Verbier Skiing Revealed

This is the main inter-active piste map from Televerbier, the local lift company. Use it to find out more about the slopes, restaurants, lift system and facilities of the area, including the latest piste and lift opening status. Paper piste maps are available from the lift-stations, Tourist Office, hotel receptions and the like...

From the nursery slopes of Les Esserts to the sun-drenched beginner area of La Chaux, and from the mellow pistes of the Lac des Vaux to the wide, cruising boulevards of the Attelas and the Combes, Verbier has everything to please the beginner/intermediate crowds. Add to that the Swatch Snowpark and challenging ski itineraries of Chassoure-Tortin and of the Mont Gelé, and it becomes clear that the Verbier ski area has something for everyone!

Boasting three nursery slopes/beginner areas in the resort itself (see Beginner Ski Areas in Verbier), the Verbier ski area also offers great beginner terrain up at La Chaux, accessible from Médran via the La Chaux Express Combi-Mix lift. Also serviced by a 4-man chair, this sun drenched area is a great place to practice & progress as there are nice, easy runs which tend to soften up in the afternoon given its south facing orientation. ... see "Verbier Skiing Area" for more

Situated right behind Savoleyres’ south-facing slopes, La Tzoumaz’s pistes quickly plunge into the tree-line, offering a large choice of runs with ok visibility to those who want to ski, regardless of the bad weather.

While Le Nord (6-man high speed detachable chair) services a short but sweet, moderately steep ridgeline speckled with trees, Le Taillay (4-man chair) on the opposite end gives access to very mellow terrain which starts off very open and gradually enters the tree-line. With both, you have the option of either staying on the piste or wandering off, without ever having to venture too far to the sides to find fresh powder. Be careful however when skiing off-piste to the skier’s right of Le Taillay, not to go too far right, as you will miss the cat road bringing you back to the lift & will be on your way to the bottom of the resort through a mess of tight, annoying trees. ... see "La Tzoumaz / Savoleyres Skiing Area" for more

This lovely little ski area situated opposite to Verbier in the Val de Bagnes is an absolute local’s “rendezvous” in bad weather. Given its low altitude, 95% of its terrain is tree-lined which means that even in foggy conditions, you can actually see something!

Getting over to Bruson is a bit time-consuming but well worth the effort. From Verbier, download the bubbles to Le Châble, where a yellow postal bus (included in your lift ticket price – check with the office at Médran for schedules) will take you to the base of the ski area. In all, if you time your connection right, expect to spend 45mins getting there. ... see "Bruson Skiing Area" for more

The Mont Fort sector of the 4 Valleys Ski Area offers, without a doubt, the largest array of easily reachable advanced/expert terrain of any ski resort in the Alps. When combined with the Verbier sector’s Mt-Gelé and Tortin itineraries, the possibilities are simply endless.

The Mont Fort sector can either be accessed via La Chaux (2260m) by loading onto the Jumbo, or via Tortin (2050m) by taking the Col des Gentianes tram. For 2009/10 the Col des Gentianes tram has upgraded cabins similar to Jumbo, meaning greater comfort and smaller queues.  Both lifts converge at the same spot…the Col des Gentianes, at an altitude of 2950m! ... see "Mt Fort / 4 Valleys Skiing Area" for more

There are three nursery slopes/beginner areas in the resort itself, all of which are equipped with snowmaking facilities ensuring that even if Mother Nature comes up short, good quality beginner skiing can still be had! Although none offer “free of charge” lifts, the following 3 areas have their own low-priced lift tickets.

• Les Moulins (1 drag lift) Situated right in the heart of Verbier, it is the smallest of all nursery slopes in town. The École Suisse de Ski uses it exclusively for their Kids' Club program.
• Les Esserts (1 drag lift & 2 magic carpets) With its gentle slopes conveniently situated right next to the Hameau bus stop and a restaurant terrace, Les Esserts is without a doubt the most popular spot for beginner skiers and families alike. It is also home to the longest magic carpet in Switzerland, which costs only 5 SFR for foot passengers who would like to accompany their young while they are learning.
• Le Rouge (1 drag lift) This area’s two slopes run from the top of the village at Carrefour down to the centrally situated Brunet bus stop. The variable speed drag lift - Le Rouge, offers the beginner a slightly more inclined slope; the perfect place to safely set your sights on after having spent time on Les Esserts.

After feeling more confident on these nursery slopes, the La Chaux area up the mountain can be a good option, as there are nice, slow runs which tend to soften up in the afternoon given its south facing orientation.  Accessible from Médran via La Chaux Express lift, this sun drenched area, also serviced by a 4-man chair, is a great place to practice & progress!

Verbier's Swatch Snowpark is the venue for many a Big Air comp and hosts regular demos throughout the season. There are a number of unmissable events lined up for this winter, including the annual Verbier Ride, so have a look at our What's On calendar to find out what's coming up soon.

Open from 09h30-16h15, the snowpark is situated in La Chaux at 2842m and is kitted out with all the hips, jumps and rails you need to practice your moves. Whether you’re a beginner, advanced or pro level rider, you’ll find your happiness at the Swatch Snowpark!  Keep an eye out for the Swatch Big Airbag, which is exactly as it sounds – a giant airbag to cushion your fall. It comes after a mid-sized kicker allowing you to practise all sorts of aerial stunts without hurting your head. You can even watch your triumph (or otherwise) online later. Even if you're only there to watch it is still a good place to hang out with the music and BBQ area adding to the ambience.

There is no separate entry charge, as long as you have a pass to access the lift you can play all day!

With such a big ski area to explore, it's sometimes good to have a little bit of inside information… For your pleasure, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite runs throughout Verbier and the 4 Valleys and suggested some itineraries for you to try. There are also sections on where to find the best off piste, where you're most likely to find the quietest pistes, and where to find the nicest mountain restaurants for lunch. Happy exploring! ... see "Where to go in Verbier & the 4 Valleys for..." for more