Glacier 3000 & Col du Pillon Day Trip from Montreux

From Montreux to Les Diablerets

The day starts in Montreux, the elegant resort of the Swiss Riviera on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva. The coach heads up the Rhône valley to Aigle, with its turreted castle, then climbs a winding mountain road through the Ormont valley, past forests, farms and small villages, to Les Diablerets, a chalet village at the foot of the massif of the same name.

This Col du Pillon day trip from Montreux takes about an hour and a quarter each way, and the scenery changes completely in that time, from lakeside palms to alpine pastures and rock walls. The name Diablerets comes from local legends of devils playing among the peaks, and the cliffs above the village still look wild and dramatic. On clear days you see the glacier glinting high above the road.

Col du Pillon and the cable cars to Glacier 3000

The Col du Pillon, at about 1,546 m, is a mountain pass between Les Diablerets and the Gstaad region, on the border of the cantons of Vaud and Bern. It is the valley station of Glacier 3000. If you are asking how to get to Glacier 3000, this is the gateway: a first cable car rises above steep cliffs to the middle station at Cabane, and a second climbs to Scex Rouge at about 2,970 m.

The cabins glide close to sheer rock faces, and the view opens with every metre, from green pastures to the white expanse of the Tsanfleuron Glacier. The top station, with its terrace and restaurant, sits right on the ridge where the cantons of Vaud, Bern and Valais meet. Allow about 15 to 20 minutes for the two cable cars.

The Peak Walk: a suspension bridge between two summits

From the top station a short path leads to the Peak Walk, a suspension bridge about 107 m long and 80 cm wide connecting the Scex Rouge summit with the neighbouring View Point peak. Opened in 2014, it was the first suspension bridge in the world to link two mountain summits, and walking across it, with only a cable and mesh between you and the drop, is a thrilling experience.

From the View Point platform the panorama stretches over the Bernese and Valais Alps, with the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and the Eiger visible on clear days. Is Glacier 3000 worth visiting? For the Peak Walk alone, many travellers say yes. The bridge may close in strong winds or bad weather, and mountain views are never guaranteed, so check the forecast before your trip.

The glacier, the chairlift and the snow park

With the default option, a chairlift carries you from the top station down onto the glacier plateau, where snow lies all year round. In summer this is one of the few places in western Switzerland to walk on snow in July and August, and children love the snow park with its sledging slopes and play areas. In winter the area becomes a ski and snowboard playground.

Nearby rises the Quille du Diable, a dramatic rock tower standing out of the glacier, a favourite photo subject. Activities such as the alpine coaster, the highest of its kind, dog sledding or snow bus rides are paid separately on site. Spend around three hours at Glacier 3000 to enjoy the bridge, the glacier and the views without rushing.

Glacier 3000 opening hours and best time to visit

Glacier 3000 is open for most of the year, with cable cars running roughly from 9:00 to the late afternoon, and short closures for maintenance in some spring and autumn weeks; check before booking. The best time to visit Glacier 3000 for snow activities in summer is from June to September, while December to April brings full winter scenery and skiing.

It is much colder at almost 3,000 m than in Montreux, so bring a warm jacket, gloves, sunglasses and sun cream even in summer. Halal food is available in Lausanne and in some places around the lake, but limited in the mountains, so many guests bring a packed lunch; the restaurant at the top serves vegetarian dishes and hot drinks. Clouds can cover the peaks quickly, and views are never guaranteed.