The Ski Resort
Once a small ski resort in the Verbier Four Valleys ski region, it is now an ever-expanding ski resort that offers a great alternative to its considerably more expensive and famous relative over the mountain - Verbier.
If world class apres-ski partying is not too important (Nendaz has a few good bars for apres-skiing but not on the Verbier world class level) and ski village activities are not high on the agenda either, It is a real alternative to Verbier.
There are however a few considerations first. For beginners and advanced skiers Nendaz is a very good option. Beginners start at the Tracouet nursery area and there is a long green run through the trees and enough blues thereafter for the week to keep beginners more than content in and around Nendaz. Several runs are north facing too which means the snow is generally in good condition. Experts will of course just love the Verbier Four Valleys for its off-piste and technical blacks on piste. Advance mogul skiers will particularly like the fact that with so many good skiers based in the area, anything not pisted soon gets skied and turned into one big mogul field. For intermediates Nendaz is not quite so simple however. There are lots of reds just above Siviez and many intermediates have spent the entire week here and Veysonnaz and Thyon too. Coming back however is not so simple as you have to ski either an itinerary run and a black or take the bus from Siviez. The latter is a short one but its not ideal.
Finally on the skiing front, Nendaz is great value and whilst it easy for intermediates and advanced skiers to get across to the main slopes in the Verbier valley, getting back is a little more challenging. Getting back involves either a beautiful but difficult and long itinerary descent, or cable car or gondola down. The Tortin itinerary runs via either the Col des Gentianes or Chaussoure are fabulous, but you go need to be a competent advanced skier. Once down it is a flat blue to Siviez and as mentioned above, either a final itinerary run then a black, or the short bus journey back.
In terms of the village, Nendaz has a few good bars for apres-ski and it is certainly not as quiet as many expect. It also has a few restaurants and the standard is good too.
All in all if a great ski chalet at a very good price is important, and if you are an intermediate who does not mind the slight extra effort getting back at the end of the day, Nendaz is the place to get more for your bucks when skiing the Verbier Four Valleys.
Worth Knowing
For a short transfer, fly to Sion with Snowjet and miss out both the queues and hassle of Geneva or Zurich. Set in the heart of the mountains, Sion is just the other side of Nendaz so offers quick transfer times, just 30 minutes on a good day.
Off Piste Skiing
What can we say, some of the best in the world. We love the off-piste itinerary runs down Tortin. The Col des Gentianes has a special place in our heart and start from Mont Fort and you can enjoy 4,000 feet of vertical off-piste. This said, the Mont Fort start is something else and you might be forgiven for choosing the black on the left rather than the off-piste Wall on the right! The Col des Mines and Vallon D Arby are relatively easy in good weather and the Greppon Blanc so plenty to enjoy.
Ski School
The main ski school is the Swiss Ski and Snowboard School in Nendaz.
Snow Boarding
Being the Verbier Four Valleys it has some great boarding although the Nendaz side can involve a few drags and flat parts - off-set by a fabulous snow park. There are great reds at Siviez as well as across in Verbier. The off-piste is simply awesome and this really is a great snowboarders paradise.