Furka Pass, Switzerland

The Furka Pass links Andermatt in Canton Uri with Gletsch in Canton Valais and is part of the popular three-passes trip over the Furka, Grimsel and Susten. Coming from Central Switzerland and having passed through Andermatt, you begin the climb over the Furka Pass at the village of Realp. Here in summer you may see the Furka steam railway ready to puff its way over the pass. A few kilometres further on and you reach the hamlet of Tiefenbach. The road continues around a series of hairpin bends up to the pass head at 2431 metres altitude, with wonderful views of the Gotthard massif and the Ursen Valley. On the Valais side, after about three kilometres, you reach the Hotel Bélvèdere where the view opens up to the Rhone Glacier. It’s worthwhile taking a detour to the ice grotto, which is re-cut into the glacier each year. In 1850, the Rhone Glacier swept down to the valley floor but today, in 2008, the glacier tongue is above the level of the hotel. The road continues to wind down to Gletsch at 1759 metres altitude at the foot of the FurkaPass and the Grimsel Pass, which leads to the Bernese Oberland. Gletsch basically consists of the tiny station of the Furka steam railway and the huge Grand Hotel Glacier du Rhône, which still has the air of the glory days of the Alpine passes at the beginning of the 19th century. Since the Furka basis tunnel from Realp to Oberwald opened in 1982, a winter-safe rail passage with car transport has existed between the cantons of Uri and the Valais. Nevertheless, the spectacular trip over the pass by bicycle, motorbike, car or yellow postbus still remains the most attractive option.