With its enviable location in the majestic Four Valleys region of the Swiss Alps, Verbier boasts stunning scenery, fine dining, accommodation for all budgets and top-rated activities for an amazing adventure holiday.
Surrounded by dramatic mountainscapes, glistening lakes, colossal glaciers and dense green forests, the quaint alpine village of Verbier and its magnificent surroundings reveals its full glory during the summer months.
Although Verbier is best known as a winter holiday destination, during the summer season, the region transforms into a laid-back resort for mountain lovers, nature enthusiasts and adrenaline-fueled sports fanatics. The one thing you are guaranteed in Verbier is an adventure.
The premium-class ski resort is well advertised as a playground for Royal families and a host of A-list celebrities. So why not walk in the footsteps of the rich and famous and hire a catered chalet like these luxury hangouts from Ski Armadillo.
Mountaineering
The Swiss Alps is an amphitheater of rugged peaks and challenging climbs for mountaineers of all levels. The towering Mont Fort at 3329m and the Pierre Avoi at 2475m dominate the setting and offer climbers of all levels a nerve-tingling ascent.
Verbier, like most alpine climbing destinations, has designated routes that have been plotted by professional mountaineers. Visiting climbers are invited to take your own equipment or hire your gear from one of the many local shops in the village.
There is an abundance of multi-pitch rock climbs in Verbier and probably many more waiting to be discovered. The Olivier Roduit on the Six Carro in the Val d’Arpette and the Contamine Route on the Pointe Lachanel are among the best routes for experienced climbers.
Trekking
With more than 400km of hiking trails and awe-inspiring surroundings, Verbier is a walkers paradise. The trails are so vast you have the option to go on multi-day hikes across exciting terrain or a oneway stint over well-trodden trails.
What makes Verbier such a popular destination for hikers is the wealth of hotspots to aim for – including the Corbassiere walkway, a 210m long and 70m high rope bridge over the Corbassiere glacier. Despite the astonishing scenery, the delicately poised suspension bridge is not for the faint of heart.
One of the most popular routes is the six-hour Sentier des Chamois Trail through Switzerland’s second largest reserve, Haut Val de Bagnes. Together with jaw-dropping scenery, hikers also have a wealth of wildlife and plant species to look out for. Along the path is the Mauvoisin Dam, the eighth highest in the world, a feat of engineering that provides the platform for some of the most incredible views in the Alps.
Mountain Biking
Verbier has worked hard to fashion dedicated mountain bike trails of late. The alpine region now boasts some 220km of enduro trails and 12km of downhill tracks in the Bike Park.
The mountain bike trails open in early June and are accessible until late October if the weather is permitting. There is a wide variety of trails for all skill sets, many of which are used as training terrain for local rider Ludo May and many of his fellow professionals that come to visit.
Trails carved into the mountainscape are color-coded green, blue, red and black depending on the difficulty of the terrain. The downhill trails are confined to the Bike Park and include 700m of vertical drops.
Guided Tour In The Via Ferrata
The incredible alpine scenery of the Four Valleys region is the perfect setting for a fun-filled day in the mountains – and adventure activities in Verbier don’t get any better than a guided tour in the Via Ferrata.
Adventurers that are interested in climbing, but new to the sport, have the opportunity to take advantage of the multi-facet terrain and mixed packages on offer at Via Ferrata – literally meaning ‘group of climbers roped together.’
With a focus on teamwork, Via Ferrata offers a wide range of routes that are ideal for beginners to cut their teeth and for intermediates to develop. The guided tours wrap climbing, mountaineering and hiking into one fun-sized package so is ideal for the entire family or groups looking for something different.
Activities include crossing a glacier on a rope bridge, ascending a vertical rock face, following a hiking trail (to avoid the treacherous ascents) before reaching the summit of Mont Fort – a colossus standing at 3,329m. It’s a feat you can brag about.
Winter In The Swiss Alps
Trail Running
Verbier is a paradise for trail runners and with an incredible choice of routes to tackle, you won’t be taking the same path every day. The easiest and most popular trail is the Haute Route. However, serious runner looking for a more challenging adventure have plenty of alternatives including the grueling 9-stage Via Valais some 225km long and with 14,000m verticals.
Thanks to the varied and challenging terrain, trail running is held with high regard in the alpine mountains around Verbier – so much so that an annual race was introduced in 2008. And the Verbier-St-Bernard Ultra Marathon has proven to be a highly popular event over the past decade.
Held in early July, the trail race consists of five different events – all of which end in Verbier. The longest and most challenging race is the X-Alpine which also starts and ends in Verbier, looping around the mountain to the border with Italy in the interim.
If you’re looking for an adventure holiday this summer, Verbier offers more than you can imagine. The classic Alpine scenery speaks for itself which the dramatic peaks and glacial valleys provide plenty of challenging and fun-filled activities for everybody. Whatever you want from your next holiday adventure, summertime in Verbier has plenty to offer.
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