IAESTE Zermatt Weekend
August 30-31, 2008

Explore Switzerland from a different altitude

Matterhorn

Valais:

With the 10 higest mountains in Switzerland - all over 4,000m - this scenic canton offers pinnacles of pleasure. A certain supply of snow plus challenging slopes makes the Valais region one of the most popular in the world for skiing. The surrounding countryside is also worthwhile exploring, the scenery is amazing in a rugged kind of way!
Julius Ceaser was an early "tourist". Historians fail to account whether he packed his skis, but we do know the Roman leader brought an army to conquer the Celtic community living in the valley. .

Zermatt:

Known all over the world as model for the Toblerone chocolate, the Matterhorn’s hometown is Zermatt. The legendary peak towers over the town. We wont exactly climb the Matterhorn, but we will go to its little brother Klein Matterhorn, located right beside it, to see some spectacular views of the great peak and the Gornergrat glacier. Klein Matterhorn is the highest viewing platform in Europe at approx 3,800m. Doesn’t sound too high compared to the 4478 of the Matterhorn, if you haven’t grown up in Nepal, you’ll still feel the effect of the altitude…

and More.. Your chance to fly in the Swiss Sky:

Come fly with us and experience for yourself the freedom and exhilaration of paragliding! The tandem paragliding requires no previous experience, but much adrenaline to enjoy a unique experience among some of the world’s most spectacular mountain scenery.

Don't miss the chance to experience this unique opportunity as part of your stay in Switzerland!

Program

Saturday, August 30

  • Start and general meeting point at 10:45 in Brig train station.
  • Arriving in Zermatt at 12:14.
  • Deposit the luggage at the hostel.
  • Cable car up to Klein Matterhorn, exploration of a glacier.
  • Visiting the Glacier Palace.
  • (Optional) Hiking down from cable car station “Füri” via Gorge Walk.
  • Dinner around 18:30.
  • Night activity, some party places can be recommended (up to everyone's own preference).

 IcePalace  ParaMatthorn

Sunday, August 31

  • Wake up, breakfast at 8:30 and check out until 10:00.
  • Hiking tour around Zermatt, to Blauherd or Riffelberg, where the best Shots of the Matterhorn are taken.
  • (Optional) paragliding for the adrenalin junkies :-)
  • Hiking back to Zermatt, where we meet the brave Gliders.
  • Depart Zermatt 17:39.
group_picture

Hostel:

The world-famous Matterhorn, or "Horu", peeps directly into the rooms of the youth hostel at the edge of Zermatt village. It is not just the first-class location that is exclusive, however, but also the youth hostel itself. Among the most modern of its kind in the world, it welcomes internationl guests of every age. Check out the webpage!

Para gliding:

The (optional) paragliding flights are Tandem flights and an experienced pilot will fly along with you. The Para gliding would commence from an altitude of 2600 m.from either Blauherd or Riffelberg.

It costs CHF 150.- per person. We get a discount price of CHF 135.- if there are 10 or more people, so the more people signup for the para gliding the better it is!

Participation fees

  • With SBB General Abonnement (GA): 90 CHF
  • With SBB half-fare (1/2): 115 CHF
  • Full price: 170 CHF

If you do not yet have a SBB half-fare card, we recommend you buying one! Check the SBB website!

A surcharge of 30 CHF will apply for participants who are not affiliated with IAESTE or its partner organisations.

Please bring the exact amount of money so that the payment can be done fast. We will collect the money on the train from Bern to Brig.

Included in the participation fee

  • Train from Brig to Zermatt (on Saturday, 10:52) and back (on Sunday, 17:39)
  • Accommodation.
  • Dinner on Saturday.
  • Breakfast on Sunday.
  • Lunch packet on Sunday.
  • Cable-car trip to Klein Matterhorn and entrance in the Glacier palace.
  • Gorge Walk
  • All transports during the weekend (except from your home town to Brig and back)

 Matthorn-Base  Schwarzsee

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel your registration
  • less than 12 hours before the start of the event (that is,08:30 , Saturday 30.8.2008), you pay the entire participation fee
  • 12-24 hours before the start of the event, you pay 75% of the participation fee
  • 24-48 hours before the start of the event, you pay 50% of the participation fee
  • 48-72 hours before the start of the event, you pay 25% of the participation fee

Checklist - Remember to Bring

  • Cash for paying the participation fee
  • Cash for the paragliding and a pack of courage
  • Lunch for Saturday
  • Warm clothes for Klein Matterhorn (we will go under a glacier, no matter how hot it is in the town, it’s COLD in there!!!)
  • Walking/hiking shoes (waterproof if possible).
  • Sun block.
  • Sunglasses.
  • Money.
  • Small bag for hiking.
  • Water for the hike.
  • Train ticket from your home town to Brig and back (on Sunday, we’ll leave Brig after 7pm, if you have a G7, you only need one way)

No sleeping bag is needed!

Again, bring WARM CLOTHES, including gloves, scarfs and hats! It will be FREEZING!

Meeting point and train connections

We suggest the following trains to go to Brig. Meeting point for all participants is in Brig at 10:45! For anyone travelling from Zurich we will meet in Zurich HB at the meeting point at 07:50.

Please note that you have to buy your own ticket to Brig and the way back! The train tickets from Brig to Zermatt are provided by IAESTE.

 

From BaselBasel to Brig Connection

From LausanneLausanne to Brig connection

From ZurichZurich to Brig connection

To BaselBrig to Basel connection

To Lausanne Brig to Lausanne connection

To Zurich

Brig to Zurich connection

For further information on train connections, check the SBB website.

 

Important notes

IAESTE Switzerland is not responsible for any damage or accident! Make sure that you are well insured (medical, accidental & liability insurance!).

We would also need to reserve and confirm the number of Paragliders in advance. So, be sure that you indicate in your registration if you are going to FLY!

In the 48 hours right after registration opening, IAESTE trainees and members will be given priority. After that, registration is open to everybody on a first-come, first-serve basis.

 

Registration

The maximum number of participants allowed for this event is 54 (including organizers and helpers) and the registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. If your registration is not among the first 54, it will be put on the waiting list.

The online registration closed on Tuesday, 26 August 2008, at 18:00:00.

Check out the list of participants for this event.

Contact

If you have any questions, write to Show e-mail address.