Valais & Zermatt - Discover Switzerland: Experience the Best of Switzerland - page 366

Fiesch . From here catch a cable car and gondola up to (3) Eggishorn and clamp your
hand over your mouth so nothing will fly in when your jaw drops - the views of the 23km
glacier, which curves in a huge ribbon of ice back towards Jungfrau , are simply magnifi-
cent.
MARTIGNY TO ZERMATT Valleys & Peaks
Woof! Start your Valais adventure in the home of St Bernard dogs, (1) Martigny . The
Musée et Chiens du Saint-Bernard honours the brandy-proffering, drooling pooch of
lore. It's a short ride by train and bus or car to one of those places that never seems far
from the gossip mags: (2) Verbier . By equal measure posh and plebeian, this ski resort
justifies the hype with spectacular powder in winter.
Back in the valley, pause for a vineyard ramble from spring to autumn at the wineries in
the hills surrounding (3) Sion . The Bisse de Clavau is a centuries-old canal that today
waters the grapes and leads to restaurants amid the vines. (4) Salgesch is another fine
place to enjoy the local wines, particularly along the 6km-long Sentier Viticole , a trail
through the vineyards.
If you're ready for a restorative break, take it at (5) Leukerbad , a lovely thermal spa
set in the middle of staggering Alpine beauty. Return to the valley and catch a bus to (or
park on the outskirts of) car-free (6) Saas Fee . Thirteen peaks and nine glaciers create a
festival of natural beauty. From here, it's a short jaunt over to (7) Zermatt and the essen-
tial prospect of the Matterhorn .