Choosing your ski pass? Here are the basic facts you need to know...

There are three fundamental ski pass options. We have listed them below with costs for a six day adult pass as a guide. Note that children under 10 ski for free, between 11 and 16 at ½ price, and between 17 and 21 at a 15% discount. This last also applies to seniors over 65. The full price list is set our on our "Ski pass prices" page.

1) International – Aosta. SFr. 392 SKI AREA: vast....

This covers Zermatt, Cervinia, Valtournenche, and all the resorts in the Aosta valley. Only worth considering if you are staying a month or more.

2) International – Cervinia. SFr 374    SKI AREA: Over 400 km

This covers all of Zermatt, Cervinia, and Valtournenche.

Worth taking if you intend to ski on the Italian side for more than 1 day, or if you would like the option of doing the occasional run there when in the Klein Matterhorn area. In our opinion this is the one to go for, since it would be a pity not to sample la dolce vita at least once, and the greater flexibility is worth the additional SFr 7 compared to the option below. On some days the weather may be better on the Italian side and this gives you the flexibility to ski wherever the sun is shining the brightest!

3) Zermatt only. SFr. 332.   SKI AREA: 200 km

This limits you to all of Zermatt. The one to go for if you’re sure you don’t want to sample Italy. If you do decide to go across to the Italian side, you can get a day supplement for SFr 35, which brings the total cost for the 6 days to SFr 367.

Note that you should invariably get the International ski pass for children under the age of 10 – the passes are free, but the supplement should you decide to go across is not. And they need passes covering Italy if in Cervinia. For children up to the age of 16, the extra cost of an international pass is SFr 21, but the supplement for 1 day costs the same as for adults, i.e. SFr 35. So probably worth getting the international ski pass for them.

And for the last category – late teens and seniors – we’ll let you do your own maths!