Zermatt is widely considered to be one of the best ski resorts in Europe, if not the world, thanks to its endless on and off piste terrain, phenomenal snow record, charming village and astounding scenery.
The town started life as a simple farming village, developing into a mountaineering centre in the 19th century, then became a winter resort in the late 1920's and early 1930's. Summer is still as big as winter here, though despite it's growth it has retained its charming old world feel, complete with buildings of timber, stone and slate. Catering to it's generally affluent clientele, there are a great range of enjoyable apres options, charming boutiques, elegant restaurants and luxury hotels. The village is car-free, but not traffic-free –it's not uncommon to spot horse drawn carriages transporting guests around the quaint streets, alongside electric buggies operating either as hotel shuttles or as public taxis.
Zermatt offers some of the most impressive skiing in the world, stretching from 1,620 to a lofty 3,882m. Set against the backdrop of the awe inspiring Matterhorn, alongside a total of 38 peaks rising over 4000m it offers some of the most visually striking skiing in the world. On snow, 360km of slopes provides some of the most extensive intermediate and advanced terrain in Europe, and this is before you even take into account the off piste options. Skiing takes place across several areas - Rothorn, Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Schwarzsee , all accessed by highly efficient lift systems including the famous Gornergrat mountain railway. With seemingly endless options to chose from, take advantage of our enhanced Ski Club Leaders service operating in Zermatt to guide you across the best slopes on offer.
At the very top of the resort sits the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, atop the Klein Matterhron, or 'Little Matterhorn', offering the highest altitude skiing in Europe, 365 days of the year. From here, there is also the option to descent into Cervinia in Italy, for anyone wanting to sample the Italian pistes, or simply grab a great pizza for lunch.
