WINTER ACTIVITIES

Skiing/Snowboarding
For the avid skier or snowboarder Verbier is paradise. There are five resorts spread across four valleys, all of which are tied into one single lift pass, offering you one of the largest skiable areas in the Alps – for all levels of skiers. The ski area around Verbier includes 195km of marked pistes of all standards and of every exposure divided over the sectors of Les Ruinettes, Les Attelas, Savoleyres, Bruson and within the resort. The artificial snow-making system of Les Attelas at 2,730m all the way down to Verbier at 1,500m enables not only a descent directly into The Lodge, but an extended ski season from November right up until the end of April. You can take advantage of the 38 lifts which are amongst the most modern in the world, including the Funispace, a 30 person enclosed cable car and a 125 person jumbo from Tortin to Gentianes.

Equipment and Lift Passes
At The Lodge enjoy a skiing experience where the hassle factor has been edited out. If queuing in a busy ski shop isn’t your style, you’ll love that The Lodge bring the gear to you and you will even be drivento the lift station. There’s even a boot room in the chalet with heated boot warmers to keep your feet extra toasty. 

Lessons
At The Lodge you can meet  a skilled team of professional ski instructors. They will make your Lodge experience truly unforgettable with the best week’s skiing of your life. Th ischosen team of instructors from European Snowsport can be pre-booked to provide tailored lessons for all levels of skiers or snowboarders, from those of you yet to wear your first pair of skis or board to those of you who are regulars on the mountain. Having instructors alongside you during your stay will really enhance your experience on the mountain as they know the place best! If you have children who would prefer to join a group to meet other children, group lessons for them can be arranged.

Snow shoeing
If you can walk, you can go snowshoeing. It’s easy to do, it doesn’t require a lot of special techniques, and the fun begins as soon as you put the snowshoes on! You can choose between a casual hike through the woods or a steep climb up the mountain. A great option is to walk up to lunch where the skiers have skied to, and you can walk to on snow shoes, getting you some fresh mountain air, and catching up on the morning news. It also allows you to go places where skiers can’t!

Paragliding
Why not take to the sky and see the spectacular sites of The Matterhorn in one direction and Mont Blanc in the other? Take a tandem flight where you can sit back and enjoy the experience.


SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Mountain Biking
Verbier is home to the legendary Grand Raid Cristalp, stages of the Tour de Suisse and the Swiss downhill championships. With hundreds of kilometres of biking trails ranging in terrain and gradient there is something for every level of mountain biker. If it is the downhill adrenaline rush you are after without the effort of the uphill climb, take advantage of the lift service which operates from the beginning of July to mid-September. A day on the mountain with your bikes doesn’t have to be extreme; it can be the ideal activity for all the family to enjoy. Bike hire can be organized for you.

Hiking
It doesn’t get more Swiss than a mountain hike, however, a day’s walking in the mountains doesn’t have to be steep and difficult. There is a stream that runs across the middle of the mountain called ‘the Bisse’. Originally used to take fresh water from the glacier at Mont Fort to the village of Levron, it is now maintained for walkers and is totally flat for the majority of the walk. There are several different options to make the walk more substantial, and depending on your start point, it can be either a 45 minute walk, or a 4 hour hike, with everything in between. There are also several mountain restaurants for a refreshing glass of water, or wine! If you would like something a bit more challenging there are several options ranging from a 3 hour hike with a swim in a mountain lake, to a full day’s 7 hour difficult hike - again, with all options in between.

Mountain Scooters
A fleet of ‘Arapaho’ mountain Scooters is kept by Télé-Verbier, the lift operators, and you can do a lap from the top of Ruinettes down to Médran which is a short walk from The Lodge. The run takes 20 minutes on average.

Paragliding
Why not take to the sky and see the spectacular sites of Verbier from the air? Take a tandem flight where you can sit back and enjoy the experience, or take a course and go solo.

Rock Climbing
There are many rock-climbing areas in the Bagnes Valley, suitable for beginners and advanced climbers. These include Pierre Avoi, La Barme, Madzeria (near Mauvoisin), Sembrancher and La Fouly. The staff at The Lodge will be more than happy to arrange climbing excursions for you.

Yoga
Where better to relax, and heal than the fresh mountain air? There are several mountain top locations for yoga practice and classes can be held outdoors or in The Lodge. A great combination is a gentle hike with a session of yoga up on the mountain.

Tennis
Whether you’re looking for group or individual lessons, a tennis coach can prepare a tennis programme for any skill level, and there are racquets and balls to lend to guests.

Festivals
Did you know during the summer months Verbier hosts some fabulous festivals? In July alone there are several, including the Verbier Beach Volleyball tournament, which brings a beach-side atmosphere to the mountains. There’s the Verbier Festival, which showcases some of the world’s top classical musicians, with concert events taking place all around the area over a 2 week period in July – August.

Golf
You’re really spoiled for choice when it comes to golf courses in the area, and most of the courses are within one hour’s drive from the lodge.

Wine tasting
There are many vineyards very near Verbier and Swiss wine is a well-kept and closely guarded secret. Try some to find out why! Enjoy either a tasting at The Lodge, or a trip to the wineries down the valley.

Mauvoisin Dam
At the very end of the Val de Bagnes sits an amazing lake and dam wall. The wall itself is an impressive 250m high, and you can walk the perimeter of the lake, which is around a 3 hour trip. Or you can take a picnic and enjoy the views from the top of the wall. The drive there and back takes around an hour, and you pass through some amazingly picturesque villages and river scenes.

Italy or Chamonix day trips
Whether it’s the old town, small delicatessens and history of Aosta, or the Mont Blanc, rock climbing and Aiguilles de Midi in Chamonix, each is just an hour’s drive away over the respective borders, and is a great way to spend a day exploring another town, and country.

