How To Have an Action-Packed Adventure in Zermatt

Trockener Steg is one of the best places to see the Matterhorn at sunrise – the impressive, jagged mountain peak that looms over Zermatt. Visitors gather here, especially during the spring and autumn months, to watch the first rays of sunlight paint the Matterhorn’s east face shades of red, yellow and orange. Reach Trockener Steg by cable car and stand embraced by the elements overlooking one of nature’s most awesome accomplishments. Don’t forget your camera!

At 3,883 metres (12,740 feet) above sea level, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the highest cable-car station in Europe. It looks out across three countries: Italy, France and Switzerland. There’s a restaurant, En Güete (the world’s highest), and an observation deck at the summit. The brave among you can scale the Breithorn, which stands at 4,164 metres (13,661 feet), on a guided climb.

Glacier Paradise is also the gateway to Europe’s largest and highest summer ski area. So if hitting the slopes is your thing, take the gondola from Zermatt to the Klein Matterhorn and explore 21 kilometres (13 miles) of pistes, even as the rest of Europe is in full bloom. This is a popular location for professional snow-sport athletes, who use the facilities to train in the off-season.

Finding the Glacier Palace is a mini adventure as this extraordinary exhibition is buried 15 metres (49 feet) below the surface. Travel by lift down into the glacier’s crevasse and explore tunnels filled with impressive ice sculptures, some of which are carved into the glacial wall, and centuries-old ice formations.

The Arbenbach Falls is not to be missed during the spring, summer and autumn months when the snow-capped mountains thaw and feed into this stunning natural feature. With the Matterhorn’s north face in the background, this is the perfect photo opportunity. The Arbenbach Falls are reached on a hard yet rewarding hike across gravelly terrain that once formed the tongue of the Zmutt Glacier.

For thrill seekers, there’s only one way to get around Zermatt: via paragliding taxi. Zermatt’s air-taxi service offers a range of routes, even at night under the stars. Takeoff points include the Gornergrat and Klein Matterhorn.