« Thank you Christian for your good humour, your humility and above all for the knowledge of your region! Even in Breton weather you found us beautiful, beautiful lines. And thanks too to the driver, discreet but just as friendly, and who takes good care of our bikes! »
Trips · E-Bike · Switzerland
Your weekend in Zermatt
Two dream days on the Zermatt trails, at the foot of the legendary Matterhorn.
105 km 9'100 m of descent Technical 3/4 Physical 2,5/4 10 riders max.
- Distance
- 105 km
- Climb
- 1'400 m
- Descent
- 9'100 m
- Technical
- 3/4 Check my level
- Physical
- 2,5/4
- Group
- 10 max.
- Start
- Martigny-Combe 9h00
- Languages
- FR EN DE
In short
The highlights
Two dream days on the Zermatt trails, at the foot of the legendary Matterhorn.
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Two days at the foot of the Matterhorn, the most photographed summit in the world
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Lift-served laps, extended by e-bike to starts as high as 3,000 m
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Lunar landscapes, high-altitude lakes and hamlets of weathered larch
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A closing descent of more than 2,000 m, in one single run
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Zermatt without cars, and a weekend with no logistics to handle
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On Sunday the descent runs all the way to the bus: your luggage travels ahead, you ride light
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E-bikes and light e-bikes onlyThe programme, the laps and the altitude are built around assistance: analogue bikes are not admitted on this weekend.
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Leaving Martigny on Saturday at 7 am, back on Sunday around 8 pmThe early start is deliberate: it frees up a full day of riding from Saturday onwards.
The stage profiles
105 kmDistance
1'400 mClimb
9'100 mDescent
Riding Overnight Effort profile, no distance scale, no places: the shape of the days, not the track
Day by day
The program
Schwarzsee Fury, at the foot of the giant
Meeting point in Martigny at 7 am, transfer by Exo'bus to Täsch, then the last few kilometres by train: Zermatt cannot be reached by car, and that is the first thing that gives this weekend its particular flavour. The early start is deliberate: it gives you a full day of riding on Saturday instead of half a day swallowed by the journey.
We start gently, on an easy but playful line, long enough to settle onto the bike and into the altitude. Then the day finds its rhythm: several loops, lifts linked together with electric assistance to reach starts as high as 3,000 metres.
What strikes you here is the variety. Within a few hours you move from the lunar landscapes of the high mountains, bare and mineral, to natural traversing trails that flow, with altitude lakes set down like mirrors. Lower, you cross hamlets of larch chalets blackened by centuries of sun, before dropping back towards the valley.
And all the while, there is the Matterhorn. It never hides for long. It appears around a shoulder, settles at the end of a lake, disappears behind a ridge, comes back. You end up riding with one eye on it.
Night in Zermatt, in a hotel. Depending on the number of participants and the hotel chosen, the property sometimes has a wellness area: slip a swimsuit into your bag, just in case. After 4,500 metres of descent, legs know what to do with one.
- Distance
- 50 km
- Climb
- 700 m
- Descent
- 4'500 m
Night · Zermatt
Blauherd, Sunnegga, and the great traverse
A second day on the Blauherd and Sunnegga side, the one that opens widest. Several laps, each on different ground, with a view that never closes: glaciers on one side, and that line of summits above 4,000 metres closing the horizon. Valais has more of them than any other region in the Alps, and from up here you see almost all of them.
Then comes the last run, the one still being talked about in the bus on the way home. A single traverse, more than 2,000 metres of descent without climbing once. You set off in the mineral and finish in the forest, and between the two the landscape changes three or four times. It is the kind of descent you will find almost nowhere else in Europe.
And on Sunday, you do not take the train back: the descent runs all the way to Täsch, on the bike. You ride to the bus, which is a far more satisfying way to end a weekend than sitting down in a carriage.
Your luggage will not have followed you: it is taken from the hotel straight to Täsch during the morning, and that transfer is included in the price. You ride the whole day with nothing but the essentials on your back, and find your things again as you board the Exo'bus.
Back to Martigny, where we part around 8 pm. Legs cooked, heads full.
- Distance
- 55 km
- Climb
- 700 m
- Descent
- 4'600 m
540 CHF per person
What is included
Included
- Swiss Cycling expert mountain bike guide (fr/en/de)
- 1 night in a hotel
- 1 breakfast
- All transfers by private shuttle, from and to Martigny
- Transfer of your luggage from the hotel to Täsch on Sunday morning
- Mechanical assistance
- Riding tips
- Souvenir photos
- Spare bike
Not included
- Lift pass, 2 days: around 70 CHF at half fare, 140 CHF at full fare
- Train up from Täsch on Saturday morning: 8.60 CHF at half fare, 12.- CHF at full fare
- Lunches and dinners: restaurant or picnic, as you prefer. Zermatt offers both, from mountain huts to fine dining
- Bike and protective gear rental (optional, at registration)
- Personal insurance
- Tips
Options at registration
Book them in the registration form. Give us your size, we handle the rest.
