It’s All About The Experience

What could top taking in panoramic views of twenty-four snow-capped mountain peaks, including one of Switzerland’s most famed summits – the Matterhorn, asks assistant editor, Ann Ruppenstein in the cover story in this week’s digital edition of Travel Courier.

Her answer: Well, perhaps arriving in a helicopter.

These are all possibilities that Ruppenstein says await at Glacier 3000 in Les Diablerets — just one hour from the palm tree lined lakeside promenade in Montreux. Aptly named for its location at an altitude of 3,000 metres, Glacier 3000 can be found at the highest point of the Vaudois Alps.

Describing it as the Jungfrau of the Lake Geneva Region, Félicien Rey-Bellet, sales manager for Glacier 3000, told Travel Courier that in addition to 25 km of ski and snowboard runs, the site is home to the world’s highest alpine coaster – offering visitors sweeping views as they whiz around the track – and a peak walk that’s said to be the only suspension bridge between two mountain peaks.

For those interested in sending their clients on these adventures, special rates are available for agencies or operators.

Jürg Schmid, CEO of Switzerland Tourism, believes one of the perks of visiting the country is its compact size, making it easy for travellers to experience a variety of landscapes without having to travel far, a point which is embodied in the Lake Geneva Region, also known as the canton of Vaud.

“People want to experience, they want to learn, to discover and not just rush through cultures and obviously Switzerland with its nature, mountains, and with the fact that it’s all very close together, in one hour, you can go from palm trees to glaciers,” he says. “And you really are in 1 to 1.5 hours from the peak of a mountain to the next city where you can enjoy an art exhibition.”

By the numbers, the region is proving popular among Canadians, with an increase of 7.7% noted in overnights for first six months of 2017, compared to the same period last year.

“More than anything, it is the savoir vivre of the Lake Geneva Region which accounts for its attractiveness,” says Caroline Eggenschwiler of the Lake Geneva Tourist Office. “A myriad of activities are offered, from local and international events to open-air sports activities, the regional expertise, the typical and renowned high-level gastronomy, the excellent wines, and the living traditions.”

Although the Lake Geneva Region is often packaged with other areas, there’s certainly enough to do to warrant an entire vacation. Here are just a few ideas, beyond visiting Glacier 3000…

For the full story, check out this week’s digital edition of Travel Courier.