Welcome to the 30th International Matterhorn Run. The run will be held at the Swiss Alps ski resort between August 25 and 26.

Trumpeted as one of the world’s most beautiful mountain races, the glacier paradise marathon course runs 13km. Competitors go from Zermatt train station to nearby Furi, bound for lovely Schwarzsee Lake, which hovers 2500m above sea level.

The high-altitude event lures leading runners from around the globe. Besides the standard 13km marathon, athletes can also embark on snappier runs varying from 500m to 3 km.

Another sporting option is snowboarding. According to World Snowboard Guide, Zermatt is one of the last places where you can snowboard 365 days a year, amid some of the world’s most dramatic scenery. The air is unusually crisp because, in Zermatt, vehicles are battery-driven and silent.

If you want some action, the nightlife is lively for Switzerland, World Snowboard Guide reckons. You can take your pick of mountain bars and clubs open until 3am.