Crans-Montana Ski Holidays
The popular resort of Crans-Montana is the combination of the Valais towns of Crans-sur-Sierre and Montana, who together, form the Crans-Montana ski area and one of Switzerland’s largest and most spectacular ski resorts. The resort sits east of Verbier on a sunny, south-facing plateau, high above the Rhone Valley. It holds the record of being one of the sunniest resorts in the country and also has some of the most stunning, mountain scenery one can wish to behold in the Alps. The combination of the towns has helped create a fantastic, urban community in the mountains that has earned an increasingly high volume of visitors every season. Often referred to as the créme de la créme of Swiss Alpine resorts, this sun-drenched ski resort is indeed one of the country’s most visited resorts. It can also be viewed as one of the area's most complete ski resorts thanks to its brilliant piste conditions and height, fantastic, pedestrian resort centre with awesome shopping experiences, great accommodation and relatively decent airport transfer time.
Crans-Montana boasts a vast and diverse ski area suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. With groomed slopes and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, visitors can enjoy a variety of terrain, from gentle beginner slopes to challenging off-piste runs. The resort's high altitude ensures excellent snow conditions throughout the winter season, making it a favourite destination for winter sports enthusiasts.
Crans-Montana boasts a vast and diverse ski area suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. With groomed slopes and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, visitors can enjoy a variety of terrain, from gentle beginner slopes to challenging off-piste runs. The resort's high altitude ensures excellent snow conditions throughout the winter season, making it a favourite destination for winter sports enthusiasts.
The dynamism of Crans-Montana allows it to appeal to a wide number of ski holidaymakers each year as it has a lot to offer. It has an impressive snowsports pedigree which dates back to 1911 and the first-ever Alpine Ski Cup; it has also received the award of ‘Family Destination’ given to it by the Swiss Tourism Federation thanks to its family-focused offerings and services. The resort also has a large, world-class indoor and outdoor multi-sports action complex designed for skiers and snowboarders offering fantastic training facilities. Skiers to Crans-Montana have access to 140 kilometres of sunny ski slopes that range between 1,500 metres and 3,000 metres altitude. The ski terrain here is a mixture of wooded slopes, wide-open runs and very good off-piste opportunities. It collaborated with Séverine Pont-Combe, an accomplished ski-mountaineering champion to present perhaps, the world's first ski touring park, The Rando Park, which has 15 ski tour routes and up to 40 kilometres of paths. There is so much more to offer at Crans-Montana, but first, check out what we make of the skiing in the resort below.
Crans-Montana mountain area is divided into four areas which are Crans, Montana, main sectors, from west to east: Crans, Montana, Barzettes-Violettes, and Aminona; which also includes the Plaine Morte glacier. They can all be accessed via either a gondola lift or a free half-hourly shuttle service.
Crans-Montana offers a fantastic skiing experience for all ski ability levels at the resort. Skiers here can enjoy splendid views of the mountain range with views ranging from the towering Matterhorn in the east to Mont Blanc in the west. The ski terrain includes tree-lined slopes, long reds, a few gentle blues and off course, the slopes coming down the 3,000 metre Plaine Morte glacier.
Beginners to the resort will enjoy the quiet slopes coming down Aminona which are accessible via shuttle from Barzettes however, starting off the Cry d’Er, which has the most gentle blues is perhaps the best option for beginners.
Crans-Montana is best suited to intermediate skiers, which majority of the runs here comprised of cruisy reds and mid-range blue runs. Intermediate skiers can also start the day nice and easy on Cry d’Er before tackling the reds on Petit Mont Bonvin. Confident intermediates can also attempt the 11-kilometre Plaine Morte red coming down the glacier.
The resort does not feature several black runs with only a few to be found on Petit Mont Bonvin, Bellalui and a steep drop from the Plaine Morte glacier. Advanced and expert skiers also will love the high altitudes and off-piste opportunities found at La Tza or Chetzeron.
Crans-Montana might very well be a Snowboarders dreamland with free riders, carvers and freestylers all very well taken care of. Sun-soaked, snow-sure, long, cruisy runs on perfect gradients to ensure riders are stuck on flats. The best and most fresh powder can be found on the Plaine Morte glacier. Check out other brilliant areas such as Faverges for some steep runs. Free-stylers have a fantastic, world-class snowpark sponsored by Swatch. One of the best in Switzerland, the snowpark has an Olympic size half-pipe with up to 100,000 square metres of terrain. Fantastic for all ski ability levels.
