Verbier

During the winter, Verbier becomes a skiers paradise. Many top skiers have settled down here in order to profit from the steep slopes and freestyle skiing that Verbier offers in abundance. Verbier is the main resort of the ‘Four Valleys’ ski area, which includes Thyon, Veysonnaz and Nendaz. Together, they offer over 410 kilometres of ski runs and 93 ski lifts, all covered in one (hands-free) lift pass. The season normally runs from the second week in December until the end of April, with New Year and February/March being the busiest times. Verbier is located at 1500m, and the ski area extends right up to the summit of the Mont-Fort glacier (3300m) – the views extending across the Swiss Alps are fantastic. Snow is guaranteed in Verbier due to it’s high altitude and it’s glacier skiing. Verbier is also recognised as one of the premiere “off-piste” resorts in the Alps, with great heli-skiing opportunities too.

The area around Mont Gélé is popular with beginners and intermediates alike however it can be busy. If you are a little more experienced and want to try something with a slightly steeper gradient, take the cable car down to Tortin (2050m) where it is quieter and enjoy a number of red intermediate runs. On the opposite side of the valley, Bruson (1080m) is an excellent area for intermediate skiers. There are fewer crowds here and the North East facing orientation means that the snow (and powder!) stay good for longer.

If you are an expert or advanced level skier then the world of Val de Bagnes is your oyster. You have to try out the classic black runs in areas such as Mont Fort and Combatzeline. The weather can usually be a major stumbling factor here and if visibility is good, expect the lift queues to replicate that. If you’re a confident off-piste skier then take a mountain guide, and explore some of the off-piste terrains in the Tortin, Mont-Gélé and Chassoure areas. There are many ungroomed, former black runs in the valley which offer some good off-piste. They can be quite busy, but you should still use the services of a mountain guide and ensure you carry (and know how to use) suitable off-piste equipment when skiing these areas.

Verbier has an excellent snowpark, located at La Chaux (2260m), with all the rails, jumps and corners you could need.