Ready to ride
Your equipment
Bike
This trip is ridden on an e-bike or a light e-bike, without exception. The programme links lap after lap and reaches starts as high as 3,000 metres: it is the assistance that makes this volume of descent possible in two days. A light e-bike means the lighter, lower-torque assisted bikes. No e-bike of your own? Rental is offered at registration, 170 CHF for the two days.
- A full-suspension E-Bike with 140 to 180 mm travel, completely serviced, with a charged battery and its charger
- Mixed terrain tyres 2.3" wide or more, with reinforced casings and tubeless with recent sealant
- A dropper post
- Spare derailleur hanger
- 1 spare inner tube
- 1 pair of brake pads
- 1 quick link matched to the chain
- Repair equipment specific to your bike
Accessories
- Open face MTB helmet
- Sunglasses
- Knee pads
- Elbow pads (recommended)
- Long gloves
- Sun cream
- Backpack with integrated back protector, or hip pack and separate back protector
- Repair equipment (tyre levers, plugs, multitool, chain tool, pump or CO2 cartridges)
- First aid kit
- Rain-resistant windbreaker
- Mobile phone and its charger
- Personal items and clothes for 2 days, and a swimsuit just in case
- SBB travelcard (if available)
Before you book
Good to know
Required Levels
This Zermatt trip is designed for intermediate riders.
The terrain is varied, alternating between alpine tracks and forest trails.
We rate this trip 3/4. You can find out more about our grading scale by clicking here.
If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to contact us to discuss it.
Culture
A village without cars. Zermatt has always been closed to combustion vehicles. You leave the car in Täsch and come up by train, twelve minutes higher. On site, it is electric taxis and horse-drawn carriages. The silence, in a resort of that fame, is always a surprise.
A mountain that changed alpinism. The Matterhorn rises to 4,478 metres. Its almost perfect pyramid, with four faces turned to the four cardinal points, is the result of glacial erosion cutting the rock from every side at once. Its first ascent, on 14 July 1865 by Edward Whymper's rope team, ended in tragedy: four of the seven climbers died on the way down. The drama travelled across Europe and turned Zermatt, then a farming village, into the capital of alpinism.
The old village. In the Hinterdorf you still find granaries and raccards of larch raised on stone discs, meant to stop mice reaching the stores. Some are more than four centuries old. Larch does not rot, it blackens: that is what gives the hamlets their particular colour, the ones you ride through on the first day.
Numbers that make you dizzy. From the heights of Zermatt you can see around thirty summits above 4,000 metres. The Gorner glacier, below, is the second largest in the Alps. And the Gornergrat railway, opened in 1898, was the first electric rack railway in Switzerland.
The main language spoken there is Swiss German.
Accommodation and Food
You stay in Zermatt, in a hotel. The property is chosen according to the size of the group once registrations close; we confirm the exact services before departure. Some of the hotels we book have a wellness area: slip a swimsuit into your bag, just in case.
Breakfast is included.
Lunches and dinners are at your own expense, restaurant or picnic, as you prefer. Zermatt offers both, from mountain huts to fine dining.
Climate
The Zermatt region enjoys a privileged climate, often sunny and dry.
Temperatures are generally ideal for mountain biking, but early departures and nights at high altitude can be a bit chilly.
You should therefore bring warmer clothing and rain gear in case of wetter or colder spells.
Safety
The Zermatt region is very safe and presents no specific risks.
Go Further
Are you won over by this programme and ready to join this adventure?
If you are confident in your physical and technical abilities, and have made sure your equipment matches the programme, click the registration button and fill out the form to reserve your spot.
Your guide on this ride
Christian
Swiss Cycling certified MTB guide and instructor · founder of Exoride
Founder and manager of Exoride, Chris has been riding the trails of the Valais Alps since 1989, and has worked as a professional guide since 2010. This dual experience, passionate rider and certified guide, gives him a read on the terrain that few can claim: the best lines, the right timing for the lifts, and the technical sections anticipated before you even reach them.
Beyond the technical skills, it's his deep knowledge of Valais that makes the difference: every ride is adjusted to the group's level and wishes, for a tailor-made experience rather than a fixed route. With Chris, you're not just following an itinerary: you're benefiting from over 35 years of experience on this terrain to discover the region's hidden treasures, with full confidence.
What our riders say
They ride with Exoride
« Upper Valais outing, perfect weather, pure pleasure. Thanks to Chris and his organisation, everything was superb! »
« The very best! Insane singletracks, 6,400 m of descent, in a superb atmosphere among riders! Just like Finale, but on Valais soil. Can't wait for the next outing with Chris and Exoride! »
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What does this weekend cost, and what is not included?
