Zermatt Switzerland Travel

Whether you like skiing or boarding, sledding or hiking… if you like snowsports, you’ll find what you are looking for in Zermatt. 394 km of pistes provide a wide variety of skiing in an international ski area situated on the border between Switzerland and Italy.

The area is dominated by the stunning scenery of the Matterhorn and Zermatt’s pluses can be summarised as follows – awesome scenery; amazing mountain restaurants; fantastic and varied skiing.

Because of abundant snowfall, high altitudes and the glacier area of the Klein Matterhorn, Zermatt offers some of the finest skiing in Europe, and glacier skiing can be enjoyed well into the summer. The high and extensive terrain stretches across three individual mountains and mainly caters for intermediate and experienced skiers.

The resort is best known for its excellent powder skiing, although off-piste areas and unofficial runs should only be explored with a guide, due to sudden drop-offs and avalanche risk. Intermediate skiers have a wide range of slopes to enjoy around the Zermatt-Matterhorn Ski Area and it is possible to ski across all three mountains in a day.

Klein Matterhorn is reached by the highest aerial cable car in Europe that provides access to a snowboard half pipe and the longest ski run in Europe, an exhilarating slope with breathtaking views that drops all the way down to the village.

The easiest slopes are high up on the glacier in the Klein Matterhorn region, but beginners should be aware that trails that start out as novice often end up being intermediate and there are no beginner trails that connect the mountains. Snowboarders share the same exciting terrain.

There is plenty to keep the expert and intermediate happily challenged. Unsuitable for beginners, as it can be quite steep and rocky in parts. Rather upmarket resort, also popular with nonskiers for its range of alternative activities and walks. The accommodation is mostly good-quality, pricey hotels, catered chalets and a wide choice of self-catering apartments.

This is not a resort for beginners and the ski school has a poor reputation. Getting up the mountain and around the different ski areas can be slow, and the waiting time for lifts during the peak holiday season can be long. Some of the expert slopes only open in January or early February.

Locality:

Located in the extreme south of Switzerland, near the Italian border, 30 mls south west of Saas-Fee lies Zermatt (140 mls east of Geneva and its international airport, 130 mls SE of Bern and its international airport).

Ski Information:

Highest lift: 3900m (12795ft), Lowest lift: 1620m (5315ft), Vertical drop: 2280m (7480ft), Number of lifts: 60, Uplift capacity: 75180 p/hr, Beginner: 33%, Intermediate: 46%, Expert: 21%, Total piste length: 394km, Snowboard parks: 1, Cross country: 8km

There are 2 ski schools, with many English-speaking instructors. The instruction does not generally start until Monday, which is not very useful for guests arriving on Saturday. Ski-passes can be bought for the entire Zermatt area, for the Zermatt/Cervinia area or the Klein Matterhorn/Cervinia area. Good but expensive off-piste skiing and heli-skiing also available.

There is a good selection of shops, including a large number of high-end jewellery stores , plus designer fashion shops, lots of quality Swiss souvenirs. There is also a fair number of art galleries. Prices in this resort are pretty high.

Daytime winter activities include snowboarding, paragliding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking, ice climbing, curling, ice-skating. tennis, squash, bowling, sledging, tubing and sleigh rides.

Indoor activities include tennis, swimming and golf . During the summer: hiking and mountain-biking are both very popular.

The nightlife in Zermatt is very lively, with plenty of bars, discos and restaurants.

Zermatt has reputedly has more restaurants than any ski-resort in Europe and has something to suit all tastes and pockets, from the cheap and filling fondue to more sophisticated gastronomic feasts. 38 on-slope restaurants.

Mahe Seychelles Africa

Mahé, the largest island of the Seychelles Archipelago, is situated in the Republic of Seychelles in the western Indian Ocean. The capital city Victoria, the wonderful beaches, and the lush green vegetation of the island make it one of the mostly visited tourist destinations in the world.

Mahé, housing a well equipped international airport, destinations that provides you with relaxation and the much-needed break from the monotonous chores of daily life, attracts a good number of visitors all through the year. Surrounded with the calm and quiet neighbouring islands.

Mahé also serves as the base to access all the neighbouring islands on the ocean, ideal to make your weekend itinerary.

This area is suited to well-off honeymooners and families, it appeals to special-interest groups. Prices of accommodation and every day living here are high here. This is predominantly an international resort complexes and medium-sized hotels, all with modern facilities. There are family-run guesthouses and bungalows which are interesting cultural-exchange alternatives.

Mahé has a comfortable weather with temperature remaining between 26°C to 29°C all through the year. However, during the month of November to February, the island gets a good amount of rain.

Due to the position of the island, which is beyond the cyclone belt, you can keep your worries of high storm or thunderstorm aside. Looking at the Southeast trade winds and the Northwest monsoon the best time to visit Mahé would be between March and October.

Locality:

Mahe is situated off the east coast of Africa, in the Indian Ocean (640 mls NE of Madagascar and 975 mls E of Kenya). The international airport is on the E coast, 6 mls SE of the nation’s capital, Victoria). The largest and one of the most northerly of the Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands. Its nearest neighbours are Silhouette, Praslin and La Digue.

The beaches here offer a wide choice, with around 70 in all, small or large, deserted or crowded, highly visible or hidden away in some remote part of the island. Beau Vallon, the main tourist beach on the NW coast, is a 2-ml-long arc of white sand with clear waters and a wide range of water sports on offer, it is also the calmest of the beaches, so good for young families.

Victoria offers a range of locally produced wares and a daily market for fresh fish and vegetables; the Codevar Centre has a wide selection of local art and crafts. All villages have small, basic grocery stores for every day living.

During the daytime there are many beach and water sports, including snorkelling, diving and sailing. There are also acilities for golf, horse riding, paragliding, bird-watching, walking and hiking.

The nightlife here is based mostly in hotels offering evening entertainment programmes, from barbecue nights to dinner dances and folk singing. There is one cinema in Victoria, a national theatre, 5 discos/nightclubs which are open mostly at weekend, and a couple of hotel-based casinos.

The main choice of food here is by far is creole, but many eateries offer a more bland “international” cuisine for those who can’t take the spice. A reputable pizzeria at Beau Vallon. Several takeaways can be found in Victoria. A few Chinese and Indian restaurants exist in the bigger hotels.

Most of the religious festivals that are celebrated in Port Victoria are related Roman Catholicism like Easter, Corpus Christi on June 10, The Assumption on August 15, and the Immaculate Conception on December 8. Festival Kreole is celebrated every year at the end of October to showcase the Crèole culture and tradition to the outside world.