Introductory Ski Touring Course
Your first step into ski touring
-
Endurance
1Hiking time 2–3 hours. Up to approx. 500 m. Short taster or easy half-day tour for beginners. -
Technique
1You have solid skiing experience, but none in off-piste terrain. You ski safely on red runs. Ski touring, kick turns or avalanche transceiver use are new to you. Entry level into the world of ski touring. -
Duration
ca. 5 hours -
Date
December - April -
Participants
3 - 6 persons
Gallery (5)
This offer is aimed at all those who have never a ski tour before. After the welcome, your ZERMATTERS mountain guide will pick you up from your accommodation or you will meet directly at the sports store. There you will be expertly equipped and then set off into suitable terrain. Together you will practise the basic techniques, safety tips and ascent aids before putting what you have learned into practice on your first short ski tour.
Highlights
Description
This offer is aimed at anyone who would like to experience their first ski tour. After the welcome, you will meet your ZERMATTERS mountain guide as agreed, either at your accommodation or at the valley station. From there, you will head out into the terrain together.
In a safe, ideally selected area, you will learn the most important basics of ski touring, from walking with skins to the ascent technique and initial safety tips. Finally, you'll put what you've learned into practice on a short, guided taster tour and get a real taste of ski touring in Zermatt.
Program
Meeting with your ZERMATTERS mountain guide as agreed, either at your accommodation or at the valley station. Equipment check and short briefing on the day’s program.
Transfer to the selected area and introduction to handling skins, bindings, and ascent technique.
First ascent exercises and technique training in safe, gently sloping terrain. Learn essential tips on safety and tour preparation.
Guided short introductory tour with your mountain guide, where you can apply what you’ve learned. Return to Zermatt in the afternoon.
Additional costs
- Possible train ticket
Reduction with GA, Half-Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass (more information can be found at Zermatt Bergbahnen AG) - Rental equipment:
- Avalanche transceiver (LVS), avalanche shovel and avalanche probe: can be rented at the ZERMATTERS Homebase at a special price of CHF 15.00 per person from 5 p.m. the day before. The rented equipment must be returned to the ZERMATTERS Homebase after the tour by 5 p.m. at the latest
- Other equipment: from CHF 80.00, available in a sports store in Zermatt
- Touring skis with running binding (binding adjusted)
- Touring ski boots
- Telescopic poles
- Skins
- Crampons
- Climbing harness
- 1 carabiner
- ice axe
- Backpack max 30L - skis must be able to be tied on
- Shovel
- Probe
- Avalanche Transceiver
- Warm, weatherproof touring ski clothing
- Warm gloves
- Finger gloves
- Helmet
- Hat / headband
- Goggles, sunglasses, sun cream
- Thermos flask, drinks
- Snacks (high-energy food such as chocolate, dried fruit, energy bars)
After booking
After booking, you will receive a confirmation by email. Please check that your details are correct.
Two days before the tour, you will receive a link to the customer portal.
Please contact us before the tour to go over the details (current weather, conditions, group size, etc.). You can reach us by phone, email or visit us at the ZERMATTERS Homebase.
Do I need a mountain guide for a ski tour?
Yes, a mountain guide is highly recommended for a ski tour. Ski tours in alpine terrain require experience in avalanche awareness, route selection and snow conditions. Especially in high alpine regions such as Zermatt, many tours lead through challenging terrain with steep descents and possible crevasses. If you want to get the best out of your ski tour and minimize risks, a professional guide is the best choice.
What are the advantages of a local ski tour guide?
A local ski tour guide from Zermatt knows the mountains, snow and weather conditions like no other. Thanks to his regional expertise, the tour can be optimally planned and flexibly adapted to current conditions. He also enriches the experience with exciting stories and insights into the regional culture and mountain world - for a safe and unforgettable ski tour.
What should I look out for when booking a ski tour guide?
Make sure that your mountain guide is certified according to the standards of the International Union of Mountain Guide Associations (UIAGM/IFMGA). This certification guarantees comprehensive training and compliance with the highest safety standards. All ZERMATTERS mountain guides are trained according to these international guidelines.
What difficulty levels are ski tours divided into?
Ski tours are divided into seven main levels of difficulty according to the SAC ski tour scale:
- L: Easy
- WS: Less difficult
- ZS: Fairly difficult
- S: Difficult
- SS: Very difficult
- AS: Extremely Difficult
- EX: Extremely difficult
Each of these grades can be additionally refined by a minus (-) or plus (+) to allow finer gradations.
The classification is based on main criteria such as steepness, exposure, terrain shape and bottlenecks in the descent. Auxiliary criteria such as the complexity of the route and the correctability of errors can also be taken into account.
How do I choose the right ski tour for my ability?
The choice of ski tour should always be based on your personal ability and alpine experience. Our offers are therefore provided with clear information on the level of difficulty, required stamina and technique to help you make the right decision. We will be happy to provide you with personal advice directly.
