Ski Escapes
A vacation in Zermatt, one of Switzerland’s best ski resorts is an incredibly peaceful escape. The minute you get off the train you feel a sense of peace and serenity in this car-free alpine village. This is the ideal place to escape the noise and pollution of the city and ski to your hearts content.
Spectacularly situated in the Swiss Alps Zermatt nestles in a deep valley, surrounded by steeply scarped mountains. Dominated by the majestic Matterhorn, these are the highest mountains in Europe.
Zermatt has everything to offer for a winter vacation: fantastic skiing, picturesque surroundings, cozy restaurants, beautiful shops and boutiques and a lively nightlife. Most people, tourists and locals are on foot or skis, the only means of transport being electric taxis and horse drawn sleighs on the cobbled streets. People are here because they love the mountains. This is not on the package tour beat and despite being a popular resort it is still a small village – your perfect escape.
Zermatt’s three ski areas are at least 10,000 feet high and it boasts of the highest ski lift in Europe – The Klein Matterhorn. The ski run from this station into Zermatt is almost ten miles long and has a vertical drop of 2200m! The three ski areas of Zermatt include the Schwarzsee – Klein Matterhorn area, the Gornergrat – Stockhorn area and the Sunnegga – Rothorn area. It is also connected to the Breuil-Cervinia area in Italy. Zermatt also offers plenty of superb open terrain for boarders. There are two terrain parks and two man-made half pipes in the resort. The resort is surrounded by 29 peaks over the height of 13,000feet.
Zermatt has the longest winter season in the Alps and there is as much opportunity to ski in April as there is in December. The air is fresh and alpine and there is plenty of good accommodation in this friendly village. Explore some of the romantic narrow cobbled alleyways just off the main street, where you will find ancient sun browned barns and traditional chalets. You can opt to stay in good hotels, apartments or chalets.