Name: Walking in Zermatt and Saas-Fee
Brand: Cicerone Press
Price: 17.95 GBP
Availability: InStock

Walking in Zermatt and Saas-Fee - Front Cover

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50 routes in the Valais: Mattertal and Saastal

Guidebook describing 50 graded day walks in Valais, Switzerland, based around the resort towns of Zermatt and Saas-Fee. The routes cover the Mattertal and Saastal valleys and their surrounding mountains and offer spectacular views of the Swiss 4000m giants, including the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa. Welcoming huts offer refreshment on the routes.

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Quick facts

Region: Mattertal and Saastal, Valais, Switzerland
Walk format: 50 graded day walks
Walk distances: 4 to 29km (3 to 18 miles) per walk
Walk duration: 2 to 10 hours per walk
Areas covered: Zermatt and the Mattertal, Grächen and the lower Mattertal, Saas-Fee and the Saastal
Main centres: Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund, Saas-Almagell, Grächen, Täsch, Visp
Lift system: Routes make use of the area's extensive cable car and gondola network, opening up high-alpine terrain to walkers of all abilities
Hut walks: Dedicated routes to iconic mountain huts, including the Monte Rosa Hütte, Britanniahütte, Mischabelhütte, Täschhütte, and Almagellerhütte
Key highlights: Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, Gornergrat, Five Lakes Walk, Matterhorn Glacier Trail, Schwarzsee, Zmutt village, Monte Moro Pass, Findeln valley
Difficulty: Easy 1 to 2 hour walks through to full-day challenging mountain outings; routes suitable for beginners and experienced walkers alike
Terrain: Well-maintained mountain paths, glacier viewpoints, valley floors, alp restaurants, lift-assisted ascents
Best season: Mid-June to the end of September, when snow has melted, and mountain huts and restaurants are open
Getting there: Fly to Geneva or Zurich; Zermatt is car-free and reached by train via Visp or Brig; Saas-Fee is car-free beyond the village entrance
Maps: 1:50,000 maps included for every walk
GPX files: Available to download for all 50 routes

Detailed overview

Home to the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, and some of the most iconic mountain scenery in the Alps, the Mattertal and Saastal valleys in the Swiss Valais offer walkers an unrivalled combination of spectacular high-alpine terrain and well-developed mountain infrastructure. With 50 routes making full use of the area's extensive path network and lift systems, this is one of the finest walking destinations in Switzerland.

This trusted guidebook by Lesley and Jonathan Williams describes 50 graded day walks ranging from 4 to 29km (3 to 18 miles), completed in 2 to 10 hours, based around the resort towns of Zermatt and Saas-Fee. It combines clear, walk-by-walk route descriptions with thorough planning information to help you make the most of every day in these magnificent Swiss 4000m mountains.

Organised across four areas — Zermatt and the Mattertal, Grächen and the lower Mattertal, and Saas-Fee and the Saastal — the 50 graded walks range from easy village strolls to full-day mountain outings,
Clear route descriptions are supported by 1:50,000 maps for every walk, with detailed information on planning, transport, and amenities to help you navigate the valleys and mountains with confidence
GPX files are available to download for all 50 routes, making it simple to follow the path digitally, whether you're tracing the Matterhorn Glacier Trail or picking your way above the glaciers to the Monte Rosa Hütte
Stand-out routes include the Five Lakes Walk in the Findeln valley, the Gornergrat to Riffelsee circuit, the iconic Grächen to Saas-Fee Höhenweg, and hut walks to the Britanniahütte and Mischabelhütte, with welcoming mountain restaurants dotted throughout the area
Background notes on the plants, wildlife, and geology of these extraordinary 4000m peaks sit alongside practical guidance on getting to Zermatt and Saas-Fee, travel in the region and accommodation options

Packed with 50 route descriptions, 1:50,000 maps, and GPX downloads, this is the definitive Cicerone guide to walking in Zermatt and Saas-Fee. Step into the shadow of the Matterhorn and explore the Swiss Valais with confidence.

Where and when to go

Seasons

Best for walking from mid-June to the end of September, when snow has melted and mountain huts and restaurants are open.

Centres

Zermatt, Täsch, Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund, Saas-Almagell, Grächen, Visp.

Difficulty

Includes a range of routes, from easy walks of 1-2hrs to full-day challenging outings in mountain terrain. Mainly mountain walking on good paths.

