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SKIING

When do the ski resorts open in Switzerland this year?

If you are desperate to get on the ski slopes some ski resorts in Switzerland open as early as November with most others opening in December.

Published: 27 October 2023 11:49 CEST
When do the ski resorts open in Switzerland this year?
Some Swiss ski resorts start their winter season as early as November. Photo by Valentine Kulikov from Pexels.

The ski season in Switzerland usually begins in December and runs until the end of April.

However, weather and snow conditions permitting, you may just be able to hit the slopes as early as November this year.

November 2023

If you’re hoping to get a head start on the slopes, we have good news for you. Some Swiss ski resorts, such as the La Robella in Jura, are set to open from early November. While the family resort is on the small side (15 km2 ski area), it is accessible to everyone – beginner or pro, skier or snowboarder.

Adult sports fans can take in the magical scenery for 29 Swiss francs (day rate) as they whisk down the pistes of Val-de-Travers, which is easily accessible by train from Neuchâtel. Children (up to 18 years old) pay 22 Swiss francs, while seniors and children aged 8 years and under can ski for free.

According to bergfex, the resort is set to open on November 1st alongside the following Swiss ski resorts:

Crêt-du-Puy – Jura & Drei-Seen-Land

Chapeau Rablé – Jura & Drei-Seen-Land

Les Breuleux – Jura & Drei-Seen-Land

Les Bugnenets Jura & Drei-Seen-Land

Les Genevez – Jura & Drei-Seen-Land

Zermatt – Wallis

From November 2nd, winter sport enthusiasts can head to Ovronnaz, a small holiday resort with a thermal spa at an altitude of between 1400 and 2500 metres.

Additionally, these ski resorts in Switzerland will also open their slopes next month:

Mythenregion – Luzern (November 3rd)

Nendaz / 4 Vallées – Wallis (November 7th)

Davos Klosters Parsenn (November 10th)

Veysonnaz / 4 Vallées – Wallis (November 18th)

Engelberg Titlis (November 18th)

Obergoms – Valais (November 18th)

On November 23rd, the international Silvretta Arena in Samnaun/Ischgl – with 239 kilometres of slopes and 45 modern lifts in Switzerland and Austria – opens its doors to winter sport athletes.

READ MORE: Swiss Alps ski resorts set to re-open but skiers face rise in prices

From November 25th, you can also ski here:

Corvatsch – Graubünden

Corviglia – Graubünden

Davos Jakobshorn – Graubünden

Seebodenalp – Luzern

Chäserrugg – eastern Switzerland

December 2023

December marks what some call the traditional ski season start in Switzerland and as such sees some of Switzerland’s largest (and most famous) resorts send down their first ski lift of the winter season.

Describing itself as a glamorous winter playground, Verbier – the main resort of the 4 Vallées ski area – attracts visitors with its phenomenal skiing (the summit of Mont Fort is the highest peak in the 4 Vallées), high-quality accommodation and outstanding restaurants and bars. The resort opens on December 4th this winter season.

See below the December opening dates for Swiss ski resorts:

December 1st

Aeschi – Berner Oberland

Habkern – Berner Oberland

Selital – Bern and Bern region

St. Cergue – Vaud/Geneva

December 2nd

Arosa Lenzerheide – Graubünden

Brunni-Bahnen Engelberg – Lucerne

Flims Laax Falera – Graubünden

Jaun Gastlosen – Freiburg Region

Lenk – Berner Oberland

Savognin – Graubünden

Tanzboden – eastern Switzerland

Urnäsch – eastern Switzerland

December 6th

Crans-Montana – Valais

December 8th

Aletsch Arena – Valais

Lauchernalp – Valais

READ MORE: Swiss ski resorts won’t survive without artificial snow: study

December 9th

Airolo – Pesciüm – Ticino

Ghöch – Zurich

La Dôle – Vaud/Geneva

La Tzoumaz – Valais

Pizol – Ostschweiz

Rochers de Naye – Vaud/Geneva

Scuol Motta Naluns – Grisons

Brambrüesch – Graubünden

December 10th

Elsigenalp – Berner Oberland

Obermutten – Graubünden

December 15th

Anzère – Valais

Obersaxen Mundaun – Grisons

December 16th

Arolla – Valais

December 17th

Thyon / 4 Vallées – Valais

On Christmas eve, the village of Les Marécottes makes for the perfect winter break destination. In addition to hiking and skiing opportunities, visitors can also drop by the nearby Alpine zoo to see wolves, foxed, black bears, wild boards and many rare birds.

The ski resort, which is nestled between Chamonix, Verbier and the Portes du Soleil, is ideal for families and benefits from 100 percent natural snow cover. This year, the resort is set to open on December 24th.

The last ski resorts to open in Switzerland in December are the Davos Pischa in Grisons and the Kiental in Berner Oberland. Both will welcome winter sports enthusiasts from December 26th.

January 2023

Fribourg-based Les Paccots already had to close last year’s season early due to poor weather conditions. This season, it is scheduled to open on January 20th.

Les Paccots – which first opened doors 85 years ago – has a maximum altitude of 1500 metres, 11 lifts and 1 night ski slope. An adult day ticket will set you back 39 Swiss francs, while apprentice students pay 31 Swiss francs and children (up to 16 years old) pay 27 Swiss francs.

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HIKING

The seven best hikes around Geneva

There are some great one day hikes within easy reach of the Swiss city of Geneva but some are easier than others, writes Monty Pierce Jones.

