Lausanne to Glacier 3000 & Montreux – From the Riviera to the Roof of the Alps

Depart from your hotel in Lausanne, and follow the lakeside road toward Montreux, the gateway to the Alps. The drive passes through the Lavaux Vineyards, a UNESCO-protected landscape of terraces descending to Lake Geneva. It’s a journey where wine country meets mountain majesty.

Arriving in Montreux, you’ll discover why it has been a haven for writers, artists and musicians since the 19th century. The city’s palm-lined promenade and Belle Époque architecture give it a Mediterranean feel despite its alpine location. A walk along the waterfront reveals vistas of the Dents du Midi mountains and the legendary statue of Freddie Mercury, whose presence still defines the town’s spirit.

From Montreux, the road climbs into the Alps through Les Diablerets to Col du Pillon, where the Glacier 3000 base station awaits. The cable car ascent is a highlight in itself: as you rise, the landscape transforms from green pastures to snowfields and sharp peaks. At the summit, you step into a different world — crisp air, blinding white glaciers, and a silence broken only by the wind.

Here you can cross the famous Peak Walk by Tissot, a suspension bridge spanning 107 meters between two summits. From this vantage point, you can see the Jungfrau region, the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc all in one glance — a rare 360° panorama of Europe’s greatest mountains. Depending on the season, you may ride the Alpine Coaster, the world’s highest toboggan run, or take a snow bus across the glacier plateau.

After a relaxing lunch at Refuge l’Espace, where the terrace literally hangs above the mountain edge, enjoy free time to take photos or walk toward the nearby rock formation Quille du Diable. Every moment here feels suspended between earth and sky.

On the return to Lausanne, your driver takes a scenic route back to the lakeshore. You’ll descend from eternal snow to sunlit vineyards within an hour, ending the day with the calm blue of Lake Geneva before you. It’s a journey through Switzerland’s greatest contrast — from glacier to garden in a single day.