Glacier Express, Switzerland

Aug 2011

Glacier Express should rank as one of the most enjoyable train journeys in the world.

If you are lucky, you would start from picturesque and quiet Zermatt, an Alpine village with the silent Matterhorn lording over the village, silent brooks and even more silent electric buggies (Zermatt permits no cars) at the early hours of a cold and bright summer morning.  

You would travel in the (thankfully) slowest express train in the world for a full seven and a half hours from Zermatt to Davos through some of the most scenic spots in Swiss Alpine country side.

Swiss Alpine countryside

Swiss Alpine countryside

Swiss Alpine countryside

Swiss Alpine countryside

You would go through countless bridges and countless tunnels; greet an occasional parasailer; see thewell fed Swiss cows that are the source of the famous Emmenthal (where the holes add to the taste more than the stuff!).

Glacier express goes through 91 tunnels and 289 bridge

The Swiss love parasailing.  One can see them doing it in various spots.

Switzerland is associated with rich creamy milk.  Here is the reason why.

You can treat yourself to good fondue as you take in more of the scenery.

Glacier Express Dining car

We arrive at Davos

If you are as lucky as we are, you would arrive into an equally quiet and serene Davos void of the movers and shakers of the world who with their good intentions to make the world a better place can end up making Davos a very crowded place! 

Steve Jobs once remarked that “the journey is the reward”.  That applies not just to high tech innovations but also in a more literal sense to a trip by Glacier Express.