What to Do in Verbier with Children this Winter
Verbier is famous for amazing off-piste skiing and great nightlife, but it’s also a perfect place for a family vacation. There are so many activities you can enjoy with your loved ones, from husky sled rides and winter hiking to hut sleepover and snowshoeing. And when you spend such a holiday in Verbier, you’ll always want to come back.
Image by Norbert Höldin from Pixabay
When it comes to the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world, the Alps surely belong to that group. The Swiss Alps, to be precise, have a lot to offer to tourists during the snowy season.
However, one place stands out due to its family-friendliness. Verbier is a beautiful cozy town that can be the next perfect getaway that both you and your family will absolutely adore. Family ski holidays Verbier are extremely popular among adults and kids.
And the reason is that there are a myriad of things to do there.
Delicious family dinner
If you’ve talked with people who have been to Verbier, you know that there’s a great family friendly restaurant in Verbier that you have to visit. It’s called Chez Dany and it’s a slope-side restaurant hidden away in the woods of Clambin.
This place is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Verbier thanks to its delicious food, cozy lodge interior, and warm atmosphere that never fails to deliver. The food is made from locally sourced and fresh ingredients and it will tell you the whole story of the magnificent Swiss cuisine.
Pick up your little ones and your significant other and walk the 15 minutes walk from the town center to Clambin. There you will be collected by the snowcat and transported to the Chez Dany restaurant.
However, there is something you absolutely need to try on your way back. Bring a head torch and toboggan and make your descent from the restaurant with an amazing ride back into Verbier. You and your loved ones will never forget this experience.
Hut sleepover
Image by michaelahasieber from Pixabay
Spending a night in a traditional mountain hut in Verbier can be a really nice family event.
Imagine climbing up and staying in a secluded mountain hut where you get to share your thoughts in front of a warm fireplace while you wait for your food to be cooked.
Cabane Mont-Forte, sitting at a whopping 2,457m, offers a little more luxury than other traditional mountain huts while providing its guests with a pretty rustic experience.
It is located below the Bec des Rosses and can be reached from both the Verbier or Nendaz ski lifts and the La Chaux-Gentiannes gondola.
Pack your things, take the last lift, and ski down to the cabin or try snowshoeing to the place. The whole cabin experience is magical and quite affordable (under 90CHF per night).
Ski school
Skiing can be a great hobby and a winter activity that will keep you and your family in good health. But if your children are still not familiar with skiing, they should go to a ski school and learn how to do it.
To take full advantage of your Verbier family ski pass, you first need to graduate from skiing school. The instructors are familiar with working with kids at the European Snowsport Ski school and every group size is tailored so that children of similar ages can ski together.
The school has a great reputation and high standards, so that’s why you should enroll your kids there if they show interest in skiing.
Their lessons for children are great and they cater for 3 to 5-year-olds (the penguin group), 6 to 12-year-olds, and teenagers. All children are allocated to separate groups and no group is larger than 6 members per 1 instructor.
Allow your children to learn how to master the slopes of Verbier early on and you’ll surely come back every year to ski together there.
Husky sled rides
Husky sled rides or TakiTrek rides are something kids simply adore. They are the good old dog sled rides that are always fun and one of the relaxing activities where you get to take in the beauty of Swiss nature.
As a family, you can book a tour that will take you from Ruinettes through a cross country 5km course with just a sled and your team of dogs. The adrenaline will be pumping and you’ll get to see the beautiful scenery of winter Verbier. This is indeed a must-do activity if you want to experience the best family ski holidays Verbier can offer.
However, know that there is a half-day initiation process where your guide will introduce you to the dogs and show you the ropes so that you can harness them and ride with them on snow.
A quick stop for a break or a chat is available and you can get a photo with the whole pack of dogs ‘powering’ the tour. Keep in mind that some adults find it a bit physically demanding, but kids won’t have such troubles since they can ride in your lap.
Snowshoeing
Did you know that Verbier has some stunning ranges and winter trails that cover the whole valley? That’s where you can really do some great snowshoeing.
If you do snowshoeing, you and your loved ones will get to experience some of the most beautiful parts of the mountain. You will get to see this world-famous place from a different perspective and you will definitely like it.
So, buckle up and bring your little ones with you. There are guided tours of these trails that suit groups of all abilities. You can even choose a nightfall track if you want to see what this magic looks like when the sun goes down.
Climbing (indoor)
In the winter, it’s very unlikely that you’ll want to make a change of scenery and take a break from snow activities. But just in case, you should know that indoor climbing is a great option for your family if you decide to step back from the magical outdoors.
Verbier has a sports center that features great indoor climbing facilities. It has a 600m2 wall designed for climbing where you and your loved ones can pick from more than 50 climbing routes for a range of abilities.
Keep in mind that children under 14 need to be accompanied by their caretaker. The equipment is available there for rent and if you need a climbing course, you can also take one there.
Get a massage
This is not a winter activity per se but similarly to indoor climbing, it is worth considering.
When you get tired from skiing, snowshoeing, and exploring the magical mountain range and Verbier, wouldn’t it be wise to take a few hours off your day and get a rejuvenating massage?
Verbier has a lot of day spas, massage parlors, and treatment facilities if you want to unwind and relax for a moment.
There are even sports therapists and professional masseurs available who can cater to your specific needs if you need to address a particular pain point on your body. Wellness and spa centers are easy to find since almost all hotels have them and they are open to outside visitors.
Cross-country skiing
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
Verbier takes special pride in its four designated cross-country skiing circuits. These vary in length from 2.4km to 6km and they are suitable for skating or classic style cross-country skiing.
You and your loved ones can rent XC ski boots and light skis and poles at an affordable price from most sports stores in Verbier.
If you guys are not familiar with this activity, you can book a group or private lesson where you will go through the basics before you embark on your own journey. On top of that, various adventure companies offer cross-country skiing guiding, tours, and lessons too.
Just make sure to bring a cross-country skiing map to be 100% sure that you’ll find your way easily.
Winter hiking
Hiking in Verbier is always great, but it becomes very special during the snowy season.
If you like going on a good hike, this just might do it for your family. Leave the buzz of Verbier and hike on foot to the ruins of Le Chateau along a winter trail through the woods with stunning views of Valais and the Rhone Valley. You will appreciate the amazing landscapes and you can rest assured that your family will never forget them.
Discover Alps through heli-skiing
This activity is a bit expensive, but it’s worth every penny you’re going to spend on it.
Discovering the Alps through heli-skiing is an amazing experience. You will get to experience everything from above on a helicopter and you should take in as much as your eyes can provide.
You and your family can fly above the famous summits of Mont-Blanc, the Matterhorn, Les Dents Blanches. You can then take a descent when you feel like you have reached a comfortable track.
Final words
Verbier can be amazing if you manage to pick great activities for your family. Fortunately enough, you can’t make a mistake when choosing.If you want to have a family ski holidays Verbier offers, you will only need a place to stay while you are here. So, feel free to take a look at available Verbier real estate for rent. When you find great accommodation, that will only add to the adventure your family is about to embark on.
