Veysonnaz Ski Holidays

In the heart of the Valais region, this intimate and authentic Swiss resort is positioned above the stunning Rhone valley, with an average 300 days of sunshine a year giving gorgeous views of the Bernese Alps.

The village sits between the scenic hamlet of Beaupérier below and the Thyon plateau above. To the east is the municipality of Salins and there are spectacular vistas in all other directions of the Nendaz area.

Dating back to 1264, it remained a small farming village until the ‘60s, when the first ski lifts appeared – today it retains lots of traditional, rustic charm combined with a modern infrastructure.

One charming focal point is the village church, which was built in 1906 by the residents themselves (it took 60 men a whole day to drag the bell up the mountain!). Switzerland's oldest town, Sion, is also rich in culture and being only 15 minutes away, it’s easy to visit the medieval chateaux, museums and churches.

The resort is easy to get to at only a 2 hour drive from Geneva. Thanks to its proximity to the capital of Valais, it’s also only 40 minutes on the bus from Sion train station if you’re travelling by rail.

Veysonnaz belongs to Switzerland’s 4 Valleys, the largest ski area in Switzerland and 3rd largest in Europe with 412 km of runs and 92 lifts. This links it 4 other resorts: stylish Verbier, natural beauty La Tzoumaz, family-friendly Nendaz and sunny Thyon. The smallest of the five and often underappreciated in the shadow of internationally famed Verbier, Veysonnaz has the added benefit of being much quieter and better value for money, making it ideal for families and anyone looking for a more laid back holiday.

There are two lift pass options depending how far you want to ski. The “Printse” ski area also includes the slopes aroung Nendaz, Siviez (not including Mont-Fort) and Thyon and includes 220km of runs connected by 50 lifts. The much larger 4 Valleys area additionally includes Verbier, Mont-Fort, La Tzoumaz and Bruson for some higher altitudes and steeper steeps.

Access to the 4 Valleys is available with the whole area pass, which connects over 400km of groomed pistes by 92 lifts.

This is a perfect resort for learning to ski, with easy access to Thyon’s beginners’ area via the main gondola and nursery slopes just above nearby Nendaz. Although the only run back down to the village is a red, beginners can easily take the gondola down instead. For those feeling a bit more confident, the blues down to Les Collons offer some great cruising skiing in stunning scenery.

Intermediate skiers are catered for best, with an excellent range of pistes including some extensive red runs and tree lined descents. Les Mayens is a long red down to the village from Thyon that has some fantastic views of the Rhone Valley. The legendary Piste de l’Ours is a 2km, 51% gradient, north-facing descent that has hosted 30 World Cup ski races and is considered as one of the finest ski slopes in the world. It’s an exhilarating red where daring intermediates can follow the tracks of ski heroes like Hermann Maier and Marc Girardelli.

The famously challenging slopes of Verbier are a 2 hour ski away but don’t overlook some pretty good expert skiing closer to home. You’ll find some excellent off-piste terrain and challenging black runs including the descents from Greppon Blanc and Ethérolla. The 4 Valleys have some of the best off-piste areas in the world, with highlights being the Mont-Fort and Mont-Gelé descents - extraordinary steep, unpisted runs with incredible views from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc.

Snowboarders are well catered for (the 2012 Snowboard World Cup took place here) and there are two Snowparks, a skicross park at Nendaz and more parks at Mont Fort and La Chaux boasting kickers, rails, boxes and big airbag and three levels of difficulty.

The 4 Valleys is part of the SkiLine lift pass system, which means you can track your vertical meters, number of lift rides, and km of slopes covered and compare with your friends after a hard day’s skiing!

The après ski scene here is pretty quiet compared to Verbier but there are still several friendly places to go for a drink (that also tend to be less hard-hitting on the wallet!). At the foot of the slopes, Bar Vague à l'Âme is the most popular, usually open till late with live music. Snowbar le Tipi is a great open-air terrace at the top of the Veysonnaz ski lift, at 2000m. The only club in the resort, Disco Pacha, is under the Hotel Chalet Royal and is known for its weekly themed events during peak season.

There’s no shortage of places to eat, including mountain restaurants with stunning panoramic views like Restaurant Les Chottes as you ski from Veysonnaz to Siviez. Le Mont Rouge is just above the village and has a large sun terrace to enjoy the weather, serving great food and drinks all day round, both self-service and à la carte. For local cuisine, head to Le Greppon Blanc which often does fantastic themed menus for special occasions.

There’s plenty to keep non-skiers entertained including snowshoe hikes, dog sled rides, tubing, tobogganing, and ice skating. The indoor-heated pool and wellness centre are ideal for escaping the cold and the tourist office often do treasure hunts for kids. For the more adventurous, there’s also cross country skiing, paragliding and ski touring by night on the Piste des Mayens.

In past years there’s been a torchlit descent from Mont Rouge (once a week in high season), where you’re met at the bottom by music and vin chaud – if this is still happening, make sure to sign up at the tourist office as it’s a fantastic experience.