What to do
On and off the piste
Private lessons, guided freeride, record-breaking lifts, long mountain lunches and spa afternoons: how to fill a luxury ski week on and off the snow.
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Understanding piste grades
Resorts grade their marked, groomed runs by difficulty. The colours tell you roughly what to expect, but they’re relative to each resort, and conditions (ice, fresh snow, flat light) change how a run feels.
| Colour | Who it suits |
|---|---|
| Green (mainly France) | Beginners: very gentle gradients |
| Blue | Newer skiers building confidence |
| Red | Confident intermediates |
| Black | Advanced and expert skiers |
Private ski lessons and mountain guides
Private instruction is one of the best-value luxuries on a ski trip: an instructor can skip queues where ski-school lanes exist, find the best snow for the conditions and move a whole family forward at once.
- Book early for Christmas, New Year and February holiday weeks: top instructors fill first
- Ask for an instructor who speaks your language fluently
- For off-piste, ski touring or glacier terrain, hire a certified mountain guide rather than a ski instructor
Off-piste and freeride, safely
Off-piste terrain is unmarked, unpatrolled and not protected from avalanches. Resorts like Verbier are famous for it, and that is exactly why it deserves respect.
Go with a guide
A qualified mountain guide knows the terrain, reads the snowpack and makes the call on what’s safe that day.
Carry the kit
Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe for everyone in the group, and practise using them. Airbag packs add a further layer of protection.
Check the danger level
European resorts publish a daily avalanche bulletin using a five-level danger scale, from 1 (low) to 5 (very high).
Check your insurance
Make sure your winter-sports policy covers off-piste skiing and any conditions attached, such as skiing with a guide.
Iconic lifts and mountain viewpoints
Some of the most memorable moments of a luxury ski holiday happen at the top of the lift.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Zermatt
Europe’s highest cable-car station at 3,883 m, with views across the Swiss, Italian and French Alps.
Gornergrat railway, Zermatt
A cog railway opened in 1898 that climbs to 3,089 m, facing the Matterhorn, an easy option for non-skiers.
Mont Fort, Verbier
The top of the 4 Vallées at 3,330 m, with views over the Swiss and French Alps.
| Viewpoint | Resort | Altitude |
|---|---|---|
| Matterhorn Glacier Paradise | Zermatt | 3,883 m |
| Snowmass summit | Aspen Snowmass | 3,813 m |
| Mont Fort | Verbier | 3,330 m |
| Corvatsch | St Moritz / Silvaplana | 3,303 m |
| Gornergrat | Zermatt | 3,089 m |
Après-ski and mountain dining
Luxury ski destinations compete on mountain restaurants and evening dining as much as on grooming. Courchevel, Zermatt and St Moritz are all known for restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide. Check the current edition for the season you travel.
- Book signature lunch tables well ahead in peak weeks
- Plan a lunch stop on the far side of a big ski area, and check the last lift home
- Choose quieter après in a chalet or hotel bar after a long day
Spa and recovery
Altitude, cold and long ski days make spa time practical, not just indulgent. Five-star hotels in St Moritz, Zermatt and Courchevel centre their offer on pools, saunas, hammams and massage.
Non-ski days that still feel like a ski holiday
- Snowshoeing and winter walking trails (listed on many resort activity pages, including Les 3 Vallées)
- Scenic railways such as the Gornergrat in Zermatt
- The Glacier Express panoramic train between Zermatt and St Moritz
- Village shopping, galleries and cafés in car-free Zermatt
- Summer glacier skiing at Zermatt, conditions permitting
Season events worth planning around
Xtreme Verbier
The Freeride World Tour final is held on Verbier’s Bec des Rosses face, usually in March or early April.
White Turf, St Moritz
Horse racing on the frozen lake of St Moritz, a long-running fixture of the Engadine winter.
Olympic heritage
St Moritz hosted the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948; Courchevel and Méribel co-hosted the 2023 Alpine World Ski Championships.
Event dates change every year. Check the official event or tourism site.
Activity availability depends on snow, wind and season dates. Always book guides and heli-skiing through licensed local operators. This site is independent and does not sell activities.