Zermatt, Switzerland Ski Resort - Is it worth it? (4K, Insta360 X3)

[@TalentedDilittante]

At 85 years old, living in Montreal, Quebec, I-ve wanted so much to ski again!!! This visit to Zermatt gave that to me--at least the satisfying feeling that I-ve been there, skied there, and lived to tell about it!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@@TalentedDilittante Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it. I’m trying to ski some of the most beautiful places in the world. I hope you will enjoy watching some of them. The Alps are amazing! We’ve skied Zermatt, Chamonix, Kitzbuhel, and Arabba-Marmolada in Italy’s Dolomites. Currently skiing St. Moritz, and then off to Val Gardena and Cortina in Italy.

[@gsracer8]

Brings back sooo many wonderful memories. Skied Zermatt three times during the 90's alone while my wife stayed in the Village. So many adventures and most of the time I had no clue to where I was headed. Eat breakfast in Switzerland and lunch in Italy!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Such an amazing place! Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@Klu-9]

This is the best closes thing, I felt like I was skiing and like a pro, which I have never skied before .. watched your video will help and guide me in my travel to get where to go and do as a first time skier ..this will be my new experience as I will make my holidays travel very soon includes Switzerland Zermatt.. totally Awesome❤️

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you! I hope you love Zermatt, and have a great time! Thanks for watching.

[@LadyFlusterbustle]

I’m glad you stopped for a while at schwarzee to enjoy the view. Happy memories. Then through the trees for rostis. Yodelehoo!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Zermatt is my favorite place in the world! Beautiful scenery, excellent skiing, and a great atmosphere. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@bobb74ysmith]

Wow, is all I can say, you are just an amazing editor and skier, living my dream through your videos. Hope to some day go there, incredible views and pace over all just in awe. Thank you ever so much for this masterpiece video of this amazing resort. Thank you sir.

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank You for the kind words! Zermatt is so beautiful - loved filming there and skiing it. We are in Italy’s Dolomites now. Another place so scenic I can hardly believe what my eyes are seeing everyday! Thanks for watching and commenting. I hope you do get to Zermatt to enjoy it first-person. Even more beautiful through our eyes than what cameras capture!

[@RichardCaragher]

Thank you for that amazing video! Beautifully filmed and edited...I can't wait to go!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you for the kind words. Zermatt is an amazingly scenic resort! Have a great time there.

[@RichardCaragher]

We purchased our flight to Zurich and will be in Zermatt for a week this coming March. Thanks so much for your video!

[@JelenaHuul]

Amazing video, as if I was there myself, on a ski safari. The views are fantastic!!! Very professionally filmed, the best thing about Zermatt. I hope to visit this charming place next season. Special thanks to You for the wonderful music!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you for the comments! You are too kind. I hope you can visit there - It’s my favorite place in the world so far! We are spending 6 weeks in Austria and Italy skiing this winter looking for more amazing places.

[@ace1tt]

Snowboarding the Swiss alps has always been a bucket list trip of mine. I finally convinced my wife to go as a 40th bday present to myself lol. We will be going to Zermatt and Val Thorens for 10 days next January and i cant wait after watching your video.

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Super excited for you both! What a great birthday present. I’m sure this trip will be super memorable!

[@MrSteeJans]

We are starting our first trip to the Alps in a couple weeks, and Zermatt is our 2nd stop. We have watched a TON of KZbin videos as part of our planning, and this is by far the most helpful video we have seen. Off the top - simply beautiful! But also equally informative. This is the best job I’ve seen at correlating the visuals with the information providing the relativity to where you are with the visuals. And excellent camera work, and editing. You’re the first person to actually use an external perspective from a chairlift. I was curious how you got the external perspective while on the train. I appreciate the subtle things of getting in and out do the trains, and on and off the lifts. It helps set expectations so we know we are in fact in the right place. Thank you for the excellent work! I think you have also documented it perfectly from a home movie perspective. This is what I hope to replicate for our own home movies. May I ask what you have used. It appears to be an Insta360 X3 (or equivalent) on an invisible selfie-stick for most of it. Did you use any manual settings ? I.e. exposure, resolution, etc. Horizon lock ? Lens ? Thank you for any info you can share. Beautiful work!!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you for the kind words! I too have always loved making home movies for the memories and to share with family and friends. After starting the KZbin channel, I thought why not make them useful for everyone (still a work in progress). Yes, I use the Insta360 X3 on an invisible selfie stick for all of the action shots - including on the lifts, trams, trains. There’s usually a window to get the camera and stick outside the cab. I shoot exclusively in 360 (both lenses) 5.7K at 30 fps. For the scenery shots and far away shots of the train and Gondola, I’m using my iPhone set on 4K 30fps. To get those shots, I just stop and film them while skiing. The only drone shot in the Zermatt video is the town fly over in the beginning of the video. Insta360 has a great app for editing on the phone to pick angle of view and field of focus (ultra wide, wide, narrow). For the final editing, I’m using a MacBook Pro and their Finalcut pro software. Stay in touch if you get into 360 filming and I’d be glad to help anyway I can. Sincerely, James Duke