-
Endurance
1Hiking time 2–3 hours. Up to approx. 500 m. Short taster or easy half-day tour for beginners. -
Technique
1You have solid skiing experience, but none in off-piste terrain. You ski safely on red runs. Ski touring, kick turns or avalanche transceiver use are new to you. Entry level into the world of ski touring. -
Duration
ca. 5 hours -
Date
December - April -
Participants
3 - 6 persons
This offer is aimed at all those who have never a ski tour before. After the welcome, your ZERMATTERS mountain guide will pick you up from your accommodation or you will meet directly at the sports store. There you will be expertly equipped and then set off into suitable terrain. Together you will practise the basic techniques, safety tips and ascent aids before putting what you have learned into practice on your first short ski tour.
Highlights
Number of participants
1 - 6 participants per mountain guide
You can choose the size of the group you would like to book in the booking window under Level. The price depends on the number of participants.
Description
This offer is aimed at anyone who would like to experience their first ski tour. After the welcome, you will meet your ZERMATTERS mountain guide as agreed, either at your accommodation or at the valley station. From there, you will head out into the terrain together.
In a safe, ideally selected area, you will learn the most important basics of ski touring, from walking with skins to the ascent technique and initial safety tips. Finally, you'll put what you've learned into practice on a short, guided taster tour and get a real taste of ski touring in Zermatt.
Program
Meeting with your ZERMATTERS mountain guide as agreed, either at your accommodation or at the valley station. Equipment check and short briefing on the day’s program.
Transfer to the selected area and introduction to handling skins, bindings, and ascent technique.
First ascent exercises and technique training in safe, gently sloping terrain. Learn essential tips on safety and tour preparation.
Guided short introductory tour with your mountain guide, where you can apply what you’ve learned. Return to Zermatt in the afternoon.
Additional costs
- Possible train ticket
Reduction with GA, Half-Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass (more information can be found at Zermatt Bergbahnen AG) - Rental equipment:
- Avalanche transceiver (LVS), avalanche shovel and avalanche probe: can be rented at the ZERMATTERS Homebase at a special price of CHF 15.00 per person from 5 p.m. the day before. The rented equipment must be returned to the ZERMATTERS Homebase after the tour by 5 p.m. at the latest
- Other equipment: from CHF 80.00, available in a sports store in Zermatt
Material
So that you are well equipped for the taster ski tour, you should definitely have this equipment with you:
- Touring skis with running binding (binding adjusted)
- Touring ski boots
- Telescopic poles
- Skins
- Crampons
- Climbing harness
- 1 carabiner
- ice axe
- Backpack max 30L - skis must be able to be tied on
- Shovel
- Probe
- Avalanche Transceiver
- Warm, weatherproof touring ski clothing
- Warm gloves
- Finger gloves
- Helmet
- Hat / headband
- Goggles, sunglasses, sun cream
- Thermos flask, drinks
- Snacks (high-energy food such as chocolate, dried fruit, energy bars)
After booking
After booking, you will receive a confirmation by email. Please check that your details are correct.
Two days before the tour, you will receive a link to the customer portal.
Please contact us before the tour to go over the details (current weather, conditions, group size, etc.). You can reach us by phone, email or visit us at the ZERMATTERS Homebase.
Do I need a mountain guide for a ski tour?
Yes, a mountain guide is highly recommended for a ski tour. Ski tours in alpine terrain require experience in avalanche awareness, route selection and snow conditions. Especially in high alpine regions such as Zermatt, many tours lead through challenging terrain with steep descents and possible crevasses. If you want to get the best out of your ski tour and minimize risks, a professional guide is the best choice.
What are the advantages of a local ski tour guide?
A local ski tour guide from Zermatt knows the mountains, snow and weather conditions like no other. Thanks to his regional expertise, the tour can be optimally planned and flexibly adapted to current conditions. He also enriches the experience with exciting stories and insights into the regional culture and mountain world - for a safe and unforgettable ski tour.
What should I look out for when booking a ski tour guide?
Make sure that your mountain guide is certified according to the standards of the International Union of Mountain Guide Associations (UIAGM/IFMGA). This certification guarantees comprehensive training and compliance with the highest safety standards. All ZERMATTERS mountain guides are trained according to these international guidelines.
What difficulty levels are ski tours divided into?
Ski tours are divided into seven main levels of difficulty according to the SAC ski tour scale:
- L: Easy
- WS: Less difficult
- ZS: Fairly difficult
- S: Difficult
- SS: Very difficult
- AS: Extremely Difficult
- EX: Extremely difficult
Each of these grades can be additionally refined by a minus (-) or plus (+) to allow finer gradations.
The classification is based on main criteria such as steepness, exposure, terrain shape and bottlenecks in the descent. Auxiliary criteria such as the complexity of the route and the correctability of errors can also be taken into account.
How do I choose the right ski tour for my ability?
The choice of ski tour should always be based on your personal ability and alpine experience. Our offers are therefore provided with clear information on the level of difficulty, required stamina and technique to help you make the right decision. We will be happy to provide you with personal advice directly.
