Zermatt Peak2Peak Pass validity area/duration
A traveler is visiting Switzerland in August, specifically staying in Zermatt from the 11th to the 13th. They want to explore Gornergrat and Matterhorn on the 12th but are unclear about what the Peak2Peak pass covers, including timetables and the ability to stop at intermediate stations like Rotenboden.
The Peak2Peak Pass allows you to hop on and off at any station along the route, so you can explore intermediate stops freely. Make sure to check the last train or cable car times to avoid getting stranded; for August, the last cable down from Klein Matterhorn is around 4 PM. It's best to buy your Swiss Travel Pass in advance for discounts and convenience.
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Hi there,
I will be travelling to Switzerland in August and will be in Zermatt from 11 to 13 August. I plan to visit both Gornergrat and Matterhorn on 12 August and understand that the Peak2Peak pass is still valid on that date.
I am planning to visit Gornergrat first followed by Matterhorn in the afternoon. I am confused as to what the Peak2Peak pass covers, though.
First of all, am I constrained to specific timings? I saw somewhere that I must follow a specific timetable.
In particular, I wanted to know if the Peak2Peak pass allows me to get off in intermediate stations — say at Rotenboden so I can visit Riffelsee — and then board the gondola up to Gornergrat. Or am I restricted to Zermatt -> Gornergrat -> Riffelberg -> Furi -> Matterhorn -> Zermatt?
Next, my question is on the Riffelberg Express. How does it work? Do I take the gondola down from Gornergrat to Riffelberg and then I transfer to another gondola that takes me to Furi? What is the interval like for the Riffelberg Express (I found the timetable but it does not mention anything about frequency).
Would be great if anyone has some experience with the Peak2Peak ticket and could shed some light on this! Thank you 🙂
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Hi trenzterra,
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
That’s right, with the Peak2Peak Pass you can combine a trip to Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in one excursion. You start by taking the cable car and gondola to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. Then ride the cable between Riffleberg and Furi, so you don’t have to travel all the way back to Zermatt to ride the cogwheel train up to reach Gornergrat. This trip can also be done in reverse. The pass is valid for one day and you are free to hop on and off at any station in between.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Anna
One thing to keep in mind when doing both in one day is the last train or cable car back to Zermatt. In August the last cable car down from the Klein Matterhorn is around 4pm; the last train from Gornergrat is closer to 8pm. I would suggest going to the Klein Matterhorn first will give you more time to enjoy and not be so rushed.
I am interested in doing this in Sept. we have a Swis travel pass. Do we need to reserve the peak 2 peak ticket in advance? Thanks
No, no need to buy ahead. I never buy mountain passes or tickets ahead of time. If the weather should be uncooperative you would have waisted alot of money. You can check the weather/views of the Zermatt mountain tops with the local webcams.
Hi MarieD!
Make sure to show your Swiss Travel Pass when purchasing your Peak2Peak ticket. You’re entitled to a discount (see https://www.myswissalps.com/gornergrat/tickets for example).
You can indeed wait to see what weather is like and then get your mountain excursion tickets shortly before. You can do so online (https://www.myswissalps.com/activities/naturalsites/mountains) or at the counter.
I do advise to get your Swiss Travel Pass in advance. You’ll then get an electronic pass that you can store or your phone (and print, if you like). So you’ll always have a back-up, which is not the case with a paper pass bought at a ticket desk in Switzerland. Please see https://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/wheretobuy for details, and https://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/price for trusted resellers.
As for your question about the Riffelberg Express: this consists of small gondolas that operate continuously. In general, the same goes for chairlifts. Larger cable cars and funiculars often operate with short intervals, e.g. each 15 or 30 minutes. That’s why exact departure times aren’t always included in mountain transportation timetables.
When I was there during the last few days of June, the Riffelberg lift was not operating. I don’t know if they intended to start operating it as of July 1st or not, but when we were there, we had to take the lifts from Klein Matterhorn all the way down to Zermatt, and then walk through town to the Gornergrat station. We had a 2 day Peak Pass and it was disappointing not to be able to use the Riffelberg lift either of the two days.
Hi Lastlook,
The Peak2Peak Pass is usually available in July and August. Technically the Riffelberg lift should be operating during this period. It’s strange that it wasn’t during your trip. I hope you still had a good experience.
Regards,
Anna
I was using the 2-day Peak Pass (a bit different from the Peak2Peak pass), but had wanted to try the new lift (new since I was there last in 2012), and it would have saved us time in getting to Riffelberg, when coming down from Klein Matterhorn. As always, I had a wonderful trip to Switzerland, and Zermatt remains a highlight for me. Just before leaving Zermatt on July 2nd, I finally took the helicopter ride with Air-Zermatt, and had a perfect blue sky morning – not a cloud in the sky during our flight.
Thanks for your valuable input Lastlook, in this thread and in many other discussions. The Riffelberg Express should normally be operational, according to the Zermatt mountain transportation website and timetables. I can also make a dummy-purchase for a ticket. But it doesn’t show up in the SBB timetable. That’s odd.
Happy to hear you had such a nice stay in Switzerland. The helicopter ride sounds amazing!
Posting a link to help those who are interested during normal daytime hours of operation:
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