Overview
Tour dates and prices
Equipment
Location
Essential Information
The Val d’Anniviers in the Valais area of the Swiss Alps is one of ski touring's best-kept secrets and offers huge potential for the adventurous skier. The area is characterised by high alpine terrain, deep valleys and charming alpine villages. This area is a fantastic antidote to the more heavily developed areas of the western Alps. Powder descents of 1,500m abound and there are many vast bowls where fresh tracks can be found even weeks after the last snowfall! The area features a high and comprehensive lift system and multiple slope aspects which ensure good conditions throughout the season. No mass tourism, no high-rise buildings, and few skiers off-piste; the area is attractive and traditional with only tentative signs of any new developments.
A single lift pass covers 4 areas: Zinal, Grimentz, St Luc and Vercoran - and the sheer volume of terrain on offer ensures that it’s unlikely we ski the same run twice!
A single lift pass covers 4 areas: Zinal, Grimentz, St Luc and Vercoran - and the sheer volume of terrain on offer ensures that it’s unlikely we ski the same run twice!
Day Itinerary
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You will meet Nick Parks in the morning for a briefing on the plans for 2 guided days.
DISCOUNTS
We’re pleased to offer an exclusive discount to members of the Ski Club of Great Britain. This offer applies to eligible bookings made by 31 December 2026 when a valid discount code is entered at checkout.
Click here to find your discount code.
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
When you book with Mountain Tracks, your money is protected. Please read on to understand how different types of holidays are protected.
Package holiday with flights
If you have booked a package holiday with flights departing the UK, your money is protected under our Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Our ATOL number is 4488. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, accommodation and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to www.caa.co.uk/atol-protection/.
In the unlikely event that Ski Safari becomes insolvent, the CAA will arrange any refund of your money paid to us before the start of your holiday. If you are already on holiday, the CAA will arrange your repatriation to the UK.
Package holiday without flights
If you have booked a package holiday without flights departing the UK, your money is protected through our membership of ABTA. Our ABTA membership number is Y3035. We have provided a bond to ABTA to meet the requirements of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 and you have the benefit of ABTA's assistance and Code of Conduct. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and ABTA go to www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/is-my-money-protected.
In the unlikely event that Ski Safari becomes insolvent, ABTA will arrange any refund of your money paid to us before the start of your holiday. If you are already on holiday, ABTA will arrange your repatriation to the UK.
Ski extras only bookings
Bookings for ski extras only (season passes etc.) are also protected through our membership of ABTA and our bond.
Payments
We accept payment by secure bank transfer direct to our account or by card (not Amex). We do not accept payment by cheque or in cash.
The Val d'Annivièrs is the most easterly French-speaking valley in southern Switzerland. From a skier's point of view, five of its many idyllic and picturesque villages: St. Luc, Chandolin, Zinal, Grimentz and Vercorin operate ski lifts and pistes all on the same ski pass. Each is a ski area in its own right and stretches between 1200m – 3000m in altitude. With skiing on all aspects of the compass, the valley is renowned for its variety of snow and the scope of its freeriding.
The area has a large network of lifts servicing 200km of pistes up to an altitude of almost 3,000m. The whole area is characterised by stunning high alpine terrain, deep valleys and charming villages. The main ski domains of Zinal, Grimentz, St Luc-Chandolin and Vercorin are well-connected by local buses. The area also has the advantages of being relatively unknown (and therefore not so busy) and easily accessible from Geneva, Zurich or Sion airports.
We rate Zinal and the Val d'Anniviers as one of the best areas for off-piste and backcountry skiing in the Alps.
Our top reasons to visit Zinal
- The off-piste terrain is as good as it gets anywhere in the Alps!
- Fresh snow can be skied here for days after other resorts have been tracked out
- Off the beaten track, but still within 3 hours of Geneva Airport - 2 hours if you hire a car as 3/4 of the journey is motorway!
- Among many excellent descents is the classic run down to the Moiry Dam, a must on a blue-sky powder day!
- The Imperial Crown Haute Route - a majestic 5-day ski tour that knocks the spots off many more well-known ski tours
Resort Height: 1,670m
Highest Lift: 3,000m
Nearest Airport: Geneva or Zurich
Accommodation in Zinal
We work with some of the hotels in the village of Zinal for other weeks like the Hotel Besso, Hotels offer comfortable accommodations plus good food. The village is small with a few shops and a good après ski bar called the Bar e VoX close to the bottom of the main lift at Sorebois.
Recommended Travel Options
The most convenient airport is Geneva followed by Zurich. The train is the best option for the onward journey from the airport to Zinal. Connections are regular and the total travel time is approximately 3hrs 15mins from Geneva with 2 changes and around 4hrs with 3 or 4 changes from Zurich Airport. To look up train timetables use this link Swiss Railway Timetables You can travel as far as Sierre in the main Rhone Valley by train, here you have to change to the Swiss Post Bus (Yellow) and you travel up the Val d'Anniviers by bus (you may need to change in Vissoie).
Alternatively, you can hire a car at the airport, driving time is approximately 2 hrs from Geneva and 2.5 hrs from Zurich.
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Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you are insured for your chosen activity and the cover must include medical expenses, personal accident, personal liability, third party risks and rescue (including helicopter rescue). You are strongly advised also to take out cover against cancellation and curtailment.
For UK residents Ski Club Travel Insurance may be a suitable option.
For more details and to purchase a policy online visit http://www.skiclubinsurance.co.uk/
If you need assistance arranging your personal insurance please let us know.
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Guide Information
All our ski tours are led by our team of IFMGA Mountain Guides. The team is led by Olly Allen, Matt Dickinson
Location
Zinal
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