• Here is the incredibly simple official site that tells you under what conditions you can enter Switzerland given your current situation:

  https://travelcheck.admin.ch

• Here is a handy online booking site for COVID tests:

https://www.onedoc.ch/en/covid-testing-center/riddes 

• Switzerland’s Federal Council today made the following announcement, reversing the quarantine requirements brought into force over the last week (see below):

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/das-bag/aktuell/medienmitteilungen.msg-id-86260.html

Entry into Switzerland: Quarantine rule lifted, stricter testing requirement
With effect from Saturday, 4 December, there will be no countries on the quarantine list.

In order to continue to prevent the new Omicron variant from entering the country as far as possible, a stricter testing regime will now apply for all arrivals into Switzerland. This testing requirement also applies to those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from the disease. In addition to taking a PCR test before travelling, a second test (PCR test or rapid antigen test) must be carried out between the fourth and seventh day after arrival. This test ensures that infected persons who have contracted the virus shortly before or during travel are detected.
Test costs must be borne by the traveller.

Non-vaccinated third-country nationals wishing to enter the Schengen area from countries or regions at risk will be refused entry to Switzerland for short-term stays without gainful employment of up to 90 days within a period of 180 days – apart from certain exceptions (hardship cases). This primarily affects tourism and social visits. The list of high-risk countries and regions is set out in Annex 1 of COVID-19 Ordinance 3. It is updated on an ongoing basis, taking into account the recommendations for the Schengen states issued by the European Commission.

Here is the current list set out in Annex 1 of COVID-19 Ordinance 3, from Page 13 of this document:
https://fedlex.data.admin.ch/filestore/fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/2020/438/20201008/en/pdf-a/fedlex-data-admin-ch-eli-cc-2020-438-20201008-en-pdf-a.pdf 
List of high-risk countries and regions
All states outside the Schengen area, with the exception of:
– Andorra
– Australia
– Bulgaria
– Canada
– Croatia
– Cyprus
– Georgia
– Holy See
– Ireland
– Japan
– Monaco
– New Zealand
– Romania
– Rwanda
– San Marino
– South Korea
– Thailand
– Tunisia
– Uruguay

Once inside Switzerland, here are the updated measures that are in place:

28/11/21

• A number of countries were recently added to Switzerland’s “List of countries with a variant of concern”. The list can be found here:
  https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/empfehlungen-fuer-reisende/liste.html#858610174
  Anyone entering Switzerland from these countries must present a negative test result and quarantine for 10 days. This also applies to vaccinated and recovered persons. 
  If you are impacted by these new government restrictions and you are no longer able to take up your reservation, please get in touch.  We are very sorry to hear that your holiday plans could be impacted, and our generous cancellation policy allows for a full refund in these circumstances. Should you prefer, we are happy to transfer your balance to a future booking.
• The canton of Valais (which includes La Tzoumaz) has made masks compulsory and restricted the number of non-vaccinated adults who can meet together to 10. This restriction remains in force until December 17 2021:
  “The State Council reintroduces the wearing of masks from the age of 12 in all public events held indoors, markets and public places closed, with a few exceptions. The mask will be compulsory in particular in cinemas, theaters, auditoriums, restaurants, tea-rooms and other similar or similar places, even if the COVID-19 certificate is required there. The mask must also be worn in confined spaces of workplaces, as well as in vehicles when traveling for business. Private meetings that take place indoors are limited to ten people, unless all participants over the age of 16 have a COVID-19 certificate. Children and young people up to the age of 16 are not counted among these ten people. This last measure, applied from November 29, will be in effect until December 17.”
• No change to the federal rules in place across Switzerland (see below)

01/11/21

• Visitors need a Swiss COVID Certificate or an EU COVID Certificate to enter into bars, restaurants etc.  British NHS certificates can be converted into the Swiss COVID app. Any other non-EU certificates can be converted for 30 CHF here:  https://www.covidcertificate-form.admin.ch/foreign . Please note that the process may take 24h or longer.
• Like last year, ski resports in Switzerland are planning to open for business as usual.  A Swiss-validated COVID certificate may not be a requirement, according to the Ski Lift Operators, but the government has suggested that this may change if the COVID statistics  develop > 200 cases per 100,000 people.

