Go behind the scenes in Zermatt

People on luxury ski holidays in Zermatt who wonder how the pistes are kept in such pristine condition can go behind the scenes to see how the resort's extensive network of slopes are prepared.

Three nights a week, visitors to the Swiss destination can head out onto the snow between 16:00 and midnight local time to see the Snowcats in action.

This is the name given to the huge machines that spend all night ploughing the slopes so they are in an ideal state when skiers rise the following morning.

According to Zermatt tourism chiefs, the night time trip will be an "unforgettable experience" for winter sports enthusiasts.

The excursion takes guests to the Matterhorn glacier paradise area on Tuesdays, the Rothorn area on Wednesdays and the Gornergrat area on Thursday evenings. The trip is run every week until 13th April.

Another weekly outing that doesn't involve late nights is the Snowshoe hikes tour, which is held every Friday throughout the winter season and is ideal for people who want to take in the region's stunning views without exerting too much energy.