A stay in Verbier offers seamless access to one of the world’s largest lift-linked ski areas. But if you’re clipping on your skis for the first time, what does this 410km of piste mean for you?
You may not be sampling Verbier’s infamous backcountry, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a fantastic place to learn to ski. 36% of the piste is marked blue, separate beginner’s areas are perfect for building your confidence, and the sunny south-facing bowl is perfect for keeping you warm as you master your new favourite sport. And with a fantastic village and a lively apres ski scene, you’ll find more than enough to do between lessons.
Once you’ve mastered the greens and blues of Verbier, you’ll be booking your next snow adventure before you can say snow plough! Start planning your trip with this complete beginner’s guide to skiing in Verbier.
If you’re a beginner looking for luxury accommodation in Verbier then talk to our team. We’ll ensure you have ski tuition booked as part of your itinerary and who knows, you might be skiing the whole of the 4 Valleys before the end of the week?
Lift passes
A big perk of learning to ski in Verbier is that beginners won’t need to buy a full lift pass. The three nursery areas offer cheaper passes and you can even book for a half day. There are also several ski schools who include ski passes in their packages.
Even if you’re not ready for extra exploration by the end of the week, you can buy a Verbier-only lift pass. The full 4 Vallees lift pass is more suited to intermediates and advanced skiers, and Verbier will give you more than enough to keep you busy. Just want to dip your toes in the water? You can buy a pass for just four hours.
Getting started
Verbier’s beginner zones are accessible and many of them are lower down in the valley. You won’t be wasting precious energy on a long commute and you’ll be more sheltered from the elements. The village is at an altitude of 1,500m, so you’ll still get excellent snow conditions.
Les Esserts is a little higher up and is easy to access by bus. The extra height means you can get your first taste of outstanding mountain views without tackling any scary runs. It’s the largest beginner area in the resort and is also home to Switzerland’s longest magic carpet. There’s a restaurant with a terrace here, perfect for watching your family learning to ski or meeting the rest of your group for lunch.
When you’re feeling confident, you could take things up a notch at Le Rouge. This is still a nursery area, but it’s slightly steeper so you can work more on controlling your speed. If you want to squeeze in even more practice, there’s a free beginner’s slope in Lourtier. It’s a 20-minute drive from Verbier and has floodlit slopes perfect for a bit of night skiing.
Children
Verbier offers a magical first-time skiing experience for kids and plenty to keep them entertained off the slopes too. Thanks to the sunny pistes, you’ll have a lot fewer cold noses to contend with. Children under eight years old ski for free in Verbier and there are discounts on lift passes for children under 14.
For your little ones, Les Moulins is the best place to learn. It’s smaller, with just one drag lift, but it’s right in the heart of Verbier, making it easy to drop them off on your way to the slopes. The area is exclusive for ski lessons, so they’ll be able to learn in a relaxed and safe environment. It’s also home to a creche and a kids club so you can take lots of time to yourself and enjoy the mountains.
Progression
Nothing beats the rush of breaking away from the nursery slopes and exploring the mountains for the first time. Once you’ve mastered your turns, La Chaux is the next logical step. The blues here are slow and gentle. Spend an afternoon cruising the south-facing slopes with dreamy sun-softened snow. From here you can swoop through the trees on the long Etierces run.
If you’re learning in Les Esserts, you could start transitioning to the slopes around La Tzoumaz/ Savoleyres. The area is quiet and relaxed and is just above Les Esserts. It has a nice network of wide blues, perfect for building your confidence away from the crowds. Just make sure you keep an eye on your route so you don’t end up braving any of the steeper reds.
Ski Schools
A fantastic ski school can be the difference between you ending the week racing down the slopes or never wanting to return. Luckily, a luxurious and modern resort like Verbier attracts some of the best instructors in the Alps.
Adrenaline Ski School has been thriving in Verbier for over 25 years. Famous for their quality, they have experienced instructors who specialise in various disciplines. They offer private and group lessons for children, teenagers, and adults, so the whole group is catered for.
New Generation are a British ski school who have established themselves in Verbier since 2006. They know Verbier’s slopes like the back of their hands and pride themselves on providing a warm and personalised service. Most of the courses they offer are advanced, but they also offer excellent private tuition.
Mixed groups
Being stuck on the greens while the rest of the group ventures off to ski blacks all day can feel disheartening. While Verbier might be hailed as the top choice for advanced skiers, it’s still a fantastic option for groups with mixed abilities.
Since many of the nursery slopes are close to town, it’ll be easy to catch up with your group for a quick mountain lunch. Savoleyres has a fun mix of blues and reds, so it’s an ideal spot to meet for a coffee or back at the lifts. Poach an intermediate for a couple of runs here and see if they can give you some extra tips.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
