Luxury Ski Chalet Holidays in Crans Montana

Crans Montana is a winter sports mecca. The resort offers 140 km of wide-open pistes for skiers and snowboarders, while the Plaine Morte glacier has year-round snow at 3,000 m.  The ski lift system is modern and well designed with virtually no queues. For advanced skiers, the World Cup pistes are challenging and the off-piste skiing extensive. This is an ideal resort for intermediates, with plenty of wide and long, red and blue runs. Whilst you ski you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views stretching from Mont Blanc in the west to the Matterhorn in the east.

The 12km slope that starts with stunning views from the Plaine Morte glacier at 2925m and ends amongst pretty woods at Les Barzettes is a must-do. 

With 23 mountain restaurants and huts to sample this is a resort that knows how to mix skiing with total indulgence.

Crans Montana has quiet, uncrowded pistes that are well-groomed. It’s also known to be a fairly sunny resort, all in all making it a good place for learning to ski or snowboard.  Wide pistes on the mountain suit beginners who are ready to move on from the nursery slopes in the resort. Beginners have three short but easy runs on the Plaine-Morte Glacier, where good snow is guaranteed.

Crans Montana’s ‘snow garden’ is situated on a great flat area of land which is used in summer as a golf course. Children from the age of 3 upwards are welcomed to master the basics with the help of the area’s specialist instructors.

A certified Family Destination, Crans-Montana is an ideal place to spend great holidays, where young and old will find what they are looking for amongst the many activities on offer year-round.

Cabane des Violettes – This is an authentic Swiss mountain hut, run by the Michelin-starred Chef Frank Reynaud of Pas de l’Ours and Pierrot Bagnoud, a well-known mountain guide. The chef uses selected local products and his impressive knowledge to prepare and perfect his recipes, which are deliciously simple yet never common.

Cry D’er – Located at the top of the Blue gondola, the Cry D’er has a huge terrace and two types of restaurants. There’s a free-flow self-service restaurant where you can see the chefs preparing woks, pasta, burgers, or a daily special, perfect for those on more of a budget.

Chez Erwin – This is a small chalet lying on the Chetseron slope, which boasts a stunning south-facing wooden terrace, where you can sit in the sun overlooking the peaks of the Valais Alps. You are able to access this restaurant by foot from the top of the Plan Mayen area, at the level of Le Crans Hotel. The cuisine mainly focuses on raclette, traditional cold cut plates, a daily special and homemade pastries – simple but charming.

Le Mont Blanc – With one Michelin star to its name, Le Mont Blanc is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion. Boasting 180-degree views of the surrounding Alps, enjoy the mouth-watering combination of Swiss and classic French ingredients that have been given a modern twist.

Burger Lounge – Located on Rue Centrale in Crans, Burger Lounge is a must for both locals and visitors. Choose from locally-sourced beef, chicken or salmon with a side of fries and green salad. Vegetarians aren’t left out either with both falafel and rösti burgers on offer.

La Muña – Located at Crans Ambassador hotel, La Muña is a wonderful fusion of Japanese-Peruvian cuisine with zingy fresh flavours, combining sweet and sour. Dishes include ceviche, carpaccio, tempura, grilled meats and marinated salmon.

New Generation (skinewgen.com) is a British-run ski and snowboard school, established for 20 years, with a base in the village and mostly British instructors. They offer private and group lessons with morning lessons for kids in peak holiday periods. 

Oxygene (oxygene-ski.com) has clocked up more than 25 years in the business offering tuition for adults and children, private or group; skier, boarder or cross country skier and also has staff trained to teach disabled skiers.