Crans Montana is a Swiss resort that during the cold season becomes a destination for skiers and winter sports enthusiasts from all over Switzerland and beyond.
Crans and Montana are actually two mountain villages in the Swiss canton of Valais, located on a plateau at 1500 m. of height overlooking the Rhone Valley below: the relatively sunny climate even in winter makes the atmosphere of Crans Montana truly pleasant and lively to experience for sportsmen who want to make the most of this ski area.
From skiing and snowboarding to sledding, Crans Montana is ideal for athletes and those who want to try activities that are only possible in this corner of Switzerland, such as golf. Younger guests also choose Crans Montana for their ski holidays, thanks to the many places where they can enjoy classic après-ski.
Page Sections
Ski resorts
The Crans Montana ski area, located in the Sierre district, comprises 41 slopes spread across 140 km between 1510 m and 2927 m above sea level (including 3,5 km of floodlit slopes, including Verdets, which is open every Saturday evening). Located mostly on the southern slope, the Crans Montana slopes are suitable for all levels of skiers, from beginners to experienced athletes.
Discover the best offers for a snow holiday in the best Alpine chalets and huts in the Dolomites, the best facilities immersed in the heart of the Dolomites with typical Alpine style.
Discover the best holiday offers at the foot of the Dolomites in Val Gardena, holiday packages at advantageous prices in hotels and apartments in Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva di Val Gardena
Most of them develop on the peaks overlooking the spectacular Plaine Morte glacier (2927 m high), then descending into the valley towards the Haut Plateau golf course: skiing in Crans Montana means sliding on the snow with the Imperial Crown in the background, i.e. with a view of the Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Obergabelhorn peaks, the Matterhorn, the Dent Blanche and even Mont Blanc.
Those who want to test their skiing skills can reach the red runs of Crans Montana, in particular those that start from Chetseron, from Mont Lachauxo the splendid and challenging one that starts from Plaine Morte and then arrives in Marolires after an 8 km descent.
Skiing in Crans Montana is possible in winter but also until late March, thanks to the 280 snow cannons which guarantee satisfactory artificial snow, equal to 74%.
- impianti di risalita in Crans Montana there are 24, proving to be fast, comfortable and modern, with Les Violettes establishing itself as the most popular cable car, being the means to reach the Plaine Morte.
at the snowpark in Crans Montana, fun for snowboarders is guaranteed, with jumps, boxes and a superpipe of truly remarkable dimensions.
Anyone wishing to learn to snowboard or ski can attend one of Crans Montana's ski schools, one of which is located right on the Severiano Ballesteros golf course at the Crans Montana Sur Sierre Golf Club, which is also open in winter. There are ski lifts and two magic carpets on the so-called Driving Range Snow Island, perfect for learning to ski in complete safety.
Children, on the other hand, can spend a few hours of fun in the Arnouva area , a stone's throw from the mountain station of the Montana-Arnouva cable car that departs from the centre of the village of Montana: adults can sunbathe on the panoramic terraces in the centre, of which there are generally at least 15 in total in Crans Montana, while the little ones can have fun in the Jardin des Nelges.
What to do in winter
Everyone thinks that a ski holiday is just about endless skiing, but that's not the case, especially in Crans Montana, where there are so many activities you can do on the snow, in the clean, open air that you breathe in this beautiful Swiss resort.
Cross-country skiers will find 35 km of suitable trails winding through the woods or atop the Plaine Morte glacier, with a truly spectacular circular route at over 3000 meters. There are also the Briesses trails and those within the Severiano Ballesteros golf course itself.
There are 15 ski mountaineering itineraries , totaling 89 km, for both experts and beginners, for whom the extremely challenging X'Trême section, complete with four climbs, is dedicated. The ski mountaineering itineraries in Crans Montana are part of the Ski Rando Park area and were all created in collaboration with ski mountaineering champion Séverine Pont-Combe.
In Crans Montana, you can whizz down sledding on the five slopes, play curling and ice skating on the ice rinks, or go freeriding and heliskiing . There's also plenty of opportunity to play golf on the snow at the Crans Montana Sur Sierre Golf Club, or ride a fatbike at the Apres-Ski Fatbike or Early Bird Fatbike.
Those who love more relaxed atmospheres can always indulge in some snowshoeing or a romantic walk along the wonderful Lantern Trail, which connects Etang Long with Lake Moubra, in a nocturnal atmosphere that brings to mind glimpses worthy of fairy tales and fairy beings.
Snow holidays
Athletes and young people will find Crans Montana the ideal location to spend the perfect skiing week, enjoying sports activities on the snow and moments of joy and leisure. In this ski resort in the Sierre district, après-ski is an unmissable ritual for young people who, after long skiing, stop at the refuges or ski lifts to enjoy a drink to the rhythm of music from DJ sets .
Paintball game sessions take place in the Moubra Forest, not far from the lake of the same name, where you wander around the woods camouflaged by the snow, looking for the "enemy" to hit with colored gel.
Crans Montana is therefore a resort suitable for young people, but also for those who love to enjoy life at the table: in fact, there is no better place than the local mountain huts to savour the local specialities such as Raclette, Valais Dried Meat PGI and chouera savoury tart , all energy-giving foods that provide the fuel needed to hit the slopes of the Crans Montana resort.
