Verbier has been a popular resort with the Brits, and of course the Swiss, for many years now.
Since the late 1950's, when the first Attelas cable car was installed giving easier access to the mountain, it has become a favourite weekend destination for high-flying City types and wealthy Swiss bankers. Now with excellent road and rail links from Geneva airport and the rise and rise of low cost flying, more people can get to Verbier to see if its twin reputations for serious skiing and just as serious partying are deserved.
Firstly the skiing.
The area is known as the 4 Valleys, with Verbier as the jewel. Whilst not quite as well linked as the French 3 Valleys, the Swiss 4 Valleys offers a massive choice of terrain, with over 400km of groomed pistes, a range of challenging itinerary runs - marked trails which are neither maintained nor patrolled - and enough dizzying pitches, couloirs and off piste opportunites to keep the most seasoned skiers and boarders out of their comfort zones.
It's not by chance that Verbier is the venue for the annual Extreme competition, taking place this year on March 20th, when the best and boldest riders in the world take on the unforgiving Bec des Rosses - and try to negotiate their way down its cliffs and crags.
Verbier skiing is certainly varied. For piste skiers the network of blue and red runs, particularly down to Les Ruinettes, are perfectly groomed and offer wide motorways to practice your turns. Venture further afield and you'll find scenic gentle runs through the trees heading down to La Tzoumaz, sunny cruisey runs at Savoleyres heading back into Verbier, and lots more to keep you occupied in the other valleys - from high altitude steeps to gentle tree-lined runs down to a welcoming restaurant.
The itinerary trails are sort of semi off-piste areas. Marked by yellow poles, they take you off the beaten track and provide a few heart stopping challenges for the more experienced skier and snowboarder. The slopes down from the Col des Gentianes for example, or the Tortin run, offer wide unpisted steep pitches which would be perfect in powder and great for testing your agility in the bumps the rest of the time.
Head for the Vallon d'Arby and you ski along a narrow trail hollowed out of the mountainside by a small single track machine - which is permanently parked at one of the hairpins. With steep walls of snow on either side, it's like skiing down a bobsleigh run with narrow twists and turns, and requires excellent control of speed. The trail eventually widens and you'll find yourself in the wooded Vallon d'Arby. Once you get to the valley floor it's a pretty ski alongside a stream to La Tzoumaz.
The off piste possibilities are truly endless. Book a guide and he or she will help you to scratch the surface of the terrain. Discover wide powder fields, steep descents from Mont-Fort, the highest of Verbier's peaks, the gullies of Mont-Gele, and gasp at the top of Plan du Fou. All this and more is why Verbier has a reputation as one of the best skiing destinations in Europe.
And the apres-ski?
Well again there is enough variety to keep everyone happy. In the heart of the town the Farinet is one of the most popular apres-ski haunts and attracts revellers of all ages. You can dance to the live music on the terrace bar or enjoy a quieter atmosphere in the lounge area. Go upmarket with the Farm Club or keep it real with the Pub Mont Fort. Whichever you try there's healthy competition between the bars to make sure they offer the partygoer a good time.
Verbier manages to strike a unique balance. It's got the street cred of a Chamonix, combined with the glamour of a Courchevel 1850 and the kudos of a Val d'Isere. It's also got Swiss efficiency and service. All in all it's an excellent destination for your next ski or snowboard holiday!
We stayed with Ski With Julia in the traditional Chalet Pic Vert, which is just a few minutes walk to the Medran cable car, and well placed for enjoying all that Verbier has to offer. The chalet is available for long or short breaks and has some great offers for March and April - so get out there and discover Verbier for yourself!
And for more accommodation in Verbier and the Swiss 4 Valleys, take a look at our various resort sections: Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, and Thyon.
