Skiing in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, largely mirrors the genteel nature of its twin towns: the south-facing pistes are predominantly blue and red runs, with a smattering of more challenging black options – all with stupendous views. Stay at Ultima Crans-Montana for ski-in/ski-out luxury, with Les Planches ski slope on your doorstep and the heart of the resort just a short chauffeured drive away.
Not just piste deep
A perfect Crans-Montana ski day would start with a ride up to Bella Lui (2,543 m) to catch the last golden hues of sunrise, before letting rip on corduroy groomers all the way down to the village. Play around on the quiet reds below the Violettes gondola and then head up to Plaine Morte to tackle the 13 km black Kandahar piste. If that’s too sedate, dig deeper and test your mettle on the Nationale, where the world’s best skiers will do battle in the 2025 Alpine Skiing World Cup Men’s Downhill.
Crans-Montana also offers plenty beyond downhill skiing, including a dedicated ski touring area, Le Rando Parc. With 17 routes of varying ability, the greatest challenge here is the aptly-named “L’Xtrême”, which has tourers tackling 3,000 m of ascent. There’s also a high-altitude cross-country trail atop the Plaine Morte glacier and further scenic trails around the Moubra lake, in the Les Briesses forest.
Dining with altitude
It takes something of a connoisseur to be in on the secret of Swiss wines, with the country exporting a mere 2% of its creations each year. You basically have to be on Swiss soil to enjoy the crisp, mineral-rich beauty of a prime Chasselas or the gutsy warmth of a Humagne Rouge. Happily, as the producer of one third of Swiss wines, the Valais is the ideal spot in which to get acquainted with some of its finest vintages, and our own in-house sommelier is perfectly poised to introduce you to the very best bottles.
Crans-Montana boasts two Michelin-starred restaurants: chef Yannick Crepaux’s LeMontBlanc (lecrans.com) and L’Ours by Franck Reynaud, (pasdelours.ch). Reynaud also oversees the mountain restaurant La Cabane des Violettes (cabanedesviolettes.ch) with local guide Pierre-Olivier Bagnoud. The duo offer classy mountain fare at the dinky hut, which is all rough-hewn stone and candy-cane striped wooden shutters perched at an altitude of 2,208 m.
For quintessentially Swiss food and wine at lower altitude, drop into the family-owned Le Mayen (mayen.ch). A Crans institution, the cosy spot has been run by the Bonvin Clivaz family since 1968 and serves almost exclusively Valaisian produce, including over 10 different local raclette cheeses. Meanwhile, dining at Ultima Crans-Montana is pure indulgence. Perhaps it’s your private chef conjuring up an in-chalet feast or Champagne and caviar appearing beside the outdoor Jacuzzi – every bite feels like it was made just for you.
The scene
Crans-Montana is well accustomed to hosting guests who chose not to ski, or at least strike a balance between the pistes and other diversions. Join the locals for a stroll along the Chemin des Lanternes – a magical trail illuminated by soft lanterns that leads from the centre of Crans to Lake Moubra – and an apéro at La Plage restaurant and bar. Mix up high-octane experiences like paragliding, heliskiing and husky sledding with more mindful snowshoeing, moonlight ski touring and horse riding, or sinking into a red velvet chair at the frozen-in-time Cinécran cinema.
Whether or not you’ve been skiing, grab a gondola to the top of Cry d’Er for live music each afternoon at the pumping Club Altitude before hitting the legendary Zero Dix at the bottom of the same lift. With rough timber tables and chairs dotted with cheery red cushions and jeroboams of Champagne, Zero Dix is the epitome of classy Alpine après. Watch the sunset blush the snow-clad mountains above you the same colour as the rosé and embrace that wondrous liberation that only dancing in your ski boots and thermals can bring.
To find out more and book your stay at Ultima Crans-Montana, please get in touch with our team.
Top image: courtesy of @cransmontana.
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