Must See

Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, Gornergrat, Schwarzsee, Täsch, Randa, Findeln, Five Lakes Walk, Mettelhorn, Mischabel Hut, Monte Rosa Hut, Zmutt, Monte Moro, Britannia Hut.

Map key

Map of the valleys

Route summary table

Introduction

The walking

The valleys

The Matterhorn

The shape of the mountains

Plants and wildlife

When to go

Getting there

Travel in the region

Accommodation

Other local facilities

Weather

Maps

Apps

Equipment

Preparation

Using this guide

Zermatt and the Mattertal

Walk 1 The Trift gorge and Hotel du Trift

Walk 2 Ascent of the Mettelhorn and Platthorn from Trift

Walk 3 Two-day expedition – Schönbielhütte via Höhbalmen

Walk 4 The villages of Zmutt, Zum See and Blatten

Walk 5 Balcony route to Zmutt and the Kulturweg

Walk 6 Zermatt to Sunnegga – the Findeln villages

Walk 7 Gletschergarten and Gorner gorge walk

Walk 8 Schwarzsee and Stafelalp – under the Matterhorn

Walk 9 Schwarzsee to the Hörnlihütte

Walk 10 The Matterhorn Glacier Trail

Walk 11 Gornergrat to Riffelsee, Riffelberg and Riffelalp

Walk 12 Riffelalp and a woodland walk to Grüensee

Walk 13 The Gornergletscher and Monte Rosa Hütte

Walk 14 The mountain restaurants of Findeln

Walk 15 Blauherd to Sunnegga via Tufteren

Walk 16 The Five Lakes Walk in the Findeln valley

Walk 17 The Oberrothorn

Walk 18 Blauherd to Pfulwe and Täschalp

Walk 19 Täsch to Täschalp and the Täschhütte

Walk 20 Täschalp to Zermatt

Grächen, Randa and the lower Mattertal

Walk 21 The Europahütte and Hängebrücke to Täschalp

Walk 22 Schaliberg alp

Walk 23 Jungen, Sparru and the Jungtal

Walk 24 A tour of the villages – Grächen and Gasenried

Walk 25 Grächen leat paths – the Chilcheri and Eggeri

Walk 26 The Ried glacier and the Grathorn

Walk 27 Hannigalp to Grächen via Hohtschugge and Bärgji

Walk 28 Grächen to Hannigalp via Stafel

Walk 29 Ascent of the Wannehorn

Walk 30 The Grächen to Saas-Fee Höhenweg

Saas-Fee and the Saastal

Walk 31 Fee, Almagell, Grund and the Feevispa gorge

Walk 32 Hannig from Saas-Fee

Walk 33 The ascent of Mällig – The Ibex Trail

Walk 34 Gletschergrotte, Spielboden and Längflue

Walk 35 The Gemsweg – a tour of the Saas-Fee valley

Walk 36 The Mischabelhütte

Walk 37 Plattjen

Walk 38 The Britanniahütte

Walk 39 The Felskinn–Plattjen traverse

Walk 40 Saas-Grund to Saas-Fee – the Kapellenweg and Saumweg

Walk 41 Saas-Grund to Saas-Fee via Bideralp

Walk 42 Saas-Grund to Triftalp, Kreuzboden and the Weissmieshütte

Walk 43 The Gspon Höhenweg

Walk 44 The descent of the Saastal – Mattmark to Saas-Balen

Walk 45 Almagelleralp and the Almagellerhütte

Walk 46 The höhenweg from Saas-Almagell to Kreuzboden

Walk 47 Furggstalden and the Furggtälli

Walk 48 Schwarzbergalp and circuit of the Mattmark

Walk 49 The Monte Moro Pass

Walk 50 The Ofental, Jazzilücke and Antronapass

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B 4000m peaks

Appendix C English–German terms

Which format is best for me?

Printed book

A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps — everything you need on the trail.

ISBN	9781786310750
Availability	Published
Published	29 January 2024
Reprinted	29 February 2028
Weight	300g

eBook

The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.

What is the Cicerone app?

The Cicerone App is your on-trail companion: GPS-enabled maps, route information and planning tools from our guidebooks, built for use on the move. Browse and buy guides directly in the app, then follow expert-curated routes, explore local landmarks and points of interest, and check facilities information as you go.

Find out more about the Cicerone App FAQs here, for further details.

