Switzerland: Flims, Andermatt & Zermatt
It was 1st March 2020 and Ski Buzz was venturing into Switzerland. Covid-19 had first been detected in Europe in late January and by late February Italy had locked down several small towns in Lombardy, the northern Italian region that shares a border with Switzerland.
The 2020 iteration of Ski Buzz was the first time we had taken our ski tour to Switzerland, having previously focused on Austria and Italy. There was lots of discussion about Covid, but it still seemed like a pandemic in a distant world.
With a few new faces in tow, we started our all-Swiss safari at the Zurich Hauptbahnhof, which saw the commencement of the first leg of a series of rail sectors. You really cannot travel to Switzerland without experiencing their spectacular rail journeys. Travelling between the various ski resorts via the magical Swiss train was not only efficient but fun, easy and allowed us to take in some of the most breathtaking scenery enroute.
Our 2020 ski safari combined three very different Swiss ski resorts, along with three unique hotels, offering the perfect combination for our 10-14 night itinerary. All hotels were members of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World group, ensuring the standard and service were of the highest quality as expected on our Ski Buzz trips.
Flims was our first stop and the perfect destination to get ski ready. 235km’s of pistes with a fairly moderate terrain proved to be a very beneficial start for waking our legs from their summer slumber. Our first hotel was the fairy-tale like Waldhaus Flims with a spa like no other. Indoor & outdoor pools, steam and saunas galore and an ice pond for those brave enough to cool down the old-fashioned way. Only a couple of us dared to take the plunge!
Our Ski Buzz journeys are all about immersing yourself in the destination by sampling the cuisine and local spirits of the region. Fondue nights, raclette dinners, wiener schnitzel, bratwurst and sauerkraut were amongst our many hearty meals. We were sampling local schnapps, gluhwein in a teepee, aperol spritz, heisse schokolade mit rum (hot chocolate with rum) ensuring never a dry or dull moment for the 2020 Ski Buzz group.
One of the highlights of our Swiss Ski Safari was the journey between Flims and Andermatt, on the iconic Glacier Express. The scenery was particularly spectacular and had us all gasping at every turn. Our top tip for the next time we journey by rail…..pack light!
Andermatt was all about the powder and off-piste opportunities. This was our time to get serious on the slopes. A highlight at the end of each day was catching the apres train back to our quaint village, singing songs and enjoying a beer or Jägerbomb after another hard day on the slopes.
For some of our group this was their final destination. Ten fun-filled days and nights, many new friendships formed, learning to ski powder, and attempting the sport of curling on the ice rink at our stunning hotel, the Chedi Andermatt. It seemed so strange to farewell new friends with the newly learned elbow bump.
As we were enjoying our second last day of brilliant skiing in Andermatt, Italy announced a national lockdown.
For those who had stayed on, we took our next rail journey on the renowned Glacier Express to Zermatt and the famous Matterhorn. Here we stayed at our third Leading Hotel of the World, the legendary Mont Cervin Palace, another beautiful accommodation choice. By now, we were skiing, sleeping and had added in the extra ‘s’ - sanitising.
This Ski Buzz was one we will never forget, an amazing ski trip with a wonderful group, and the added surrealism of watching daily as Covid seemed to be creeping closer & closer. It really hit us when, at 3480m at the Plateau Rosa Testa Grigia one of the routes down to Cervinia in Italy was roped off and completely ‘out of bounds’.
The Swiss authorities announced the closure of all ski areas as of the 16th March. Incredibly, our last day of skiing was the 15th of March. Covid seemed to have followed us through the alps but had left us alone just long enough to enjoy an amazing Swiss experience. In hindsight it really was quite a surreal experience. Travelling safely back to Melbourne was definitely a travel experience that we will remember for ever!
