ALPINE escape

Andermatt is a hidden gem that could be more than just a travel destination.

- JOAN KONG

Think of ski trips in Switzerland and several places likely come to mind, but there’s an underrated gem that deserves a spot on your radar. Cue Andermatt — a village in the Ursern Valley right in the heart of Switzerland. Situated at over 1,400 m above sea level, the destination might only be reachable via winding pass roads, but thanks to its strategic location, it can easily be accessed from all points of the compass. For context, by car, Zurich is only 90 minutes away, and Milan and Munich will take you two and four hours respectively.

Once an if-you-know-you-know ski destination, Andermatt has been gaining more traction over the past decade, thanks to the investment of Egyptian-born Montenegrin businessman Samih Sawiris. To date, almost US$ 2 billion has been invested in building his vision: preserving nature in this mystical valley while developing it as a tourist destination. To gain a better understanding of the allure of the alpine, we were invited by Andermatt Swiss Alps to savour the tail end of the season.

ALPINE ADVENTURES