Swiss Ski ResortSkiing the Alps at Swiss ski resorts is an experience a skier should have at least once in their lifetime. The ski areas in Switzerland, many located between one and three hours from the Geneva Airport, provide challenges and thrills to skiers of all skill levels, from expert to beginner. Champéry Champéry, only 90 minutes from Geneva, provides access to Portes Du Soleil, reputedly the largest ski area in the world, being located in both Switzerland and France. Cable cars and a new chair lift whisk skiers from the village to the ski resort where a skier can start in one country and end in another. Champéry also is a gateway to La Chavanette, known as the Swiss Wall, the notoriously dangerous vertical drop for the expert skier. The pitch is between 50 and 55 degrees and the winds frequently create an icy surface. This ski run is truly for the expert as a fall on this mogul-covered incline could be fatal. Champéry, like so many Swiss ski resorts, has fine cuisine for the après-ski. In recent years, young chefs have come to the region create meals-to-remember after a day-to-remember on the slopes. Hotels abound, and some, like the Les Soldanelles, are within yards of the ski lifts. Glacier-Alpes Vaudoises Ski Area Villars-Gryon, which is an hour away form Geneva Airport, is part of the Glacier-Alpes Vaudoises Ski Area, and offers over 62 miles of down hill skiing. With the right ski pass, it is possible to use the horizontal lift to Les Diablerets, and with connections to additional lifts and cable cars, the skier can reach the glacier of Les Diablerets. The skier can ski from the glacier down to the valley for an unforgettable day on the slopes choosing beginner, intermediate, or expert trails consistent with their skills. Villars, another of the Swiss ski resorts is an excellent place for beginners with its snow-covered gentle slopes and ski schools. The Villars Ski School offers the graduated length ski method and the Rider school offers snowboarding sessions. The energetic skier who is looking for activity after skiing will find nightlife and clubs and hotels are available in the area also. Leysin near Vevey is a prime destination for snowboarders and often hosts the Grand X Tour, a premier skiing and snowboarding event. The International School of Mountaineering is located here and offers off trail touring with professional guides for a special tour of the Alps. Gstaad Two hours from Geneva Airport, the famous jet-set destination Gstaad has eight ski schools, 74 miles of cross country skiing, and helicopter skiing. The Château d'Oex Ski Resort, which has a train station and connects by rail to other Swiss ski resorts, is a gateway to variety of trails for all different skill levels. Crans-Montana For a view of the infamous Matterhorn and Mont Blanc while swishing down the slopes, the twin towns of Crans-Montana in Valais are the resorts of choice. The towns that are about 2 hours from Geneva Airport have beginner slopes above the edge of the forest and a chairlift to the expert runs of La Toula. The golf courses of the summertime make wonderful cross-country trails for the winter. Swiss ski resorts offer something for everyone, beginner and expert alike, whether they delight in cross-country skiing or downhill skiing. No matter your budget, area hotels and chalets provide accommodation ranging from very economical to extravagant. After hours, you can enjoy clubbing and lively nightlife or cozy, quiet venues getting to know other travelers and locals, alike. Whether you are traveling with your family, as part of a couples, or with a group of singles you will have an enjoyable experience for a lifetime of memories.
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