CURRENT HYGIENE RULES

• Private gatherings and parties

  The number of people allowed to attend events among friends and family (for example gatherings and parties) that are not held in publicly accessible establishments and businesses is limited. The numbers include ALL children and babies.  

  Rule indoors: A maximum of 30 people is allowed.
  Rule outdoors: A maximum of 50 people is allowed.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

• Here’s some information in English on the latest situation in Switzerland: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/covid-19_coronavirus–the-situation-in-switzerland/45592192
• Find out the conditions for traveller entry into Switzerland here: Online check: Travelcheck
• You can also follow the latest updates from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (in English) here: https://foph-coronavirus.ch/
• Here’s a summary in English from the Verbier Tourist Office of the latest on the official situation here in the 4 Valleys: https://www.verbier.ch/winter/inside-winter/useful-info/information-about-the-health-situation-covid-19/
• Official information from the canton of Valais is only available in French and German: https://www.vs.ch/web/coronavirus/home

HISTORICAL COVID UPDATES

22/03/21

12/03/21

24/02/21

11/12/20

04/12/20

Is the ski resort open?

Yes! TeleVerbier has been running the ski lifts throughout November as usual, which has given plenty of opportunity to allow them to put in place and perfect their strategies to minimise skier interaction with each other.  The eyes of the Swiss authorities and of the general public across Europe are watching very closely and holding them to account.

• 07/11 Lac des Vaux ski area opened for weekend operation
• 05/12 the telecabin link from La Tzoumaz opened for weekend operation (to reach the open slopes in Verbier) 
• 12/12 the ski area is scheduled to be open daily

TeleVerbier has a detailed and user-friendly FAQ on what to expect in the resort and all the different measures applicable. Scroll down to the bottom of this page: https://www.verbier.ch/winter/information-about-the-health-situation-covid-19/

Measures in place at 4vallees4saisons

– We have a system of screens and social distancing in place at the agency and our staff will be wearing masks. To protect our team and other guests, hand sanitizer is provided for you to use on entry and you are requested not to enter in groups.
– We have implemented an enhanced cleaning protocol during the pandemic, although we cannot guarantee that your property will be virus-free, so you travel at your own risk. The previous clients may only have left the property in the morning of your arrival, and a number of our team members may have entered the property during the day to carry out essential cleaning, inspection and maintenance tasks.
– We ask anyone who has recently tested positive for COVID-19 or suspects that they may test positive, not to travel to our resort or stay in our properties
– We will alert you if anyone has recently entered your property and since tested positive for COVID-19
– Masks are required while queueing for and travelling on ski lifts and all other forms of transport. We will provide your group with 2 free “ski-friendly” fabric face coverings, and you may purchase additional masks on arrival or during your stay. We aim to have sufficient stock of both adult and child sizes available for your stay.

Our cancellation conditions

Cancellation Policy

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Summer coronavirus archives

05/06/2020

Hooray!  The news we’ve all been waiting for!

Coronavirus: Switzerland to reopen its borders with all EU/EFTA states on 15 June

WHAT’S OPEN?

• Open 365 days per year – the well-stocked village supermarket
• Already open – Trappeurs Cafe/Restaurant, Auberge La Tzoumaz Restaurant, Le Blanc Cafe/Restaurant, Les Fougeres Hotel/Restaurant, Domus café
• Already open – All the local playgrounds: the summer playground / rope frame / water park in the main square, les Defis de la Riviere by the river, the large playground & climbing crag in Domus, the drive-to playgrounds in Riddes, Saxon and our all-time favourite playgrounds in Saillon and at the Parc des Iles (a fabulous green space with a large lake, playground with miniature steam train, and plenty of other attractions: trampolines with elastic harnesses, a climbing wall, mini golf and even a high-rope park with 160 features, some of which are accessible to children from age 4).
• Already open – the Bains de Saillon thermal baths (www.bainsdesaillon.ch)
• Already open – Barryland (St Bernard Dog Museum and Kennels) (www.fondation-barry.ch)
• Already open – The indoor softplay centre in Martigny (www.monstrofun.ch) 
• Open from 20th June – The Maison de la Foret (tea shop and exhibition rooms)
• Open from 4th July – La Poste Hotel/Restaurant, TShop Bike Shop, TBar, and the La Tzoumaz Telecabin
• Not yet confirmed – the village swimming pool

There are three separate slides, swings, wobbly things, and plenty of space to run around.

