SWISSHOLIDAYS
The
village of Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, the most photographed mountain
in the world. Zermatt epitomizes the image of Switzerland: high-alpine,
awe-inspiring and original. Almost one-third of the 4,000m Mountains in the Alps
are grouped around this world-famous resort, which has been visited by
mountaineers from all around the world since the first successful ascent of the
Matterhorn in 1865.
Zermatt was
discovered in the middle of the 19th century, in the golden age of high
alpinism. A myth was born at that time: the names of Zermatt and the Matterhorn
became known all around the world, and Zermatt was regarded as the Mecca of the
skiers and mountaineers world.
The name Zermatt comes from the local dialect words Zer which means to, and matta, which means field or meadow. Therefore: to the field.
As a village, Zermatt has it all. Based at 1,620m it has the most iconic mountain in the world as a backdrop, a massive, high-altitude international ski area, some of the best mountain restaurants in the world and a traditional Swiss chocolate-box, fuel car-free village. Zermatt boasts the name of one of the best winter resorts in the world and delivers in every respect. The village itself has a mix of rustic old wooden Stadels and Grand Luxury hotels. The main street is fully traffic free, except the occasional horse drawn carriage and is packed with lively bars, restaurants and shops. At any time of the day, there’s an amazing atmosphere across the entire resort.
Zermatt's mountain restaurants are blessed with a winning combination of great cuisine, majestic views and the authentic feel of charmingly restored alpine farm buildings. This is the point of coming to Zermatt, maybe even the reason to learn to ski in the first place. There are 38 mountain restaurants, many of them famous for great cuisine, some even with Gault Millau points.
Throw in the views (not just of the Matterhorn, but
it's a good starting point) and the authentic feel of many of the
restaurants – charmingly restored alpine farm buildings – and you're onto
a winner, whether you're cooking or dining.
Après-ski ranges from quiet informal cafes to lively bars with music and rock bands. There are bars for every taste, and night clubs with dancing until dawn, if you have the energy! Night clubs are generally free entry and they and the main bars offer a number of theme nights as well.
It’s no secret that you can eat well around the clock in Zermatt. Zermatt not only has the highest density of four-thousand-metre summits, but also of gourmet restaurants. Gault Millau confirms this every year. Zermatt offers much more than gourmet cuisine, however. If you ask someone from Zermatt where you should go for a meal, they’ll first start scratching their heads. Where to start? What do you like to eat? Experimental cookery, Asian, accompanied with songs or not, Mediterranean-Alpine, grilled on an open barbecue, minimalist menu with local specialities, or venison and ostrich meat? There is literally everything on offer in Zermatt.
The ski area is not only the highest in the Alps – it is also one of the best developed and most convenient in the world. This ensures thrilling skiing on the steepest slopes and that is 365 days a year. This ski region boasts some of the most varied and dramatic skiing with slopes up to 3,900m!
Skiing in Zermatt is split up into four areas; Sunnegga, Gornergrat, Klein Matterhorn and Schwarzsee. There is also a connection to Cervinia and Valtournenche in Italy.
In winter, 360km of pistes attracts skiers of all levels. Unlimited skiing and snowboarding between Switzerland and Italy – no other destination can offer this. Carve and relax alongside national ski teams from the whole of Europe, with the Matterhorn always in sight. Runs to the resort are also covered by snow-cannons and there are a number of snow parks and half pipes for snowboarders. And in the summer? Enjoy the 20km of pistes on the Zermatt Theodul Glacier.
Included in your holiday is the ZERMATT ski pass. This ski pass covers all the lifts in Zermatt, including the glacier.
You can upgrade it if you wish to include Cervinia…
Cervinia contrasts and compliments Zermatt beautifully, not only in terms of the slopes it offers, but also in the spirit of the people. While skiers in Zermatt are (generally) quiet, efficient and precise – the atmosphere skiing into Italy changes markedly.
Over the years we have managed to negotiate some superb equipment at excellent rates and have passed the benefits of this directly to you.
We use one of the top Sports Shops in Zermatt, Dorsaz Sports, right at the base of the Matterhorn Express and you can leave your skis / snowboard & boots there overnight in heated storage!
SKIS: Top rate skis are included in the rental price with the latest brands and models.
SNOWBOARDS: No extra for snowboards with the latest bindings and designs.
We include Cross-Channel Ferries for those who are self driving or Airport Transfers for those flying, so you can choose the best option that suits you.
Zermatt is a car-free resort; this however does not mean that getting around or to and from the resort is difficult. The trains travel straight into the resort centre and then electric taxis can move you around the resort itself. There is even a free electric ski bus to get you to the lifts. If you are driving to the resort, it’s still easy. Simply park your car at the village of Täsch and then take the 10 minute shuttle train straight into the resort centre.
| Train Transfer Time from Basel: | 3hr 45min |
| Train Transfer Time from Bern: | 2hr 50min |
| Train Transfer Time from *Geneva: | 3hr 40min |
| Train Transfer Time from *Zürich: | 3hr 30min |
| Driving Distance from Calais: | 560 miles |
* Swiss Fly-Luggage available
View the Swiss Rail timetable.
We have 2-person studio apartments and every size, right up to 8-person apartments. They are spacious and convenient to amenities, the ski lifts and free village ski bus.
In this resort we can also offer Catered Options which includes…
Again, we offer a huge range of availability on hotels. We can offer any level from our 2, 3 or 4-star hotel selection. In some resorts we can even 5 star hotels.
Because of the wide variety of accommodation we have available, please enter the numbers travelling and standard required on the Personal Quote Page and we will e-mail you with details and pictures of the best accommodation matching your requirements.
If you have any specific requests such as swimming pools, childcare etc, please also mention this on the Personal Quote Page and we will do our utmost to quote you the ideal place to suit your needs.
Our prices are simple, LOW & HIGH season. We have Youth prices for up to 19yrs old, discounts for children up to the age of 16yrs and even bigger savings for Children under the age of 9yrs!
Because of the tremendous range of accommodation we offer, we have listed the prices below based on good quality apartments. These rates are a guide and may fluctuate based on the accommodation actually chosen / available and are based on full occupancy. Please ring or e-mail for available accommodation.
You can specify the standard and size of apartment or standard of hotel required on the Personal Quote Page. We respond personally to each request with availability, description, pictures and exact prices.
| Winter 2012 – 2013 | Child – 9yrs | Child – 16yrs | Youth – 19yrs | Adult |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOW SEASON from | £319 | £419 | £569 | £599 |
| HIGH SEASON from | £369 | £469 | £619 | £649 |
LOW & HIGH season vary for each accommodation/resort – we do not add any of our own surcharges onto the cost of your stay. NEW YEAR and HALF-TERM are standard HIGH Season. If you have any queries about which dates are LOW or HIGH for the accommodation level you desire, please mention this on your Personal Quote Page or contact us directly.
(Comprehensive breakfasts every morning, plus 5 filling 3-course evening meals with good Swiss wine in the accommodation, 1 Fondue night meal out in a top quality restaurant)
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