Hello! My husband and I have booked a cruise on the Rhine for next Spring. It goes from Amsterdam to Basel. We would like to add a few days onto the end and see some of Switzerland. One thing we would like to check off the bucket list is the Matterhorn. However, my husband has lung disease which limits the altitude he is comfortable with. We live in Colorado (mile high) and he can go without oxygen here. I have been researching elevations for cities but that doesn't tell me whether or not the train ride from Basel would reach altitudes that would be a challenge for him. Can anyone tell me if the trains, in general, travel at the base of the various peaks or over passes? We will be flying home out of Zurich.Thanks!!

I live in ABQ at altitude of over 5500' I got altitude sickness when going up in the tram of Mt Blanc. So, being from Colorado doesn't mean too much.

And it's random, there isn't a case where a person always does or doesn't get altitude sickness. I usually am fine at altitude, but got sick going up Pikes Peak.

Not sure this helps.

I travel to Denver to see children a lot and over the years what Deb says is true--it is SO random. But since you are already at altitude, it would seem you would be OK. Hope so.
Don't forget the hydration--and some aspirin, if it is OK with his doc.

Someone may correct me but I believe the high point of your train ride will be the end point - Zermatt at 5300 feet. But if you want to get a better look at the Matterhorn you might then be tempted to take the gondola up higher.

It looks like the highest the train would reach prior to Zermatt would be 4,070 feet.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lötschberg_railway_line

But I am happy to be corrected.

Thanks everyone!!!If the high point is Zermatt we should be fine since that is our current altitude. I am perfectly fine taking pictures from the town.