Hotel Pollux Part II
Zermatt Zermatt, you got a little piece of my heart. Since February, I've been now a few times back in Zermatt, slowly getting to know my way around better and better. Summer in this little paradise it's a thing on its own. It is a type of Disneyland for all who love the outdoors as much as I do - be it hiking, climbing, biking, paragliding, or simply enjoying the mountain breeze in the charming village - there's a little bit for everyone with non-comparable views.
I had visited Hotel Pollux for the first time back in February to create content for them during the winter season. The second week had been already planned for summer to capture the mood of this time of the year. The focus ended up being mainly a few areas from the hotel, including some rooms (always fun to have a glimpse at all the options the Hotel offers) and the atmosphere of the surrounding nature during summertime.
Two days before my arrival, I checked the weather forecast, and it didn't look that great...Up in the Alps, snow was still coming down, and the temperatures were relatively low. I didn't have the appropriate clothes for this kind of weather - I had packed for summer. But once I arrived, the weather started getting better and better, and I was able to feel the summer mood in the Hotel and Zermatt.
The last time I was here, restrictions from the pandemic were still in place. Restaurants were closed, and one could only dine if sleeping at the Hotel. This time, things were back to normality. In the morning, locals visited the Pinta restaurant for their daily routine of coffee and catching up either with the newspaper or exchanging ideas with other locals. The type of place where everyone knows each other already by name, and the orders are the same every day. I can recommend stopping by in the morning for a coffee to feel the vibes of the Zermatter routine.
The restaurant during lunchtime is a favourite place due to its terrace and central location. At this time, locals and visitors meet to indulge in the daily specials or one of the many options of the a la carte menu (including various local specialities).
For dinner time, if you want to try their cuisine, you should reserve. It's a popular place, known for its delicious meals: Raclette, Fondue, Rösti as well as the vast options of vegetarian dishes makes it a must-try (meat options are also served though).
On the back of the Hotel, you'll find their terrace, with a pool table and various cute spots to enjoy an afternoon coffee or an evening drink in a friendly and cosy environment (also here, a favourite place for locals to hang out).
As also mentioned in my last post, the location of the Hotel is perfect. 5min away from the train station, in the middle of the cute village, but still close enough to nature (if you book one of the rooms facing the back you’ll hear the marmots calling out). You walk outside of the Hotel, and you already feel the vibrant energies of Zermatt. After dinner, I made it a routine to walk around and soak in the beauty of the summer evenings.
While staying here, Zermatt Unplugged was also taking place. Concerts around the village and mountain huts - paid and free options - gathering people in a relaxed, fun environment. If you haven't visited Zermatt during this time yet, put it on your bucket list. Nothing better than combining outdoor sports with live music. The Hotel's location guarantees you easy access to all hotspots.
Talking about the outdoor experiences now...I had the chance to do some of the owner's hiking tips:
Get the first Gornergrat train at 8 am until Riffelalp and walk up to the famous Riffelsee, where the reflex of the Matterhorn is to be seen. The reason why you should get the first train? Towards the end of the morning, the train and the trails get packed with people, not to mention the heat that starts picking up towards lunchtime. Don't forget to put sunscreen on. Once at the Riffelsee, you can choose to either walk partly down or get the train directly from there.
Hike to Trift. There is no need to get any trains or lifts for this one; start the hike right from the Hotel and arrive walking to it. A relatively steep path up to the Edelweiss Hut, continuing the path up to the Trift Hut. From there, you can take various courses - either one of the alpine ways, go left direction panorama trail or go already from here back to Zermatt. I went left. You continue going up until, eventually, you get to see the Matterhorn. From there, you can either walk down or choose the trail that goes to the back of the valley, direction Zmutt, slowly ascending back to eh village. A long path but worth doing it. I confess I underestimated a bit. What I thought was going to be a half-day hike ended up being a full day walk.
Lost Valley. One of the most known trails in Zermatt is the 5-Lake hike, but little do visitors know that there is a path close to the green lake that takes you to a place where only a few wander - the lost valley. I slept one night at the Fluhalp hut - a magical evening, where one can see every star in the sky without the interference of urban lights. The sunset and sunrise are also moments which you won't want to miss being up here. I wrote a blog post of my entire experience during this one overnight and a bit about the lost valley so that I won't go much into detail here.
The more time I spend in this "little" paradise, the more I wish to stay longer and explore all there is to see. So many hiking opportunities that make you unwind, clear your mind, and connect to nature. Waking up at the Hotel Pollux for a rich breakfast to fuel the energy, spending the day out and about exploring (there is also the option of asking the Hotel to prepare a lunch to-go for your day - don’t forget to order it the day before), coming back for a coffee or drink at the garden, followed by a delicious dinner and an evening walk through the village makes it all a perfect day.
A treat for self to escape routine and understand what it feels like to live fully (for the best local tips, ask the Hotel owner’s recommendation).