[@rayduke7810]

Another GREAT production on the sights one can see while skiing.

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you! This resort scenery caused me to buy IKON and Epic passes for next year. Planing on at least two months in Italy, Austria, France, and Switzerland.

[@onepolarbear]

Absolutely fantastic videos... I now have a really good idea of the resort before I go there... many thanks 😄👍👍

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you! Really appreciate you watching the videos and also the comments. Excited for this ski season - we will be visiting resorts in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, British Columbia, Austria, Italy, and Utah. Hope you have a great ski season!

[@mrspookspl]

Hi just was wondering what settings did you use to get the stitching 360 so perfect ?? The video it's really great and now im taking my family to Zermatt 🤜💥🤛, all the best waiting for more videos ✌️​@@YouDecideIsItWorthIt

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@ I had the insta360 X3 set on 5.7K 30 FPS for all of the video at Zermatt. Regarding the stitching, I hold the invisible selfie stick about waist level (attached to one ski pole) with one lens facing down and the other facing up for all of the skiing action shots that include me, the runs, and the mountains. When on the lifts, I hold the selfie stick angled up at a 45 degree angle with one lens facing the mountain scenery I’m wanting to capture and the other lens facing me and or the lift. All 360 video was shot without lens guards to minimize sun flare, and I carry soft lens cloths to wipe the lens if snow dust gets on them beyond what the rubber boot lens cover removes. Super excited for you and your family to get to ski at Zermatt!!! I believe Zermatt’s atmosphere, scenery, and skiing make it one of the greatest experiences in the world. Our Alps skiing adventures this winter will be in St Moritz, Switzerland; and we are going to spend more time in Italy’s Dolomites (Val Gardena and Cortina). Take care & please send me a link to your Zermatt videos if you make them available online. Sincerely, James Duke

[@mrspookspl]

​@@YouDecideIsItWorthItThank you for explaining how to get best shot as on many videos at least my insta 360x i got really bad stitches almost two different qualities of video at one recording, I do recommend ValGardena lots places to ski, Madonna Di Campiglio also nice place to visit. Can't wait for breakfast at Italian side and lunch in Switzerland ✌️👍 keep going with nice reviews on ski as they are really great effort and lovely to watch ✌️ All the best ⛷️🏂⛷️🏂

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@ Thank you! Hope we all have a ski season filled with beautiful views, lots of snowpack, and safety!

[@Solstone4]

Love the editing and the vid !

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you. Zermatt is so scenic and beautiful!

[@fitofito1001]

This is one of the best videos about ski Zermatt. I skied there ten years ago but we had bad luck. The weather was bad. They shut down most of lifts. The only down side of Zermatt is there is no single tree in sight. As a result, the ski is heavily weather dependent. For this reason, I list Whistler-Bkackcomb the #1 in the world and Zermatt #2. When weather is good, no one can match Zermatt’s spectacular wide open seemly endless long runs.

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@@fitofito1001 Thank you. Appreciate you watching & commenting on the Zermatt video. I have not yet visited Whistler. How’s the scenery there? Powder or wetter snow? I’ve got the Epic this year, but haven’t yet put Whistler on my list. Appreciate any thoughts you have about the resort!

[@fitofito1001]

@@YouDecideIsItWorthIt Whistler: Scenery is not to Zermatt level but almost there. The beautiful forests at the lower part of the mountain are missed by alps. Snow is not as bad as many said, particular on the top. It gets a lot of snow. Quantity compensates quality. Terrain is unmatched, both wide open high alpine bowls and beautiful forest runs. Lively village life, very international, from ski bums to billionaires naturally mixed, no one feels out of the place. The only drawback is if you are unlucky, bad weather can last weeks, mainly fogs and clouds. It happened to me once out of my 6 visits.

