4.5
(26 reviews)
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4.8
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What should I know about Backcountry Skiing Zermatt?
Situated on Switzerland’s southern border with Italy, Zermatt is the perfect base for a wide range of backcountry skiing options.
Away from following the reverse Haute Route, dozens of other incredible off-piste skiing options remain. Heading to the Monte Rosa massif is among the most popular. Known as the Dufourspitze from the Swiss side, the mountain has plenty of incredible freeride options, perfect for intermediate and advanced skiers.
However, Zermatt is not just a playground for seasoned backcountry skiers. There are plenty of options for novice and first-time backcountry skiers to try out the sport too. From the Riffelhorn to the Hohtälli, there are plenty of great options to try out heading off-piste!
Why should I choose Zermatt for my Backcountry Skiing adventure?
**Stunning scenery **
The scenery around Zermatt is simply sublime. Imposing snow-capped peaks stretch as far as the eye can see in every direction. The valleys are equally as picturesque and make you feel like you are skiing into a postcard. Heading on the Haute Route provides stunning views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc as well. There is no better way to see Switzerland in the winter than on your skis.
Head out heliskiing
Due to its remote location on the Swiss-Italian border, Zermatt has become a hotspot for heliskiing. For those with the means but not the time, heliskiing is the perfect way to head into the heart of the backcountry and enjoy fresh powder in incredibly remote locations. The Mont Blanc massif, Monte Rosa, Verbier and Courmayeur are all easily accessed from Zermatt via helicopter.
Reverse Haute Route
This twist on the classic five to seven-day ski touring experience takes one of the oldest backcountry skiing routes around and does it in reverse. Head through stunning valleys, up incredible mountain passes and race down from the Alps Chamonix There really is no off-piste experience quite like the reverse Haute Route.
What can I expect from the weather during my Backcountry Skiing trip in Zermatt?
During the winter, Zermatt is quite humid with average daily temperatures hovering around freezing. Temperatures decrease significantly as you gain altitude. The humid conditions mean there is always plenty of snow in the region as well during the winter.
How can I get to Zermatt?
The best way to get to Zermatt is to fly into the Geneva International Airport (GVA). From here, the city is easily accessed by hiring a car and making the 3 hour drive. Buses and trains are also available to get you to the city, but take a bit longer.
Which language is predominantly spoken in the Zermatt region?
French, English, Italian, German
What's the country code for the Zermatt region?
+41
What currency is accepted around Zermatt?
Swiss Franc (CHF)
When is the best time to travel to Zermatt for Backcountry Skiing?
January to April
5
Far and above my expectations! Fabulous day with most experienced and thoughtful guide! I would use Explore- Share again!
Ben
5
Have just finished 3 days skiing every mountain in Zermatt with Herbert He is an excellent guide and I look forward to skiing with him again
Matthew
5
Claudio is an excellent guide who takes safety seriously. He is extremely knowledgeable and was able to judge our capabilities and pace our trips perfectly. We hired Claudio for a small group trip on two occasions in 2018 and 2019 and will go with him again in 2021 if we can. Our attempts at the Haute Route both failed after 4-5 days due to bad weather, but sooner or later we will complete it!
Scott
4
We were group of 3 with Herbert to the Monte Rosa drop off location. Our group has done lots of heli-skiing, cat skiing, and hiked routes. What we look for in guides is 1) safety 2) matching route to technical ability 3) advice in complex sections 4) having a personality and making the day fun. On safety: Herbert did a good safety briefing and told us where to position ourselves relative to his tracks, that was the extent of his safety. One of our group members fell part-way into a crevasse and was dangling on the ice wall, and he leisurely pulled out his rope to throw it down even after being told there was a very far drop. He routinely skiied out-of-sight of the entire group even in more dangerous sections. If someone had fallen through again, there was no rescuing them as he was the only one with the safety gear. On matching the route the technical ability of the group he did fine, the only part that was an issue was the very long flat ski out (he warned us about this, so we knew it ahead of time, I wouldn't do this route again because of this). On advice/tips for complex routes, he had nothing to offer, and was annoyed when you asked him questions, the only thing he said was "lean forward on your skiis", and didn't try to help anyone who had challenges. On the last part, personality, this was the worst. He was extremely annoyed that he had to help the person out of the crevasse, and even more annoyed that a snowboarder in our group was slower in the flat section. He complained to other ski guides that passed by that he was late for his lunch. When we stopped to break and took pictures he asked us to stop wasting time with taking our phones out. When we asked him if we should bring water (for a 5 hour ski) he said it's no necessary, which was crazy. Overall, it really put a damper on the entire experience, we spent a lot of money and came from Canada to experience this, and he nearly ruined it. He's a really good technical skiier, but has no patience nor does he put an ounce of effort in to making it fun or making people feel safe.
ollie
4
Amazing trip, thoroughly enjoyed myself. Unfortunately, the Haute Route was cancelled due to incline weather, a safe decision by the guides, but they were able to create a new tour on the fly which was still spectacular. The Guides were very friendly and helpful, were able to pick me up from town as i didn't have a car, and transport me to the starting location. Both Elis and Claudio were very hospitable, knowledgable and friendly. Highly recommend PeakHunters for any guided needs!
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