Zermatt Unplugged is one of my favourite music festivals – don’t miss it! It runs from 8-12 April in the beautiful town of Zermatt under the Matterhorn in Valais. The 2014 line up includes Aloe Blacc, Katie Melua, and Jamie Cullum ,to mention just a few of the big names. There are also great up and coming Swiss artists featured. Book your tickets online www.zermatt-unplugged.ch.
I’d say make a weekend of it – book a hotel, get in some spring skiing or hiking lower down in the valley, enjoy a soak in the spa, and then hit the festival in the evening. Here are some tips for the savvy festival-goer.
Environmentally-friendly
Zermatt is car-free so you need to park your car in the big parking garage in Tasch, or better yet, take the train from home. Don’t forget your ½ price SBB train card if you have one – it can be used for the train from Tasch to Zermatt. On arrival you can arrange an electric cart to carry luggage/skis to your hotel.
Winter Hike
Enjoy a downhill hike with the majestic 4478m Matterhorn in sight all the way. Take the cable car up from Zermatt to Sunnegga. From here follow the yellow hiking signs down through the village of Findeln. Along the way there are plenty of small mountain-side cafes with terraces to enjoy lunch with a view. Continue down along the bottom of valley until you reach Zermatt.
Equipment & Planning
While spring is in the air in the valley, there can be a big range of temperatures between Zermatt (1600m) and the top of the Sunnegga lift (2613m). Wear good waterproof hiking boots or well-fitting snowboots, bring layers and a back pack. Ski poles can come in handy if there are slippery or icy parts on the trail. Here’s our fraiche air suggested equipment list for a winter hike. And some more useful links for planning your trip:
Check our upcoming activities on www.fraicheair.ch/calendar, like our page on facebook.com/fraicheair and email Yvette This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be added to the mailing list.
Bio
Yvette Evers grew up camping, hiking and skiing in the Swiss Alps. A Canadian with Dutch roots, her career in international development allowed her to explore mountain areas around the world. Since moving to the Geneva area in 2009 with her husband and two teenage daughters, she also works as a sustainability consultant specialising in tourism.
Yvette is the founder of ‘fraiche air’ - an outdoor club that fills a gap in the market for global locals who are looking for information about outdoor recreation and tourism in English. The outings in small groups provide a wonderful opportunity to discover new activities and join an active community of like-minded sporty friends – powerwalks, hiking, snowshoeing, ski-touring, and family days.
