Andermatt off-road
Switzerland, Andermatt
The first turn off the paved road feels like a small act of rebellion. Tyres leave the comfort of asphalt and bite into gravel, and suddenly Andermatt opens up in a different way. Here, in the high valleys of central Switzerland, off-road driving is not about speed or spectacle. It’s about access. About quietly reaching places shaped by history, hidden by mountains, and protected by permission. And because Cosa believes the most revealing journeys happen beyond the obvious, we followed a route few are allowed to take.
Secret roads unlocked
Secret roads unlocked
Nestled high in the Ursern Valley, Andermatt has long been a place of passage. Surrounded by Alpine peaks and anchored by the Gotthard Pass, it once guarded the north–south gateway through the Alps. Many of the gravel roads above the village were never designed for leisure. They were built for defence, supply and strategy – and today, they remain restricted. Travelling them requires both local knowledge and special permits. With our guide behind the wheel, the mountains begin to share their quieter stories.
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© Switzerland Tourism / Dominik Baur
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Discreetly spectacular
Discreetly spectacular
The road over the Furka Pass knows exactly what it’s doing. Smooth hairpins, each one opening the view a little wider. Glaciers slide down dark rock, valleys fall away. You feel alert because every curve asks for attention and rewards it straight away. This road once hosted a certain secret agent in Goldfinger – though the real star has always been the setting. At the abandoned Belvédère Hotel, stopping feels inevitable as the Rhône Glacier fills the frame. Here, even spies took their foot off the pedal.
The road back down
The road back down
The return journey invites reflection. We pause often to take in the scale of the mountains, to spot wildlife, to imagine how winter will soon soften these tracks into ski slopes and silence. Home to the Swiss Army’s Alpine Training Center, Andermatt remains an active landscape for alpine survival and rescue. This experience offers understanding as much as adventure, revealing how Switzerland balances protection, innovation and respect for its terrain.
Some roads require permission. We happen to have it. Get in touch with us.
