4 Vallées

The 4 Vallées is Switzerland's largest ski area, and the one with the fiercest reputation. 412km of marked pistes spread across the valleys above the Rhône, rising to the Mont Fort glacier at 3,330m, and beneath the pistes a network of itineraries and off piste descents that has made the area the freeriding capital of the Alps. It is also less than two hours from Geneva, which is part of why the luxury ski chalets here are among the most sought after in Switzerland.

The Resorts of the 4 Vallées

The area takes its name from the valleys it spans, and its resorts differ sharply in scale and character.

Verbier

Verbier dominates. It holds well over half the area's pistes, sits at 1,500m on a wide south facing terrace, and combines serious skiing with a social life that few resorts anywhere can match. It is where the area's finest properties are, and where most guests base themselves.

Nendaz

Nendaz sits across the area at 1,350m, a spread of traditional Valaisian villages with an excellent snow record and, so the resort claims, 300 days of sunshine a year. It is the gentler, more family oriented side of the 4 Vallées, with the Tracouet beginner area above the village and a long link across to the rest of the skiing. Read our Nendaz resort guide for more on the resort.

The remaining resorts on the pass sit on the Veysonnaz and Thyon side of the area. You will ski them as part of the circuit, and they add materially to the mileage, but our portfolio is concentrated in Verbier.

Luxury Ski Chalets in the 4 Vallées

Some of the world's most luxurious ski chalets are found here, and the standard at the top of the market is as high as anywhere in the Alps: staffed properties with pools, spas, cinema rooms and full teams, alongside apartments finished to a similar level. Chalets with swimming pools, hot tubs and ski in ski out access are all well represented, and the catered chalet, with private chef, host and often a driver, remains the way most guests travel here. Browse our luxury catered chalets, view everything available in the area using the button below, or widen the search to our full collection of luxury ski chalets in Switzerland.

Skiing the 4 Vallées

412km of marked piste, with the highest lift reaching the Mont Fort glacier at 3,330m and the great majority of the skiing above 1,500m. On piste it is a proper all rounder: wide, sunny cruising above Nendaz and Veysonnaz, long descents back to the valley floor, and enough gentle terrain that the area's reputation for difficulty does it a slight disservice, since beginners are genuinely well catered for.

Off piste is where the area's name was made. The itineraries off Mont Fort and the Col des Gentianes, the Tortin bowls and the terrain under Mont Gelé are among the most demanding lift served skiing anywhere, and the Bec des Rosses above Verbier hosts the climax of the Freeride World Tour each winter for good reason. All of it deserves a guide, avalanche equipment and honest self assessment; ask our Ski Specialists and we will arrange the guiding with the chalet.

Getting to the 4 Vallées

Geneva is just under two hours away, which is short for a Swiss resort of this calibre, with Sion much closer for private flights. The train is a genuinely good option here: the main line runs along the Rhône valley to Martigny, then a branch to Le Châble, from which a gondola climbs straight into Verbier. Our Ski Specialists will arrange transfers or the final leg whichever way you arrive.

4 Vallées Ski Holidays: Your Questions Answered

What is the 4 Vallées?

The 4 Vallées, sometimes written as the Four Valleys, is the largest linked ski area in Switzerland: 412km of pistes on one lift pass, connecting Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Thyon across the valleys above the Rhône. Verbier is much the largest of the four and the one most British visitors mean when they talk about skiing here.

How big is the 4 Vallées ski area?

412km of marked piste, rising to 3,330m at Mont Fort, which makes it Switzerland's largest ski area by some margin. Verbier alone accounts for well over 200km of that, so even a week spent mostly on the Verbier side does not exhaust it.

Is one lift pass valid across the whole 4 Vallées?

Yes. The full area pass covers every resort and lift including the Mont Fort glacier. Smaller passes covering just the Verbier sector are available and can suit shorter stays, but the whole area on one pass is what brings people back.

Is the 4 Vallées good for off piste skiing?

It is regularly voted the best in the Alps for high level skiers and freeriders, and the terrain justifies it. What that means in practice is that the area rewards a guide more than most: the itineraries and off piste descents here are serious, and the difference between a superb day and a frightening one is usually local knowledge. We can arrange guiding alongside your chalet.

Can I book a catered chalet in the 4 Vallées?

Yes, and the area has some of the finest catered properties in Switzerland, typically with a private chef, host and driver. The best book a year or more ahead, particularly for New Year and February half term. See our luxury catered chalets for the current collection.