Breithorn
The "breithorn" 4150 m is the easiest 4000er of the alps. using the lifts "furri" 1700 m, "trockener steg"2800 m, "kleines matterhorn" 3883 m you reach the top of the little matterhorn. go down to the "theodul-gletscher" and follow the trail to left on the breithorn. the top of the breithorn can be reached after 2 h walking no climbing!. a rope is necessary and a mountain guide is recommended. you should not start the tour from the little matterhorn after 10:00 in the morning, because the snow gets too weak and you will not reach the last lift down to zermatt in time. the glacier paradise klein matterhorn ski area is at 3850m 3899m when the additional summer season drag lift is open.
Matterhorn
The "matterhorn" 4478 m can be climbed by experienced mountaineers. the usual pattern of ascent is to take the schwarzsee cable car up from zermatt, hike up to the hörnli hut elev. 3,260 m 10,700 ft, a large stone building at the base of the main ridge, and spend the night. the next day, climbers rise at 3:30 am so as to reach the summit and descend before the regular afternoon clouds and storms come in. the cost is approx. 1200 chf with a mountain guide from zermatt (http://www.alpincenter-ze...)
Monte Rosa
"monte rosa" dufourspitze 4634 m is the culminating point of switzerland. the starting point is monte rosa hut at 2795m. the climb requires excellent physical condition, experience in climbing with crampons and prior acclimatisation to the altitude. the cost is approx. 700 chf with a guide from zermatt (http://www.alpincenter-ze...)
ES - European Snowsport - Zermatt Ski School
Zermatt Ski School and Snowboard School
Cycling/mountain biking
Gornergrat
mountain railway bikes can be carried on the gornergrat railway right to the summit. there are special cars where you can hang up your bike vertically.
Blauherd - Rothorn
telecabin the top stage of the rothorn route is one of the huge telecabins that carry 150 people at a time. in summer you can just wheel your bikes in and out again at the top.
You can wheel your bike through the tunnel to the bottom of the funicular and then place it in the bottom compartment on the train. You will have to carry it up about 8 steps at this stage. At the top of the mountain don't follow the crowd up the steps to the exit - there is a lower exit that you can wheel your bike straight out of and onto a slightly lower path. Alternatively get in the elevator lift located here and it will take you up the 15 meters 50 ft or so to the top exit.
Sunnegga - Blauherd
cable car when you arrive at the ticket barrier the attendant should notice you and take your bike around the barrier. since they don't fit in the cabins your bikes will be carried in an open cargo cable car. you will have to wait for it to appear on the cable but this shouldn't take more than a few minutes. the attendant then loads your bikes in and fastens them down whilst you get in a standard cabin. they then radio the top station who unload them for you on arrival.
When you arrive at the ticket barrier the attendant should notice you and take your bike around the barrier. Since they don't fit in the cabins your bikes will be carried in an open cargo cable car. You will have to wait for it to appear on the cable but this shouldn't take more than a few minutes. The attendant then loads your bikes in and fastens them down whilst you get in a standard cabin. They then radio the top station who unload them for you on arrival.
Zermatt - Sunnegga
funicular you can wheel your bike through the tunnel to the bottom of the funicular and then place it in the bottom compartment on the train. you will have to carry it up about 8 steps at this stage. at the top of the mountain don't follow the crowd up the steps to the exit - there is a lower exit that you can wheel your bike straight out of and onto a slightly lower path. alternatively get in the elevator lift located here and it will take you up the 15 meters 50 ft or so to the top exit.
The top stage of the Rothorn route is one of the huge telecabins that carry 150 people at a time. In summer you can just wheel your bikes in and out again at the top.
Zermatt is a great place to mountain bike although it doesn't appear to have really become popular there yet. Bikes can be hired from several shops around Zermatt from about 38CHF for a hard tail and 50CHF for a full suspension per day downhill rigs are 100CHF per day and helmets are included.
For bike hire seach for Bayardzermatt or salom sport, Bayards is closer to the train station but you can get a mountain bike guide from salom sport for 180CHF in the afternoon or 240CHF in the morning and 350CHF for a full day.
Mountain Bike route and much more can be found at (http://www.zermatt.ch/en/...) routes on this website can also be download to GPS or printed.
If you plan on cycling through town, take note that the main street Bahnhofstrasse is closed to bicyclesunless pushed from the train station to the church for most of the afternoon, and the police are quick to fine anyone who does so anyway.
Mountain bikes may be carried on most of the ski lifts that are open in the summer although you will be charged extra. Lift passes that are valid for more than 3 days appear to include bike transport as standard although you can pay for individual journeys if you wish. Note that the Gornegrat train is not included in some summer lift passes.
You can also buy area passes on a daily basis that include the lifts on one particular peak either Rothorn or Schwarzsee. These passes are available in mountain bike versions for not much extra.
The following lifts should allow your bikes:
Bikes can be carried on the Gornergrat railway right to the summit. There are special cars where you can hang up your bike vertically.
Schwarzsee lifts
A biking lift pass is available and a number of routes are marked down the mountain from this area.
A biking lift pass is available and a number of routes are marked down the mountain from this area.
The tourist information centre next to the Zermatt train station sell a mountain biking map for 2CHF which includes a number of routes down from the various peaks. The map states that Zermatt's cycling policy is that any track wider than 2 meters 6.5 ft is a valid cycling route. There are numerous roads that run down and around the mountains in the summer that carry cyclists in safety. Remember that Zermatt is generally car free so you will only rarely see a powered vehicle.
The Rothorn area is particularly good and suitable for all levels of cyclist. It is possible to cycle down from the summit following a wide but occasionally steep and rocky path down the back of the mountain that brings you back to the Blauhard lift station. From there you can follow the quiet mountain road routes all the way down to Zermatt. There are some excellent cross mountain routes that present you with stunning views and take you over to Gournergrat near Rifflealp. Unfortunately there is no cycling route down on the official map from that point so you can either get on the Gournergrat train or turn around and come back down to a lower point on the Rothorn.
The restaurant at Fluhalp is a pleasant first ride from the Blauhard lift station and a good way of familarising yourself with a hire bike.
Make sure that you take some good quality cycling gloves since you can expect significant vibration from cycling along rocky tracks!