Imagine finding yourself in a ski area practically boundless, with something at your disposal 2.800 kilometers of slopes of all kinds, from wide and flat to steep and irregular, surrounded by the beauty of 46 peaks that exceed 4000 meters. Welcome to Valais, the alpine canton of southern Switzerland, easily reachable from Lombardy and Piedmont, where you are greeted by world-famous natural beauties such as the Matterhorn or the Aletsch glacier, which are not only a perfect scenery but guarantee the presence of snow throughout the season.
Practically all places where winter sports are practised are located at an altitude above 1’500 m. s.l.m. Nine ski resorts reach even 3’000 m and that of Zermatt even 3’900 m. And the beauty is that from this winter all the ski areas are accessible with a single ski pass, the Snowpass Valais Unlimited, comfortable not?
Aboard high-tech cable cars you arrive quickly at altitude and who wants it can ski all day without going twice the same track. With routes for all tastes, from easy slopes for beginners to more challenging descents on which regularly the circus of the world cup. By the way, on 1 and 2 March 2014 in the women's FIS World Cup race (free and slalom descent) the athletes will be measured on the technically very complex and selective track of Mont Lachaux in Crans-Montana.
Completely renewed, the track will engage the athletes from the beginning to the end, both from the physical and technical point of view, and will offer spectators an exciting and high-level show.
For those who prefer slower activity, there are plenty of opportunities for fun on the snow to practice in calm and quiet. An idyllic hike through snow-covered woods or a snowshoe walk through the alpine landscape make your mind and spirit rest. For the winter season the ski school of Saas-Grund presents a new proposal: a cross-country ski camp with fantastic tours of 32 kilometers of Saastal slopes, in a magnificent mountain scenery.
Alternatively, the new race track Cesare Ritz leads through a magnificent forest of larches in the Goms and connects Niederwald, the birthplace of the pioneer of the hoteliers, with Bellwald, the favourite ski resort of families.
Because you have to know that Valais has a real vocation in winter holidays for the whole family. From this winter the snowXpark Bettmeralp in the Aletsch Arena offers to active families a new breathtaking and very low environmental impact: the E-Snowmobile electric traction, with which young people of all ages can run on special fenced slopes. Baschweri on Bettmeralp, the highest-altitude adventure park in Switzerland, will be opened in the second half of the winter season.
During the Kidsweek in Saas Grund the small adventure enthusiasts, born until 2008 included, for five days can try everything for free: equipment for skiing, skipass, ski lessons and children's dishes at the restaurant are included in the ski pass valid 5 days of Dad or Mom! Smaller children throughout the week can be lovingly cared about at«Hohsi-Nest» on Kreuzboden.
The newly renovated Hexenland winter park awaits youngsters and beginners skiers with fun obstacles. Bürchen is a paradise for children and appreciated by families. The playground «MOOSI’S Kids Snowpark» is made especially for children and inside can drive the snowmobiles alone. Children learn to ski while playing a special treasure hunt on the track for beginners between Veysonnaz and Thyon, as they follow the traces of an exciting mystery.
