Summer Activities in Verbier

Arapaho Scooters

Hire an off-road scooter with big fat mountain bike tyres that has been specifically designed for downhill riding. There are two routes to choose from, one between Ruinettes and Médran and the from Savoleyres to Tzoumaz. This is good fun for all the family to enjoy!

Canyoning

A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day!

You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course. Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous.

Hydrospeed is an alternative to rafting where you shoot down the river on a kind of inflatable body-board. Half-in half-out of the water you are closer to the action and guaranteed a soaking!

Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons. There are a number of local companies that offer guided descents down the local waterways.

Fishing

Glacier Walking

For a truly unique experience, clamp on your crampons and go hiking on Verbier’s Mont Fort glacier. It can be accessed by a little train that runs from the top of the Attelas cable car to the lift station at Mont Fort. The peak can be reached on foot but the slope on which the glacier lies is pretty steep so, unless you are planning on skiing or snowboarding back down, the recommended descent is via the cable car. The breathtaking views and spectacular crevasses make this an incredible experience.

We strongly recommend hiring a mountain guide for this activity. There are also a number of other glacial hikes, of varying difficulty, in this area of the Alps. Most guiding companies will run organised excursions to the most accessible.

To read more about glaciers and the environment please go to our Glacier Meltdown article.

Golf

There are two excellent 18 hole golf courses in Verbier, Les Esserts and Les Moulins.

Les Esserts Golf Course offers some fantastic views and exceptional scenery over the three Combins. The course is full of natural obstacles making the game interesting and challenging. Private lessons and week-long courses in English are available for all levels of player. Players must have a handicap to play on this course, 36 for Women and 30 for men.

Les Moulins Golf Course is in the heart of the Verbier station. It is still an 18 hole, 54 par course it has been well maintained and is good for those perfecting their pitch and put. There is no need for handicaps on this course, as they accept beginners too.

Both courses have a clubhouse where you are welcome to enjoy lunch or a few drinks.

Hiking & Walking Trails ('Itineraires Pietons')

There are over 400kms of walking trail to explore in the Verbier valley that suit every level of walker from every age. Explore the villages, pastures, forests and mountains peaks - discovering the flora and fauna of the Alps. Lower altitude walks along the valley floor can take you through beautiful meadows whilst admiring the wild berries and flowers growing in the fields. Mountain trails are indicated along the way by various coloured sign posts marking the direction of the route. There are escorted trekking programs offered in the summer by the summer mountain guides.

Horse-riding

Improve your skills with lessons in the outdoor arena (adults or children, minimum age 5 years), or join guided treks into the mountains.

The professional and qualified instructors at Les Ecuries de Verbier can offer a variety of courses (dressage, jumping, etc.), hacks through spectacular mountain and forest trails, holiday camps, as well as a programme of demonstrations and events.

Miniature Golf

Mountain Biking (MTB/VTT) in Verbier

With over 200kms of trails and it's own downhill mountain bike park, Verbier is definitely the place to do a spot of mountain biking. There are some serious downhill tracks running down the slopes of Ruinettes and Médran covering 6kms of terrain with a 700m drop in altitude so really only suitable for speedsters and hardcore downhillers. If you prefer to take life at a more leisurely pace then there's plenty of mountain biking that is suitable for families and/or individuals who want to discover Verbier and its surrounding villages without having to furiously pedal uphill or kit up in full body armour. If you're not sure where to head and which trails would be best for you, then during the summer months, the Tourist Office run two free guided bike tours around the area.  There are plenty of sport shops in and around town offering Mountain bikes and protection kit for rent or sale. (NB: In French, mountain biking is called VTT (Vélo tout-terrain!). 

Panoramic Helicopter Tours

Sit back and admire the mountains from even higher up! Daily panoramic helicopter flights are available (weather permitting) with a number of local flight companies or some mountain guide companies. Relax and enjoy the stunning views as you fly over the snowcapped mountain tops, glaciers and alpine forests.