FOR HIKERS & TRAIL RUNNERS

We’ve spent hours and hours out on the trails, and here is one of our all-time our favourites – a 2-hour steep hike up to the summit of le Fou:

23/05/2020

Wow.  Spring has fully sprung and watching it unfurl has been such a pleasure!  The mountains have gone from white to brown to vibrant green, there is an explosion of alpine flowers springing up at every turn, and the birds and butterflies are here in abundance.  The village has been quite busy with Second Home owners escaping from the nearby cities, and there is a good influx of Swiss tourists to our rental chalets.  Our 12 chalets with an outdoor jacuzzi are in particularly high demand as people seek to embrace the fresh mountain air and abundant sunshine.

SHOPS – The village shop remains open daily and is always well-stocked.  Down in the valley we noticed that the shops have started getting a bit busier as more and more Swiss residents come to Valais to enjoy the sunshine.  There are occasional queues outside places like the big Lidl in Conthey due to the restrictions on the number of people allowed inside.  Most people are respectful of the 2m social distancing requirements as we all try to get used to the “new normal” and make a habit of leaving room for other people.  A few people are wearing masks and it is more noticeable with the warmer temperatures that some people are still wearing gloves to do their shopping.   

RESTAURANTS & OTHER SERVICES

• Already open – Trappeurs Cafe/Restaurant, Auberge La Tzoumaz Restaurant, Le Blanc Cafe/Restaurant, Les Fougeres Hotel/Restaurant
• Already open – All the fixed village playgrounds, the summer playground in the main square, the large playground in Domus, the playgrounds in Riddes, Saxon and our all-time favourite playgrounds in Saillon and at the Parc des Iles (a fabulous green space with a large lake, playground with miniature steam train, and plenty of other attractions.  There are trampolines with elastic harnesses, a climbing wall, mini golf and a high-rope park with 160 features, some of which are accessible to children from age 4).
• Open from 4th July – La Poste Hotel/Restaurant, TShop Bike Shop, TBar, and hopefully the La Tzoumaz Telecabin (TBC end May)

HIKING & BIKING – As the snowline recedes up the mountain, the hiking routes and trails are opening up for us to enjoy, but a lot of fun can be had following the bisses and trails around and through the village.  There are more and more bikers (easy riders in jeans as well as professionals in Lycra) cycling up and down through the village, and e-Biking is definitely the way to go unless you are a hardcore mountain enthusiast.  We’ve spotted Sebastien Reichenbach (Tour de France pro rider) on his road bike as he hacked his way up the Croix de Coeur, reportedly fighting his way through the remaining snowdrifts, and there is a red tandem in the village that often rides up and down the roads.

FEATURED HIKE – Past the Defis de la Rivere and up to the Newt Pond

This is delightful short hike for children of any age, ideal for a picnic lunch or a lazy day by the water, or perhaps an evening hike to see the setting sun.  You can park at the Maison de la Foret, the Cremerie, or even further up by the Marteau if you don’t have much time.  Take spare shoes and a change of clothes for any little ones who enjoy getting wet but don’t enjoy staying wet!  The Defis de la Riviere is a brand new development for 2020 (scheduled to officially open at the end of June) and targeted at kids of any age, challenging them to use their agility to cross the course and indeed the river without getting wet.  Our toddlers had the most fun throwing sticks in the river and getting tangled up in the cargo net 🙂  Nearby is a swing set and a picnic area with shade and tables.

The sounds of the rushing river and the cacophony of birdsong was so fantastic that I tried to capture it here:

Turn left after the Defis de la Riviere and follow the yellow signpost marked “Le Fou”. This takes you up a short steep hike through an enchanting forest (around 10 minutes, with 100m of vertical gain) and then you arrive at the pond.  It has plenty of baby newts at this time of year. It’ a nice spot for a wild picnic in the grass overlooking La Tzoumaz if there are too many people at the picnic area by the river down below. 

10/05/2020

WEATHER – We’ve had some fabulously warm and sunny days and we even got out the barbecue for a nice lunch in the sun. Midday still remains the best time to have a barbecue here as once the sun goes behind the mountain in the early evening the temperature can drop quite sharply. The snow has gone from the lower pistes so we have stopped ski-touring and started to explore the footpaths further and further afield. The annual explosion of flowers across the mountainside is beginning to take shape, especially in the lower sections of the village. In the valley below the apricots are progressing well.

