Life on the Piste - The Swiss Traveller's Guide.

The Best Places to Explore in Switzerland this Summer The Swiss Alps are a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering breathtaking landscapes, crisp mountain air, and a multitude of hiking trails. This summer, if you're looking to embark on an unforgettable hiking adventure but you can’t quite decide where to go, then look no further. In this blog po st, we'll explore the top five destinations for hiking in Switzerland, alongside some of the best trails and routes in each. Get ready to lace up your hiking boots and immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring beauty of these alpine wonderlands . Photograph: © Pascal Gertschen Zermatt: Nestled at the base of the iconic Matterhorn, Zermatt is a paradise for hikers. This charming mountain village boasts an array of well-marked trails that cater to all levels of experience. At OTP, one of our favourite hiking routes is the Gornergrat Ridge Walk, which rewards hikers with panoramic views of glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and sparkling mounta...

  Experience. Wonder. Marvel. What could be more obvious than to build a railway on the famous and popular viewing mountain? Completed in 1898, the Gornergrat was the first electric rack railway in Switzerland, and third in the world. Having said that, the Chemin de fer de Salève (France 1892) and the Barmer Bergbahn (Germany 1894) were both dismantled in 1937 & 1959, making the Gornergrat the oldest existing electric rack railway in the world Gornergrat Railway – 125 years of fascination The walk from Zermatt to Hotel Riffelhaus (built in 1854) took around 1½ hours - although it took Mark Twain much longer in his amusing book of his ascent! Palanquin bearers estimated about 4 hours and other options were by horse or mule. The opening of the Gornergrat Railway meant that people could travel by train to over 3000m² in altitude for the first time in Europe, replacing the Brienzer Rothorn Railway which previously held the record in Switzerland at 2252m². From 20th August 1898 to t...

With over  thirty top Swiss ski resorts to choose from at  www.otp.co.uk , it can be hard to know which one is right for you.  So, to help you decide, we will be doing a blog focusing on a particular resort and its merits. This week, we take a look at Andermatt. Andermatt is a very diverse resort in Central Switzerland. It consists of two very different ski areas which span across the cantons of Uri and Graubünden. These two areas are the Gemsstock mountain and the Andermatt-Oberalp-Sedrun area. Whilst the former is an absolute haven for freeriders, the latter provides a more leisurely experience with wide, intermediate pistes, two nursery slopes, three toboggan runs and a whole host of mountain restaurants.  Initially a sleepy Swiss village, the area has been transformed by the construction of the award-winning luxury hotel, the Chedi Andermatt, in 2013. Fortunately, though, the village has managed to retain its Alpine charm throughout its redevelopment....

With over  thirty top Swiss ski resorts to choose from at www.otp.co.uk , it can be hard to know which one is right for you.  So, to help you decide, we will be doing a blog focusing on a particular resort and its merits. First up, Laax! Laax is an expansive and slightly unique ski resort in the canton of Graubünden. Its eastern location in Switzerland means that it is an easy resort to get to, only taking ninety minutes from Zurich.  With over 235 kilometres of piste, Laax has plenty of variety in its slopes and is suitable for all groups and abilities. From skiing on the Vorab glacier, the highest point of the resort at 3,018 metres, to eating at excellent mountain restaurants, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The connected resorts of Flims, with its extensive network of hiking and cross-country skiing trails, and Falera, an authentic Swiss village, really add to the diversity of the ski region.  That being said, Laax is pa...

Bern   SwissPasses.com are the exclusive online ticket suppliers of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Switzerland. See more of the country and experience these amazing sites. We will focus on one on each blog and today: Old City of Bern Founded in 1191, the Swiss capital Berne features a historic Old Town quarter renowned for its medieval magic, impressive cathedral and attractive arcades.      Highlights : Visit the Zytglogge in the old city of Bern and learn more about the impressive tower from the 1300s. Discover the first Western city gate and enjoy an incredible view of everything from the city to the Alps. Admire the golden inner workings of the clock and see an incredible puppet show Visit the Zytglogge in the old city of Bern and learn more about the impressive tower from the 1300s. Discover the first Western city gate and enjoy an incredible view of everything from the city to the Alps. Adm...

Grindelwald V Project goes ahead Ready for winter season 2019   The Grindelwald V Project has given the final go-ahead, a 400 million-franc project that will cut travel times from the village of Grindelwald up to the Jungfraujoch railway station by 47 minutes.   At 3,454 metres above sea level, the Jungfraujoch station is the highest in Europe and is a hugely popular destination for tourists: over a million people used the station in 2017, up 13.6 percent on a year earlier, thanks in part to its popularity as a destination among Asian tourists.  Currently, rail tourists travelling to the station from the Grindelwald Grund railway station must first take the train to Kleine Scheidegg and then change for the Jungfraujoch service.    The Männlichen gondola is also being replaced with state-of-the-art 10-person seated gondolas so speed up access to this brilliant ski area.   Trains from Interlaken Ost will pass through a new Grindelwa...