Paragliding (Parapente in French)

From the heights of the mountain tops one can glide down to the bottom of the valley on a tandem paraglider controlled by the instructor. He manoeuvres the parachute while the passenger enjoys the ride and fantastic views. Taking off is the only scary moment; once you have been equipped with a helmet and strapped to the instructor behind you in a rather intimate way, both of you simply point your skis (or board) downhill, and carry on getting faster and faster until the parachute lifts you into the air.

Rock Climbing in Verbier

Verbier offers climbers of all levels a number of impressive and well equipped climbing routes that will challenge even the best climbers. The Pierre Avoi Sector has a number of routes, varying in grade from 3 to 7. When climbing the north face of the rock there is an impressive backdrop overlooking the Rhone Valley. There are a number of pinnacles which surround the main summit that allow you to safely work your way up the main rock face. If your family and friends are not interested in climbing, you can arrange to them at the top of the rock where there is an intermediate hiking trail which meets at the end of the ascent. There are some 50+ routes varying in grading from 3 to 7+ in the Val de Bagnes sector in pretty villages called; Le Tsè des Barmes, Les Boutzes du Pleureur, Les Minis Boutzes and Le Bourrot. Some other routes can be found near Plamproz, below Fionnay, and at Sarreyer or Col des Gentianes. The sector of La Barme itself has up to 65 routes on offer. You can also learn to climb at the Médran Park Tower. Lessons are provided by the Swiss ski school. There are also 2 climbing walls in Verbier: the Médran Park tower, 11.5m high with 4 faces, and the La Marmotte Restaurant climbing wall (free to restaurant customers)

Suspension Walk

If you have highly active kids that aren’t afraid of heights and need constant entertainment, (or you’re really just a big kid at heart!!!) then the Suspension Walk is guaranteed to keep all the family entertained. Built in amongst the trees at Médran there's over 800 metres of ropes connecting the trees together where you have much fun teetering along the tightropes, sliding down the pulleys and whilst scrambling around the trees like a monkey! Attached by a harness and various pieces of safety equipment you too can become the next Tarzan or Jane. This is a great adventure playground that's just as much fun for adults as children ! Believe us, we're just big kids at heart and we've tried it !!!

Swimming

Verbier has two swimming pools that are open to the public for stretching out those weary legs after a hard day up the mountain. This is an ideal way to spend the day when the weather forecast isn't looking very promising!

The Verbier Sports Centre is probably the best option for families with children, or those who are easily bored, due to the sheer variety of facilities on offer!  It boasts heated indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, Turkish bath, indoor ice rink, curling, solarium, squash court and climbing wall.  You can buy lunch or snacks in the restaurant.

For a more tranquil experince there is the Mondzeu indoor pool (10 x 20 m) which offers hydromassage, sauna and a fitness center. Admission prices are reasonably inexpensive and children are welcome.

For more exclusive surroundings you could try enquiring at some of Verbier's larger hotels. You can sometimes pay a daily visitors rate and take advantage of their spa facilities.  For details of these and public spas in the area please see Spas & Salons to find out where you can go.

Tennis & Squash

Tourist Train

One way to find your way around town in the summer is to hop aboard the Train des Combins miniature train that trundles daily through Verbier, offering a free transport service through: Place de l'Ermitage - Médran - Route de Ransou - Savoleyres - Carrefour - Hameau - Crettaz-Cô - Coop - Migros - Place de l'Ermitage Three times a week there are also local heritage tours that leave from Place Curia and visit museums, the Mauviosin dam, the chapels of Val de Bagnes or other local points of interest. These trips are free of charge but must be reserved before 5pm the day before. The train runs from June to August.

White Water Rafting

If you haven't experienced this before then this is a definite 'must try' on your list of activities to do! There are a number of trained guides in resort who will let you experience some of the best white water rafting available in the Alps. From the middle of May until September, the mountain rivers flow furiously as it is fed from the melt waters running off the glaciers high above the town. There are various options available from a three hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint.