Family Activities in Verbier

Escape rooms are a new live entertainment phenomenon sweeping the globe. Players come as a team to challenge themselves with the puzzles in the rooms. Each puzzle takes a different kind of clever to solve and teams of friends, family and work colleagues interact with each other in unique ways to create a unique and unforgettable experience. The rooms are not scary or unpleasant in any way just a great way to have fun, test yourself and build relationships with the people you come to the rooms with. The clock is ticking, will you solve the room in time?

The main draw for people coming to Verbier in winter is of course the skiing and snowboarding. With the whole of the 4 valleys to ski in, Verbier has something for every level of experience.

A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day. You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course. Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous.

Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons. There are a number of adventure companies that offer guided descents down the local waterways in Sion, down the valley from Verbier resort.

Verbier has a good selection of childcare and babysitting services available in summer or winter. There is a creche at Les Moulins which welcomes children from 3 months upwards, for full days of half days.

Catch the latest films and releases in Verbier on your winter or summer holiday. Some cinemas open their doors early on a bad weather day, otherwise you'll find most screenings in the evenings. Look out for VOST for English speaking films.

Verbier has four designated cross-country skiing circuits, which vary in length from 2.4km to 6km and are suitable for skating of classic style cross country skiing. You can hire XC ski boots and lightweight skis and poles fairly inexpensively from most sports shops in Verbier. If you're new to this sport, why not book a group or private lesson to learn the basics from one of the ski schools or private instructors. A number of adventure companies also offer cross-country skiing guiding, tours and lessons too. Find your way around with the cross country skiing maps.

Verbier offers a good choice of road and cols for cyclists to tackle when in the region. Try the Tour du Catogne and its 3 climbs, the Verbier to Mauvoisin circuit, the Col du Lin or follow in the tracks of Alberto Contador.

Hop on a horse and enjoy the fantastic trails in Verbier. You can cover more ground than on foot, get an elevated view of the beautiful scenery and hopefully get a closer peek at the wildlife. There are a number of adventure companies who can take you out for your horse riding experience and even provide you with horse riding lessons.

Enjoy the panoramas of Verbier's mountains from a husky sled. Drive your own sledge around the designated trails in resort. It's a very popular winter activity, so booking at least 48 hours in advance is a must. They run from early December to the end of April (snow-permitting) and you can even take a team of dogs out in the summer months too, for a snow-free experience.

Hydro speeding is one of the newer 'extreme' water sports to hit the market, it's a fun and exhilarating way to get yourselves down a river! Using a large float, which bears resemblance to a bodyboard, be ready to cling on for dear life as you send yourself hurtling down the rapids in Sion, just down the valley from Verbier resort.

This activity is a little more demanding physically than rafting or canoe rafting, but allows you to discover the unique sensation of surfing down white water rivers. It is also accessible to all, no need to be a professional diver or swimmer, you just have to be smart at using the water movements, obstacles and waves. There's plenty of protection from the icy water elements as you'll be given a wetsuit, safety helmet and flippers. You will need to bring a towel, swim wear and if you wear glasses, a cord to keep them on. Guides will brief you with a safety demonstration at the beginning and there’s a vehicle to meet you at the end of the rapids that will shuttle you back to your starting destination.

Verbier has an indoor climbing wall at the Medran and is open as long as the cafe there is open. You can hire harnesses on site or bring your own. It costs 5 CHF to use the wall for one hour.

Verbier has a great many enduro and cross country trails for you to explore. E-bikes and family friendly riding is also possible here on wide, easily manageable fire roads. You can also hire scooter bikes to ride no the same trails, these can be hired at Les Ruinettes and La Tzoumaz.

Verbier is home to the longest sledge run in French-speaking Switzerland, with a vertical descent of 848 metres. The run takes you from the top of Savolyeres all the way down to La Tzoumaz and you can hire sledges from the top of the Savolyeres cable car or any of the sports shops in resort. Don't forget to wear a helmet and goggles and warm, waterproof clothes. It's typically open from 09:00 - 15:30.

Snow-shoeing is a perfect activity for bad weather conditions or for non-skiers and Verbier has 16 different marked itineraries which you can enjoy either with or without a guide. Snowshoes and ski poles are provided by most companies offering this as an experience, or you can hire snowshoes from most Sports Shops or Ski Hire Shops, grab a trail map from the Tourist Office and head off on your own adventure. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you go and don't forget to wear warm, sturdy winter boots.

Verbier offers a large range of day spas, massages and treatments for those looking to unwind and indulge themselves. Sports therapists and masseurs can also pay you a visit in your home or accommodation, at any time of year. Wellness centres and spas can be found in all of the luxury hotels and are open to outside visitors.

For kids of all ages summer camp can be a great experience. Enjoy a range of activities like language classes and mountain sports as well as making new friends along the way. Your kids can go to summer camp with either Les Elfes International or Altitude Summer Camps. Let them enjoy a fun and active summer!

Whether you like to take a dip indoors or outdoors, you'll be able to find somewhere to go for a swim in Verbier. Most hotels, lots of chalets and apartments have their own swimming facilities, however there are also municipal swimming baths that you can visit, which often come free with your lift pass purchase. In summer and winter you should be able to find somewhere to take a dip, so don't forget your towel and your swimming costume or shorts.

Verbier has 3 clay tennis courts that you can book to play on in summer. There is also a tennis club which you can join, and an advanced tennis camp which children can join to hone their skills. The camp helps children develop with a combination of mental as well as physical training.

Via Ferrata climbing offers an element of security that still allows beginners to enjoy the achievement of having scaled a mountain! This form of climbing was invented by Italian soldiers in the Dolomites who used it to enable them to scale vertiginous faces easily and quickly. These days it is a popular sport that makes the thrill of mountain climbing more accessible to children, beginners and those who want a bit more security when they climb.

Following marked routes through the mountains you are helped along by steps, bridges and ladders whilst being roped up for extra safety. Suitable for adults and children over the age of 8, contact the adventure companies who can take you out on your Via Ferrata trip.

Verbier and the greater 4 valleys area has a huge network of walking trails which are accessible from early spring to late summer. Explore the area's many waterfalls, spectacular mountain views and get access to mountain refuges and restaurants.

There are four winter walking routes to discover in Verbier which are great for non-skiers and families; Les Ruinettes to La Chaux, Les Creux to Le Chateau, Perin to Les Planards and Sonalon to La Marlene. All of the routes are wide paths on the snow and vary in duration from just under an hour to nearly three hours. You can pick up a map of the routes from the tourist office in the centre of resort.

Don’t forget to check the weather forecast before you set out as conditions can change rapidly in the mountains. You do not need any particular equipment, just a pair of sturdy boots and layers of warm clothing that you can take off or put on as necessary. Top tip: buy grippers for your walking boots to prevent slipping which you can buy from most local Sport Shops.

If you haven't experienced white water rafting before then this is a definite 'must try' on your list of activities to do. There are a number of trained guides in resort who will let you experience some of the best white water rafting available in the Alps. From the middle of May until September, the mountain rivers flow furiously as they are fed from the melt waters running off the glaciers high above the town. There are various options available from a three hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint. Most of the rafting takes place in Sion, just down the valley from Verbier resort.