How To Have an Action-Packed Adventure in Zermatt
Looking for an adrenaline-fuelled start to the year? Then the Swiss mountain resort of Zermatt is well worth a visit in 2019. To help you discover all it has to offer, Culture Trip has teamed up with the British Airways American Express® Credit Card to explore the Swiss mountain town famed for its incredible landscapes and outdoor adventure. For an action-packed getaway follow these tips on what not to miss. What’s more, we’ll show you how your everyday spending can help you collect Avios to jet off sooner.
1. Watch the incredible sunrise from Trockener Steg
Natural Feature
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!
2. Visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Hill Station
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.
3. Hit the slopes, no matter the season
Ski Resort
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.
4. Explore a subterranean ice palace
Art Gallery
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.
5. Stand at the foot of a surging waterfall
Natural Feature
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.
6. Soar through the air above the mountains
Sports Center
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.
Get away sooner
Thanks to the British Airways American Express® Credit Card, your next holiday could be closer than you think. You’ll earn Avios on every £1 spent on the Card redeemable against reward flights to hundreds of destinations, including Zermatt which you can reach by flying to Zurich or Geneva return for 9,000 Avios*.
What’s more, there’s no annual fee and new Cardmembers receive a welcome bonus of 5,000 Avios when you spend £1,000 or more on your Card within your first three months. Put the Avios earned on your everyday spending towards a flight of your choice and you simply pay the taxes, fees and charges. Where and when your next adventure begins is up to you.
Representative 22.9% APR variable.
Discover how many Avios you need to escape to your perfect destination from London airports.
Important information:
*Subject to availability. Applicants must be 18 years old or over. Approval subject to status, and terms and conditions apply. Terms and exclusions apply to the collection and redemption of Avios, and to the welcome bonus. For more information click here.
Promoter: American Express Services Europe Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
This branded content article was published as part of a commercial campaign that has now ended.
Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.
Our immersive trips, led by Local Insiders, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and an invitation to travel the world with like-minded explorers. Our Travel Experts are on hand to help you make perfect memories. All our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.?>
All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.
Culture Trip Spring Sale
Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.