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@@fitofito1001 Thank you for the thorough description! One day I will ski there. Maybe next season!

[@heraktus2]

great video, very informative and just chill skiing!!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you! Beautiful ski resort!

[@AlOs-rc6px]

You are a very good film maker unbelievable!! All’ amazing , I thank u so much, u gifted us wonderful emotional moments , I d like to know how u make it!!?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@@AlOs-rc6px Thank you for the kind words! I filmed the skiing action videos with an Insta360 X3. The time lapse and photos were all taken with iPhone 13. For the aerial footage of Zermatt, I used DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone. All editing was done on MacBook Pro Laptop using Final Cut Pro software. I appreciate you! Let me know if you have other questions!

[@zilla_jvy7420]

great vid!! have my first trip to zermatt booked from dec 18- dec 24 this year. This just helped me plan my trip through the runs. Im so hype i cant wait

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you! So glad the video helped. Excited for you to experience Zermatt! Currently my favorite ski resort in the world. We are skiing Kizbuhel in Austria and Italy’s Dolomites for our big trip this year. Enjoy Zermatt!

[@MrSteeJans]

@@YouDecideIsItWorthItwe may see you in the Dolomites ;) We’ll be there the first week in February.

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

That would be super cool! We are in Arranba Feb 11th-24th, and Pinzolo Feb 25th-March 8th.

[@pamdawson8598]

Excellent production. Thankyou.

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you for watching!

[@AM-FamilyAdventures]

Great video, thank you for the useful tips! 👍

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you! Appreciate you watching and commenting. Sincerely, James Duke

[@JuanCuevas-j5f]

Fantastic Video!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you! I really enjoyed filming Zermatt’s beautiful scenery. Thanks for commenting!

[@sunnyjoys5794]

Super helpful video. How many days did you ski there?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@@sunnyjoys5794 Thank you! I skied 7 days at Zermatt using the IKON pass. We were in Zermatt for about 11 days.

[@sunnyjoys5794]

@@YouDecideIsItWorthIt We plan to do it in Feb. When did you visit there? How did you hold the Insta 360?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@@sunnyjoys5794 I skied Zermatt mid March 2023. When I’m on the lifts, I mostly hold the insta360 attached to the invisible selfie stick at a 45 degree angle so one lens is pointed toward the mountain scenery, and the other lens pointed back toward me and the lift. When skiing, I use a clamp to attach to the ski pole, and the ski pole balances the camera on the invisible selfie stick. I hold the invisible selfie stick at waist level in front of me while I ski with one lens facing up, and the other lens facing the snow. Let me know if you have any other questions!

[@bluebirdski]

Great footage!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thanks Cody. Zermatt is the most scenic place I’ve ever skied!

[@canadiantraveler6060]

Really informative. We're heading there and St Moritz next March. Is a guide useful?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Sounds like a great trip you have planned! The off-trail areas are marked as free-ride trails at Zermatt. They are all in non-glacial areas. If you are wanting to ride off trail in the upper part of Matterhorn Paradise, or in the side-country, then definitely a guide would be necessary.

[@jusgibs]

This is extremely informative. Very well done! You’ve convinced me that I have to go. This just can’t be missed in one’s short lifetime. Spectacular beauty! Just amazing! Thanks for making. What cameras did you use? Looks lie an Insta360 and something else possibly?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

You are welcome! Definitely a must see place! I used the Mavic 3 Cine Drone for the town fly over, the Insta360 X3 for all the moving shots, and my iPhone with a Ultrapod mini tripod for all the fixed video. Appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@susanshen5577]

Thanks for the great video! Will the glacier paradise cause high altitude sickness? Plan to go next year. Thanks!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@@susanshen5577 Thanks for watching the video. As far as altitude sickness, the top lift station is 3883 meters above sea level (12,739 feet). We had no altitude issues, but we live at 914 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level.

[@susanshen5577]

@@YouDecideIsItWorthItAwesome. Thanks so much for the quick reply!

[@ExploreDreamLines]

Thank you for the video. It was a real movie! It’s good that you wrote when you were at the resort, because I was specifically interested in March. Was the coverage good? Without bumps and slush?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you for watching! Yes, both on and off trail had excellent coverage. The only exposed areas were the off trail area on the Gant lift which had south facing slopes. No slush at all on any of the slopes! Have a great time!

Thank you. Good job.

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching the video!

