Mark Abraham:
Verbier is definitely not high up on the list of places to bike worldwide - but can't think why not! With endless downhill tracks and superb scenery this has got to be on your list of places to go to bike! So good infact that my wife and I moved
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Verbier with Igluski.com
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Verbier © Olivier Bruchez |
Overview Verbier is a picturesque Swiss ski resort nestled on a vast
plateau almost 5,000 ft (1,524m) above the valley floor and
surrounded by majestic snow-covered mountains. Verbier lies at the
heart of Les Quatres Vallées (Four Valleys) and is the
holiday hub of this extensive ski area. A sophisticated network of
cable cars and gondolas connect all the holiday resorts in the
region and provide access to 253 miles (410km) of marked pistes.
Verbier is the primary ski resort of French-speaking Switzerland,
attracting advanced skiers and snowboarders to its demanding slopes
and unlimited off-piste opportunities.
Although quaint in appearance, a holiday at the Verbier resort
offers all the modern comforts and facilities of a major resort,
with some of the finest cuisine in the region and a raucous
nightlife combining English-style pubs and French cafés.
Much of Verbier closes down over the summer but despite this it can
also be a great summer destination with magnificent scenery, good
weather and wonderful walks; during this time it is popular with
paragliders and mountain bikers.
Skiing Verbier, and the smaller holiday resorts of Nendaz, Veysonnaz,
Thuyon and La Tzoumaz are all linked by one ski pass, which offers
skiers and snowboarders one of the largest skiable areas in the
Alps, including 255 miles (410km) of pistes of all standards.
Verbier itself offers 122 miles (195km) of pistes for various
levels of skiers and snowboarders.
Advanced and intermediate skiers seek the resort's most famous
slopes on the intimidatingly steep Mont Fort and the off-piste
routes from Mont Gelé to Tortin and La Chaux. Verbier is
also renowned for its vast amount of challenging off-piste skiing
and demanding mogul runs, which are sought after by expert skiers
and snowboarders.
Beginners are also well catered for on a Verbier holiday with
excellent ski schools, nursery slopes in the centre of the village
and a wide variety of blue (easy) runs on Savoleyres and Lac de
Vaux.
Shopping The shopping while on holiday in Verbier is excellent, although
expensive. There are a range of boutiques and clothing stores, as
well as ski wear and equipment.
Restaurants A wide choice of restaurants caters to the international crowd
on a Verbier holiday, with over 60 superb restaurants offering
anything from traditional cuisine to Japanese and American fare.
The Al Capone, Le Grenier and La Marmotte restaurants are well
known for their good quality food, beautiful views and friendly
staff. Local specialities like fondues, raclette and rösti are
served in traditional establishments like La Channe Valaisanne,
Vieux Valais and Le Carrefour. Vegetarians are well catered for.
Fer à Cheval is a great pizza restaurant that is popular
with regulars and is in walking distance from the main ski lifts.
The main square is surrounded by cafés, patisseries and
coffee shops.
- Fer à Cheval for pizza. Le Restaurant Pierroz in the Hôtel Rosalp for fine dining... The chef (Roland Pierroz) is one of Switzerland's best. : Rupert Baring...See More Tips | Add Tip
Nightlife Verbier has one of the wilder and more exciting nightlife scenes
among the European winter ski resorts. The road running from the
main ski lift to the town centre is the heart of the après
ski action and there are plenty of bars and cafés around the
town square. The Pub Mont-Fort is a popular après-ski spot
with the English holiday crowd, as are Big Ben Pub and The Nelson.
The Offshore Café is a trendy spot for cocktails before
dinner, while Bar'Jo and King's Bar are also quite popular. A
variety of nightclubs stay open and busy until 4am. The
Moroccan-themed Casbah Club plays techno-music, largely for a
younger crowd. The Farm Club is perhaps the most famous nightspot
in Verbier; it remains popular with Verbier old-timers and is the
choice for many celebrities. Regular guests keep their own bottle
behind the bar and are waived past the long queue. Coco Club is one
of the most popular venues in Verbier; The New Club and Ice-Box
Club are also trendy party places.
Activities Besides skiing and snowboarding, a Verbier holiday also offers
heliskiing, a six-mile (10km) toboggan run, ice-skating and
cross-country skiing. As a top Alpine sports centre, Verbier also
offers a sports and fitness centre, indoor swimming pools, curling,
a climbing wall and paragliding. It is one of the best sites for
hang gliding and parascending. Summer activities also include
walking trails and superb mountain biking. The ski resort has good
facilities for children of all ages.
- Mountain Bike - or Nordic-Walking - loads of trails and very quiet during the Summer months so perfect for truly exceptional holidays. : Mark Abraham...See More Tips | Add Tip
Negatives Verbier's holiday accommodation, restaurants and ski passes are
expensive and queues for the lifts can be long during the holidays.
The snow reliability is fairly good in Verbier and it's usually
possible to ski down to the village, but as with all European ski
resorts weather conditions are unpredictable and it can be
cloudy.
Activities
Glacier Express
Advertised as the 'slowest express train in the world', the
Glacier Express is also the most panoramic, and is a breathtaking
way to experience the magnificence of the Swiss Alps. The seven and
a half hour journey begins daily from Zermatt. The red mountain
train crosses more than 291 bridges, winds its way through 91
tunnels and seven valleys and over the 6,670ft (2,033m) Oberalp
Pass to the resort of St Moritz, in a spectacular feat of mountain
engineering. The train is equipped with large windows for clear
viewing and the scenery, including mountain panoramas, quaint
villages and wooden chalets, forests and alpine pastures, is
stunning. A dining car provides lunch and the mini-bar contains
tilted wine glasses to counter the lean of the carriages along the
steep mountainous route. The train can be taken in either
direction, and if time is short it is possible to travel along a
short section of the route, but either way it is advisable to make
advance bookings as the train is very popular. There are several
departures a day during summer and one a day in winter.