Cable railways, secret tip

The first gondola train to the Bettmerhorn, built in 1975, has transported in its 20 years of operation over eight million guests. With the opening of its new 8-seater gondola train in 1996, the resort of Bettmeralp has set new standards – after all, the train is considered the most modern of its kind.

The massive glacier covering parts of the Wildstrubel chain of mountains measures about 10 square kilometers and is misnamed "Plaine Morte", which literally means "dead plain". At 3,000 metres above sea level, it may be reached from Montana by cable car.

You will reach the summit of the Eggishorn at 2926 metres above sea level, still completely overwhelmed by the splendid journey over the Fiescheralp.

The perfect excursion (3,089 m): Impressive and majestic, standing out against the sky, the Matterhorn – a national symbol – steals the show from the other 37 four-thousand-metre mountains visible from here.

The historic 1920s funicular railway is the steepest in the world to have two cabins, with a gradient of 87%, the Decauville panoramic train (with a 60 cm gauge) offers superb views of the area, and the "Minifunic" (the mini funicular railway) takes you straight up towards the sky.

The railway takes you up from the bottom station to Kreuzboden, where many lovely paths begin, a mountain trout lake competes with the blue of the sky and the children enjoy the Hohsi-Land playground.

The Lötschental has for a long time been the end of the world and so has remained wonderfully unspoiled. A mountain climbers' Eldorado opens up from the Lauchernalp onwards.

On its 1,767-meter route the cable car Blatten - Belalp climbs 763 meters and takes you to an area from where the entire Aletsch region can be seen.

In 1939, the first cable car between Champéry and Planachaux was built by "Téléphérique Champéry-Planachaux AG", and it was not replaced until 1987 by a new construction.

Since 1984 the Seetalhorn has been accessible via a 6-seater gondola train, which brought a tourist boom to the village of Grächen. The train climbs a stately 1,220 meters over a distance of 2,806 meters. Another cable car runs from Grächen to the Hannigalp.

The Gemmi Train climbs the steep Gemmi face to the wonderful mountain world of the Gemmi Region, which is famous for its rich traditions. The Gemmi Train was built in 1957 and has since then transported many a guest to an elevation of 2,350 meters.

The cable cars glide on a steep ascent from the Thermal Spa Resort of Leukerbad to the peak of the Gemmi (separate side) and the Torrent Alp (2300m) The Torrent Train was inaugurated in 1971.

On December 20, 1958 the gondola train Nendaz-Tracout was inaugurated in the presence of the press, numerous guests and the local population. The new installation was celebrated in a grand way and many photographs were taken. The Canton of Valais had gained another resort village.

If one did not have before one’s mind’s eye the dazzling mountain world and the glittering glacier next to the entrance to the Alpine Metro, one would forget that the tunnel walls rushing by at a speed of ten meters per second are part of the High Alps.

A modern cable car takes you from the sunny little resort of St. Luc to the Tignousa Alp at 2,186 meters. Here you will already have a breathtaking view of the 4000-meter Valaisian peaks. At the farthest corner of the Val d'Anniviers you can even get a glimpse of the Matterhorn.

Whether you ride up from Haute-Nendaz or from Verbier to the Mont-Fort area, the last stage to the peak unites riders from both ascents in a small gondola on their way up via the Glacier de Tortin to the Mont Fort summit.

The picturesque holiday village of Vercorin is found at the farthest edge of the Val d'Anniviers, on a piece of land jutting out over the Rhone Valley. From the edge of the village a gondola has been running up the Crêt du Midi, the closest peak between Val d'Anniviers and Vallon de Réchy, since 1973.

The 3,103-meter mountain can be reached with three modern mountain trains. From Zermatt to Sunnegga and via the Alp Blauherd one can quickly reach the Rothorn and enjoy an unforgettable panoramic view.

The Klein Matterhorn is Europe’s highest viewing platform. No cable car takes tourists to a higher point. The view is breathtaking - you will be transported to a different and cold but much clearer world.