Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourcePrivate cars stop five kilometers below Zermatt at Täsch. That is the point: enjoy the Matterhorn village by rail and foot, then collect a car in the valley for vineyard towns, castles, glacier gateways and—only when officially open—the great Alpine passes.
Every route starts and ends at Täsch, never Zermatt. The roadbooks separate year-round valley travel from seasonal pass roads, keep tastings sober-driver-only and use cable cars for car-free mountain viewpoints such as the Aletsch Glacier.
The Rhône Valley changes language and landscape as it runs west. Visperterminen begins with improbably high vineyards, Leuk and Pfyn-Finges mark the transition into central Valais, Sierre opens the main wine country and Sion raises Valère and Tourbillon above the old town.
Cross the Simplon and Upper Valais, reserve a clear summer window for Great St Bernard, or follow the Rhône all the way to Lake Geneva and Gruyère.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceCross from Brig to the Simplon, then turn through Mörel, Fiesch and Ernen for Aletsch viewpoints over three days.
Täsch · Brig · Simplon Pass · Brig return · Mörel · Fiesch · Ernen
Open the roadbook →
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceTravel through Sion, Martigny, Champex-Lac, Great St Bernard and Verbier on a four-day seasonal circuit.
Täsch · Sion · Martigny · Champex-Lac · Great St Bernard Pass · Verbier · Sierre
Open the roadbook →
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceExtend from Valais to Montreux, Lavaux, Gruyères, Broc and Fribourg on a five-day grand western loop.
Täsch · Sion · Montreux · Lavaux · Gruyères · Broc · Fribourg · Brig
Open the roadbook →“Leave Zermatt without a car; discover Valais with one only when the road adds something.”
Never enter the restricted Täsch–Zermatt road, check TCS pass status and weather each morning, descend in a low gear and leave every wine tasting to a parked-car day.