Monastery at Grand St. Bernard
On the way to Italy at the top of the Col de Grand St Bernard sits a monastery built by the monks to shelter weary travellers. The dogs of the same name are also bred here, and in season, which is typically June to September the puppies are out and about. You can take a tour of the dog enclosures and monastery.

Underground caves
Sierre just outside Sion is home to Europe’s biggest underground lake. You board a boat and the guide points out the main features of the cave and its discovery in the 1940s. It is over 300m long and 20 wide and the tour lasts around half an hour.

Adventure Park
Ropes, swings, tree ladders and leaps of faith! Built in the forests just outside Sion, this incredibly laid out Adventure Park is not just for kids!

At The Lodge all children under 12 will be invited to become a ‘Lodge Ranger’. There is a set welcome pack and a range of great activities available on request, including children’s DVDs, toys, games console, books, games, and treasure hunts in the evenings if they are not too tired after a long day out.

ACCOMMODATION
With space for up to six children or young adults, the dedicated bunkroom on the 2nd floor at The Lodge has three sets of bunk beds, a separate shower and toilet, a plasma screen TV with DVD player, a games console, and bean bags – perfect for getting away from the adults! If The Lodge has been hired exclusively, children in your party are welcome to stay in the bunkroom, but per child supplements will apply if the total number of guests in the chalet exceeds 18. There are some rooms that can accommodate additional rollaway beds for children or young adults. The maximum number of guests at any time at The Lodge is 24. In the summer months the bunkroom is available to book as a separate room along with at least one other room in the chalet.

ACTIVITIES
When it comes to activities for children the staff members can tailor all the games and activities to all ages so no one feels left out. Here’s an idea of the sorts of things they can organise:

• Treasure hunts to help familiarise the Rangers with their surroundings
• In the summer they can play tennis, go bike riding, walks, swimming and much more
• Story book time in their rooms and in the lounge including some old favourites
• Watching children’s DVDs in the lounge or in the kid’s bunkroom
• Dancing the day and night away at a kiddie disco
• Playing games in the kid’s bunkroom on the games console
• Sledging and snowman building competitions in The Lodge’s garden (winter only)
• Skiing. The best ski instructors can be arranged for all the Rangers to ensure they have a great day on the mountain (winter only)

FOOD
The is a great range of child-friendly menus. Children can choose from a selection of tasty, well balanced, healthy and fun meals.

*Please note The Lodge Rangers is not a fixed kid's programme and babysitting can be arranged but for an additional charge. The staff members are happy to help organise activities, but as they are a small team they are unable to watch over children. Parental supervision is therefore required for all suggested activities.

The food served at The Lodge is one of the highlights of your stay, and you will be served a mix of Swiss and international cuisine. Dining can be as formal or informal as you wish, from full four-course gourmet meals to healthy meals with the children.

Meals can be themed, traditional or a mix! The Lodge also stocks a great range of international wines, top quality spirits, international beers and excellent house champagne. All meals at The Lodge are served communally around a shared table, but it is possible to organise private dinners in some rooms on request.

All guests are encouraged to treat The Lodge like their own home and are welcome to help themselves to drinks at any time. The team can cater for all dietary requirements and is happy to make adjustments or substitutions to the day’s menu according to your tastes and preferences.

BREAKFAST
Breakfast is generally served from about 7.30 in the morning and in winter the lifts open at 8.45am, which should give you enough time to get kitted out for your day on the mountain. You can have it a little earlier if you like, and if you’ve got a very early start, a breakfast pack to take with you will be organized.
There will be a continental breakfast buffet including fruits, cereals, pastries, yoghurts, and more, as well as a full selection of cooked breakfast items from the à la carte menu. If there’s something you’d like that’s not on the menu just let the staff know.

LUNCH
Each day in winter a table for lunch somewhere on the slopes will be booked, with each guest responsible for paying for his or her own meal. If you make it back to The Lodge for lunch, or if you choose to stay behind during the day, a light lunch will be served (included in the rates). If you know you’ll be back at The Lodge for lunch do try and let them know the day before.
In summer lunches will vary depending on the day’s activities. Some excursions The Lodge organises include lunch, but if you choose to go exploring on your own you may want to take care of lunch yourself. If you get back to The Lodge by lunchtime, however, you'll be served lunch either inside or on the terrace.

AFTERNOON TEA
In the winter season once the lifts stopping running it’s time to head back to The Lodge for a relaxing spa treatment, a session in the hot tub and steam room, and definitely a slice (or two) of homemade cakes with some mulled wine – well deserved after an active day on the mountain. In the summer season  freshly baked cookies are served around 3pm accompanied by jug of something refreshing.

DINNER
Evenings at The Lodge typically start with some delicious canapés and an apéritif of your choice before moving on to the main event. Each morning the chefs will share a menu for that evening and invite guests to let them know if there’s anything on there that doesn’t take their fancy. If you’re celebrating a special occasion or just have a particular craving for something The Lodge will do t their est to wow you and those you’re travelling with.

After an active day on the mountains there’s a good chance your muscles will be aching after all that effort. Relax and unwind with a treatment in the capable hands of the resident beauty therapist. The spa uses products from Aromatherapy Associates. Treatments are charged additionally.

Gym
Visit the gym and workout on the treadmill, bike, cross-trainer and free weights station and afterwards relax those muscles on the stretching mats. There is also a plasma screen TV, DVD player and music system to keep you entertained.

Indoor pool and Jacuzzis
Relax those aching muscles in the indoor or outdoor Jacuzzis after a day out – it’s heaven! Or just refresh yourself with a dip in the 9m heated indoor pool.

Steam room
If you want to relax at the end of the day you can let off some steam in the steam room. It’s also a great way to purify your skin.