[Removed user]

23 March 2019 at 21:46:26 #820557

Hi All, semi-tourist here, me and wife are looking at a weekend trip to Zermatt from Lausanne on Mar 30-31 or Apr 13-14 arriving early Saturday and leaving late Sunday. I’ve read some of the posts here and we are looking to do Gornergrat on Saturday and Glacier Paradise on Sunday. We are not really hikers, but we enjoy the views. Any other must-dos for sightseeing in the area? Are the cable cars, lifts all covered if we purchase a day pass? We have a half fare card good for this year. Thanks in advance!

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[Removed user]

24 March 2019 at 1:25:52 #907344

Your dates are still in the ski season, so there won’t be hikes available above the village. You should take the Gornergrat railway and just see the views from the top but you must wear boots /footwear with good tread of some sort as the ground is likely to be a mixture of snow, cleared snow, ice and tarmac

The Zermatt website shows what tickets you can get – individual or a ‘non-skiers’ pass

[Removed user]

24 March 2019 at 5:33:35 #907345

Hi Sparky,

Make sure you check our Zermatt page, incl. what to do for inspiration of available activities:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ze rmatt

– http://www.myswissalps.com/kl einmatterhorn
– http://www.myswissalps.com/go rnergrat

I assume as a half fare card holder you are talking about the 1 day Travel Pass for which you need to have a Swiss Half Fare Card. In this case you get 50% off the mentioned transportation, as you will see in the “validity” section of this link:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/on edaytravelpass

To find out about travelling times for your trip use our timetable:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

We’re here for any further input.

Best,
Steph

[Removed user]

24 March 2019 at 13:46:09 #907346

Thanks for the responses. I didn’t realize there would still be lots of snow when we visit, it is starting to get warm where we are, will definitely prepare for the snow.

The link on how to go up Kleine Matterhorn was very helpful, Kleine Matterhorn = Matterhorn Glacier Paradise!!!

So if I purchase a day pass, i will still need to purchase either a ticket to go up Kleine Matterhorn (just the gondolas, right?) or buy a pass that includes access to the viewing platform, snow tubing and palace, right? And for either option all gondola sections from Zermatt to Kleine Matterhorn are covered?

If we go in the winter is it worth going back in the spring or summer? Is it a different experience?

Thanks again!

[Removed user]

24 March 2019 at 17:18:46 #907347

Hello Spraky,

May I please ask you to use the full names of the travel pass (once provided) to prevent misunderstandings. Thanks a lot.

Correct – Klein Matterhorn = Glacier Paradise!

Holding a 1 day Travel Pass you would have to pay 50% of the gondola ticket’s cost, correct.
I’m not entirely sure if the combined ticket incl. the tubing, etc. has an applicable discount.
But you can always get the discounted transportation and then just pay the entrance to the activities on site.

See here:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/kl einmatterhorn/packages
Compare Viator (incl. activities) vs SBB ticket shop (pure transportation)

Hope this helps.

Best,
Steph

[Removed user]

24 March 2019 at 18:07:19 #907348

Hi Steph, sorry for not being clear. What we have is the Swiss Half Fare Card. Going from Lausanne to Zermatt and back we plan on buying Supersaver tickets.

When in Zermatt, I am planning on buying tickets to go to Gornergrat and some of the stations along the way. With our Half Fare Cards this will be CHF 38 per person round trip, right?

Then next day I am checking 2 options for Kleine Matterhorn, one is via multiple gondolas to the top or the express which i think is just 1 gondola. Both packages are around the same price and include entrances to viewing platform, Glacier palace and snow tubing. I can’t see SBB prices if i try to enter Zermatt to Trockener Steg.

Thanks!

[rockoyster]

24 March 2019 at 19:51:41 #907349

In your opening post you said “We have a half fare card good for this year.” I assumed that was the domestic Half-fare Card as the Swiss Half-fare Card only operates for 30 days. No matter as long as you are clear what you have.

Just a word on Supersaver fares: 1. They are not always offered on all routes. 2. They are tied to a specific train departure time so if you have a Supersaver Ticket make sure you don’t miss that train or you’ll need to buy a new ticket.

[Removed user]

24 March 2019 at 19:59:54 #907350

Hey Rockoyster, i am also a bit confused. Lol. From your response it looks like the domestic Half-fare Card is the correct term since it is good for 1 year.

Noted on Supersaver fares, we have seen some on the dates we are looking at.

The clincher now is, next weekend looks to be cloudy so we’re thinking about rescheduling or just doing Saturday since it is the sunny day. Thanks!

[Removed user]

25 March 2019 at 9:49:08 #907351

Hi Sparky,

Yes, that is the domestic Half Fare Card.

This is a bit the tactic behind the Supersaver fares, you are bound to the specific train and thus less flexible: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/switzerland.

Have you looked into the 1-day travel pass (link provided) above and the Saver Day Pass as alternatives:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/sa verdaypass

Might be more expensive but offers more flexibility.

Just another input to consider, hope it’s not confusing.

Best,
Steph

[Removed user]

25 March 2019 at 19:22:39 #907352

Thanks Steph. I was thinking Supersaver fares since we can leave at those specific times and once in Zermatt we don’t necessarily need public transportation if our hotel is in the town. And we will purchase tickets to Gornergrat and Kleine Matterhorn either way and we get the same discount with our domestic Half Fare Card. Right?

Thanks for the help!

[Removed user]

25 March 2019 at 21:15:24 #907353

Hi Sparky,

Your thoughts are absolutely right.
I was suggesting the other options more in connection to the option of “only doing Saturday”, with me assuming you return to Lausanne the same day. In this case the other two pass possibilities would offer you more flexibilities.

But for the overnight option, you’re right!

Best,
Steph