Spending summer in Zermatt can be addictive. There?s something special about the mountains in the summer months that is a world away from the winter wonderland of the ski season. If the winter months are a black and white image, the summer months are a riot of lush greens and colour. The snow melts and a whole new world is revealed, the mountains suddenly become accessible to hikers, mountain bikers, cyclists and all manner of nature lovers and photographers. Road cyclists will find lung busting climbs, through terrific scenery, some of the climbs would test the fittest of road racers. Try the ride to nearby Grachen, down the hill to St Nicholas and then up again to Grachen, a fairy tale mountain village high above the Zermatt valley, a round trip of about 60k. A real tester.
For mountain bikers, over gravel and stones, through larch and Swiss pine forests, on Single Trails – and all this with a magnificent mountain backdrop: On six routes with a total of 100 km with different difficulty levels, you will cover an average of 1,000 metres of altitude. The training effect becomes optimal between 1,600 and 2,500 metres. Try out the downhill run and 4cross from the Sunnegga.
For hikers, with more than 400 km of marked hiking and walking trails, Zermatt, Täsch and Randa offer a wide range of options to hiking fans. The mountain railways make it possible to effortlessly reach altitudes up to 3,000 metres above sea level. The areas in Täsch and Randa, with breathtaking views of the Weisshorn and the peaks of the Mischabel group, are recommended to those who like to walk up to higher altitudes. Or you can follow in the footsteps of Emile Zola, Eduard Whymper and Albert Schweizer to Trift. And there are walking trails close to the villages for those who are no longer so good on their feet. Themed walking trails invite you to learn more about the area. Recently, the destination introduced a network of hiking trails with uniform signposts following the "Quality Goals for Hiking Trails in Switzerland". What more could you ask for. An absolute haven for keen walkers and nature lovers.
In late summer photographers travel from all over the world to Zermatt, Switzerland. Golden-yellow larch forests set against a deep blue sky make for a magnificent landscape palette. Add in the world’s most famous mountain – the Matterhorn – and it’s rather difficult to go wrong. Avail yourself of the opportunity to photograph this famous landscape from many angles, at both sunrise and sunset. This is a place where the scenery is hard to beat!
Zermatt is the physical and spiritual home of Skiboutique, we are experts on the resort and have a wonderful selection of luxury chalets, both catered and self catered, plus a number of stunning boutique hotels to choose from. We have something to suit every taste and every budget and we are full of recommendations and tips to get the most out of your stay in this special corner of the globe.