Local Skiing

Thyon-Les Collons

Located less than ten minutes by car from Tiger's Nest, the three villages of Les Collons and ski centre of Thyon – at altitudes of between 1800m and 2100m – offer all the amenities you will need to make your time on the mountain a relaxing and memorable experience with a high speed four person chair lift in the centre of Les Collons taking you direct into Les 4 Vallées ski system. This resort has wide-open sunny slopes and a billabong snow park offering skiing and boarding for all levels. Other winter activities include sledge runs, husky rides, night skiing, ski touring and snowshoe walking.

For families there is a kids snow village and beginners zone at Thyon staffed by specially trained instructors.

Les Collons village offers a good choice of ski shops, restaurants and bars, hotels, nightclub, supermarkets and bakery.

Veysonnaz

A ten-minute drive from Tiger's Nest is Veysonnaz, a mountain village typical of the Valais canton, situated on a slope above Sion with views of the Rhone Valley and Bernese Alps.

The 11 ski lifts from Veysonnaz include a cable car taking skiers up to 2100m, as well as the famous "Piste de l'Ours" chair lift, previously the venue for Les 4 Vallées annual World Cup ski race.

Verbier

A fabulous 90-minute ski (suitable for intermediate skiiers) or one hour by car from Tiger's Nest is Verbier, one of the largest resorts in the Swiss Alps situated at 1500m in the west of Les 4 Vallées.

From the centre of Verbier a cable car opens up the top of Mont Fort at 3330m. From here there are dramatic views to the Matterhorn, Grand Combin and Mont Blanc. In all there are 35 ski lifts in the Verbier area accessing 33 ski runs and two snowparks – including Jardin de Neige, a relatively flat area popular with young children and beginners.

Verbier is also well-known for its off-piste skiing, with famous runs including Tortin, Mont Fort, Stairway to Heaven, Rocky Garden and Col des Mines.

Other Valais Skiing

Crans-Montana

A 55-minute drive from Tiger's Nest, via Sion and across the Rhone Valley, are the neighbouring resorts of Crans and Montana situated at 1500m. Together they form one of the most historic destinations in the Valais and offer dramatic views of the mountain peaks from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc.

The ski slopes stretch from the high plateau up to the Plaine Morte Glacier at 3000m. Directly beyond the edge of the forest the pistes are broad and open, ideal for beginners and deep-snow skiers. Advanced skiers will take the chairlift to La Toula to find the more challenging descents. Particularly popular are the broad carving pistes and the valley descent down the 12km Piste Nationale, the longest ski run in the region.

A funicular railway – the longest in Europe – allows Crans-Montana visitors to connect with Sierre in the valley. The journey takes either 20 minutes (stopping at each stop) or 12 minutes direct. There are two funiculars an hour, one at a quarter past the hour, which stops on the way and the other at a quarter to the hour, which is direct.

Zermatt

Zermatt makes an excellent summer or winter day trip from Tiger's Nest for skiing, walks, shopping, restaurants and dramatic views of the Matterhorn (4478m). It's a scenic 1 hour 20 minute drive up to Tasch, from where you take a 15-minute train ride to Zermatt.

For skiers, once you arrive in Zermatt, cross the square (Bahnhofplatz) to the mountain train Gornergrat Bahn (Europe's highest tram), that takes you through larch and pine forests and views of the Matterhorn to the top of Gornergrat (3089m) and the various scenic spots and ski stops along the way. We advise that less experienced skiers get off the mountain train at Riffelberg (2582m) and then take the chair lift up from there.

There is also access from Zermatt to good skiing across the border in Italy, so make it clear when buying your train ticket/ski pass at Tasch whether you'll be skiing on the Italian side or just in Switzerland.