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Crans-Montana’s apres ski is a mixed affair of sophistication and youthful exuberance. The resort has a number of elegant places that are more suited to its high-rolling clientele who usually prefer relaxed, exotic drinks at stylish bars to wild partying. A little less animated than its Swiss counterparts such as Verbier and Zermatt, the apres-ski in Crans-Montana still has the capability to pack a punch. In addition to its older and sophisticated crowd, the resort receives a young contingent every season which keeps the partying alive in some of the resort's bars, lounges and nightclubs.
Amadeus Bar
One of Montana’s trendy/party bars, Amadeus is an eclectic bar offering a wide range of live music, concerts and DJ sets across different genres of music. Established in 1991, Amadeus has remained a trailblazer in Montana's nightlife ever since. A music lover's haven Amadeus is one of the resort's top locations for music concerts and gigs featuring local and regional artists. Amadeus also offers a wide range of drinks and beverages with a food menu offering some very tasty meals. Certainly a must-visit.
Zerodix
Open every day, Zerodix is one of Crans-Montana's popular apres-ski spots and the ideal place to kick-start your evening at the resort. Located at the Cry d’Er lift station in the resort, it's very hard to miss Zerodix. It has a large, south-facing terrace that receives the sun for most parts of the day. The main partying kicks off at 3 pm when the DJ sets and live music wake the whole area and the slopes come alive with great music, dancing and partying. Indeed, a great place to start your evening.
Moon Bar
Moon Bar is a cocktail bar and lounge located in the resort centre. With a trendy after-party vibe, it's the ideal evening spot for exotic cocktails and late-night partying, with a resident DJ playing sets till 2 am. Moon Bar has an extensive cocktail list with several exotic drinks. A must-visit if you are out on an apres-ski evening of fun and laughter, make sure to include Moon Bar on your apres ski itinerary.
Monk’is Bar
Located in the resort centre, Monkis Bar is one of the resort's liveliest bars. It's also a huge favourite among the younger crowd. Open every day until 2 am, Monk’is Bar is party central. If you are after an evening of great music, late-night dancing, great cocktails and other drinks, Monk’is should be top of your list. It also has a large terrace which offers panoramic views of the slopes adding to the brilliant atmospheric vibe of the place, especially when watching the sun go down. Monk’is is also famous for its tasty food menu, featuring delicious party food and pub classics, so if you are feeling a bit peckish, make sure to try out their delicious burgers.
Le Tirbouchon
Le Tirbouchon is a locally-owned, classy, sophisticated wine bar that specialises particularly in local wines. Located in the middle of the resort, Le Tirbouchon offers an extensive menu of local Valais produce, featuring a variety of different offerings of wine, craft beers, fruit juices, brandy and delicious meals. Every week, a new glass of wine is selected from the best grape varieties and winemakers from the local Valais area and guests can get to sample it along with some very tasty local delicacies. The bar is very well presented with a stylish and contemporary interior and guests are treated to a lovely and impressive display of wines which line the length of one of the walls. A place perfect for a cultural and learning experience of the area.
Senso
Senso is a lovely lounge bar located in the centre of Crans-Montana and it is the ideal venue for revellers after the late-night club vibe featuring dance music, live bands, and all-night dancing. The owners of the Senso also run the Constellation bar in the resort centre. A great place to have on your apres-ski lift; and certainly a place to head over too, when all other bars start to close. Best place to party and end your apres ski evening.
Crans-Montana is a well-established ski resort with fantastic facilities and services which keep the resort ticking all season. It has fantastic accommodation, excellent piste facilities ( lifts and grooming) and a good selection of shops, restaurants and cafés.
Crans-Montana is a certified family destination with superb facilities particularly designed for children. It is an ideal place to spend lovely winter holidays where the whole family can get involved with a lot of activities together both on and off the slopes. Its award as a Family Destination, given to it by the Swiss Tourism Federation was in recognition its excellent facilities and services provided to families at the resort.
