Pre- and post-conference tours

Located at the heart of Europe, Lausanne is extremely well connected to the rest of Switzerland and beyond. Why not take advantage of the conference to explore this part of the world (we would nevertheless recommend you participate in the sessions...!).

This page provides some ideas for excursions around the conference that you could organize yourself. Additional excursions are also proposed in the companions page.

Although we took great care in putting this page together, please note that we cannot take any responsibility regarding the accuracy of its content.

If you cannot find what you need in the links on this page, we would be delighted to help you. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Zermatt and its iconic mountain, the Matterhorn, can be reached by train from Lausanne. Take a direct train to Visp (about 1 hour 30) and then change to a lovely rack railway that will take you to the heart of the village of Zermatt. A return ticket from Lausanne to Zermatt costs approximately CHF 150 in 2nd class and CHF 250 in 1st class.

From Zermatt the Gornergrat rack-rail train takes you up to the 3'089m high peak of the Gornergrat. Through aromatic pine and larch forests and across alpine meadows you arrive in the midst of 29 snow and ice-covered four-thousand-meter-high mountains including such famous greats as the Matterhorn (4'478m), Liskamm (4'527m) and Dufour-Spitze (4'634m). On a culinary level too, the Gornergrat offers everything you could wish for, including the Kulmhotel Gornergrat, the highest hotel in the Swiss Alps (3'100 m). A return ticket from Zermatt to Gornergrat costs approximately CHF 70. For half the price, you can of course take only the train up and walk down to Zermatt (or vice-versa if you are courageous!).

There are also several cableways to transport you from Zermatt to the surrounding mountains: the Schwarzsee where you can almost touch the Matterhorn; the Kleinmatterhorn the highest sightseeing point in Europe (3'883m) where you can ski all year round; or the Rothorn (3'100m) and its fantastic view of the Matterhorn.

If you like hiking, there are countless possibilities around Zermatt, from the easiest to the most strenuous. Zermatt also offers many shopping opportunities and there is a huge variety of hotels and one camping.

Check this website for more information.

Paris

There are four daily express trains between Lausanne and Paris (so-called TGV trains). In just under four hours you can be in the "Ville des lumières" and stroll through its parks and gardens or go crazy in its shopping areas.

Further information on Paris here.

Chamonix and the Mont Blanc

The Chamonix Valley is approximately 20 kilometers long and nestles between the towering Mont-Blanc range to the south and the Aiguilles Rouges to the north. The birthplace of mountaineering over 200 years ago, Chamonix is still considered the ultimate place to be for all those who share a love of nature and the mountains.

From Lausanne take a train to Martigny (approx. 50 min.) and change to the Mont-Blanc Express train (approx. 1 hour 30) to Chamonix.

Please note that Chamonix is in France and might require a separate visa depending on your nationality.

Check this website for more information.