Brief Resort Overview: Zermatt is located in the Swiss Alps between Milan, Zurich and Geneva. The big village is situated at an altitude of 1620m at the top of the cog train which goes down to Visp and the main Simplon Pass line. The resort is very famous for the picturesque views of the Matterhorn seen from its pedestrian only streets and many other vintage points in the resort. Perhaps the most famous view is from the boutique-lined Bahnhofstasse (Main Street) looking towards the Matterhorn. Although most of the resort is modern there is still a small area where you can see a few traditional chalets which date from the original village. The skiing area is quite large and encompasses two main areas including one which crosses the international border and continues on to Cervinia, Italy. This cultural diversity is most remarked in that you can ski over to Italy for a pesto and wed wine lunch and then come back to Zermatt for an après-ski beer at an outdoor eisbar. There is a skiable glacier on the main ridge that separates Zermatt from Cervinia.

Principal advantages of the resort: Where else can you have a pesto and red wine lunch followed by an après-ski beer in an eisbar? The possibility to ski over to Italy means that you have several climate zones available to help you find sunshine and fresh snow; so if the weather is poor on the North side of the Alps it may be better on the South side and vice versa. The high altitude of the ski area and reliable snow record including some glaciated terrain also make for a snowsure destination.

Best Time to go: January-April

Ski Area description: Glacier, bowls, runs

vertical drop: 1840m
snow zone: 3480m-1640m
kms of ski runs: 295
amount of terrain (including lift accessed bowls): 8000 acres

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