Luxury Ski Holidays In Zermatt

One mountain range sprawls its sparkling skyline across no less than seven countries, undulating across Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany and France. Nothing can steal your breath and send your heart alight like the crisp morning air, dramatic peaks and surging mountainsides of the Alps. The only problem is that it can be difficult deciding which mountainside, in which country, to choose. At an altitude of 1620 metres, with a highest run of Gobba di Rollin at 3899 metres, Zermatt is the perfect place to book an energising winter getaway in the Alps. With its view of the monolithic Matterhorn, year-round snow and the necessity to get there by horse-drawn cart, nothing could be more exciting than jetting off to a luxury ski holiday in such a unique and enticing resort.

The first thing you’ll want to decide is whether it’s best to choose the intimacy of a chalet, the community of a resort of the convenience of a hotel. Fortunately, Zermatt has all three in abundance. Some of the larger hotels have elegant, historical architecture. There are three principal areas for skiing in Zermatt.

The Schwarzsee-Klein Matterhorn area, the Gornergrat – Stockhorn area and the Sunnega – Rothorn area. They’re also in close proximity to Breuil-Cervinia in Italy. The Schwarzsee-Klein is reached by the highest cable-car in Europe, which can include an intermediate stop at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. Its restaurant serves up stunning views across Italy, France and Switzerland, as well as chop suey and other Asian specialties. Snowboarders needn’t feel left out – there’s a gravity park which is open 300 days a year, and the 2011 Swiss Freestyle Championships was held on the glacier. Continue up the Matterhorn and visit the Glacier Palace, chiselled deep into the icy walls of the mountainside. The walls are splashed with coloured lights, and ice-sculptures of horses, penguins and preserved flowers provide the interior design, while ambient music and commentary echo around the eerie caverns.

Trains leave Zermatt station nearly every half hour to reach the Gornergrat-Stockhorn slopes. After the breath taking ascension either head to the gentle slopes of Riffleberg or stick to Stockhorn for something more challenging. The unique appeal of the Mittelritz piste is its 800m run down the mountain, though the thrilling ride can usually only be attempted post January snowfall. The Sunnegga-Rothorn area can be reached by subterranean funicular railway, and includes access to the Rio resort run, as well as a champagne bar en-route to base camp for a little après-ski.

After a hard day on the slopes, Zeratt has plenty to offer those with a little energy left for some nightlife. Vernissage is a hyper-modern hotspot, replete with bar, nightclub and cinema for its guests’ entertainment. During winter months, tapas dishes are served in the lounge area. For something with a bit of a twist, Myoko serves up Japanese cuisine in the plush surroundings of Mount Cervin Palace Hotel, or for a little free fun, get your skates and slide over to the ice rink in the centre of the village.