Nendaz, Switzerland originally known as Neind (984-AD) is located right in the middle of the Alps in in the heart of the 4 Vallées, one of the largest ski areas in Europe, Nendaz offers 400 km of ski trails spreading between 1350 m and Mont Fort, a 3330 m high mountain.
Known for its guaranteed snow, Nendaz assures you of perfect ski conditions from December to April. Whether you prefer to be in the resort or up at higher altitudes, on 16 hiking paths, 7 snowshoeing tracks, 2 cross-country ski trails, pushchairfriendly walks, or spending a lazy day on the many sunny terraces, everything is possible in Nendaz. There is so much to do in Nendaz.
Whether you are skiers, hikers, in search of wellness, sports or family activities, Nendaz has so much to offer throughout the winter, a programme rich in entertainments and a multitude of opportunities to discover the charms of Nendaz.
Nendaz Ski Resort caters to skiers and boarders of all ages and also offers easy access to the 4 Valleys ski area at friendly prices which include Ski lessons for children, lessons for kids from the age of two, teaching-by-playing concept, private and collective lessons.
Baby sitting for children: Babysitters are available for children of all ages for an hour or two or for whole days. The list of babysitters is available at Nendaz Tourisme or on www.nendaz.ch
There is also a Freestyle Park alongside the Jean-Pierre ski run at Tracouet with its
unique wooden modules for all types of boarding or skiing.
The old village of Haute-Nendaz is worth a visit. The walk passes by the church of Saint-Michel and by the chapel dating back to 1499. From the Café de la Place, return to the resort by the chemin des Bornes. Guided visits are organized each season and the tour passes by the Tsâblo water mill.
Nendaz is a family friendly holiday resort with nursery slopes, a moving carpet for beginners and walkers to help them find their feet, and a freestyle park to practice your moves as well as swimming pools and treasure hunts – this is an ideal resort for skiers of all ages.
You can get a breath of fresh air on the ice rink, you can discover the old town with a tour guide, test your talent as a baker, try out skijoëring, have a sleigh ride pulled by huskies : these are only five of the many options that will make your winter a unique one.
Several parts of Nendaz include:
–Vieux Village (old town): the old village of Nendaz, made up of small, dark wooden chalets
–Les Ecluses: main shopping area, complete with several shops and cafés. It is the centre of attention of the ski resort.
–Siviez: here is the starting point of some ski lifts, which link Nendaz to both Verbier and Veysonnaz, connecting the ski slopes. It consists of three apartment blocks, and several restaurants and small shops. It is around 20 minutes from Nendaz’s centre.
–Basse-Nendaz: the lower part of Nendaz, this is home to the council
–Tracouet: another, smaller ski-resort aimed at beginners. It is, however, linked to the larger ski domain of Siviez.
A must see while in Nendaz is The Hamlet of Verrey. This village reveals an interesting architectural assembly that is representative of a traditional village of the Valais with it’s wood and stone houses its stables, barns and storehouses. The habitat was constructed close together in order to make the most of the land for agriculture.
The Hamlet is already mentioned in historical documents dating as far back as the middle ages as the count of Savoie had a Tithehouse there in the 13th Century when the cereal fields and meadows benefited from maximum sunshine and it was highly desirable land.
With the arrival of foreign flour and as a consequence the reduction of livestock, the agricultural land was abandoned little by little and the village lost its importance. In 1988 there were only two remaining inhabitants in Verrey. The buildings rapidly deteriorated without proper maintenance. In the 1990’s, people regained an interest in the village and some houses were slowly brought back to life.
Getting to Nendaz:
Nendaz is about 30 minutes from Sion, the capital of the Valais, and two hours from Geneva by car. There are several ‘Post-bus’ services a day, running between areas in the village. One service links Nendaz with Sion, and stops off at the villages along the way.
From the surrounding ski resorts, it can be reached by cable car/chairlift, with the 4 Vallées ski pass. Otherwise, it can be reached by train (to the Sion train station, there are regular trains from different parts of Switzerland) and then by bus from Sion to Nendaz. It is therefore reachable from nearby airports.
Sion Airport is in close proximity to Nendaz, again accessible by bus. However, there is a limited number of passenger flights which go from this airport.
Currently, there are only two flights from the airport: Swiss International Air Lines operates a flight to London Heathrow Airport, while Helvetic Airways flies to Palma de Mallorca.