[Idyllchat] Visiting Zermatt from Heartland

[Walt Slazyk]

Hi, Alex.
   Last year my wife and I stayed one night in Zermatt while doing the
Tocino/Heartland Sampler and relocating between the two.  We basically
had one afternoon and evening and it was worth the extra cost.   Like
your son, I felt that seeing the Matterhorn was required for our first
trip to Switzerland.   
   However, a day trip to Zermatt is not enough to fully appreciate the
mountain.  To do that you must travel up the cable cars and hike around.
  Doing this puts you way up above tree-line in the high Alpine region. 
The vistas are something  you can't get from down in the valley and are
so awesome even teenagers will appreciate the experience.  We went up to
Schwarzee Paradise and hiked up the path toward the Matterhorn Hut with
what time we had.  Doing that was one of the highlights of the trip. 
The journey up to Gonnergrat has to be equally spectacular but not as
up-close to the mountain.
   I heartily encourage you to make this an overnight trip.  After many
hours in the trains, your boys will need to burn off energy and hiking
in the thin air is a great way to do this.  Wandering around the town
and shops is great for us older folks, but those of us who are young (or
young at heart) need to be active.  
   Short answer: Spend the money for the extra hotel and have time to
experience the mountain up close.  None of you will ever regret it.
 
Walt Slazyk
Downers Grove, IL
 
p.s.   The Alpin Rose Hotel in Zermatt is located far up the valley
toward the Matterhorn.  After a tiring day of hiking I recommend dinner
on the terrace as the sun sets and the alpin glow lights up the
mountain.  Magnificent!

>>> "Harold Mcleod" <ohs54 at triad.rr.com> 5/10/2008 8:29 AM >>>

Alex:  Looks like that can be done.  Check the Swiss Rail website
(www.sbb.ch) for the schedules.  You could leave Lungern at 07:44 and
arrive in Zermatt at 11:14.  Other departures are on the same basic
schedule.  You could return by departing Zermatt at 13:39 and arriving
in Lungern about 3 * hours later.  You can basically return in the
afternoon on trains departing Zermatt at 39 minutes after every hour and
arriving in Lungern 3 * hours later.
 
Harold
 
From:idyllchat-bounces at lists.untours.com
[mailto:idyllchat-bounces at lists.untours.com] On Behalf Of Alex Flynn
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 10:33 PM
To: IdyllChat at lists.untours.com 
Subject: [Idyllchat] Visiting Zermatt from Heartland

 
Hi Idyllchatters, 

I have been lurking on this list for a while, and have learned lots of
good information.  The archives are a great resource.

We have an upcoming first-time trip to the Swiss Heartland (Lungern) in
June/July.  It will be myself, my husband, and our two sons (age 15 and
8).  One of the things my 15 year old REALLY wants to do is see Zermatt
and the Matterhorn.  By all accounts, it looks to be a long trip for a
day.  However, we are an active family, and don't mind rising early and
travelling far for a "day trip."  

My question is this:  has anyone done a day trip from Heartland to
Zermatt?  If so, what is your advice?

I asked the same question in the Untours Cafe and got a very nice
response on an overnight trip.  If we have to do an overnight, it would
also be good to know if anyone did it with kids.  :)

cheers,
Alex
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