Ski Zermatt

High Altitude pricey skiing, not best suited to beginners

Venture into the highest area of the Alps and you will find Zermatt. Surrounding by twenty-eight peaks, many of which are over 4000m, Zermatt is situated at the base of the mighty Matterhorn. Expensive and classy with its medieval architecture, traditional alpine chalets and abundance of shops Zermatt has long been a top destination for wealthy people who want to ski Europe.

Zermatt Costs and Travel

Switzerland has always been recognised as a pricey country, and Zermatt is the dearest resort there. The Matterhorn Ski Paradise lift pass costs a whopping 350 swiss francs (185!) and if youre going to partake in the exceptional aprs-ski and dining on offer its probably best if you avoid looking at the receipts.

Fly to Basel (3hrs), Geneva (4hrs) or Zurich (4.5hrs). Train is popular but if you want to take the car be aware that the village is car-free zone and you do have to buy a pass to drive your car there.

Zermatt Skiing

This is a ski resort that attracts visitors all year round with its stunning scenery and the fact you can ski all year round. The summer snow park is truly out-standing and the glacier provides 22km of piste, even in the hottest part of the year.

Zermatt is linked to Cervinia in Italy and your lift pass gives you access to 313km of piste. The intermediates and advanced are best catered for, this definitely isnt a resort for beginner skiing. Similarly children arent well catered either with a minimal amount of nursery slopes.

Ninety percent of the skiable terrain is above the tree-line. The off-piste available is phenomenal it really is the star of the show here with the piste perhaps just being the supporting act. For the speed demons, head to the top Klein Matterhorn where you can descend from the top of the glacier right down to the village for a leg-burning thirteen kilometres.

Advanced Skiers

The world famous off-piste on offer is very accessible. Start at the top of the Klein Matterhorn, probably best with a guide as crevasses are always a threat with glacial skiing or snowboarding. A little lower down the bowl at Garten gives you plenty of space to ensure fresh tracks for days. If there has just had a dump of the white stuff and you are looking for a challenge head over to Stockhorn, although this place only really works on powder days. If you have the cash its worth bearing in mind that Switzerland hasnt yet outlawed Heli-Skiing, Zermatt will unquestionably give you your moneys worth!

This resort is neither pro or anti snowboarding. Its not what you would class as a youthful resort and its winter board park (in Trochner Steg) is not a patch on its summer counterpart.

There is a pretty good half pipe next to the Igloo Bar at Gornergrat where the boarders tend to congregate but its the quality of back country that appeals here rather than fun parks.

As long as you are not a beginner ski client this resort is a great all rounder, its only slight negative is that a lot of its hotels are located quite a way from the lifts, in some cases a taxi or bus ride. Try get an exact distance before you book your accommodation as the queues build up quickly in the morning, an early start is definitely recommended. Also only ten percent of the pistes are tree lined, so not much protection on offer on days when the weather comes in.

Zermatt resort life

Once you have finished for the day many of the mountain restaurants and bars have sun terraces and live music, Chez Vrony, Zum See and the Blauherd wont disappoint.

Back in resort you have one hundred restaurants to choose from with a variety of cuisine and thirty-five bars.

The North Wall bar is a favourite seasonnaires haunt with its cheap pizza and beer. Potters Bar serves up a mean full English and proper tea! Hit The Pipe for its shots of toffee vodka, and if shots are your thing The Papperla Pubs large measures are absolutely lethal. Lastly The Vernissage with its refurbished cinema serving food is in The Times top 10 apres ski venues in the world. If the skiing or boarding isnt enough exercise for you and dancing is on the agenda then head over to Le Broken Disco or Moby Dicks Dancing Pub.

Non ski activities

Other non-skiing activites on offer include ice-hiking, snowshoeing, tobogganing, ice-skating and Sleigh-riding. Zermatt also boasts the highest Ice Museum in the Alps.

For those of you who don't have family ski committments and consider themselves advanced and above this resort will tick every box. February skiing onwards is the better time of year for expert trails and sunshine but whenever you visit summer or winter this breath taking part of the Alps will stay with you for a long time.