Part 6 - A MEMORABLE ADVENTURE FROM JUNGFRAU TO CAMPING DES GLACIER VIA ZERMATT
Day Eleven : Camping Des Glacier via Zermatt.
We began our eleventh day of out Swiss adventure at Camping Jungfrau, leaving early as we had day trip planned, a 2hr 30mins drive to Tasch, where we were to catch a train to the car-free town of Zermatt. On the route, the train we boarded at Kandersteg station was a first for us, as it was an open carriage car train that took us through the mountains via the Lötschbergtunnel. It was a mesmerizing experience, with our vehicle lights turned off in the tunnel and the white and red emergency lights flying past.
We soon arrived at Tasch's multistory car park and caught the train to Zermatt. Zermatt is a mountain village with a population of about 5,800 and is one of the world's great ski and climbing centres. The town lies at an elevation of 5,310 feet, at the foot of Switzerland’s highest peaks. The towering Matterhorn overlooks the village, creating an awe-inspiring view.
We spent some time exploring the village, venturing to the outskirts to find a good vantage point to photograph the town and the Matterhorn. We found ourselves on a quiet, circular walk that offered lovely views of the village and the Matterhorn through the wonderfully smelling Pine trees. During the walk, we stumbled upon a lovely restaurant, Restaurant WALDHAUS, where we enjoyed a hearty lunch.
Taken from the PDF version.
After lunch, we got back in our van and headed to our final destination for the day: Camping des Glacier. The campsite was more spectacular than we had hoped, sitting at the foot of Pointe d'Orny, part of the Mont Blanc massif. We were given a huge pitch with breathtaking views of the mountains on every side. We spent the evening relaxing, taking in our surroundings, and enjoying the best Swiss cheese toasty you could imagine.
Day Twelve : Exploring the Glacier
On the twelfth day, we decided to explore the glacier above us, in reality just get as close as we dared. The reception team gave us an excellent free trail map, so we filled our backpacks with water, snacks, and camera gear and headed out to enjoy the local walk. The walk ended up being a 3-mile route through some of the most fantastic wildflower pastures we had ever seen. We called it a day after climbing for some time along a rocky vanishing path, reaching the snow line and returning to the campsite in the early afternoon.
Day Thirteen : Hiking the Ibex Route
Our thirteenth day started with a more challenging hike, the Chemin du Bouquetins - Ibex Trail. The trail started at the top of the La Fouly chairlift and led us high above La Fouly. The mountain pastures were stunning, and we managed to spot Marmots, who emerged from their underground lairs to sniff the air before diving back below at the sound of our approach. After our hike, we returned to our campsite and celebrated our successful adventure with local cold beers from the well-stocked shop nearby.
Taken from the PDF version
In conclusion, this leg of the journey was a unique blend of driving, train rides, and hiking through some of the most spectacular landscapes we could ever hope to see. It was a testament to the beauty and diversity of the Swiss terrain, from towering peaks to the serene pastures near Camping des Glacier. Each day brought a new adventure and a new sight to behold, making the trip an unforgettable experience.