Stage 10: Visp - Zermatt

Heading towards the Mattertal, we trade the Rhone for the Vispa, tracing the Visp-Zermatt Bike Route N°150 to Zermatt along the Matterhorn Gotthard railway. Thus, you also have the option (as on the entire Glacier Bike Tour) to shorten the tour by hopping on the train for one or two stops.  

The Visper valley is still dominated by the vineyards nestling into the steep terraced slopes. A front-row seat for the grapevines - and also for Europe's highest-altitude football field in Gspon, sitting pretty at 2,000m. Crossing to the opposite side of the valley, we soon reach Stalden and continue along a scenic old mule track and the historic dry-stone walls towards Kalpetran. Shortly after, we switch to the road until St. Niklaus. 

At the final stretch of the old mule track above Kalpetran the track gets steeper and more technical with three tight bends. So slow down and ride carefully. 

Many pioneering mountain guides stem from the tiny village of St. Niklaus. They account for over 300 first ascents worldwide - more than any other village in the Alps. From here, the Glacier Bike Tour rides on gravel along the railroad line and the river, passing rushing waterfalls and the glacier tongue of the Bishorn on the eastern side of the Weisshorn massif. On the horizon, the Small Matterhorn and the gleaming white ridge of the Breithorn come into view - one of the 38 4,000m peaks that can be climbed from Zermatt. The Matterhorn itself, however, is still hiding... 

In Randa, you will see immense boulders strewn across the meadows and pastures. If you glance to the right, you'll spot the "Grossgufer," a massive debris cone that thundered down the valley during the triple rockslide in April and May 1991, burying parts of the village beneath it. Miraculously, no lives were lost. 

From Täsch onward, the forest track becomes a bit challenging, while the finish will be on asphalt. You don’t have to worry about traffic, however – Täsch marks “the end of the road” for private vehicles as Zermatt is car-free. But before heading up the last stretch, you should consider a brief, yet worthwhile detour: among larch trees in the gently sloping Täsch valley lies the lake Schali. Take a break, take a dip in the (pretty cool) glacier lake, or perhaps even try water skiing. Or you can check out the neighboring Bike Zone Schali featuring a pump track and skill center. 

And there it is, the magical moment on the home stretch: the first sight of the majestic Matterhorn. The 4,478m pyramid stands high and proud with its distinctive triangular shape. 

Few peaks have such a magnetic allure, and no other European mountain was harder to conquer. The first ascent of the final unclimbed 4,000er in the Alps was led by 25-year-old Englishman Edward Whymper - and was both a triumph and a tragedy. Queen Victoria actually considered the legal prohibition of alpine summit attempts after that ascent. Yet, the deliberations on the ban resulted in the opposite - it sparked a wave of alpine tourism in Zermatt. 

This is just one of many stories told in Zermatt. You can learn about them in the Matterhorn Museum or up on the viewing platform of the Gornergrat. The cog railroad to the summit at 3,089m climbs 1,484m in 33 minutes. Yet, after the 10 stages of the Glacier Bike Tour you deserve to relax and enjoy first. 

• Run by Vrony Cotting-Julen and her husband Max, Chez Vrony is one of the top culinary spots in Zermatt - located at 2,130m in an old mountain farmhouse. GaultMillau named Vrony hostess of the year in 2022 awarding her with 14 points.

• Potato Zermatt in the heart of the village offers a fresh take on traditional Valais and French cuisine. The fine food restaurant has received the "Walliser Genuss" label - also because most of the produce used stems from within a radius of 50km. 

• The Mamma Mia team serves much more than pizza and pasta - it brings a little bit of Italy to the high alpine world. 

• Above Randa, you find the Charles Kuonen suspension bridge on the Europe path – with its 494m, it is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the Alps. 

• The Matterhorn was the final unclimbed four-thousand-meter peak in the Alps - Switzerland has 48 4,000-meter peaks, 45 of which are in Valais. 

• It is impossible to list all the records that Zermatt holds… But among them range the highest mountain railway station, the highest restaurant and the highest ski resort in Europe. 

• The "Ottmar Hitzfeld Arena" in Gspon is the highest football pitch in Europe. It was named after the legendary Swiss football coach who donated an artificial turf in 2009. 

In 1991, a triple landslide hit Randa with masses of debris and huge boulders crashing down to the valley. On April 18, 15 million cubic meters of rock buried the railroad line and the river. Three days later, 100,000 m³ came down, yet luckily had no further impact. But on May 9, another 33 million cubic meters covered the road and further dammed up the Vispa. A bypass road was built, a new route was laid for the Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway and a canal was constructed to facilitate the proper flow of water from the Vispa. 

A 25-year-old Englishman, Edward Whymper, secured the first ascent of the Matterhorn after decades of failed attempts. On July 14, 1865, Whymper, accompanied by three mountain guides and three fellow Englishmen, conquered the summit via the Hörnligrat ridge. Unfortunately, only Whymper and the Zermatt guides Peter Taugwalder Senior and Junior made it back to the valley from the 7-person rope team. The other four tragically fell down the north face, including Lord Francis Douglas, a relative of Queen Victoria, whose body was never found. Following this incident, Queen Victoria considered banning Englishmen from climbing by law. However, the ban didn't come to pass; instead, her threat ironically spurred mountaineering tourism in Zermatt. 

• The 4-star Hotel Europe is run by the 3^rd generation of the Julen family and offers carefully modernized rooms as well as a spacious spa area. 

• The Chalet Hotel Schönegg lies above the rooftops of Zermatt – and just as high ranges its kitchen - it has been awarded 15 Gault Millau points. 

• You might have guessed it: the modern 22 Summits Boutique Hotel has 22 stylish rooms and a unique, two-storey wellness area. 

• The family-run wellness hotel Bella Vista is famous for its lavish, delicious breakfast and its sustainability focus. 

You can find more accommodation in the region here.