Drive or cycle across three mountain passes

Take time to gawp at the sheer expanse of the dam, the vast volume of water it holds back and the dizzying views over the edge, before hiking up through tranquil scenery to a second, older dam, the Vieux Emosson, where a mountain hut offers snacks, drinks and souped-up views.Ĭycle or hike the Furka pass ©Saro17/Getty Images 3. At the top, a toy-like mountain railway trundles along a cliff edge to the base of the concrete behemoth, from where a smaller funicular takes you up to the level of the reservoir. From Martigny, take the Mont Blanc Express to Châtelard, where you jump on the Verticalp funicular, built 100 years ago for workers constructing the original dam. Ride the Verticalp to the Emosson damĪround half of Switzerland’s electricity comes from hydropower and Emosson is one of the most interesting dams to visit because getting here is part of what makes the experience so special.

Ogle the mountain view from the warm waters of Leukerbad’s thermal baths, and don’t miss the jewel-like Oeschinensee, a lake accessible by cable car from Kandersteg. Along the way you’ll pass barren peaks, turquoise lakes, flower-laden meadows, and the Hotel Schwarenbach, dating from 1742, where you can stop for a restorative drink.ĭetour: Make time to explore the villages on either side of the mountain pass. From there, it’s a three-hour hike to Sünnbuel, where another cable car whisks you down to the Kandersteg Valley. It became a tourist draw in the 19th century, when Thomas Cook brought his first ever package tour group here, and famous visitors such as Jules Verne, Pablo Picasso, and Mark Twain have all trodden its path.įollow in their footsteps by hiking up from Leukerbad to the start of the pass, or – much easier and faster – take the leg-saving Gemmibahn cable car. There’s something hallowed about a mountain pass – an alpine route established centuries ago by traders, pilgrims, and farmers – and the Gemmi Pass is among the most accessible. Follow in the footsteps of Pablo Picasso by walking the Gemmi Pass ©Jenius Shieh/Getty Images 1.

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