 

RESTAURANTS & OTHER SERVICES – everyone is getting excited about the first phase of de-confinement that starts tomorrow. As a family the thing we are most excited about is the playgrounds reopening! At a meeting of the local Accommodation Providers Committee we were given the following opening dates:

• Open from 11-15 May – Trappeurs Cafe/Restaurant, Auberge La Tzoumaz Restaurant, Le Blanc Cafe/Restaurant, Les Fougeres Hotel/Restaurant, all the fixed village playgrounds and the seasonal summer playground in the main square
• Open from 23rd May – Domus playground
• Open from end of June – Opening of the new playground “Defi de la Riviere” at the bridge/beach area of the Fare
• Open from 4th July – La Poste Hotel/Restaurant, TShop Bike Shop, TBar, and hopefully the La Tzoumaz Telecabin (TBC end May)

VILLAGE LIFE – Everything continues pretty much as it has over the last 8 weeks. There is a slow and steady increase in the number of people mowing and strimming as the greenery responds to the fine weather. Most of the people in the village are residents and second home owners. Most of the tourists are small Swiss families looking to escape the confines of their city life. We are interested to see how this demographic changes with the schools reopening tomorrow. It’s Mother’s Day today here in Switzerland so I’m off out to enjoy some hiking with the girls in the warm sunshine 🙂

30/04/2020

WEATHER – Like much of the rest of Europe we’re having a few days of rain, which is great to start turning the grass greener, and help start the fruit trees to bloom in the thousands of local orchards down the valley. We’ve had a few inversions when we’ve been either above the clouds, or in the middle of the swirling mist. We also managed to get clear skies earlier in the week to clearly see the amazing sight of the latest batch of StarLink satellites charging across the sky like a bright chain of shiny stars (See here for the next viewing possibilities: https://james.darpinian.com/satellites/?special=starlink). After an overnight flurry there was a clear snowline yesterday morning, sitting prettily over the Tracouet but it should warm up again after the weekend however, so we’re not really very motivated to get the skis back out right now.

HIKING TRAILS – we’ve been doing some gentle hiking with our baby girls, and some hardcore hiking with the older boys. Around the village level, the Vieux Bisse is lovely, and so is the Bisse de la Chapelle. The Sentier des Fables is mostly passable (you may get wet feet in the remaining snow patches) and there are plenty of marmottes (and the occasional black kite) to see.

The Bisse de Saxon is starting to clear (direction Verbier) but some sections are definitely too risky to enjoy due to large piles of snow still present at some very exposed sections, and the NO PEDESTRIANS barrier is still up at the La Tzoumaz end. We haven’t yet tried this bisse from the Maison de la Foret in the direction of Iserables and the Chalet des Alpes – maybe next week – but we know from experience that the huge snow-piled avalanche gully halfway round is normally complicated to cross until much later in the spring.

The best hiking at the moment is still on the lower path that runs from the Som de Pro bus stop (see SNOW MELT /SPRING below), winds around the mountain and goes through the three tunnels to the Crossette. There are still some “wet feet” sections but these are slowly melting and getting shorter. From La Crosette there are many different options, with plenty of fun to be had lower down (see SAXON below), and the path up to La Vatze being clear (just don’t come back along the Bisse de Saxon for another week or two – instead loop back down a different trail to regain the main footpath).

SAXON – The Trail de la Pierre Avoi has been postponed to August 15th, but we went for an early race-route-recce of the first 1000m climb and it was very pleasant with no wet feet until we reached the home trails near La Tzoumaz. We started in Saxon by the new start line at the Casino, and tried to follow the old race markings. There were a handful of other trailers training in the hills too, and we came across a couple of hikers about once or twice an hour. There were lots of people working in the vineyards and the orchards and most seemed happy to wave and chat. In Saxon village we even said hello to an archetypal tourist, complete with map, hawaiian shirt & shorts and a camera round his neck.

