Veysonnaz: skiing at the heart of the 4 Vallées

Veysonnaz is a Valais village at roughly 1,350 metres on a sunny slope above the Rhône Valley, only a short drive from Sion. The resort combines chalets and a compact centre with direct access to one of Europe’s largest linked ski areas: the 4 Vallées. Its position lets visitors choose between the easier-to-navigate Printse sector and the complete network extending through Nendaz, Thyon, Verbier and Mont-Fort.

Visitors who want to organise equipment before arrival can use the SKiSET page for ski hire in Veysonnaz and collect their equipment from the resort’s only listed SKiSET shop.

4 Vallées: 410 km of pistes

The official 4 Vallées ski area offers 410 km of pistes. Veysonnaz lists the terrain as 33% blue, 53% red and 14% black, plus seven marked freetracks. The network links Veysonnaz, Nendaz, Thyon and Verbier and reaches Mont-Fort at 3,330 metres.

Skiers who do not want to cover the complete area can use the Printse sector, linking Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Thyon with around 220 km of pistes. It is particularly useful for families and intermediates who want plenty of variety without travelling to Verbier every day.

Winter 2026/27: what is already confirmed

As of August 2026, advance sales are open for the 4 Vallées 2026/27 and Printse 2026/27 annual passes. The official winter lift timetable, however, still shows detailed 2025/26 operating dates and has not yet published the final daily calendar for winter 2026/27.

For early- or late-season trips, visitors should therefore check the updated operating calendar before booking around a specific ski date. The live lift map remains the best source for actual connection status during the stay.

Veysonnaz gondola and ski access

The Veysonnaz gondola is the main lift from the village and quickly reaches the Thyon side of the Printse sector. The OnTheMountain Veysonnaz SKiSET shop is located directly in the gondola building, which makes equipment collection especially convenient.

The Ours gondola provides another important access point to the same upper sector. From there, skiers can continue towards Thyon, Les Collons, Siviez and Nendaz and, with the full 4 Vallées pass, onward towards Verbier.

The legendary Piste de l’Ours

The Piste de l’Ours is Veysonnaz’s signature run. It has hosted more than thirty Alpine Ski World Cup events and has also staged ski-cross, snowboard-cross and Paralympic ski competitions. The piste begins near the upper stations of both the Ours and Veysonnaz gondolas.

It is a sporting descent best suited to confident skiers, especially when the snow is firm or visibility is reduced. Those looking for a more progressive day have a large choice of blue and red pistes across Thyon and Printse.

Printse: 220 km for families and intermediates

The Printse sector combines Veysonnaz, Thyon and Nendaz with around 220 km of pistes. It is large enough for several full ski days and lets visitors create varied circuits without entering the most demanding parts of the full 4 Vallées.

Red pistes form a major part of the terrain and are ideal for intermediates. On longer days, keep an eye on the final connection lifts, especially when travelling through Siviez.

Verbier and Mont-Fort

With the full 4 Vallées pass, advanced skiers can travel from Veysonnaz towards Verbier through Siviez and Tortin. The highest point is Mont-Fort at 3,330 metres, with a panoramic view stretching towards the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and numerous Valais peaks.

A complete cross-area trip requires an early start and careful timing. Some connections and itineraries are more demanding than ordinary blue and red pistes, so ability level, weather and opening status should be checked before setting out.

Families, ski school and snow gardens

Veysonnaz also works well for families and beginners. The Swiss Ski School operates a dedicated snow garden, while further public learning areas are available in nearby Thyon, Siviez and Tracouet.

Children can therefore start on simple terrain and gradually move onto Printse pistes. Ski Mystery on the Inalpe piste and the Dynastar Speed Check add playful activities to a normal ski day.

Freeride and seven freetracks

The 4 Vallées is also famous for freeride terrain. The official ski area lists seven freetracks, ungroomed itineraries included in the resort offer. They require more experience than groomed pistes and can change quickly after snowfall or wind.

Anyone entering uncontrolled terrain should check the avalanche bulletin and carry appropriate equipment. OnTheMountain Veysonnaz rents safety packs and airbag backpacks, but equipment does not replace experience, training or professional guiding.

60 km of winter walks and snowshoe routes

Veysonnaz promotes around 60 km of winter walking and snowshoe routes. Well-known options include Veysonnaz-Thyon at 5.8 km, Forêt de l’Ours at 5.7 km and La Zeu at approximately 5.2 km.

These trails cross forest, traditional mayens and panoramic slopes above the Rhône Valley. Outside prepared routes, snow stability and avalanche risk need to be considered.

Ski touring: two dedicated tracks

The resort has two ski-touring tracks close to the pistes. The winter programme also includes guided introductions and evening ski-touring sessions, useful for learning technique, equipment management and safety.

One introductory route is around 5 km long with approximately 650 metres of ascent. Users should respect piste opening rules, especially when grooming machines are operating.

Tobogganing and snowtubing nearby

Elsewhere in the connected region, Thyon 2000 offers snowtubing and Siviez has the Tortin toboggan run. These activities require a short transfer from Veysonnaz but add useful variety to a longer holiday.

Opening, tickets and operating times depend on snow and the seasonal calendar. The live map or tourist office can confirm current conditions.

Getting to Veysonnaz

Veysonnaz is around 15 minutes by car from Sion and the Rhône Valley. The mountain road climbs directly to the resort; proper winter tyres and suitable driving precautions are important after heavy snow.

Sion railway station is the main public-transport gateway. PostBus services run daily between Sion and Veysonnaz, travelling via Beuson or Mayens de l’Ours depending on the service. A car-free stay is therefore realistic.

SKiSET OnTheMountain Veysonnaz

SKiSET lists one shop in the resort: OnTheMountain Veysonnaz, Immeuble de la Télécabine, 1993 Veysonnaz. Published hours are 08:30-18:00 every day.

Services include boot fitting, paid lockers, ski and snowboard school, workshop repairs, drying, clothing retail, free Wi-Fi, safety-pack rental, airbag-backpack rental and snowshoe rental. The shop states that more than half of its rental fleet is renewed every year.

Planning a ski holiday in Veysonnaz

Veysonnaz is a highly flexible base. Families and intermediates can focus on the 220 km Printse sector, while stronger skiers can use the complete 410 km network through Verbier and Mont-Fort. Piste de l’Ours adds a strong sporting identity, and winter walks, snowshoeing and touring broaden the programme beyond alpine skiing.

For an efficient stay, check connections and weather each morning, choose Printse or the full 4 Vallées according to the day’s goal and reserve equipment during peak weeks. Proximity to Sion and the SKiSET shop inside the gondola building make the logistics particularly straightforward.

Planning the sectors

On a week-long stay, many visitors will find it more relaxing to dedicate some days to Printse and reserve one or two for the full journey towards Verbier. This reduces pressure around final lift times and leaves more time to enjoy the pistes close to Veysonnaz.

Torchlight evenings and village atmosphere

Veysonnaz’s winter programme also includes several scheduled torchlight descents during the season. These evenings add a different mountain experience after the normal lifts close and are particularly popular with families and groups. Dates, meeting points and booking conditions vary, so they should be checked with the tourist office for the exact week of travel.

The village itself is compact enough for restaurants, accommodation and the gondola area to remain relatively close together. This makes it easier to combine a full ski day with an evening meal without relying on a car for every short journey.