IAESTE Zermatt Weekend
September 5-6, 2009

 

 Welcome to the world of peaks and glaciers!

 

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 popularin 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 & Matterhorn:

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 won't exactly climb the Matterhorn, but we will go to its little brother Klein Matterhorn, located right beside it, to see somes pectacular views of the great peak and the surrounding panorama of peaks and glaciers. Klein Matterhorn is the highest viewing platform accessible by cable car in Europe at over 3800m. Doesn’t sound too high compared to the 4478 of the Matterhorn, if youhaven’t grown up in Nepal, you’ll still feel the effect of the altitude…

 

Aletsch Glacier:

With 23km, the Aletsch glacier is the longest glacier in the alps and covers more than 120 square kilometres. Today, the area is a UNESCO world heritage site and attracts tourists from all over the world to admire the impressive landscape of glaciers, peaks, lakes and alpine forest.

  

Don't miss the chance to experience these two absolute highlights of alpine sightseeing as part of your stay in Switzerland!


Program

Saturday, September 5

  • Start and general meeting point at 11.05 sharp in Visp train station (at the train to Zermatt on track 3)
  • Arriving in Zermatt at 12.15
  • Deposit the luggage at the hostel
  • Panoramic cable car ride up to Klein Matterhorn
  • Visit of the glacier palace, a world of ice sculptures built inside a glacier
  • Take te cable car down to the intermediate station "Füri"
  • Walk down to Zermatt through a gorge (optional)
  • Dinner at the hostel at 19.00
  • Explore the nightlife of Zermatt (optional)

Sunday, September 6

  • Breakfast at the hostel around 8.15 and check out until 09.00
  • Depart from Zermatt by train at 09.39
  • Arrive at Bettmergrat by gondola lift around 12.30
  • Make a quick climb to Bettmerhorn peak OR enjoy lunch break on Bettmergrat and the glacier information centre
  • Panoramic hike to Fiescheralp along the glacier and via a pristine alpine lake OR take an easier walk directly down to Fiescheralp
  • Take the cable car down to Fiesch at 17.30
  • Take the train home from Fiesch (when traveling to Zurich this will be on a very scenic route via the Gotthard region)

Hostel:

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

 

Participation fees

  • With SBB General Abonnement (GA): 110 CHF
  • With SBB half-fare (1/2): 140 CHF
  • Without SBB half-fare (1/2): 225 CHF

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

A surcharge of 25 CHF will apply for participants who are not affiliated with IAESTE or its partner organisations.

The money will be collected at the start of the weekend . Only cash is accepted!

Included in the participation fee

  • Acommodation (linen included) in rooms with 4-8 beds
  • Dinner on Saturday (4-course meal)
  • Breakfast buffet on Sunday
  • All transportation from Visp on Saturday to Fiesch on Sunday (including all trains and cable cars we will use)
  • Entrance to the glacier palace on Klein Matterhorn
  • Entrance to the gorge walk
  • Packed lunch on Sunday
  • Spectacular views and thin air

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel your registration
  • less than 12 hours before the start of the event (that is, 11:00, Saturday, 05.09.2009), 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
  • Good shoes for hiking
  • Warm clothes as is will be freezing on top of the mountains and inside the glacier
  • Raingear - just in case
  • Lunch for Saturday
  • Sunblock and sunglasses
  • Water bottle for hiking
  • Do not bring too much luggage with you as you will have to carry everything along the whole hike on Sunday!
  • Train ticket from your home town to Visp (Sa) and from Fiesch back home (Su; if travelling to Zurich choose via Andermatt)
  • Lots of energy and your best smile!

For participants with Gleis 7, the return trip can get considerably cheaper:
If traveling to Zurich, you only need a ticket Fiesch-Realp
If traveling directly to Bern/Basel, you only need a ticket Fiesch-Spiez
If traveling to Lausanne, you only need a ticket Fiesch-Visp

Meeting point and train connections

  • Meeting point for participants traveling from Zurich: Zurich main station, meeting point (under the big clock), at 08.45
  • Meeting point for all other participants: At Visp train station on track 3, where the train to Zermatt leaves. If late, don't miss the train departing 11.10 and meet us on the train, where places are reserved for IAESTE

From Basel

From Lausanne

From Zurich

To Basel

To Lausanne

To Zurich

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

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 Monday, 31 August 2009, 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.