Published: 11 April 2024 16:32 CEST
The seven best hikes around Geneva

When you walk across the Pont du Mont Blanc in the centre of Geneva you notice that you can’t actually see Mont Blanc itself. 

Instead, what catches your eye are a series of smaller, but no less iconic, mountains: Le Salève, Les Voirons, and Le Môle which make up the backdrop of Rive Gauche, and when looking the other way it is impossible to miss the Jura, with Crêt de la Neige and La Dôle being the more eye-catching summits of “Switzerland’s spine”.

These foothills hug the Geneva metropolitan area (forming la cuvette genevoise) – and other than trapping pollution, they offer some brilliant hiking for locals and visitors alike. 

Here are 7 of the best.

Le Salève

The Salève, is known as the balcony of Geneva. The main backdrop of this Swiss city is found in… France, like almost every other hike on this list. It feels like a great limestone wave about to crash onto you: the “French side” builds up slowly to the abrupt cliffs, striations, and quarry of the “Genevois side”. Frankenstein’s monster scales this perpendicular face in Mary Shelley’s book.

I’m not suggesting you follow in Frankenstein’s footsteps exactly, but you too can climb the Salève. Here are two recommended routes:

Via Le Pas de l’Échelle

This four and half hour, 4.4km hike offers an easier walk – but it’s not to be underestimated. Le Pas de l’Échelle is the historic way up the hill, its carved stone step sections attest to its 14th century roots. Park at the Gare de Départ of the Téléphérique (15 minute drive from Geneva’s centre, 40 minutes with a walk if you take the 8 bus) and head towards Chemin du Bois Meriguet. After an hour or so you’ll pass through the lovely village of Monnetier nestled between the Petit and Grand Salève – before reaching the “Panorama”, where you might catch a few paragliders taking off.

Via Chemin de la Grande Gorge

This is a more difficult hike – both longer and steeper than Le Pas de l’Échelle. As the name suggests, it follows the “big gorge” that cuts through this part of the Salève. It winds its way through the couloir before cutting left towards the “Panorama”. It is a more adventurous, secluded climb, and was apparently used by smugglers back in the day. Start from the same spots as Le Pas de l’Échelle.

You can go up one way and down the other to mix things up.

Get more info on trekking La Salève.

Le Signal des Voirons

Le Massif des Voirons (1,480 m) reaches higher than the more dramatic Salève (1,379 m) despite often being overshadowed by it.

This is an injustice, as getting to the top earns you the best 360 degree view on this list. Les Dents du Midi are viewable from the top. It is also wilder than Le Salève, so keep an eye out for orchids, chamois, and if you’re really lucky, a lynx.

Start from the Lac de Machilly parking (30 minutes by car) or the Machilly station (45 minutes by train via Annemasse) and head towards Chemin du Sauget. Turn right on Route du Seujet and you’ll find yourself at the signposted start of the five hour – 17 km loop of Les Voirons.

Le Môle

Le Môle sits further back from the city, but at 1,863 metres (the tallest mountain on this list) it is no molehill. In fact, it has one of the most recognisable silhouettes in the region: a near-perfect pyramid. It too was mentioned by Shelley in Frankenstein.

For an easy, sunny four hour – 9 km hike, drive 40 minutes to Saint-Jean-de-Tholome, park at Chez Beroud, and head towards the summit.

Petit Salève Loop

Park at the Château d’Etrembières (20 minute drive from the centre – can also take the 17 tram and walk). Head towards the forest and walk for around 2 hours hours. You will eventually reach the Camp des Allobroges near the summit. The Allobroges were the Celtic tribe that founded Geneva, they may even have helped Hannibal cross the Alps.

The remnants of their hillfort (or oppidum) – placed there as a symbol of control – are probably the best thing about the hike. The 6km loop should take you about four hours. On the way up you’ll have great views of Geneva and the Jura, and on the way back of Mont Blanc and the Môle.

Chemin de La Dôle

This hike is the only one on this list that is wholly in Switzerland, funnily enough. La Dôle is known for the iconic weather dome that you can easily spot from Le Jardin Anglais.

The views from the summits of the other hikes on this list, as wonderful as they are, do cross-over a fair amount: you can spot Le Môle from Les Voirons and vice versa; they all have great views of Geneva and the Massif du Mont Blanc.

La Dôle offers something different, you get a better sense of l’arc lémanique, and more expansive views of the alps (especially the Bernese and Chablais Alps). It is the furthest out from Geneva, at an hour by train or 45 minutes by car, but it’s worth it.

Le Chemin de La Dôle (SuisseMobile route 116) is a long but easy hike. You will likely walk 15km in 5 hours. You should start in La Givrine and end in St Cergue, though you can keep going to Nyon and in doing so complete the last stage of the Jura Crest Trail (SuisseMobile route 5).

Le Reculet + Crêt de la Neige

This is the hardest hike on this list, if you’re up to it you’ll reach the highest point in the Jura mountains. Le Reculet and Crêt de la Neige don’t jut out much from the Jura range but you can spot them from around the city. Next time you find yourself on one of the stops of the 12 tram in Rive Gauche, look up and you’ll realise that they are often framed by Geneva’s low-rise buildings.

It will take you 40 minutes by car to get to the trailhead (Tiocan, Thoiry), or 1h40 minutes by public transport (50 minutes to Thoiry – take the 18 tram and the 68 bus – and 50 minutes walk). Be prepared for a 13.5 km, 7 hour hike – and a view that encompasses every other peak on this list. It’s worth it.

Further reading:

The websites Monts de Geneve offers more info for treks in the area.

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