PACKAGE DEALS
In the French-speaking Swiss Canton of Valais, it faces the majestic peaks of Grand Combin. With its 410km of marked runs, it is part of the Four Vallées ski area, which includes the ski resorts of Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz, and Thyon. All are connected by a sprawling high-tech network of cable cars and gondolas.
So, If you have a spare couple of days and are a confident skier, these further reaches may be fun to explore.
Most, though, spend their time on the pistes above Verbier using the Medran gondola to get around.
Verbier’s highest run, Mont Fort (3330m), has a stunning panoramic view of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc Massif.
Off-piste skiing in the region is recognised as the best in the world and runs such as Tortin, Gentianes, Plan do Fou, and Mont Gel have become legendary as a playground for celebrities and professionals.
The Duke of York and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson have reportedly clubbed together to buy a £13 million ski chalet as an investment for their daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie
But in any case, everyone, even nonskiers should ride the sequence of gondolas and cable cars accessing Mont Fort (3330m) for the views
Les Moulins is the junior slope near to the town centre. There’s a kids’ club run by the Swiss ski School and a crèche. The final of the Freeride World Tour, Verbier Xtreme (an off-piste competion), takes place here and if you like powder snow, you can heliski too at Petit Combin.
The village is well-known for its New
Powder White is offering a week in a fully catered chalet in Verbier, with five days tuition from just £778. www.powderwhite.com 020 8877 8888
Ski Solutions is offering seven nights in Hotel Alex, Zermatt. This is one of the most popular ski hotels in Switzerland. From £1,580 per person with two sharing a standard room. www.skisolutions.com
Inghams has seven nights at tjecentrally located (ski lifts are five minute walk away) Hotel Steffani, St Moritz from £1,314 per person. www.inghams.co.uk Year’s Eve celebration, when the young and sporty converge in Place Central in their ski gear and dance until dawn.
HOW TO GET THERE:
From Geneva international airport it’s a three-hour drive. Alternatively, you can take a train from Geneva to Martigny or Le Chable. From there, take a taxi or a local bus to the village.
SKI PASS AND LESSONS:
An all day pass costs 56€. Rates per person for one helidrop (6,000 feet descent) 615€ for two people. A full day’s private ski lesson costs 60€ . Families, intermediates and experts Switzerland’s most famous ski resort is located at the foot of Matterhorn, one of the most spectacular and most photographed peaks of the Alps (4478m).
Here, the most southwesterly of the great resorts, two things are almost guaranteed.