Key features:

Expert-curated routes – Follow routes crafted by expert authors who know each area inside out.
Plan with confidence – Find detailed facilities information and discover local landmarks along the way.
Your adventure library, always with you – Access your purchased guides anytime and discover new adventures in our expanding digital collection, from local day walks to epic treks.

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Please note: GPX files are downloaded separately and are designed for use in other mapping apps or GPS devices. They cannot be viewed within the Cicerone app.

Updates

Updated 30 July 2026
The Swiss maps keep changing names
I have known about Swiss name changes for a good while now, but I was slightly horrified when I went to check a height and found that the Blümlisalphütte had become the Blüemlisalphütte in the last few weeks. Right after the Trekking in the Bernese Oberland has been published.
I know it was about using local names, but it prompted me to dig more deeply into what is going on and why. So here goes:
Since 2008, swisstopo the national mapping agency) has taken local/minor place names Flurnamen, hut names, alp names) directly from the "amtlicheVermessung" — the official cadastral survey run by each canton. Bernese Oberland, where the Blüemlisalp massif sits, has been going through a re-survey Neuvermessung) in which the canton's Nomenklaturkommission re-records these names in their dialect form, per the federal guideline from 1948, updated 2011) that local names should be written "wie man spricht" — as spoken, in dialect — rather than in a High-German-ized spelling. Once the canton adopts a name, swisstopo carries it onto the Landeskarte.
"Blüemlisalp" reflects Bernese dialect: the diphthong "üe" from Blueme = Flower) replacing the standard-German-style "ü" in "Blümlisalp." So the hut's name simply followed the alp/massif's name being re-recorded in correct Bernese spelling.
One caveat: peaks over roughly 3500 m are generally kept in their traditional spelling which is why Blüemlisalphorn, at 3664 m, is a case some sources flag as inconsistent with the hut name) — but the hut and alp themselves aren't exempt, so they picked up the dialect form.
Another useful site is the Swiss Alpine Club's ‘Write how you speak’ article www.sac-cas.ch/de/die-alpen/schreibe-wie-man-spricht-1-38915/ and for anyone who wants to get really geeky about Swiss naming conventions www.giswiki.ch/Mundart_in_Lokalnamen
Anyhow, in summary, after a general move towards a standard ‘high’ German in the 19th century, there was a movement to support the local Swiss German spelling approach – ‘spiritual national defence’. This was formulated into a law in 1948, since updated, and as Cantons decree that a place name should follow the traditional local spelling, the national maps pick it up.
There we go. But who are we to speak as Snowdon becomes Yr Wyddfa in the Eyro National Park. And the survival of Gaelic names throughout the highlands of Scotland seems assured.
By and large these differences are small and won’t lead to any confusion. I hardly think you will climb the wrong mountain or reach the wrong hut just because it's gained an extra ‘e’. But be aware that things change! We will keep up as best we can with the changes but, in the meantime, if you do see anything that causes confusion, please let us know right away.
Alongside this, the Swiss mappers keep re-measuring the country and map heights evolve almost annually. It's great that they are on top of things, even if a little vexing for a guidebook author and publisher. Again, it shouldn’t be confusing, it's only a metre here or there but it does lead to books diverging from official maps. We will keep an eye on things.
Jonathan Williams

Meet the authors

Lesley Williams

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Originally from Oxfordshire, Lesley's lifelong passion for walking, trekking and, more recently, cycle touring has taken her to many corners of the UK, Europe and occasionally further afield. Although now mostly retired, she has been a director of Cicerone for over 25 years, leading its sales and marketing team. Lesley is a qualified marketing professional, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the author of Walking the Tour of the Lake District. Lesley shares a passion for alpine walking and trekking with husband Jonathan and together they have written several guidebooks. Based between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, they relish every excuse to spend days exploring and writing.

Jonathan Williams

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A proud Yorkshireman, Jonathan first climbed a mountain before he was born. Although he first met Lesley at sea, they have spent many years exploring mountains and trails in Britain and Europe. After nearly 25 years as Cicerone's publisher and managing director, he now supports the team whilst exploring, updating and writing guides. He has developed UK guides and walked throughout Europe, but his special subject is the Alps and Switzerland. He has worked on guidebooks including Chamonix to Zermatt: the Walker's Haute Route, Trekking in the Vanoise, the Swiss Via Alpina and the Tour du Mont Blanc, as well as walking guides to Zermatt and Saas Fee, Arolla and Zinal and the Bernese Oberland.