VALLEY FLOOR – If you drive down to Riddes and park by the river or the canal there is a lovely footpath long the river. It’s a great place to go for a long easy run or cycle, but beware the headwind that often blows from the Martigny end as this can massively slow you down on the way back. The footpath is flat enough to take small wheeled vehicles for toddlers (yep – our baby turned into a toddler last week by taking her first steps!) but keep an eye out for the occasional car (they usually slow right down) or cyclist (they sometimes go incredibly fast). You may even catch sight of one of the local Tour de France pros, such as Sebastien Reichenbach who does a lot of his training rides around here.

CHALETS – There is a steady trickle of (mostly Swiss) bookings coming in for the summer, and a steady trickle of (mostly overseas) booking cancellation. We’re still looking after a trickle of clients who are coming up to stay in our rental chalets. Many are choosing to extend their stay once they settle in and realise what a pleasure it is to be confined up here in the mountains. We are progressing with a lot of minor chalet maintenance, and seasonal tasks such as climbing on the roofs to clear the meleze needles from the guttering.

19/04/2020

HOLIDAYS – five weeks have now passed since the ski resort shut down and (nearly) all of the remaining winter clients cancelled their bookings. Easter came and went, much like any other day… but with a little more chocolate 🙂 It was sunny and warm and there were a lot more second homes occupied than there had been the week before – there were small groups of people sitting on quite a number of chalet terraces and patio spaces enjoying a meal together in the sunshine. We also had a few clients in the resort over Easter – it’s only a governmental recommendation to stay at home, not a requirement, so some couples and small families came to celebrate a calm and quiet Easter.

The Swiss Federal government has proposed a 3-phase relaxing of the lockdown rules, starting with a few businesses able to re-open on April 27th, and then (most concerning for our boys ) perhaps the re-opening of schools on May 11th, followed by lifting of further restrictions on June 8th.

We are starting to see a gentle increase in enquiries and bookings for next winter, as people start to believe in a brighter outlook for the future, with talk of different countries taking steps to return to normal. Summer bookings are also trickling in. We are still offering generous cancellation conditions to anyone who wants to book (see details here)

SHOPS – The village shop remains open daily (mornings only) and remains well-stocked, including freshly-baked baguettes every morning. The Monnet Sports “Tshop” is hoping to be allowed to rent out bicycles this summer, with the bikes expected to arrive sometime in mid-May. We’ll keep you posted on how to obtain your 4v4s discount.

VILLAGE CENTRE – The ice rink has been dismantled for the year, but the fixed playground is closed and the summer playground has obviously not yet been installed. Playgrounds are also closed in Domus, Saxon, Saillon, Nendaz and Parc des Iles. We’re hoping that the ban on playgrounds will be lifted with the opening of schools on May 11th. That doesn’t mean we can’t have fun in the big open square in the village centre though – we normally take scooters and other ride-on toys for the girls to enjoy as this is one of the biggest flat spaces in the whole of La Tzoumaz 🙂

PUBLIC TRANSPORT – The Post Bus runs between Iserables telecabin and La Tzoumaz Telecabin as usual. We hiked around the Route de la Foret Verte to test it out. This wide, flattish forest road is now driveable again since the snowploughs ran through it a week ago. We admired the stunning views of La Tzoumaz from the other side as always, and took the opportunity to see what the snow line looked like. Arriving in Iserables, the locals we spotted were mostly at home in their gardens or driving around, and seemed happy enough to wave at us. Any benches or play areas were cordoned off, and we saw one rainbow banner thanking the people on the front line of the battle against COVID-19, in both French and German. It’s difficult not to feel like intruders when you are a large group of two adults, two pre-teens and two babies, but the bus driver seemed pleased to have such a full minibus after so many empty journeys. The front rows of seats are cordoned off to protect the driver, and no payment is allowed on the bus. We had to plan carefully as there are only a handful of buses a day and you need to buy your ticket online in advance (instructions here or on the bus door).

SNOW MELT / SPRING – We’ve been eagerly waiting for the snow to melt on our favourite hiking paths so that we can enjoy them properly. In the early evenings wen La Tzoumaz is in the shade we like to explore the Rhone Valley side of town and enjoy the late sunshine. The flat road that leads away from the “Som de Pro” bus-stop near Villy is one of our favourites due to its steep-sided plunging views over the Rhone Valley and its adventure and surprises along the way – As you round each corner of this vertiginous route as it winds round the mountainside, you could be greeted by one of the last few heaps of snow slowly melting, a pile of rocks that have crumbled and slid onto the path, little streams that cross the footpath, tunnels carved into the rocks with curtains of water raining down, or even piles of rabbit/chevreuil droppings (much to the delight of toddler Katie). Here it is clear that the trees are blossoming and that spring is in the air. Little clusters of white or purple flowers (sylvie?) are starting to line the footpaths and the trees are covered in fresh green shoots and catkins.

