Multi-Day Trips from Zermatt: Treks and Rail

October 20, 2026

Zermatt has no standard packaged tours that start in the village and run for several days. The options are long walking routes that end or begin here, a day-long rail journey that can anchor a longer trip, and guided ski-touring weeks. Most visitors instead stay for three to five nights and make separate outings. Distances below come from guidebooks and websites that disagree, so treat every figure as approximate. Prices are in Swiss francs (CHF).

Haute Route on foot

The walker’s Haute Route is the best-known trek into Zermatt. It starts in Chamonix and normally takes 12 to 14 days. Published lengths range from roughly 180 to 215 km, and the total climb is quoted at about 12,000 to 14,500 m. The finish follows the Europaweg, a path where rockfall can close stretches, so ask about closures in the last stages. This is high mountain terrain with fast weather changes, so go prepared with proper maps and gear.

Tour du Cervin

The Tour du Cervin circles the Matterhorn through Switzerland and Italy and crosses passes such as the Théodul at about 3,300 m and the Collon. Authors give 140 to 160 km and 7 to 10 days. Some sections run over glaciers, which means a certified guide, ropes and alpine experience. Never attempt those sections alone.

Zermatt’s own five-stage trek

The tourism office lists a Matterhorn Trek that starts and ends in Zermatt. It has five stages, covers about 46 km and climbs about 3,000 m in total. It avoids the Théodul pass, so it is the easier loop for walkers without glacier training. It is still alpine, so expect cold mornings and weather that can turn.

Rail across Switzerland

The Glacier Express connects Zermatt with St. Moritz in about 8 hours. Tickets cost CHF 166 in second class and CHF 284 in first, plus a CHF 54 seat reservation that no rail pass covers. The train does not operate from mid-October to early December. A night at each end turns it into a multi-day trip. Check the timetable for the season you plan to travel.

Ski touring with a guide

A guide is essential on ski-touring trips towards the Breithorn (4,164 m) or the Monte Rosa hut. Routes depend on snow conditions, so none are listed here. Do not set out on a glacier or off-piste route without a guide and a current avalanche report.

The Matterhorn climb

The Matterhorn is a serious alpine undertaking. The Hörnli ridge calls for crampons, ropes and real mountaineering skill, and climbers go with a Zermatt mountain guide. It is not a short add-on to a holiday and should not be planned as one.

Where to base yourself

A multi-day plan usually works best from one hotel, using trains and lifts for day outings. Hotel prices in Zermatt are high, and the next villages down the valley, Täsch and Randa, often cost less. Check rates on Booking.com . Safety advice for the Alps is in the UK foreign travel advice .