[@JerzySmigielski-m5e]

Fantastic Fantastic Fantastic. Wonderfull Skiarena. Thank you for the video. I am 76, but I have never been hier.... I have Problem with my Heart and Doctor said , I cannt above 2000meter skiing..... You are very good Skier !!!! How old are You ? Super !!!!!!! Greetings from Poland

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you for the kind words about the video and my skiing! I’m 57 years old. Zermatt is the most scenic resort I’ve ever skied, and our current favorite place in this world! We are skiing in British Columbia until late January, and then headed to Austria for two weeks and then Italy’s Dolomites for a month. Super excited to see/ski the Dolomites! Happy New Year to you and your family in Poland! Thank you for watching our video! James and Carmelita.

[@robertplant2059]

will be there 3/30 to 4/5. I like some crowds, don't like the isolated boarding. Vid is edited really nicely., trying to figure how you got a few shots. Do you recommend any lifts more than the other 2? I have a 4 day in 6 days pass, with Cervinia. Plan on doing Cervinia the 2nd day/Sunday.

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Excited for you! Zermatt is probably the most overall scenic resort I’ve ever skied! I really enjoyed skiing the Zermatt Glacier Paradise area the most for the scenery, but be aware as a boarder a couple of the runs have some long flats so be mindful and keep up your speed. The Gornergrat section was my next favorite area. Let me know about any shots you wonder about and I’ll let you know how I did them. Take care and have a great trip!

[@shaopengcui6909]

Wow, this is a great video. I would like to ask if the ski trails near Trockensteg, part of the Glacier Park area, are closed at the end of April, can I still ski on the closed ski trails? For example hirli area.

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you for watching and commenting! I have only ever skied Zermatt this one time in mid-March so I can’t answer your question about what lifts still operate end of April. Maybe call the ski resort guest services to get information? Sincerely, James Duke

[@shaopengcui6909]

@@YouDecideIsItWorthIt Ok，thanks a lot.

[@timcarswell9559]

Love Zermatt! ❤

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

We love Zermatt too - our favorite place in the world right now! Hoping to find more beautiful ski resorts - trying KitzSki and the Dolomites this winter in search of more beautiful resorts. Thanks for watching & commenting!

[@킹갇제나룰]

행님 낭만 지리시네요

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you! Appreciate you watching the video and commenting.

[@TalentedDilittante]

Open letter to the bearded videographer of this wonderful adventure: How old (young) are you?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@@TalentedDilittante I was 56 when I skied Zermatt. Just turned 58 this month. Hoping for another 15 - 20 years of skiing! How old were you when you stopped skiing? Are there any ski resorts along the Eastern North America you would recommend as extremely scenic, or any where in the world?

[@jloverdrive]

Really appreciate your vid. Thank you. Going next week and it will be our 1st time skiing. Do you recommend any shop where we can rent the gears? and do you recommend skiing from the top most station or just ski from Furgg station down to Zermatt?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@@jloverdrive Thank you for watching my video and for commenting. I do not have any recommendations for renting gear - lots of shops in town. I took my own gear. Most of the shops I saw look professional and well stocked. As for skiing, please ask at the shop you rent your gear, and the main ticket area near the train station. I’m thinking this early in the season you will have to go to the top of Glacier Paradise and ski the runs on the glaciers, but the local shop and ticket office will know for sure where you can ski. I skied there in March and the entire ski area was open. Hope you have a great time - I think Zermatt is probably the most beautiful ski resort in the world! I do keep looking ;-)

[@rainmaker3700]

Great video, thanks!.. My sons and I are headed there this March 2024. Looks like it was not too busy when you were there in March 2023?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you! Not crowded at all when I was there - most of the time I was on the lifts alone. Excited for you and your boys! Zermatt is the greatest resort I’ve skied yet. I’m going to be skiing Kitzbuhel and the Dolomites this year in Europe.

[@rainmaker3700]

@@YouDecideIsItWorthIt Did you ski it over a 3 day period? Each region on separate days? Thanks!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@@rainmaker3700 I actually skied it for 7 days - mostly having fun, but for the video - I did film it for 3 days - one day for each section of the mountain.

[@Luckyme-kq3sq]

Hi James, there are some areas that look bereft of snow - is that typical at Zermatt? Or just later into the season? Thinking of skiing late Feb early March 2025 but coming from Australia need to be snow sure as it’s a long way from down under!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

During the making of the video was my first visit to Zermatt. Zermatt’s base is over 1500 meters and the top lift station is over 3800 meters. I think Zermatt and all of the resorts in the Alps are considered very snow safe from 2000 meters and above - which is the majority of the Zermatt ski resort! We are headed to Australia after the ski season this year for the first time.

