Switzerland’s Valais region is home to some of the world’s best known ski resorts – as well as plenty more that deserve to be better known (…or which perhaps you’ll want to keep secret once you’ve visited them yourself!)
Located in the south west of Switzerland, with easy access from Geneva as well as Zürich airports, it’s a stunning area of high, snowsure mountain peaks with no less than 45 ‘four-thousanders’ (peaks reaching higher than 4000m / 13,000 feet)
Most of the region’s ski runs are located between 1500 and 3000m, with several offering glacier skiing on upper runs, meaning snow cover is normally good all season.
But it’s also a region that offers much more to inspire, and to do, than just skiing and boarding downhill. There are snowshoe tours and winter hikes, the fresh mountain air, the inspiring scenery and the diverse range of things to do.
Unique cultural attractions and culinary specialties add to the delights, turning a mountain winter here in an unforgettable experience.
These all make the Valais a veritable winter wonderland and once you’ve visited, you’ll join the many skiers and boarders who keep coming back season after season.
Here are some of InTheSnow’s favourite destinations in Valais:
Saas-Fee
So snowsure that, unique in the world, it opens for glacier skiing in July and then stays open for nine months to the following spring. Saas-Fee is an idyllic, car-free village where WHAM! filmed their famous “Last Christmas” video which still appears on our TV screens each December.
A fairy tale comes true – ski pass included!
If you’re looking for somewhere different to stay, the Wellness Hostel 4000 is a modern, innovative and sustainable new accommodation option in the village.
It takes an uncomplicated approach and offers communal accommodation at low prices, and also gives direct access to the adjacent sport and wellness facilities of the Aqua Allalin sports centre.
Aletsch Arena
Less well known to British skiers and boarders, the Aletsch Arena, with its villages of Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp, is another car-free option.
The area is centred on the Aletsch Glacier (which is the longest Glacier in Europe) and is part of the site Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO world heritage site.
The altitude range of the ski slopes here is one of the highest in Europe too, beginning at 1925m above sea level and rising right up to 2869m, which makes them on the most snow sure destinations in the continent, with the bonus of ski in/ski out accommodation available.
The lack of motor traffic gives it a romantic, peaceful atmosphere and you’ll want to breath in the crystal-clear mountain air.
Add to the mix crunchy snow underfoot, sunshine from morning until evening and a clear view of the most beautiful 4,000-metre (13,000 ft) peaks of Valais and it’s a winning combination.
For something special, enjoy skiing at night and end the day with a nightcap at one of the small slope-side chalets.
Thyon
When you think of the 4 Vallées, Switzerland’s biggest ski area with 412km of slopes, you may think first of Verbier, but the region also encompasses half a dozen other ski villages which have many unique advantages of their own, whilst offering access to the same extensive ski slopes.
One of these is Thyon, where the little ones can look forward to fun in the snow kids village, the freestylers can enjoy the coolest snowpark in the area, with lines for all ability levels and there’s a chill-out area with cool sound system complete with tables, a barbecue and deckchairs too if you want to relax after some jumps, or just sit and watch. Everyone else will find ski slopes for all ability levels.
In fact the most experienced can even sign up for heliskiing here, accessing their own private powder in the company of experienced guides accessing the drop-off zones of Pigne d’Arolla and the Rosablanche. It’s also possible to combine heliskiing and ski touring on the same day.
Besides skiing, Thyon is also a centre for dog sledding and every Tuesday the Siberian huskies set off across the snow, running at full tilt, pulling visitors on their sleds across the fairy-tale winter landscape, with the Matterhorn and the Dent Blanche as a backdrop. The thrilling ride lasts just eight minutes but the memories for many years.
Nendaz
Nendaz is another of the less well known 4 Vallées ski areas, which provides fast access to one of its most famous ski sectors – the legendary Mont Fort, where the lifts reach as high as 3,330m. From this incredible viewpoint, the most beautiful mountains in the Alps, from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc, are spread out before you.
But for a different, equally unique experience, Nendaz offers the chance to join in a full moon party – one of the resort’s most popular events. Skiing in the moonlight feels like floating through space and there’s added fun and thrills built in thanks to live music and themed meals.
To fully recharge your batteries, one option is to check in to the magical Nendaz 4 Vallées Hotel & Spa. Rated four-star-plus the hotel and spa offers sport and relaxation. Designed with modern Alpine décor and contemporary style, the two storey Nendaz 4 Vallées Hotel & Spa offers exceptional panoramic views and a space dedicated to water to remind us of the natural assets of the region. The gentle sound of running water lulls you to sleep with its quiet flow each night.
Portes du Soleil
One of the planet’s largest ski areas, stretching over the Swiss border in to France and boasting 650 km of pistes divided into nearly 300 runs and served by almost 200 lifts, the Portes du Soleil also offers its guests no less than 13 snow parks and some 90 mountain restaurants in which to take a break.
On the Swiss side , the traditional villages to stay in slopeside are Morgins and Champéry – both perfect bases for exploring the vast international Portes du Soleil ski area.
If you want to stay somewhere truly special, the Hotel Plein Ciel with its breath taking view of the majestic Dents-du-Midi is a good choice. Located at the top of the whole Val d’Illiez, you wake up surrounded with shining snow, the blue sky and direct access onto the slopes.
If you visit during the last week of winter, from the 13th to the 19th March 2016, you can also enjoy the 6th edition of this unique Rock the Pistes music festival. Top bands perform concerts on the slopes in spectacular locations during the festival and you just need a lift pass to be able to get to them, there’s no other admission fee. In the evenings during the festival there are also more concerts and apres ski parties in resort villages.
Sierre-Anniviers
Another area little known in the UK is the Val d’Anniviers with 3 skiing areas: Grimentz-Zinal, St-Luc/Chandolin and Vercorin. Not many ski areas have more than 200km of piste accessible with a single ski-pass. The Val d’Anniviers is located beneath a parade of mighty peaks towering more than 4,000m up and has no less than 220km, and lots more freeriding opportunities on top of that, as well as authentic Valais charm.
The Val d’Anniviers recently linked the ski areas of Grimentz and Zinal in one of Switzerland’s biggest winter sport infrastructure projects since the 1980s. A new cable car makes the connection between the two in just seven minutes, carrying up to 125 passengers at a time. The resulting ‘new’ ski region also includes Vercorin and St-Luc/Chandolin, where this winter an ultra-modern and especially child-safe six-seater chairlift replaces the old La Forêt lift.
One special activity to try when you stay in the region is snowshoeing on the “plain of Touno” in the wild winter scenery above St-Luc. You can opt to stay at the Hotel Weisshorn (2,357m) then on the second day hike back down to St-Luc, stopping for a special treat of a fondue prepared by your guide in the middle of the forest!
Another good place to stay during your visit is Alpes et caetera, an Alpine lodge where luxury meets tradition. Here you can relax in the sauna or Jacuzzi when you’re not on the slopes and let Alpes et caetera organise your activities and outings according to your needs and wishes.
Pays du Saint Bernard
Nestled in the foothills of Mont Blanc the Pays du St-Bernard is home to four small resorts and 100km of pistes located within superb natural landscapes. It is the perfect place in which to enjoy great powder but also to relax amongst stunning surroundings.
For something very different, from the end of December until the end of February, the Barry Foundation will be organising 90 minute walks accompanied by Saint Bernard does in Champex-Lac.
The gentle hikes are a memorable experience for adults and children alike. Everyone can take it in turn to hold a dog on a lead, and younger participants can even ride part of the way on a sledge pulled by Saint Bernards. The icing on the cake is that the walking route offers a splendid view of the mountain lake of Champex-Lac.
