Gornegrat
 

Tell me what is the best way to do gornegrat. I mean which stops to get down, hike and catch the next train. I would like to do the gornegrat round trip mixed with lots of stops and short hikes.<BR><BR>

Gullu - if you're really into hiking, I recommend this: go up to the SUNEGGA station in Zermatt first, walk into the valley away from Zermatt along the left side and then slightly down to a fascinating area of small glacial ponds, coniferous or fir trees, etc. Then, walk back along the right ridge and commence a consistent though not steep ascent toward the Riffelalp, which is a stop on the Gornergrat train ride. If you've got lungs, walk the rest of the way up to the top. If not, catch the train up to the top station, enjoy the view, then walk back down to Riffelalp and catch another train down to Zermatt. You can also get out just one or two stops up from the village and walk down through forested slopes and then through the upper village, you'll see some nice chalets, etc.<BR>

Addendum to my message: by "going up to the SUNEGGA station", I meant you should take the cable car up to the Sunegga plateau - don't start from the base station in the village...

Gullu,<BR><BR>xxx's suggestion is a good - though confused - one. Sunegga is reached not by cable car but by an underground funicular. From there, you can either take the hike suggested, or take the gondolas to Blauherd. From there, the hike is very easy as it follows a wide gravel road downhill with amazing views the whole way. The road ends at a really nice cafe - great for some homemade cake! From the cafe, it's a level walk to Riffelalp station (beware, the very last piece is quite exposed, not recommended for people with vertigo, but wide and absolutely safe). Total duration of the hike about 2.5 hours (without break at the cafe).<BR><BR>From Riffelalp you can take the train up to Gornergrat, but if you have 2 days in Zermatt, I would strongly recommend saving that for another day. Instead, go to Unterrothorn (yet another cable car leg from Blauherd) before setting off on the hike I described - it's also a spectacular (and almost deserted) vantage point.<BR><BR>From the Gornergrat itself, I would recommend hiking down from the top to the RiffelBERG station. Start by crossing the railway tracks through the underpass just below the Gornergrat Hotel, then heading downhill on the wide path - the main route on the other side of the tracks is narrow,stony and very crowded. The two routes eventually converge. About a 2 hour hike - you can get on the train a little less than halfway through at Rotenboden if you're tired.<BR><BR>Hope this helps,<BR>Andre

"Confused?" I think I just got it wrong...<BR><BR>Anyway - gullu, another worthwhile hike you could do on a 2nd day is from Zermatt into the Mattertal - you will walk JUST BELOW the Matterhorn, it's an impressive view the whole way. Take either the mid-level path or the higher one along the valley. You reach a network of dams, streams, and little lakes; it's part of an important regional hydroelectric system. You won't be impacted by any huge, ugly buildings etc. as there aren't any, just the force of nature that they've harnessed. You arrive at a waterfall, a large expanse of marshy wetland, and the start of a glacier. Then, you can return along the other side, til Blatten, and down to Zermatt.