[@chrismccannIRL]

Looking at Zermatt it looks like a lot of it is above the tree line. Does this not make it feel like big bland white landscapes? I’d like to try it but having just come back from Zell Am See with beautiful tree line pistes I’m just a bit uncertain on it

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

On sunny days, Zermatt is beautiful with all the Mountain Views. I bet it would be challenging in flat light. How was your trip? We just got back from skiing Kitzbuhel, Dolimiti SuperSki out of Arabba, and SkiRama Dolimiti in Pinzolo/Madanna di Campiglio. Good times!

[@chrismccannIRL]

@@YouDecideIsItWorthIt Zell was first time for me and was amazing. Fantastic runs. Went across to Kaprun to the high elevation and it was very flat light and a bit difficult to see properly. It sort of put me off the high altitude skiing a bit though you’re guaranteed the snow. Zell got cut up in the afternoon and slushy down below but first 2 hours of the day were the best skiing we’d done. That’s excellent skiing. We were in the dolomites in January and it was superb as well. Lots of great resorts out there.

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@@chrismccannIRL Glad to hear it! Too many resorts to possibly ski them all in a lifetime.

[@musarratanwar-f8i]

Hi, Quick question. How does the ticketing system work for the lifts to the top? Is it one ticket for the whole ride? If you're not skiing do you need to buy a return?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Yes - one ticket to the top. Buy the one with return so you can ride back down. I believe when I took Carmelita up with me last year the ticket was for Matterhorn Glacier Paradise with return.

[@casasm59]

Nicely done. Really enjoyed this video, and the background music 👌 Question: are you a local? If not, what are some of the logistics with traveling to Zermatt with your own equipment and costs associated?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you! We are from USA. We flew into Geneva Switzerland and airline charged $100 excess baggage fee for ski bag with poles and boots. Swiss Railways train goes from the Geneva airport to Visp and charged ~$80 for ticket (no additional fee for luggage), and then in Visp we took the Matterhorn Bahn train to Zermatt for ~$30 (also no additional luggage fee). Both railways depart from same station in Visp - so easy transfer. We walked to our hotel in Zermatt from the train station as it was only about 10 minutes. Electric taxis are plentiful in Zermatt and charged $20 to transport. In Zermatt, I used the free bus to get to the different ski resort lift stations. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have other questions. Sincerely, James Duke

[@anguscovoflyer95]

Is it very expensive to stay at zermatt?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

We found a great deal at Hotel Alpina which included a free - full breakfast buffet - I believe it was ~$100 per night. Food in general was expensive otherwise.

[@ExploreDreamLines]

Thank you! :)@@YouDecideIsItWorthIt

[@SimonZimmermann82]

So is it?!

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

@@SimonZimmermann82 ….Is it worth it? It was so worth it to us! I’m 58 years old and have skied at 70 ski resorts in the USA, Canada, Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland. Zermatt is the best ski resort and town I’ve ever visited & skied!!! No question about it. The Dolomites in Italy, are a close 2nd (Specifically, the Dolomiti Superski area). For me, the scenery & terrain are the primary factors that I’m after. Every day I ski is worth it! The purpose of our videos is to give people a preview of the resort to see if they visit it would it be worth it to them. Obviously, weather and conditions and overall experience people desire would factor in to if it’s worth it to them. Hope this makes sense and I appreciate you watching & commenting! Our email is on the KZbin channel if you want to reach out and talk specifics. Hope you have a wonderful ski season! Sincerely, James Duke

[@PeteZoot]

Thx for the vid! What date in season was this taken?

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

You are welcome. We skied and videoed at Zermatt March 12-19, 2023. Thanks for watching and commenting. Sincerely, James Duke

[@PKMalison]

This would be 100x better without the music. You should just include the natural sounds

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@Виталий-е4ш]

For the first time in 1993❤..

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

That’s great! Probably the lift system has changed, but the Iconic Matterhorn remains as impressive as ever? We love Zermatt!!!

[@kodyadams5561]

ZERMATT IS BY FAR THE BEST SKI RESORT IN ALL OF EUROPE, BETTER THAN ANY RESORT IN FRANCE, AUSTRIA , ITALY OR GERMANY. ❤

[@YouDecideIsItWorthIt]

My favorite resort too!