VILLY – Another lovely place to enjoy in the early evening due to the late sunset and the stunning Rhone Valley views, Villy very much has a village feel. Thanks to the year-round sunshine, many of the chalets are occupied year round, and due to the acoustics you can hear laughter and chatter coming from distant gardens and balconies. Not enough to make out the words, but enough to really feel that this is a warm and friendly community. We stop and chat to quite a few residents, who seem pleased by the variety of our presence, and most take delight in the antics of our little babies. The central farm is still hard at work and there are a number of vegetables growing in the occasional vegetable patch between chalets. A number of the second-home chalets have ski-touring skins hanging up to dry next to their cars with their out-of-town Vaud plates.

02/04/2020

HOLIDAYS – We are now in our 3rd week since the ski resort shut down and (nearly) all of the winter clients cancelled their bookings. We have very few clients in the resort at the moment but we are getting a steady trickle of people booking Easter holidays up here – they are already situated within the Swiss borders so they are allowed to travel to the mountains. It’s only a governmental recommendation to stay at home, not a requirement, so families are looking for somewhere relatively remote and isolated to celebrate Easter. We are offering generous cancellation conditions to anyone who wants to book (see details here)

SHOPS – The village shop remains open daily (mornings only) and remains well-stocked. There are normally only around 4 or 5 other people inside at the same time and they are offering deliveries to anyone confined to their home. The only thing we are having difficulty to find is yeast (either in cubes or in sachets) and despite scouring all the shops down the valley we have still had no luck. I guess we’re not the only ones thinking now would be a good time to try some home baking! Coop, Migros, Lidl and Aldi are all well stocked (apart from yeast). Lidl in Conthey now has a big sign up saying “One person per trolley” and “No families” so we are going to have to stop shopping there – normally one of us goes out with the two girls as the activity for that day and now we are running out of ideas where to take them. Our toddler loves pushing her own mini-trolley round and our nearly-toddler really enjoys sitting in the big trolley. Most shops are struggling to enable people to keep their distances as people frequently cross each other in the aisles instead of walking around or waiting, so we try to minimise the number of shopping trips that we make, despite shopping for an extended family.

WEATHER – The sky is blue and the outlook is for at least a week of glorious sunshine! Sadly the local public playgrounds are now closed, and the village ice rink has been dismantled. At least this means there is now a flat space in the village centre where we can take the girls to enjoy their summer locomotion toys as they transition from sliding on snow to rolling on tarmac.

SNOW – Down at the lower resort level, below the main street, most of the snow has already melted but in the top of the resort it has barely started to disappear from the fields. The snow on the pistes is definitely spring-like now, crispy in the mornings and soft by lunchtime so small moguls are starting to appear near the bottom. Around the resort it is easy to sink into the soft wet snowdrifts up to mid-calf in the afternoons, but in the forest or up towards the croix-de-coeur we are using running spikes to get a good grip on the frozen snow. The pistes are criss-crossed with footprints, paw-prints, ski and snowshoe tracks and the occasional skidoo track (left behind by the owner of our favourite isolated restaurant). Of course standing on the Croix-de-Coeur there is no snow at all on the Verbier side because it basks in the sunshine, unlike our protected side where the sun only gently grazes the pistes.

PEOPLE – Out hiking in the snow with the girls it is almost deserted – we only come across another person about once per hour or so, maybe skiing past us after skinning up the piste, or coming back from a snowshoe hike to the top, or out sledging with a child. We are allowed to be in groups of up to 5 if we respect the 2m-distance rule, so we stop and chat to anyone we see, not quite shouting. I’ve been outside tramping round the back gardens quite a bit on my own, taking new external photographs of some of our chalets, and I find that quite a few (usually older) ladies seem to be tucked away in nearby chalets on their own and they leap out onto the terrace or into the garden and have a pleasant chat with me. I guess we are all reaching out for some reassuring human contact in these strange times.

