6 best ski resorts near Lake Geneva
Find out which are the best ski resorts within an hour of the Swiss towns of Montreux and Lausanne - Lake Geneva
We have skied most of the resorts in the Valais area and there are many nearby gems with world-class skiing and facilities for all abilities.
One of the great things about the resorts in the east of canton Vaud and the lower Valais is their proximity to the popular towns of Lausanne and Montreux at the east end of Lake Geneva.
This makes them perfect for a weekend break or day trip for residents living near the lake.
SnowPros Ski School Director Dave has picked his favourite ski resorts that are within an hours drive from Lake Geneva.
1.Villars
Journey time: 45min Lausanne : 30min Montreux
‘I love to ski in Villars. I love the sense of history about the place which is one of the original places to ski in Switzerland. I love to ski back down at the end of the day and race the train down from Bretaye. You ski next to the train line that comes up from the valley below all the way back down to the telecabine at Roc d’Orsay. There is a lovely natural mogul field on the left as you exit the tunnel that goes under the tracks.’
‘The terrain in Bretaye is perfect for beginners and lower intermediates and it's a great place to teach with a friendly atmosphere, nice restaurants and a lovely climate.’
2. Verbier
Journey time: 1h15 Lausanne : 1hr Montreux
‘When we get a chance to go and ski in Verbier, it often feels like we are taking a trip to a big city. The town is massive compared to the alpine villages that we normally teach in.’
‘Verbier is linked into the 4 Valleys ski area which means you can also ski Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Thyon, Bruson and La Tzoumaz. The skiing is big in scale and there is accessible off piste everwhere. If you are a powder hound, it’s the place to go. A secret tip on a powder day is to head to the tree lined slopes of Bruson instead.’
‘One of the lesser known things about Verbier though is that the La Chaux area is perfect for those coming out of the beginner areas and making their first turns on gentle blue slopes.’
3.Morgins
Journey time: 50min Lausanne : 35min Montreux
‘This is our most popular resort at the weekends. It has super easy access, especially with the new telecabine going in this winter, really quiet slopes and fantastic terrain for all levels. It’s a great spot for weekend skiing and there is something about the light and the trees that means I love skiing in Morgins, it’s a really special place.’
‘Morgins is a charming little Valais village in the Portes du Soleil ski area and is the last Swiss resort before you cross over into the French Haute Savoie. Start a lot of our beginner clients there because the facilities for beginner skiers are excellent. There is a hidden slope at the top of the village called the Geant, which is pretty much the most perfect slope I’ve ever seen for turning snowplough skiers into parallel skiers.’
4.Chatel
Journey time: 60min Lausanne: 45min Montreux
‘We aren’t often over the other side of the border skiing with our French brothers and sisters but when we do, we love to ski in Chatel, in the Portes du Soleil.’
‘Chatel is a typical Haute Savoie village which has managed to retain much of its character despite a massive amount of development in recent years.’
‘It has great facilities for all levels at Pre La Joux but it does get really busy at peak times. A pro tip to avoid the crowds is to head for the Barbossine or Super Chatel sectors. They are usually deserted but they do have a few drag lifts which is enough to put some people off.’
5.Champery
Journey time: 50min Lausanne: 35min Montreux
‘I'm always really happy when we have clients book with us to ski in Champery. I always think of Champery as a sort of mini, unspoilt Verbier but with lots more alpine charm and friendliness.
There is something magical about heading up on the big red Planachaux cable car up to 2000m and walking out onto the snow into panoramic views of the Dents du Midi and Dents Blanche.
6.Saas Fee
Journey time: 2h10 Lausanne: 1h55 Montreux
‘Ok so this is a further than an hour but I love Saas Fee and it’s worth a trip if you have the time.’
‘I love it for the car free, other world-like, germanic village that it is, as well as the glacier that gives us our easy access summer skiing and the amazing autumn skiing that often offers up over 1000 vertical metres in early November.’
‘If you take a trip there in the winter, you’ll be amazed how cold it is but it’s a great skiing experience you should try once. The sheer scale of the 12 4000m plus mountains
If you want to ski with a Snowpros instructor in any of these resort send us a message.