The lift pass is not included: you buy it on site, around 70 CHF at half fare for the two days, 140 CHF at full fare.
On top of that comes the train up from Täsch on Saturday morning: 8.60 CHF at half fare, 12.- CHF at full fare. Lunches and dinners are also at your own expense.
Can I come on an analogue mountain bike?
No, this weekend is reserved for e-bikes and light e-bikes.
The rhythm of the laps and the altitude of the starts are built around assistance: on an analogue bike you would not keep up with the group and would spend the day being waited for. Our other formats do exist for analogue bikes.
What time do we leave, and what time are we back?
Leaving Martigny on Saturday at 7 am, back in Martigny on Sunday around 8 pm.
The early start is deliberate: it frees up a full day of riding from Saturday onwards.
Can I come by car?
As far as Martigny only.
The transfer to Täsch is by Exo'bus, and Zermatt is reached by train: no car goes up to the village.
What happens to my luggage on Sunday?
Nothing: it is taken from the hotel to Täsch during the morning, and that transfer is included in the price.
You ride the day with nothing but the essentials, and find your things again at the bus.
What should I bring besides my riding gear?
Your usual kit, and a swimsuit.
Some of the hotels we book have a wellness area. The property is chosen according to the size of the group once registrations close; we confirm the exact services before departure.
What is the typical profile of participants for this trip?
Very varied: from 8 to over 70 years old, both men and women.
There is no minimum age: the only condition is a level that matches the outing you choose. Parental consent is required for anyone under 18.
How many people are there in a group?
We generally welcome between 6 and 10 people for this trip.
Who is our guide?
This trip is led by a local professional mountain bike guide, Swiss Cycling certified, who is on home ground in the Zermatt region and has been riding there for years.
What happens if I am tired during the day?
If you are feeling tired, you can easily skip a lap or head back to the hotel.
What type of ride should I expect?
We like to vary the trails we take as much as possible.
The routes are 99% singletrack.
Do we always have to ride with all our equipment?
No. On Saturday the luggage stays at the hotel; on Sunday it is taken to Täsch while you ride.
You ride the day with your cycling gear alone.
Guided gravity
Ready to ride?
Registration for this departure has ended.
Same spirit, same practice
Other rides
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ShuttlesWith friends, family or your club
This ride as a private event, on your date
The same program just for your group, any time of the season. Tell us your level, your dates and your group size: we get back to you quickly with a proposal.
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540 CHF · 5 – 6 Sep 2026
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The levels, made clear
First tracks
Wide paths, rolling doubletrack, the odd loose rock. MTB without traps, to build pleasure and confidence.
You'll relate if
- comfortable on gravel and forest roads
- the word singletrack intrigues you more than it speaks to you
- you are discovering braking on loose ground
Singletrack bliss
Narrow but flowing trails: moderate roots and rocks, wide switchbacks, a few spots where you pick your line.
You'll relate if
- you ride singletrack regularly and enjoy it
- tight switchbacks still make you dab a foot sometimes
- you brake hard without locking up in the rocks
Technical ground
Rock gardens, steps, tight switchbacks, off-camber: the terrain demands clean lines and active riding.
You'll relate if
- tight switchbacks without dabbing, almost
- 30-40 cm steps do not stop you
- you read the trail several metres ahead
Committed
High mountain, exposed sections, big steps: places where mistakes cost, precise riding is mandatory.
You'll relate if
- you ride what many carry
- exposure does not cloud your judgement
- you stay in control on the steep even when tired
Easy
Short outing, minimal climbing: shuttles or lifts do the work, frequent breaks.
You'll relate if
- 2-3 h out
- under 300 m of climbing
- no training required
On an e-bike, one physical grade lower is often enough: ask us.
Active
Half to full mellow day: we pedal, but the pace leaves time for the view.
You'll relate if
- 3-5 h out
- 300-700 m of climbing
- occasional exercise is enough
On an e-bike, one physical grade lower is often enough: ask us.
Sporty
A proper MTB day: hours in the saddle, real climbing, punchy sections. You need juice, not a palmares.
You'll relate if
- full day, 5-7 h including breaks
- 800-1'200 m of climbing
- regular sport, endurance follows
On an e-bike, one physical grade lower is often enough: ask us.
Enduring
Big days or back-to-backs: climbing stacks up and the pace stays high.
You'll relate if
- 1'500 m+ of climbing, or several days in a row
- regular training
- fast recovery is part of the game
On an e-bike, one physical grade lower is often enough: ask us.
Between two grades? Halves (2.5) exist: aim higher if you are fit, lower if you are coming back.
Not sure? Write to usWe will advise you honestly, even if it means suggesting mellower.See the full page