Skinning up the deserted piste by starlight, with nothing but the sound of an owl hooting in the distance, is pure mountain pleasure. Reaching the top and peeling the skins off our skis as we catch our breath we reflect on just how unique this whole situation is. Skiing down is exhilarating and the lights of the villages twinkle in the distance. With 57 years of skiing between the two of us and during that time only one visit to hospital for a skiing injury we feel the risk is very low, but still we ski down very gently and with bright head-torches to minimise the risks.

23/03/2020

It’s now been a week since the ski-lifts closed, and the village is settling into a quiet version of the inter-season. A number of second-home owners came up for the weekend to close down their chalets after winter, and there were lots of windows thrown open and vacuuming sounds echoing across the valley before they all retreated back to wherever they live. Now the majority of the cars in the village have the local VS numberplates.

Out on the footpaths we crossed a few people, fathers out sledging with their daughters, older couples out for a walk. One gentleman with a group of four others that was walking up to the Maison de la Foret hastily pulled his mask over his face when we got within 10m. It’s the first person I’ve seen up here wearing a mask and I wish him good health.

The playgrounds are deserted, up here and down in Saillon. The La Tzoumaz playground is covered in snow but the Domus area is lovely and sunny in the afternoons. The donkeys there are almost as chatty as the climbers slowly making their way up the rock crag. The rabbits look a bit grumpy but the Japanese bantams are happily pecking at the ground unaware of how much the world around them has changed.

The footpaths and pistes are in excellent condition, considering they have been closed for a week. The snow is solid and crispy underfoot, which makes it a very pleasant surface to walk on, even when carrying a wriggling backpack full of toddler. The sledge run has only about 4cm depth of snow as it winds up through the trees, so we need to make the most of it before a few days of warm weather spoil our fun. There are many footprints and a few snowshoe marks, some sledge tracks and of course the skidoo tracks of our favourite local mountain restaurant owner.

Skinning up to ski down by starlight was a wonderful experience, with the head-torches just picking out the few small moguls that are starting to form in the otherwise hard and slippery surface. We didn’t see any wildlife but that may have been because we were chattering too loudly to each other…

There’s an inversion today so we are just in the cloud-line, with the view below obscured in thick fog. We resort to the webcams when we need a fix of sunshine:

http://www.verbier.ch/en/webcams/webcam-croix-de-coeur.htm http://www.verbier.ch/en/webcams/webcam-savoleyres.htm

19/03/2020

We have completed the set up of our remote office facilities and the resort team is busy fixing outstanding defects in the chalets and completing the standard post-season check and close of all the chalets. There are a couple of chalets still occupied by rental clients and owners. Our agency remains closed to visitors but we are still working, as are the local tradespeople (carpenters, plumbers, dishwasher repair etc).

The village is very sunny and fairly quiet. All bars and restaurants are closed. The tourist office is closed. The supermarket is open daily in the mornings. Some people are out walking with their children, others are running or cycling. People are greeting each other but keeping their distance from one another by crossing the road etc. A few people are enjoying the ski pistes by using skis de randonnee to climb up and ski down. We might try it later by torchlight when our toddlers are in bed so we can see what’s happening to the snow quality 🙂

17/03/2020

The Federal Council has annulled the decree issued by the Valais Cantonal Council and therefore we no longer have to close all hotels and holiday homes from midnight tonight.

Our teams are up and running and all services are functioning as normal, with the exception that we will not receive clients in the agency. If you are a chalet or apartment owner you may rest assured that we plan to maintain our Property Services as usual and continue to take good care of your property.

16/03/2020

Valais has decreed an Extraordinary Situation for the entire canton until further notice. From Tuesday 17th March 2020 at midnight, they have mandated the closure of all hotels and holiday homes, including those managed by people such as 4v4s, who use online booking sites like airbnb. As such we will close as a Holiday Rentals Agency from Tuesday at midnight. We will be directly contacting all affected holidaymakers as soon as we can.

If you are a chalet or apartment owner you may rest assured that we plan to maintain our Property Services as usual and continue to take good care of your property.

