Gornergrat / Gornergratbahn

The rack-railroad climbs the east side of Nikolai valley, crosses the Findelnbach on a high bridge and then runs through the curving Unteralp tunnel. 4km/ 2mi: Riffelalp (2,213 m/7,261ft), with a superb view of the Gabelhorn group. The line continues up the slopes of the Riffelberg in a wide curve, with ever more impressive views of the Matterhorn. (6km/4mi: Riffelberg (2,582 m/8,472ft) with the hotel of the same name. 7.5km/5mi from Zermatt lies Rotenboden station (2,819 m/9,249ft). A few minutes' walk below the station is the Riffelsee, with the pyramidal peak of the Matterhorn mirrored in its water (particularly fine in the morning). The line then runs high above the Gorner glacier to the summit station (9km/6mi, 3,089 m/10,135ft),