page of comments from past travelers. Most of them have volunteered to talk about their experiences with future potential travelers. Please call for the names and phone numbers of references in your area.

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