A region full of culture and adventure
South Western Switzerland is a sublime corner of the country, crowned by the Italy-bordering Matterhorn whose iconic peak towers above the town of Zermatt.
Its emblematic, triangular shape is composed of four sheer sides facing north, south, east and west. The mountain is solitary in its great size, dominating the distant skyline long before the first summit in 1865. For those who are not experts at scaling these great heights, there are a couple of railway and cable car facilities that travel part way up the 4,478m (14,692 foot) ascent.
Zermatt below is a fairy tale village in every sense. Traditional alpine architecture abounds with wooden shutters adorning windows and pine lodges stretching up the valley side. With a ban of combustion engines in town, horse-drawn carriages can be seen trotting along the avenues while others choose to hop on bicycles to make their way around.
Adventure abounds in this region. The Five Lakes Walk sees trails that explore the lakes of Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee and Leisee. Rare flowers bloom on the shores of some while others see the emblematic Matterhorn reflected in their gentle waters. Elsewhere in the Valais Canton you can find the exclusive ski resort of Verbier, incredible glaciers, historic towns such as Sion, its capital, and the sun basked vineyards of the upper Rhone Valley.
Highlights
Take a captivating journey into Audemars Piguet’s cultural legacy at The Musée Atelier, which showcases around 300 timepieces
Enjoy a variety of delicious tapas and refreshing drinks on a gastronomy tour around Zermatt which takes you to some exquisite locations
Follow the spectacular hiking route from Trockener Steg to the Lower Theodul Glacier and back to the Gandegg hut, gaining insight into the natural phenomena of the mountains and glaciers along the way
Get a taste of Swiss farm life as you take a ride in a private cable car to meet a farmer, learn about life in the Alps and enjoy a hearty traditional snack
Murray Mitchell
Travel Designer
The views of the Alps alone in Southwestern Switzerland are postcard ready. Think snow-capped peaks and crystal-clear lakes - this is a region that's perfect for outdoor adventure. Add to that the cozy villages, rich history and amazing vineyards and its a great stop to add to your journey through Switzerland.
Murray Mitchell
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in South Western Switzerland
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip Inspiration
Discover more of Switzerland
Basel
Perched along the iconic River Rhine, Basel is a historic city home to world-class museums, galleries and some cutting-edge contemporary architecture.
Discover moreBern and the Bernese Oberland
A city steeped in history and legend, Bern is a beautiful time capsule dating back to the late 12th century.
Discover moreGeneva
Snow-dusted peaks and brilliant green hills reflect off the smooth surface of Lake Geneva. Small villages wait to be discovered on the shoreline, while at the southern tip of the lake, the French-speaking city of Geneva entices with a fascinating history and vibrant culture.
Discover moreGstaad
Located near the Alpine passes in one of Switzerland’s most beautiful regions, Gstaad is a small village known for its high-profile guests, luxury hotels and high-end restaurants.
Discover moreLake Lucerne
Forested slopes roll down to the still turquoise waters of Lake Lucerne, snow-capped mountains soaring towards the sky in the distance and quaint villages peppering the shoreline.
Discover moreJungfraujoch and Interlaken
Jungfraujoch is a glacial pass found between the Jungfrau and Mönch mountains in the Bernese Alps. The heights themselves are visible from far away, displaying their awesome power with snowy peaks reaching high into the skies above.
Discover moreJura and the Three Lakes
In Switzerland’s northwest, reaching out into France, the Canton of Jura is characterised by green pastures and sweeping hills and forested mountains, with winding rivers punctuated by medieval towns.
Discover moreLausanne and Montreux
Nestled on the northern banks of Lake Geneva, Lausanne is a hilly city in the canton of Vaud. Set on a series of terraces, the charming old town sits at the top with the former fishing village of Ouchy at the bottom.
Discover moreSt. Moritz
With backdrops of breath-taking forests blanketed in snow, and dramatic peaks cutting into cobalt skies, lakeside St. Moritz is as picturesque an alpine destination as you could imagine.
Discover moreTicino
Populated by great mountains and vast blue lakes, the enduring beauty of Ticino is one of old-world charm, but it certainly isn’t lacking in modern glitz and glamour.
Discover moreZurich
This majestic city stands proudly on the lower end of Lake Zurich, decorative spires piercing the clear sky.
Discover moreMeet your Europe team
When to visit
Visit in winter to make the most of the snowy peaks and ski season. Alternatively, July and August are great for summer hiking.
Winter break
December–April
Hiking
July–August
Sightseeing
Year Round
Plan your trip to South Western Switzerland
Whatever you want from your adventure in South Western Switzerland, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Wonderful trip. Big WOW! Jacada is the best company we've ever used. Everything was scheduled and worked seemlessly. Top quality all the way. Will definitely use again.
Jacada tailored a vacation to Switzerland for us that met all of our expectations and more. Our hotels were beautiful and centrally located, our guides and excursions were all amazing, and the logistics went off pretty much without a hitch. We would definitely book another trip with Jacada.
Great customer care and personalized experiences!
Kate and the rest of the Jacada team have done a fabulous job in planning and executing our Christmas trip to Switzerland. Last year they did an extensive trip of Asia for us. No detail is to small. Each trip has special experiences. They use wonderful tour guides and provide great information prior to leaving
Really great trip and every detail was perfectly planned! Thanks!!
Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.