Skiing under the Matterhorn: A gay in Europe.

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Skiing in the Swiss Alps with Alyson Adventures

It's easy to get to know the other travelers in our small, friendly, gay and lesbian groups.

An active, outdoors vacation with Alyson Adventures.

A week of skiing right under the Matterhorn, amidst Europe's highest peaks. Dip into Italy for lunch, back to Zermatt for dinner with new gay friends.

Sound of Snowflakes: Skiing in the Swiss Alps

A gay ski week in the Swiss Alps.

Each summer, on our Edelweiss hiking week, we enjoy the magnificent scenery and mountain trails above Zermatt, Switzerland. Each time, as we gaze at the Matterhorn, rising into the clouds, someone will ask, Why don’t you offer a ski trip here, too?

Why not, indeed? A better question would be: What took us so long? We’ve scheduled our first ski week in Zermatt for January, 2003. Here, we'll be blessed with some of the world’s most majestic mountain scenery, the fast and efficient trams and ski-lifts you’d expect from the Swiss, trails for skiers of all levels, and the comforts of Zermatt right at the bottom of the lifts. Without a doubt, the region surrounding the Matterhorn offers some of Europe’s most memorable skiing.

Ride the Gornergrat, Europe’s highest open-air railroad, to the top of Gornergrat and ski above the glacier. Another day, zip up to Sunnegga on the underground funicular, and on the way down, stop at Chez Vrony, where we’ve got a feeling Bonny is waiting with some hot soup.

We’ve selected an ideal week in January, falling between the year-end holiday crowds and the busy February season. Lift lines are shorter and airfares are cheaper..

Highlights:

Ride the world's highest cablecar to the 12,500-foot summit of Klein Matterhorn, then ski one of the world's longest runs: 8 miles, 7250 vertical feet, back to Zermatt.
Ski down into Italy for lunch one day, then back to Zermatt for dinner.
Bounce down the Trifti, one of Europe's most challenging mogul slopes, if you're an expert; or take an easier, scenic descent through the larch trees.
Discover the trails of Gornergrat, amidst Europe's highest mountains: 29 peaks here tower over 4000 meters (13,100 feet).
In the evening, enjoy comfortable apartments with kitchen and free sauna access right in the building.

Is it the right vacation for you? This trip is for skiers of all abilities. We provide lodging, some meals, and social opportunities. Our guide will help you find others of a similar ability, to ski with. If you've always been tempted to ski in the Alps, this is your chance!

Testimonials about our trips: "This was our first trip with Alyson Adventures and it was the best vacation we've ever had!!"— Eric Britten, Anchorage, Alaska

"Far and away the best vacation I've ever had. Well planned with just the right balance of sightseeing, physical activity, great food, and most of all, fun people."— Susan Eaton, San Diego, Calif.

Dates and Price:
We don't offer every trip every year, and no departures are currently scheduled for this trip. Our home page will make it easy to locate forthcoming departures of interest.
Prices are per-person, based on double occupancy. Tours often fill up months before departure. We regularly update our travel schedule to show the status of this and other trips.

Travelling Alone?
So are most of the people who travel with us. You do not need to pay extra to travel by yourself. Prices are per-person, and the single supplement applies only if you'd like a room by yourself.

Location: Based in Zermatt, Switzerland.

Price includes: 7 nights lodging in a comfortable studio, 2- or 3-bedroom apartment with kitchen (small surcharge may apply for studio apartments); Opening-night reception, orientation, and dinner; Mid-week dinner party; Breakfast supplies for first day; 6-day lift ticket for the full Zermatt area, including Italy and Cervinia; A beer-tasting, featuring regional specialties; Closing-night dinner at a superb local restaurant.

Not included: Transportation to and from Zermatt (easily accessible via excellent public transportation); Ski equipment rentals or instruction, if needed; Meals not listed here; Gratuities for guides.

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