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Veysonnaz Ski Resort
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.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Switzerland, Alps
Established: 1969
Open: December-April
Downhill: 220km
View our detailed Veysonnaz snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Veysonnaz snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Geneva (GVA) | 160km, 2h15 |
| Zurich (ZRH) | 288km, 3h10 |
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| Top Altitude: | 3300m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1250m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1350m |
| Longest run: | 10km |
| Slope Orientation: | NSEW |
| Vertical Drop: | 2050m |
| Skiable Vertical: | |
| Night Skiing: | Yes |
| Glacier: | |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 220km |
| Beginner slopes: | |
| Intermediate: | |
| Advanced slopes: | |
| Lift Pass Price: | CHF274 (Printse), CHF355 (4 Vallées) |
| Nearby resorts: Verbier, Thyon, Nendaz, 4 Valleys | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Veysonnaz
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!
Veysonnaz Apres Ski
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.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Veysonnaz
Best time to visit & ski Veysonnaz
The resort lies on a ridge overlooking the Rhône Valley on the east slope of the mountain, meaning there’s usually a great deal of fresh snow all season long, from mid-December through to April.
36 snow cannons on 10km of the pistes here means that technology is able to maintain great conditions if more coverage is needed in the colder months.
The majority of the skiing is on north-facing slopes and at high-altitude (2000m+), including access to Mont-Fort at 3300m and Mont-Gelé at 3000m, which means that the snow is usually preserved pretty well right up until the end of the season.
Peak Dates
The charming, authentic resort combined with great skiing and stunning scenery means that Christmas in Veysonnaz makes for a fabulous holiday, for both skiers and non-skiers alike. Veysonnaz Christmas ski holidays ‣
With past years featuring fireworks, mulled wine on the slopes, fine-dining and lively parties into the early hours, New Year in Veysonnaz is guaranteed to be a special experience in this authentic Swiss village. Veysonnaz New Year ski holidays ‣
Due to its relatively undiscovered status, things tend to be much less busy than the rest of the 4 Valleys over Half Term in Veysonnaz, so if you’re looking to avoid the half-term crowds but still enjoy great skiing then this is the ideal resort. Veysonnaz Half Term ski holidays ‣
Whether making the most of the north-facing slopes, enjoying the sun on the many restaurant terraces, relaxing in the pool or taking part in the chocolate egg hunts across the resort, spending Easter in Veysonnaz will mean a great break for all the family. Veysonnaz Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Veysonnaz
Families staying in Veysonnaz will find a quiet, charming village that is ideal for children of all ages and skiing abilities.
There is a beginners’ area only one bubble lift away from the main village and other nursery slopes can be found just above nearby Nendaz (which was awarded with Switzerland’s “Families Welcome” status). The Ecole Suisse de Ski et Snowboard have a great range of lessons for children’s groups, families or on a one-to-one basis, including weekend initiation sessions for 3-5 year olds where they can learn the basics and meet Snowli – the resort’s cuddly mascot. For older children, there are some great reds and off-piste runs and any budding freestylers will have more kickers, rails, boxes and airbags than they can handle with two snowparks in Veysonnaz, a skicross at Nendaz and even more parks at Mont Fort and La Chaux.
With things like tobogganing, tubing, dog sled rides, ice skating and organised ski treasure hunts, everyone should make some good memories here. For little ones too young to ski, there’s a children’s day care centre in nearby Thyon (just one lift away) and several babysitting services. There are lots of activities for non-skiers as well including snowshoe hikes, an indoor-heated pool and a lovely wellness centre.
Since it is less well-known than some of its neighbours (especially Verbier), Veysonnaz tends to be much less busy than the rest of the 4 Valleys area, so if you’re looking to avoid the holiday peak season crowds but still enjoy great skiing then this is the ideal resort.
GroupsGroup Holidays Veysonnaz
Groups looking for a quiet, relaxing break away from the crowds will find everything they’re in search of in this charming Swiss resort. The variety of runs in the immediate area means that skiers of all abilities are catered for, including a beginners’ area at the top of the Veysonnaz lift, winding blues down to Les Collons and the legendary Piste de l’Ours World Cup red run. For the most experienced skiers, there’s an endless amount of stunning off-piste and the opportunity to link up to the much larger 4 Valleys area, which includes the challenging Verbier pistes and the terrifyingly steep Mont-Fort descent. For those booking lessons, the Ecole Suisse de Ski et Snowboard provide quality tuition for individuals and private groups.
Any non-skiers shouldn’t be feeling neglected as there’s no end of entertainment away from the piste, including snowshoe hikes, dog sled rides, tubing, a toboggan run and an ice rink... that’s if you can tear yourself away from the indoor-heated pool and wellness centre with a sauna, Jacuzzi and steam bath. For the more adventurous, there’s also cross country skiing, paragliding and ski touring by night on the Piste des Mayens.
Although there may not be the same prestigious après ski scene as neighbour Verbier, there’s a lovely laid-back atmosphere which is perfect for relaxing after a long day skiing. There’s nothing like chilling out over a quiet drink in Bar du Bisse at the Hotel Magrappé. For those looking for livelier evening entertainment, Bar Vague à l'Âme is the most well-known après bar, after which everyone should head to Disco Pacha Club, under the Hotel Chalet Royal, to keep going until the early hours.
Which are the best ski holidays in Veysonnaz?
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