Winter Sports in Nendaz

N

endaz provides a cheaper alternative to Verbier for those who can do without the wild night-life. It has stunning views over Sion in the Rhône valley, a scenic 15k drive away. It also provides good access to Mont Fort and many of the challenging off-piste slopes the Four Valleys are famous for. Use a guide if you want to explore the back of Mont-Fort, although there are a significant amount of safe unprepared runs and off-piste within the bounds of the main ski area where you do not need a guide, such as the Gentianes and Tortin trails. Getting back to Nendaz requires you to either take the Plan-du-Fou cable car down, navigate an often icy, mogulled itinerary or take the courtesy bus from Siviez. There are several lift passes available in the 4 Vallées, the main options being whether to choose the Thyon pass (including Haute-Nendaz, Veysonnaz, and Thyon/Les Collons) or one covering the entire region of 4 Vallées/Mont Fort.

Note that the courtesy bus running every 20 minutes in season from Nendaz to Siviez is especially convenient if the runs above Prarion are patchy, as they often are after warm weather or sunny days, or you want to get out to the runs above Veysonnaz quickly. The first morning buses also get you from Nendaz to Siviez before the first lifts operate, so they provide much quicker access to get to Combatseline and Tortin.

Best of the Slopes

You have access to all the best slopes out of Verbier, but also some tough runs on this side of the 4 Vallées. Try the couloirs on Col Du Vez to get your blood racing. The Tortin trail from Chassoure is an essential rite of passage for strong intermediates. Above Combatseline, there are some relatively easy blacks at Greppon Blanc and further East in the Veysonnaz section some good long challenging reds and some gentle blue runs around Thyon. Nendaz has the best park in the 4 Vallées.

Where to Eat and Party

Après ski starts at Les Etagnes and carries on late at the Canadian Pub. For good food the Gariko Lounge Bar Restaurant (+41 272881368) is recommended whilst le Mont-Rouge (+41 27 288 11 66) is listed by Gault-Millau as .

Getting There

By Public Transport

The best destination to access the downhill slopes by public transport in this ski area is Haute-Nendaz, telecabine. Exchange voucher for lift pass at Haut-Nendaz then take the Siviez courtesy bus, which runs every 20 mins. Note additional charge to access Verbier slopes - pass covers Siviez, Mt Fort, Veysonnaz etc. The resort operates the Snow'n'Rail scheme, providing a discount on the combined travel ticket and lift pass. Click here for details of the Swiss Railways discount scheme.

• From Zurich the least travel time is 3 hrs 15 mins with as few as 2 changes going via Visp or Lausanne / Sion.
• From Basel the least travel time is 3 hrs 21 mins with as few as 2 changes going via Visp or Lausanne / Sion.
• From Berne the least travel time is 2 hrs 8 mins with as few as 2 changes going via Visp or Lausanne / Sion.
• From Lausanne the least travel time is 1 hrs 47 mins with as few as 1 changes going via Sion.

By Road

Please refer to a map and check local conditions for accurate routing information.

• The road distance from Zurich is around 281 km and the journey time is roughly 3 hrs 10 mins.
• The road distance from Basel is around 254 km and the journey time is roughly 2 hrs 50 mins.
• The road distance from Berne is around 160 km and the journey time is roughly 1 hr 45 mins.
• The road distance from Geneva is around 165 km and the journey time is roughly 1 hr 55 mins.
• The road distance from Lausanne is around 101 km and the journey time is roughly 1 hr 15 mins.
• The road distance from Fribourg is around 129 km and the journey time is roughly 1 hr 30 mins.

Get road directions at Google Maps

Nearby Resorts

Other resorts in the ski area include Les Masses, Siviez, Thyon, Veysonnaz and Verbier.

Weather Outlook

View detailed snow forecast for Haute Nendaz at: snow-forecast.com

Latest Resort Report

MySwitzerland report for Nendaz

Piste Map for Nendaz