Glacier Bike Tour 10. Visp - Zermatt
Information
On this final leg of the Glacier Bike Tour (GBT), the terraced vineyards gradually give way to a more mountainous backdrop. Departing from Visp, you’ll pass through the villages of Stalden and Kalpetran, following an old mule track along historic dry-stone walls, before continuing on to St Niklaus. From here, follow the railway line and the Vispa, past thundering waterfalls and the imposing Bishorn glacier tongue on the eastern side of the Weisshorn massif. Straight ahead, you’ll be able to admire the Klein Matterhorn and the gleaming ridge of the Breithorn, one of the region's many 4,000 m peaks. From Täsch onwards, the forest path turns into a tough mountain bike trail, which you can avoid by branching off prematurely onto the road where the last stretch before the finish takes place. On the final stretch, the majestic Matterhorn finally appears, that 4,478 m high rock pyramid with its striking triangular shape: a magical moment.
Characteristics
Best season
POI details
On the way to the Zermatt valley, the Rhône is replaced by the Vispa, and you’ll follow mountain bike route no. 150 Visp-Zermatt following the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn line, until you arrive in Zermatt. As you depart from Visp, you’ll leave the vineyards and head for the village of Stalden on the other side of the valley, continuing towards Kalpetran along an old mule track with dry-stone walls. Shortly afterwards, you’ll return to the road as far as St Niklaus, then continue along the railway line and the Vispa to Randa with its meadows and pastures. From Täsch onwards, the forest path turns into a tough mountain bike trail, which you can avoid by branching off onto the road, and the last stretch before the finish takes place on a road with very little traffic, as Zermatt is a car-free village. Once you've completed all ten legs of the Glacier Bike Tour, the first thing you'll want to do is have a drink and celebrate!
Visp(Viège) is accessible by train.
From Bern, drive to Kandersteg and use the car transport (piggyback) to Goppenstein, then continue in the direction of Visp (Visp).
From Geneva/Lausanne, take the A9 freeway to Sierre-Est, then continue in the direction of Brig to Visp (Visp).
Which e-bike should one use on the Glacier Bike Tour? Professional cyclist and twice E-MTB world champion Nathalie Schneitter demonstrates the ideal two-wheeler in this video. A sturdy, comfortable full-suspension e-bike with wide, grippy tyres, powerful brakes and, if possible, a lowerable seat post.
One needs to be ready for anything in the mountains, even in midsummer. So what should one plan to include in one’s bike bags for an adventure that – incorporating three mountain passes and landscapes that are as Alpine as they are Mediterranean – is about as exceptional as it gets? Having already completed the Glacier Bike Tour, cycling pro Nathalie Schneitter reveals her list of what to pack.
