Crans-Montana Launches Its New Winter Season With New Openings, Activities And Events

The Swiss mountain resort of Crans-Montana is looking ahead to this winter season with a number of new openings, activities and events from December 2024 through to April 2025.

Crans-Montana is a chic and stylish all-year-round mountain resort located in the Valais canton of Switzerland (French speaking), around two hours by train from Geneva Airport.

The resort is part of the Best of the Alps group (bestofthealps.com)

Sitting on a high plateau above the Rhone Valley and facing south, the views from Crans-Montana are spectacular, especially from higher altitudes where it’s possible to see Mont Blanc in the west, through to the Matterhorn and way beyond to the east. During the winter, the skiing is well suited for intermediates, with a wide range of blue and red runs, but there’s excellent beginners areas as well as some more challenging slopes for experts, including some interesting off-piste and ski touring terrain. During summer, the resort is a haven for both road cyclists and mountain bikers as well as hikers and adventure seekers. Accommodation is varied, with a strong luxury element including several 5* hotels and a spread of 3* and 4* options as well as self-catering apartments and B&B’s.

Some of the highlights include:

• NEW: Vail Resorts plans to invest CHF 30 million in the ski area, enhancing lifts and customer experience.
• NEW: Epic Pass holders get unlimited access to Crans-Montana and 80 other ski resorts worldwide.
• Daily and weekly passes are dynamically priced, starting at CHF 39, with discounts for kids and young people.
• NEW: Skiers over 65 can enjoy slopes and a meal for CHF 39 on select weekdays starting January 2025.
• NEW: snow cannons at Bella Lui to improve snow quality as part of ongoing upgrades.
• NEW: The Snowpark now caters to all levels, with new features like the Easy Snowpark and Brizzly Bear Slope for families.
• NEW: The FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup men’s downhill returns in February 2025 after 13 years.
• Crans-Montana’s Rando Parc offers 16 marked routes for all abilities, covering 87 km of terrain.
• NEW: The indoor Curling Centre in Montana offers courses and hosts the Swiss Open Air Curling Championship in January 2025.
• NEW: A new treasure hunt invites families to help Bibi the Marmot solve mysteries, alongside a new boardercross course for kids.
• From Dec 2024 to March 2025, the Lantern Path enchants visitors with lights, concerts, and interactive art inspired by nature.
• Michelin-starred chef Éric Frechon leads the new Ferme Saint-Amour restaurant offering refined winter cuisine and a vibrant atmosphere.
• Crans-Montana’s famous electronic music festival, Caprices, will return in April 2025 with five stages, including one at 2,200m.
• Foundation Opale, the only European centre dedicated to Australian Aboriginal art, opens its new winter exhibition in December 2024.
• NEW: Guided yak hikes offer a peaceful way to explore Crans-Montana’s winter landscapes, with full-day and half-day options.
• BeeHeidi offers unique mountain excursions like sunrise hikes and snowshoe adventures paired with local cuisine.
• Enjoy an adrenaline-filled early morning fat-bike ride down ski slopes before they open, followed by breakfast.
• Full moon ski touring events offer an exciting introduction to ski mountaineering, complete with a fondue dinner.
• Night skiing on the Verdets slope allows guests to ski under the stars every weekend during the winter months.
• A biathlon session on the Crans-Montana golf course offers a mix of endurance and precision, using the latest infrared rifles.

Visit: crans-montana.ch/en