Bellinzona SwissPasses.com are the exclusive online ticket suppliers of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Switzerland. See more of the country and experience these amazing sites. We will focus on one on each blog and today: Three Castles of Bellinzona Three Castles of Bellinzona The three imposing castles of Bellinzona - Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro - are among the most significant examples of medieval defensive architecture. The three imposing castles of Bellinzona - Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro - are among the most significant examples of medieval defensive architecture. Opening hours Castelgrande museum: November-March/April - from 10:30 to 16:00 March/April-November - from 10:00 to 18:00 Castello di Montebello and Sasso Corbaro museums: March/April - November: from 10:00 to 18:00 November - 7 January 2018 - from 10:30 to 16:00 From the 8th of January 2018 to M...

Your team! We are very proud to present your team who will be looking after you when you come on holiday with us this winter. GRINDELWALD: Ellie Joy With a season under her belt and a true love of the outdoors, Ellie is the Resort Manager for OTP in Grindelwald and the Jungfrau region. She is champing at the bit to is sure to show you around the slopes! NENDAZ, Les 4 Vallées: Chris Jenkins From Doncaster and with a solid background in resort work, Chris is the Resort Manager for Nendaz and the 4 Vallées region, returning for a 3rd season.  Chris is an excellent person to show you the region and make sure your holiday runs smoothly.  SAAS-FEE: Tom Senior  From Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire, many of you will know Tom - OTP Senior Resort Manager and back again to charm you in Saas-Fee. Tom is a qualified ski instructor too and not only back with us again, he is in charge of all winter resorts. ZERMATT: ...

With spring conditions upon us and the winter season drawing to a close, the OTP Resort Managers were given a taste of what other exciting activities Switzerland has to offer. Partnering up with  Fly Zermatt , the Resort Managers were each given the opportunity to go paragliding and soar above some of Switzerland's most iconic peaks. Although the OTP team took off from Zermatt's Rothorn peak (3103 m), they reached altitudes in excess of 4000m. The theory behind paragliding is that heat rising from the surface of the earth produces upward currents of air. As such, during the winter when Switzerland is covered in snow, there aren't as many air currents and flight altitudes tend to be a lot lower. As snow begins to melt during the spring and bare patches of earth are exposed, flights tend to be a lot more turbulent due to the mix of summer-like up-currents and the remains of the cold winter air. Whether you're an adrenaline junky or simply wan...

SWISS is about to commence the renewal of its Geneva-based aircraft allocation to an all-Bombardier C Series fleet. SWISS Geneva will receive its first such aircraft, a CS100, on 26 March. This will be followed by the delivery of SWISS’s first CS300 and its Geneva stationing in May; and by the end of 2018 (and completion of the 30-aircraft C Series delivery programme), SWISS Geneva will have an all-C Series fleet.       Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is about to start renewing its Geneva-based aircraft allocation to an all-Bombardier C Series fleet. The first such aircraft, a CS100, will commence operations from its new Geneva base with the start of the summer schedules on 26 March. The aircraft will be used on intra-European services to destinations such as London Heathrow, Dublin and Athens. With its state-of-the-art technology, the Bombardier C Series sets new industry benchmarks in comfort, operating economics and environmental terms.    ...

Andermatt is 1,437m above sea level and has a population of around 1,390 however it's not been a popular place for the British skiers since the eighties.  With it being a great place for off-piste & free-riding it's now getting popular again with the Brits, and with the brand new five-star Chedi Hotel it's only going to get busier! With billionaire developer Samih Sawiris planning to build six more hotels and 500 apartments.       This development has brought new lifts too with one six-seater chair opening up more black runs on Gemsstock below Gurschenalp, and a whole series of slopes linking Andermatt's smaller sector, Nätschen-Gütsch, to Sedrun, 15km away to the east, and previously linked by train. The final lift will be completed for the 2018/19 season.       And a two stop cable car takes you to the top of Gemsstock, at 2,963 it's a steep, north facing 3....

The sun is shining, the skies are blue and the Jungfrau region has been gifted with two weeks of solid snowfall just in time for the region's annual ski race; the Lauberhorn downhill world cup. The bars are beginning to get livelier. Skiers and snowboards alike are starting to practice their best moves on the slopes. Everyone knows; the Jungfrau region is about to host a legendary weekend event. What does the Lauberhorn downhill race entail, and why is it so special to Switzerland?: First and foremost, it is the longest downhill world cup circuit at 4.48km (2.78 miles). Racers will typically achieve speeds in excess of 90 mph, with Johan Clarey setting the record in 2013 at 100.6 mph. It was first held 87 years ago in 1930, so it is now ingrained in Swiss history. It starts on the Lauberhorn mountain located between the villages of Grindelwald and Wengen. Views from the top overlook Interlaken and the plains of Canton Bern. Over 30,000 spectators ...

Your team! We are very proud to present your team who will be looking after you when you come on holiday with us this winter. GRINDELWALD: Tom Szpytman From London and with a BSc from Southampton University in Computer Science, Tom is the Resort Manager for OTP in Grindelwald and the Jungfrau region. 23 years old and an avid snowboarder, Tom is sure to show you around the slopes! NENDAZ, Les 4 Vallées: Chris Jenkins From Doncaster and with a solid background in resort work, Chris is the Resort Manager for Nendaz and the 4 Vallées region, returning for a 2nd season. 23 years old, Chris is an excellent person to show you the region and make sure your holiday runs smoothly.  SAAS-FEE: Tom Senior  From Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire, many of you will know Tom - OTP Senior Resort Manager and back again to charm you in Saas-Fee. Tom is a qualified ski instructor too and not only back with us again, he is in charge of all winter...