Inside Zermatt: Grand Hotel Zermatterhorn and 3100m Gornigrad Stargazing

Ride a horse-drawn carriage through snowy Zermatt, dine tableside, then stargaze at 3100m. World Class uncovers Matterhorn luxury from the Grand Hotel Zermatterhorn to Gornigrad. Arriving by electric train from Wisp, we clip-clop through the village to the glamorous Grand Hotel Zermatterhorn. Dinner at Prato Borni stars a flambé by maître d' Mr. Paul Schmidt, who began here in 1969 and has watched the property transform from an old dining room to a warm, elegant restaurant. In the kitchens, head chef Rico plates fresh ingredients brought twice weekly by train from Zurich and Geneva. When avalanches close the line, essentials are even flown in by helicopter. With fresh snow, we ride the Matterhorn Express and learn how Zermatt grew from a small farming village to a world destination. The Gornigrad train, first built in 1898, still carries visitors over bridges and through forested tunnels, trundling nearly 10 km to epic viewpoints across 29 peaks over 4,000 meters. Our summit stop is the Colm Hotel Gornigrad, perched at 3100 meters and famed as the highest hotel in the Swiss Alps, complete with two observatories. Renovated in 2005, its 25 rooms are named for the surrounding mountains, with room numbers matching each peak's altitude, like Monteroza 4633 and a tower mother horn room. On full moons, guests feast on fondue and ski back to Zermatt by moonlight. On the pistes, choose from more than 180 km of marked trails, eight ski schools, and abundant off-piste. In cloudy weather, guides head for tree-lined runs for better visibility, and if you venture further afield, remember the lift closing times. Fine mountain cuisine awaits at Zumsee, where the Menig family serves fresh oysters and lobster. Then there is the on-trail igloo village: space for 34 overnight guests, a Swiss cheese fondue dinner, even suites with a private jacuzzi. By day, skiers warm up with homemade glue vine amid intricate ice carvings inspired by a medieval Carcassonne theme. Back at the hotel, spa manager Rebecca Hekendorf keeps the large 28°C pool and 36°C jacuzzi inviting, alongside saunas, an ice grotto, classic massages, and specialties like Lomi Lomi, hot stones, and Abhayanga. After a big ski day, a sportive massage does wonders. Round it off in the Sarsbar with a pianist and an espresso martini. Zermatt's blend of tradition, eco-friendly travel, fine dining, and high-altitude wonder really is world class. #Zermatt #Matterhorn #LuxuryTravel #SwissAlps #Skiing #Gornigrad #WorldClass #Travel