Valais Ski Area

Verbier

Verbier and Nendaz are the two main centres that make up The 4 Vallees Ski area which is one of the largest lift-linked areas in the world and the largest truly-linked system wholly in Switzerland. The maximum skiable vertical, when conditions are right, involves a trail of 15km (nearly 10 miles ) descending more than 2,500m ( 8230 feet) again one of the biggest and best verticals in the world. Verbier has a good percentage of high-tech lifts able to shift large numbers of skiers quickly, most famously ‘Le Jumbo’ cable car, which carries 150 people at a time up to the Fort glacier (also open for skiing for 6 weeks during the summer). The revolutionary new Funispace lift contains giant gondola cabins on twin wires each cabable of carrying 30 passengers. Experts will be especially enraptured by what’s on offer around Verbier. Highlights include the legendary Tortin snow bowl with its huge bumps, the extreme couloirs down from Les Attelas, the steep skiing around Mont Gele and the notorious Gentianes run below the cable car. Ski safaris are organised by the ski schools to French and Italian resorts in the area and heli-skiing is another popular option. Ski mountaineering is yet another of the Verbier’s strengths, lying as it does on the legendary ‘Haute Route’ between Chamonix and Zermatt (6 days). Intermediates inevitably have the greatest choice with hundreds of miles kilometres of trails in the bluered category. The huge Lac des Vaux bowl with lifts rising in every direction is one of the many options. Beginners may feel daunted by the skiing mecca all around them, but none-the-less have sunny nursery slopes just above the village centre. One of the newer additions to Verbier’s many on-snow attractions is the Fun Park at Les Esserts which is open some evenings so that anyone can try out new sliding techniques such as tubing, snow cart (cross between a sledge and a go-kart), snow scooter and snow cross (or dirt monster – mini motorbike with snow tyres). ‘LaMega’ night descent by snow cross, cart or scooter from les Attelas at 2730 m is organised weekly. Cross country skiers have half a dozen 4 and 5km (2.5- 3 mile) loops to choose from starting in the various Vallees villages, and there is a 30km ( 18 mile ) route through Val de Bagnes.

Accommodation & Après Ski

It starts from 3pm on he Mountain in Ice Cube and Bar 1936. Chez Dany is a great spot to lunch on the mountain.

Verbier is known for coming to life in the evening with many great après bars located in majority of the hotels. The Farinet hotel bar is the place to be during après plus also the Pub Mont Fort. There is a great run of après bars as you jump off the Meridan lift, all the way down to the Place Centrale- here you will find 10-15 bars open from 3pm to late. Enjoy a jar or three before heading back to your chalet for a good hearty dinner to refuel for the next day pounding the powder! If you want to head out after dinner then we recommend checking out The Etoile Rouge, Twin Peaks and the Farm Club, all within walking distance of the Place Centrale. Fer a Cheval is popular with holiday makers and locals alike. Off – shore is also a popular spot.

Other activities in Verbier include:

• Cinema
• Cross-country skiing
• Geocaching
• Gym/Fitness centres
• Handiski/Sitski
• Heli-ski
• Helicopter tours
• Horse drawn sleigh rides
• Husky dog rides
• Ice-climbing
• Ice-karting/Ice-driving
• Ice-skating/Ice-hockey
• Paragliding/Parapenting
• Scenic Flights
• Shopping
• Ski-touring
• Sky diving/Parachuting
• Sledging/Tobogganing
• Snowshoeing
• Snow-parks
• Spas and Massage
• Speed riding/Speed flying
• Squash
  Swimming
  Telemarking
  Walking and Hiking

Nendaz

Nendaz is situated in the heart of the 4 Valleys ski area with its 414 km of pistes and altitudes ranging from 1,350m to the 3,330m high Mont-Fort summit, guaranteeing excellent snow conditions from December until the end of April.

The resort of Haute-Nendaz is directly linked to Verbier, Veysonnaz, Siviez and La Tzoumaz. It is renowned for its excellent off-piste skiing and boasts, amongst many other routes, the legendary route down the back of the Mont Fort glacier.

Although the 4 Valleys ski area has a lot of challenging skiing, Nendaz is ideal for beginners. At the top of Tracouet, a quick bubble ride from Nendaz village, is a sunny plateaux , ideal for children and beginners alike.

Snowshoeing and winter hiking are also very popular here with 40km of snowshoeing trails and over 100km of winter walking trails.

Nendaz is a fairly large town comprising rustic chalets and apartments, several hotels, over 30 restaurants, inviting apres ski bars, an ice-skating rink and amenities such as physiotherapists and crech services

Verbier and Nendaz are the two main centres that make up The 4 Vallees Ski area which is one of the largest lift-linked areas in the world and the largest truly-linked system wholly in Switzerland. The maximum skiable vertical, when conditions are right, involves a trail of 15km (nearly 10 miles ) descending more than 2,500m ( 8230 feet) again one of the biggest and best verticals in the world.

Verbier has a good percentage of high-tech lifts able to shift large numbers of skiers quickly, most famously ‘Le Jumbo’ cable car, which carries 150 people at a time up to the Fort glacier (also open for skiing for 6 weeks during the summer).  The revolutionary new Funispace lift contains giant gondola cabins on twin wires each capable of carrying 30 passengers.

Experts will be especially enraptured by what’s on offer around Verbier. Highlights include the legendary Tortin snow bowl with its huge bumps, the extreme couloirs down from Les Attelas, the steep skiing around Mont Gele and the notorious Gentianes run below the cable car. Ski safaris are organised by the ski schools to French and Italian resorts in the area and heli-skiing is another popular option.

Ski mountaineering is yet another of the Verbier’s strengths, lying as it does on the legendary ‘Haute Route’ between Chamonix and Zermatt (6 days). Intermediates inevitably have the greatest choice with hundreds of miles kilometres of trails in the blue/red category. The huge Lac des Vaux bowl with lifts rising in every direction is one of the many options.

Beginners may feel daunted by the skiing mecca all around them, but none-the-less have sunny nursery slopes just above the village centre. One of the newer additions to Verbier’s many on-snow attractions is the Fun Park at Les Esserts which is open some evenings so that anyone can try out new sliding techniques such as tubing, snow cart (cross between a sledge and a go-kart), snow scooter and snow cross (or dirt monster – mini motorbike with snow tyres). ‘La Mega’ night descent by snow cross, cart or scooter from les Attelas at 2730 m is organised weekly. Cross country skiers have half a dozen 4 and 5km (2.5- 3 mile) loops to choose from starting in the various Vallees villages, and there is a 30km ( 18 mile ) route through Val de Bagnes.

Accommodation & Après Ski

We have a selection of self catered apartments available throughout the winter, please call or mail for further details.

There is a good selection of restaurants to choose from, Le Chant du Torrent is a very popular choice for local cuisine with good views. Non-skiers can explore 100km of winter walking trails and 40 km of snowshoe trails; sledging and snow tubing is also available in the resort.
Apres-ski in Nendaz is excellent, ranging from quiet informal cafes to lively bars with non-live and live music. There are bars for every taste, and discos with dancing until the small hours, if you have the energy!

For non-skiers there is also vast range of activities in the resort:

• Billiards
• Bowling
• Curling
• Fitness
• Icefall climbing
• Ice rink
• Mountaineering
• Paragliding
• 100km of clearly marked paths for snow walks
• Sledging