The Saas valley (Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund, Saas-Almagell)
Most of our Valais properties are here. Saas-Fee is car-free, ringed by glaciers, and the Allalin area skis high enough to open for part of the summer. Saas-Grund and Saas-Almagell, a few minutes down the valley, let you drive to the door and have their own smaller lifts and winter walking trails. Geneva is around three hours by car; Milan Malpensa via the Simplon Pass is a little less.
Best for: Reliable high snow and families who like a traffic-free village
Not for you if: You want to park outside the door in Saas-Fee: cars stay in the multi-storey at the village entrance.
Zermatt and the Mattertal (Zermatt, Täsch, Grächen, St Niklaus)
Zermatt is car-free. You leave the car at Täsch and take the shuttle train, around 12 minutes, which is also the cheaper place to stay. The ski area reaches the Klein Matterhorn and links over to Cervinia in Italy. Grächen, on a sunny shelf above St Niklaus, is a quieter family resort with its own small ski area. Geneva is about three and a half hours away.
Best for: Matterhorn views and long days on skis or on foot
Not for you if: You're budget-led: Zermatt is one of the most expensive resorts in the Alps.
Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Verbier (4 Vallées)
Nendaz, Siviez-Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Thyon-Les Collons and La Tzoumaz all connect to the same lift network as Verbier, so you can ski Mont Fort without paying Verbier prices for your bed. Nendaz is the largest of these and runs a busy summer programme along its old irrigation channels (bisses). Hérémence sits lower in the Val d'Hérens. Geneva is around two hours by car.
Best for: Big-mileage skiers who want the 4 Vallées lift pass
Not for you if: You want a pretty old village centre: Nendaz and Thyon are mostly modern chalets and apartment blocks.
Leukerbad and Albinen
Leukerbad sits at the end of its valley under a wall of limestone cliffs, with large public thermal pools open all year. Summer walkers take the cable car up to the Gemmi Pass, which has a lake and a path over to Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland. Albinen, a small village on the road up, is quieter. Geneva is about two and a half hours away.
Best for: Thermal baths with walking or gentle skiing
Not for you if: You want a big ski area: Leukerbad's slopes are modest and the baths are the main draw.
Crans-Montana and Ovronnaz (north side of the Rhône)
Crans-Montana spreads across a south-facing plateau with long views to the Matterhorn and the Weisshorn, lakes, golf courses and shops. Aminona, at its eastern end, is the cheaper and quieter base. Ovronnaz is a smaller village further west with a thermal spa and an easy ski area. Both are about two hours from Geneva, and the train to Sierre connects with the funicular up.
Best for: Sunshine, golf and easy-going skiing above the valley
Not for you if: You want somewhere small: Crans-Montana is a sizeable town with heavy traffic at weekends.
Aletsch Arena and Goms (Riederalp, Bettmeralp, Fiesch, Bellwald, Ernen)
Riederalp and Bettmeralp sit on a sunny terrace above the Rhône, with ski runs to the door in winter and walks to the edge of the Aletsch Glacier in summer. Fiesch has the cable car up to the Eggishorn viewpoint. Bellwald and Ernen, further up the Goms valley, are small and quiet, and Rosswald above Brig is tiny. Zurich is about two and a half hours away using the Lötschberg car train.
Best for: Families and walkers who want the Aletsch Glacier on the doorstep
Not for you if: You need to drive everywhere: Riederalp and Bettmeralp are car-free and reached by cable car.
