A sightseeing flight to remember: around the Matterhorn with Air Zermatt
Admire the majestic summit of the Matterhorn from all angles, and feel like you could almost reach out and touch it – a sightseeing flight around the world’s most spectacular mountain peak is an experience you’ll never forget. Let’s join Sarina on her breathtaking 20-minute experience in an Air Zermatt helicopter.
Teamwork makes the dream work
It’s a glorious July day, and the Matterhorn towers majestically over Zermatt. The mountain is free of any cloud cover, and glitters brilliantly in the sun. In the valley below, the meadows are lush and green.
The conditions are perfect for Sarina’s flight around the Matterhorn. This is her first ever helicopter flight. “I didn't know what to expect – I had no idea how it would even feel to fly in a helicopter,” she says afterwards. “But when the helicopter took off, I was transported to another world in no time, completely captivated.”
“A thrilling start”
The first few seconds of a sightseeing flight from the base in Zermatt are especially exciting. “The start was the most thrilling part,” says Sarina. Just after taking off, the helicopter slowly moves backwards and then turns. Sarina’s eyes light up: “I could feel the centrifugal force. The emotions were overwhelming.” And then, it’s time to travel upwards. Second by second, the helicopter gains altitude and the first mountain peaks draw closer.
The passengers are filled with awe as the helicopter passes over the Hohlicht Glacier. The mountains and the deep crevasses appear immense, and the people in the helicopter tiny in comparison. Sarina puts it simply: “Nature is just breathtaking.”
A tête-à-tête with the Matterhorn
Continuing to climb, the helicopter flies straight towards a snow-white mountain ridge. The passengers’ eyes widen. Now, for the first time, the majestic mountain world around Zermatt is presented in all its glory. “I can see mountains here I would never have witnessed without a helicopter,” says Sarina. Passing steep-sided four-thousand-meter peaks, they set course for the world-famous Matterhorn. Sarina takes a picture with her mobile phone. The only one for the whole flight, because the rest of the time she just wants to enjoy the experience as it happens.
As the helicopter flies closer and closer to the Matterhorn, the pilot points out the Solvay Hut, an emergency shelter for mountaineers. The pyramid of the mountain top seems close enough to touch. You can see details with the naked eye, sometimes even mountaineers. “You can see every icicle on the north face,” says Sarina. The top of the Matterhorn draws closer, and suddenly the summit cross is at eye level. The pilot circles the Matterhorn so that everyone on board can experience the mountain from all perspectives. “The summit cross was really within reach. A truly sublime moment for me,” says Sarina, recounting her unforgettable tête-à-tête with the Matterhorn. An encounter almost impossible to put into words.
Experience the fascination of flying
In the cockpit sits pilot Daniel Riesen, one of Air Zermatt’s experienced mountain pilots. When people are in distress or need assistance, he’s one of those who head for the helicopter and take off in all weathers. Today, he’s taking Sarina around the Matterhorn. “Flying a helicopter in the mountains is just amazing. Sharing moments like these with our passengers always helps to remind me what a privilege it is,” he says. For this sightseeing flight, Riesen is not just the pilot but also the guide. “Often, this is the first time our guests have seen the mountains from a helicopter. And I get to tell them all about our amazing mountain.” Riesen also talks about how rewarding it is for him to see how much the guests enjoy their flights.
Sarina most definitely enjoys her experience to the full. The pilot steers the helicopter over the Breithorn and heads past the Monte Rosa Hut towards Gornergrat. Sarina can already see the Unterrothorn in the distance. Now, the helicopter starts its descent, and 20 minutes of amazement soon come to a close. The most breathtaking 20 minutes ever, says Sarina. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat. It really was a flight to remember. A unique and phenomenal experience.”
Experience a breathtaking sightseeing flight by helicopter
Air Zermatt offers a selection of sightseeing flights that bring you closer to the unique beauty of the mountains. Experience an unforgettable helicopter flight around the Matterhorn, along the UNESCO World Heritage Site over the Aletsch Glacier or to the Jungfraujoch. Get on board, take off and be amazed – a breathtaking experience to remember for a lifetime.
