The Val d'Annivièrs is a typical Walliser Valley with five idyllic and picturesque villages; St. Luc, Chandolin, Zinal, Grimentz and Vercorin which are all ski areas in their own right. They stretch between 1200m – 3000m. With skiing on all aspects of the compass the valley is reknowned for its variety of snow and the scope of its freeride domain.

We rate Zinal and the Val d'Anniviers as one of the best areas for off-piste and backcountry skiing in the Alps.

For our weeks in Zinal we stay in the newly renovated Auberge Edelweiss.
Our good friends Eric and Penny Kendall have created a fantastic chalet in the village of Mottec just 2 minutes from Zinal.
Find out more about the Auberge at www.skizinal.com

Getting to Auberge Edelweiss
By public transport:
The best way to get to Zinal is to fly to Geneva or Zurich and use public transport:
From the airport take the train to Sierre (Geneva 2 hrs, Zurich 2.5hrs). At the station catch a yellow Post Bus going to Zinal - you may need to change in Vissoie (the bus will be marked to one of these places). Ask the driver for Mottec (it's a request stop).
The bus journey takes just under 1 hour. The bus stops right outside the Auberge - the large balconied house with grey walled ground floor and timber above, fronting the road. The entrance is around the back of the building.
For train and bus times look at www.sbb.ch/en

By car:
From West: On motorway A9, pass Sierre west (ouest) exit and continue through tunnel. Turn off at the next junction (Sierre east), at the roundabout follow signs to Val d'Anniviers (first exit).
From East: Route 9 (from Brig direction) towards Sierre. Follow signs to Val d'Anniviers at the double roundabout, where you also see signs for the beginning of the motorway.

The journey up the hill will take about 35mins, the first section is very steep with tight hairpins.
Follow signs for Zinal. The Auberge is in Mottec, a hamlet 2km before Zinal. Driving up, after Ayer, you will eventually go up a steep road and through a short galleried tunnel. The road bends to the right and you come into Mottec. There is a blue village name sign, the Auberge is shortly after this on the right, before the yellow bustop and lefthand bend that goes over a bridge. If you go over the bridge you have gone too far. There is plenty of parking opposite the Auberge.