Celebrating in Style – Zermatt for the Weekend

Zermatt is considered Switzerland’s most iconic Swiss ski resort, and there was nowhere more fitting to visit for our 20^th anniversary ski weekend. A 25-strong group of us descended on Geneva Airport to embark on what was set to be a fantastic weekend of resort research, schnapps and schnitzel. We were eagerly watching the snow forecast a week beforehand and were delighted that our chosen weekend promised exceptional fresh snow and even a hint of alpine sun.

Travelling to Zermatt from Geneva or Zurich Airport is easily done and most comfortable by train, with a quick change in Visp to the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway for the final leg to resort. The seats are spacious, the service is punctual, and what a treat being able to walk around and stretch your legs, but most importantly, relaxing with friends on the way to a ski resort looking out at the most stunning scenery sets you up for the perfect weekend to come.

It's a Ski Safari tradition to hold a quiz on the way to the resort but this year we also held an anniversary awards ceremony on the return journey, much to the amusement of the other travellers onboard.

Zermatt itself is car free and has retained its charm, with traditional chalet style buildings lining the main Banhofstrasse going from the train station through town. The layout of the resort can seem daunting at first, as it is larger than you would expect, but the highly efficient electric bus service allows you to hop on and off easily between your accommodation, lifts and town - just remember that there are two lines, red and green!

The town is a juxtaposition of great value outdoor equipment stores and luxury fur and fine jewellery boutiques. Our hotel for the weekend was the 3* Hotel Derby located on Banhofstrasse, within walking distance of the Gornergrat Train or the Sunnegga Funicular. We have come to expect a high level of service and quality from all our Swiss hotels, and the Hotel Derby was no exception, they couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly.

Food always plays a huge part in our weekends away, and this was no exception. Zermatt is heavily influenced by its Italian neighbour, but you will still find the usual Stublis serving Swiss specialities (meats and cheeses). We enjoyed dinner at our hotel the first evening, and everyone managed to get to bed at a decent time in order to hit the slopes early the next day.

Our second evening was spent at the Spaghetti and Pizza Factory at the Unique Post Hotel - a cool, boutique hotel located in the centre of the town. I highly recommend the pizzas, which can even be ordered with a gluten-free base!

As always, the best was saved for last, and on Saturday night we were treated to an amazing fondue dinner at Gitz-Gadi Restaurant at the Hotel Silvaplana in Furi. Furi is the first stop on the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Gondola, which runs late on Tuesdays and Thursdays to allow people to toboggan along prepared and lit tracks back down to the village - which is exactly what we did after dinner!

Our group included a mix of skiers and snowboarders (and even a few non-skiers that weekend), from beginner to advanced, and Zermatt catered to us all. Skiing is possible in both Zermatt and on the Italian side in Cervinia, just don’t miss the last lift back! The beginner terrain and lessons are located up at the Sunnegga Paradise or Gornergrat, meaning you are not subjected to conditions on the lower slopes early or late in the season.

We divided into groups based on those that like to ski with pace and explore as much terrain as possible and those that like to spend more time laughing and chatting with some skiing in between. Zermatt is a very high resort with several of the highest pistes groomed on top of glaciers, with the sun out visibility was incredible as we raced (or ambled) down often stopping to snap group shots with the stunning Matterhorn providing the most perfect back drop.

The snow gods answered our calls on the second day with buckets of light, deep snow and with visibility low we spent most of our time skiing through the trees. North America is generally known for great tree skiing but there's a huge amount in Zermatt and you don't need to head high to find the lightest and deepest snow. With legs tired from the powder, we called it a day around 2.30 and headed for après, although with heli-skiing booked the next day it was an unusually reserved affair.

As a thank you to the company from our founder Richard Rice, everyone in the company was offered the amazing choice of a heli-ski trip or heli-sightseeing tour from the Zermatt heli-pad with local company Air-Zermatt. With the heavy snowfall the preceding week and on the first day of our stay, we weren’t sure that it would even go ahead. However on Sunday the clouds parted, the snow stopped, and we woke up to the most beautiful day you could ever hope for. Bluebird heli trips were a go!

Heli-skiing from the resort is available for more advanced skiers, and was tackled by 10 Ski Safari skiers and snowboarders. We split into two groups and kitted out with harnesses and avalanche safety equipment. The skiers were informed that they would be the first group of the season to descend the famous Monte Rosa, no mean feat and somewhat daunting given the number of crevasses and hidden dangers.

The skiing and riding on the glacial terrain was cautious given the obvious dangers but once below the glaciers you could really open up and pick your own lines, each group experienced some of the best powder turns of their lives in the most glorious day of sunshine imaginable. Luckily both the ski and snowboard groups completed the routes under the care of their expert local guides Michael and Tom.

For those who weren’t yet confident enough off-piste, heli-sightseeing was a spectacular alternative. Fly over the resort and right around the tip of the Matterhorn, and you’ll even get as far as Saas Fee in the neighbouring valley.

If you want to add some extra adventure, another option is a heli-resort drop, with a shorter sightseeing flight around the Matterhorn before being dropped off at the top of the resort all kitted out with skis to then ski back down to the village - a great idea for families. A few of our group did this and said they felt like celebrities with everyone turning to look at them as they stepped off the helicopter!

We were a tired, slightly sunburnt, but very happy bunch of Ski Safari staffers after our extraordinary 3 day adventure in Zermatt, and highly recommend it to anyone considering their next trip!

View more photos from our Zermatt trip on Facebook.