La Tzoumaz – Verbier
Sitting at 1,500m above sea level in the beautiful Swiss Canton of Valais, La Tzoumaz is a small but well-appointed resort with a charming village atmosphere. It also benefits from the distinct advantage of being part of Verbier, the centrepiece of the popular 4 Vallées ski area.
One of the lesser-known Swiss resorts, La Tzoumaz is a hidden gem popular as a winter destination with many keen skiers who value a relaxed rustic alpine village experience while having convenient access to all the action of neigbouring Verbier.
Its attractiveness as an all-year-round holiday destination, particularly in winter, and its family-friendly appeal is what originally drew us to the resort and where we are now happy to call our second home.
Winter
The ski resort of La Tzoumaz is part of the 4 Vallées ski area, which covers 410 km of pistes. Its village is compact and welcoming, with an open air ice-rink in the village square.
Skiers and snowboarders of all abilities from beginner to expert will find lots to enjoy but it will be intermediates who will have the most to smile about. For families with children of different ages, the variety of runs and the surrounding terrain will keep everybody happy.
The snow conditions will keep better on the north-facing slopes whilst the south-facing pistes offer the chance to top up your tan. But it’s not just for skiers and snowboarders. For those who love other winter activities such as sledging, snowshoeing, ice-skating or just simply relaxing in the alpine sun will be charmed by the peace & tranquility of La Tzoumaz.
Audi Quattro “Funslope”
The Funslope in La Tzoumaz is a recent innovation, a hybrid of familiar terrain like a ski run, freestyle funpark and boardercross track. It’s situated on open slopes at an altitude of 2,226m with stunning panoramic views of the Valais Alps and the four-seater “Taillay” chair leads directly to where the action takes place. It’s the ideal place for children to learn the basics of freestyle and enjoy tackling a course strewn with fun obstacles before venturing over to the Verbier funpark that will provide them with exciting new challenges.
Purpose-built every season, the Funslope is packed with great features such as bumps, jumps, banked turns, tunnels and a “snail”, a 360 degree loop on the course that is especially popular with children. Two highlights along the 440m course are a 10m long twister and a 15m long curved wall ride section. A sensational experience for all the family is guaranteed.
Summer
The village of La Tzoumaz is blessed by being situated in the heart of an unspoiled region of the beautiful alpine countryside that has its roots in agriculture and wine-making. In summer, it is a destination in its own right, attracting visitors from all over with the extensive variety of family activities and sports it has to offer.
There is a seemingly endless choice of walks including some wonderful themed trails that will particularly appeal to families. The “Sentier des Sens” (“Trail of the Senses”) is a beautiful stroll through 2.7km of woodland. Suitable for nature-lovers of all ages and abilities, it is fully accessible by pushchairs and wheelchairs. The “Sentier des Fables” forest walk, also known as the “Bear’s Puddle” or “Eagles’ Nest”, is another magical experience lined with fabulous wood-carved characters that will delight children and adults alike.
Close by at the foot of the chalet, there is another delightful trail that runs alongside a bisse, a little canal that in the past has served to provide irrigation to neighbouring areas. For the more adventurous, there are also plenty of mountain bike and scooter trails to be found nearby.
A tennis court and an indoor swimming pool are also only a short walk from the chalet and the central square in the village also offers a range of other attractions including an adventure playground, badminton courts and table tennis tables.
The Tourist Office and its partners also organise various activities and events throughout the summer to showcase the culture and heritage of this alpine region, especially its local food and drink.
Verbier Infinite Playground
A recent innovation that has transformed summer holidays in La Tzoumaz has been the introduction of the Televerbier VIP pass which is provided free of charge once you’ve booked your accommodation and paid the local Tourist Tax.
It includes free pedestrian use of the ski lift network, which means for guests staying in La Tzoumaz the summer attractions of Verbier are now available without the need to purchase a lift pass or to drive over and back to the resort, as was required in the past.
Once in Verbier you can enjoy the big open-air swimming pool there for free as well. For mountain bikers the cost of the lift pass is reduced by 50%.