Worldwide Ski Resorts • Switzerland • Verbier
Overview
Verbier is an attractive village that enjoys an unparalleled sunny location, surrounded by magnificent mountain scenery. It’s long held reputation as being a chic location rivals the likes of Courcheval and Zermatt as a destination for the stylish and well heeled. Verbier tends to draw the younger set that come to enjoy the rocking nightlife and the varied slopes.
It has a well defined centre housing the majority of the shops, bars and hotels. There are an above average number of chalets for hire within the resort and a large number of very smart (and expensive) hotels. Budget options include a few pensions and self catering apartments that are best booked locally. One of the disadvantages of Verbier is that it does get very crowded in season, especially at the weekends.
Profile
The village stands at 1500m with its own 150 km of pistes served by 38 lifts. It also provides direct access to the slopes of the Four Valley ski region with 410 km of pistes served by 94 lifts. It does not have a good record for snow cover. The slopes of the glacier at Mont-Fort are generally very reliable, but despite snow making facilities on the main runs, the rather low, sunny slopes are not reliable except in the best of seasons. Experts will relish the seriously hard off piste slopes together with some genuine blacks that will test the best.
Intermediates are not so well served in the area, although there are some excellent areas to be found. Beginners have some very pleasant, sunny nursery slopes, but there is a limited choice of convenient progression runs available. Cross Country Skiers have an equally limited choice of terrain with only a miserly 4 km circuit in the village, although other tracks are available at nearby Les Ruinettes and Le Chable. Experienced snowboarders have long visited the resort for the off piste challenges to be found and to try out their skills at the excellent La Chaux terrain park. Verbier is the host of the annual Verbier Ride and Xtreme boarding championships that attract the world’s foremost experts. Ski schools and child facilities are very good.
Mountain Information
Although the higher sectors around Mont Fort tend to be very exposed they are the best area for off piste experts and hold a very testing black mogul run that will make anyone’s eyes water. There are some nicely sheltered runs to found above Veysonnaz and the small Savoleyres sector, that is accessed direct from the village, has some wonderfully long wooded runs and is easily the best area for intermediates of all levels and for quick learning novices. La Chaux is is also a good choice for better intermediates, but it does get crowded. There are some excellent (but crowded) restaurants all over the mountain.
Apres Ski
Verbier après ski is the tops. Things normally kick off at the Offshore Café before moving on to some of the village bars including the Big Ben, and the live band locations of Le Farinet and Crok No Name for a loud and lively time. For those looking for a quieter evening, the New Club and Kings are the places to go, while the rich visit the Farm Club and Jacky’s. Wherever you choose, it is a sure fire party into the small hours.
Swiss Resort Guide
Resort Information • Verbier
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Resort Height | 1500m |
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Top Station | 3300m |
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Bottom Station | 1800m |
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Vertical Descent | 1500m |
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Drag Lifts | 18 |
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Chair Lifts | 15 |
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High Capacity | 9 |
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Opening Dates | Nov - May |
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Rating Expert | 10 |
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Rating Intermediate | 9 |
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Rating Beginner | 6 |
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Apres Ski Rating | 9 |
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Snow Reliability | 9 |
