Travel to Villars with ski insurance from Essential Travel

The well-groomed ski slopes are complemented by an exquisite setting amid trees and mountain peaks. The village of Villars is graced with a sunny position on a scenic plateau above the Rhône Valley, with panoramic views of the snow-blanketed landscape. The village is relaxed and serene, with a full range of shops, tempting eateries and visitor services. Villars is a fabulous resort for any age group, and has been awarded the ‘Families Welcome’ accolade.

Villars is ideal beginners’ resort, with approximately 50 per cent of the 67 ski slopes suitable for this level. Intermediates are also well catered for, with 42 per cent of the pistes, but advanced skiers have only eight per cent of the total 100kms of downhill runs. The longest of the slopes measures 12kms, and the resort is serviced by 35 lifts. In addition to the standard pistes, there are some excellent off-piste trails, and 57kms of cross-country routes. Snowboarders have access to two excellent snow parks.

Après-ski is fairly calm, with a greater emphasis on fine dining and romantic evenings by roaring log fires than on a wild party scene, though the ski resort does have a handful of bars and discos to provide nightly entertainment. Accommodation is supplied by hotels, rental apartments and traditional chalets, presenting 4,800 beds in total.

The ski season at Villars runs from December to April, with optimal snow conditions in the middle of the season. Cheaper family and package deals are always available at the resort. The easiest way to access Villars is to fly to Geneva’s international airport and hire a car to complete the journey.

Skiing in Villars

Located on a sunny plateau above the Rhône Valley, between Martigny in Switzerland and the Château de Chillon end of Lake Geneva, Villars is a calm and beautiful ski resort that attracts a predominantly Swiss clientele and family groups.

Its well-manicured ski trails are just the beginning of the delights here – Villars is permeated with tempting shops, and the resort offers a diversity of off-slope activities, both indoor and outdoor.

The skiing in Villars is predominantly suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers, with 50 per cent and 42 per cent of the 67 slopes devoted to these levels respectively. Advanced skiers have only eight per cent of the total number of pistes. The longest run in Villars is a thigh-burning 12kms, allowing long-distance fans the opportunity to get the wind behind their skis. A system of 35 lifts services the slopes.

In addition to 100kms of downhill runs, Villars offers superb off-piste terrain and 57kms of cross-country skiing. There are two snow parks for snowboarders, and several ski and snowboard schools offering high-quality tuition.

The ski season at Villars extends from December to April, with snow conditions improving as the season progresses. The resort can be accessed by road, rail or air/road/rail transportation.

Apres-ski in Villars

One of Villars’ greatest attractions is its wide range of off-slope and après-ski activities. In addition to skiing, the resort offers hiking, ice-skating, mono-skiing, mountaineering, paragliding, sleigh riding and horseback riding. Nights are low-key, but never boring – the town’s small selection of bars and discos offer theme evenings and nightly off-slope entertainment, and Villars also hosts regular concert performances and folklore evenings to provide cultural sustenance.

Villars is well-equipped with visitor amenities; the town encompasses a multitude of fabulous restaurants, serving everything from Mexican food to traditional Raclette fare, and a plethora of shopping opportunities. There are also childcare facilities and several commendable ski schools.

Accommodation comes in all shapes and sizes, from hotels to rental apartments to traditional chalets, with about 4,800 beds available in total. Alternative winter activities in Villars are hiking, ice-skating, mono-skiing, mountaineering, paragliding, sleigh riding, and horseback riding. The village also hosts regular concert performances and folklore evenings. For alternative skiing, try the ski resorts of Les Diablerets and Leysin, in close proximity to Villars.

Les Diablerets is a particularly good destination at the beginning and end of the season, offering good snow conditions when most other resorts are lacking. Off the slopes, good sightseeing opportunities include the nearby Castle of Chillon, Gruyères Castle, and the magnificent Roman amphitheatre in Martigny.

Transportation to Villars

There are a number of practical methods of transportation to Villars ski resort, which is located in the southwest region of Switzerland. The easiest route is via air travel to Geneva, followed by either road transportation (hiring a car is the most convenient option), or rail transportation.

Self-drive from the UK is another option, and one which allows extensive freedom of movement at your own convenience. The journey from Calais is 793kms through France and Switzerland and takes approximately eight hours. Transportation across the English Channel prior to reaching France is supplied by car ferry or the Chunnel train service.

An alternative option is to fly to the international airport in Geneva and hire a car to access the resort. The route from the airport is via the A9 motorway, taking the Aigle exit. From Aigle, follow signs to the resort. From Zürich, Villars is 210kms from the resort and from Lyon, it is 240kms away. Villars has its own train station, making it easily accessible by rail. Take the Eurostar to Paris from Waterloo station in London or Ashford in Kent, and then catch a connecting, high-speed TGV train to Lausanne. From Lausanne, take a train to either Brex or to Aigle via Montreaux, and a final transfer (train from Brex or bus from Aigle) to the resort.

The closest international airport is in Geneva, 120kms away; the journey is approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes. From Geneva, you can either hire a car, and drive to the resort via the A-9 motorway and the Aigle exit; or take a train to Lausanne, then to Brex, where you can a connecting train to Villars.

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