7-Nights Alps Eiger to Matterhorn Trek

Valais

The canton of Valais is Switzerland's third-largest, stretching from the southern shore of Lake Geneva south along the border with France and east along the border with Italy for half the length of the country (although Montreux and Vevey are not in Valais, they're close enough that some tours lump them together).

This area is home to some of the most dramatic Alpine scenery in the country, including the mountain towns of Zermatt, Verbier and Crans-Montana. On clear days, the Matterhorn, Eiger and Mount Blanc can all be seen on a trip via bus and cable car along the Pillon Pass.

Other sights in the canton include a fresco that depicts the story of William Tell (it's painted on a house in Ernen/Muhlebach) and Grand St. Bernard (not easy to get to—it's in the mountains where St. Bernards were originally bred—but it has beautiful churches and museums). Sion, the only town of any size, has enough old cathedrals and interesting buildings to justify an overnight.

The canton is also known for its wines: One-third of the Valais is planted with vines.

Geneva

Zermatt

Kandersteg

Grindelwald

Grindelwald, Switzerland, is a good base for both winter and summer activities in the mountains, about 50 mi/80 km southwest of Lucerne. In winter, this town in the Jungfrau region has good skiing; during other seasons, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking and more adventurous pursuits, such as canyoning. Be sure to visit one of the nearby glaciers; the higher one, Obergletscher, is the best.

Visiting the town via the train from Interlaken is recommended. From Grindelwald, you can also continue on the train to Kleine Scheidegg, at the base of the famous north face of Eiger mountain. In Kleine Scheidegg, you can transfer to another train that takes you to Jungfraujoch. The train travels through the Eiger tunnel to the Eigerwand and Eismeer stations, making a five-minute stop at each one, before finally reaching the Jungfraujoch station, the highest railway station in Europe.

On clear days (there's no point in taking the expensive trip if the skies aren't clear) you can see as far as the Vosges Mountains in France and the Black Forest in Germany from the Sphinx Observatory. The Great Aletsch Glacier begins near the station. But don't expect to have the place all to yourself: It is usually very crowded.

One of the many tourist amenities is the Ice Palace, which has several ice sculptures carved in the glacier. There are also a ski and snowboard park, sled rides and pricey restaurants.