Here is the full text of the official communication (in French):

15/03/2020

Switzerland has mandated the closure of all ski domains and so TeleVerbier has closed all of the lifts in the 4 Valleys until the end of the season. At this time we do not know if they will open for the summer season in mid-June. The supermarket remains open every morning and is currently well-stocked. All other commerces (bars, restaurants, hotels) are closed, including the Tourist Office.

You can follow the latest updates from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (in English) here: https://foph-coronavirus.ch/

If you have a 2019/20 winter booking with us

We are in the process of contacting all of our confirmed clients to discuss cancellation and refunds with all clients who have booked holidays and skipasses with us. We consider that the early closure of the ski domain represents a change in the product we have offered our clients versus what was booked, and so based on Swiss law we are offering every direct client a 100% reimbursement if the cancellation is not covered by travel insurance. Please contact us at holidays@4v4s.com if you have not yet heard from us.

Some of our clients are choosing to retain their booking if they are still able to travel to the resort, eg Swiss residents. It is a very quiet village now that the ski season has ended so it is perhaps easier here to manage social distancing and self-isolation. The mountain views are still beautiful, and the footpaths remain open for snowshoe hiking and walking.

If you would like to make a new booking

We are offering “free cancellation until 30 days before, and 90% refund at any time” for any new bookings made from now for travel dates before 30th September 2020.

If you have a 2020 spring/summer booking with us

We have updated our cancellation conditions and all existing bookings up to 30th September are now eligible for “free cancellation until 30 days before, and 90% refund at any time”

Feel free to contact us at holidays@4v4s.com if you already wish to cancel under the standard conditions. Your travel insurance may be able to cover any cancellation fees for you. Otherwise, we recommend that you take a decision as close to your departure date as possible.

If you wish to stay in Autumn or Winter 2020/21

For any cancellations made before September 30th 2020, a full refund is available for any Autumn or Winter 20/2021 bookings.

Also for any non weather-related closure of the entire ski domain for a prolonged period during winter 2020/21 we will offer a full refund. This also applies if the ski resort is open, but either your own government or the Swiss government blocks international travel to/from Switzerland.

Our standard cancellation conditions still apply in the following circumstances: Bookings for Winter 2020/21 that are cancelled after 30th September 2020 in the event that the ski domain is operating normally, and international travel is possible. As a reminder, these are our standard conditions: “For cancellation up to 2 months before arrival (or upon resale) the fee is 15%. Up to 1 month / 80%, thereafter / 90%.”

12/03/2020

There is a lot of uncertainty right now in lots of different parts of the globe, and there are starting to be impacts to many people’s daily lives and to their holiday plans. Here’s where we are today:

Swiss governmental advice

We expect a significant update on decisions affecting Switzerland after an emergency meeting of the Federal Council that will take place on Friday 13th March. Here is the link to watch the press conference live at 15h30 (Swiss time): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFI7vQU-YnY&feature=youtu.be

There is no current travel restriction on travel to/from Switzerland issued by the Swiss Government.  People travelling on routes from or through Italy will, however, face restrictions.  The general advice from the Swiss government is to avoid greeting people by shaking hands or kissing and to practice good personal hygiene, avoid touching your face and wash hands frequently. Recently they have also advised people to keep their distance from each other.

You can follow the latest updates from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (in English) here: https://foph-coronavirus.ch/

Your governmental travel advice

The dynamics of this situation are such that we are unable to monitor advice from every country.  Please consult your own government website for information on travel advice.

Current situation in La Tzoumaz/Verbier

At the moment there are no special precautions in place in our resort as there are no confirmed cases, and people (including me) are skiing, socialising, and working or attending school/kindergarten as normal. Except for hand sanitizer and masks, shops are well-stocked and no-one here seems to be panicking.

Standard cancellation conditions

Just as a reminder, here are our standard cancellation conditions:

“For cancellation up to 2 months before arrival (or upon resale) the fee is 15%. Up to 1 month / 80%, thereafter / 90%.”

“Advance-purchase skipasses are non-refundable once issued.”

Travel insurance

We recommend that you check the cancellation terms and conditions in your travel insurance for accommodation and skipasses, and also for any transfers or flights etc that you have booked.  There may be a difference if you choose to cancel based on government travel advice against travel to/from Switzerland or your home country, versus if you cancel based on your own risk assessment.

New bookings

For any new bookings made between now and September 2020 we will offer free cancellation of those bookings if you cancel before September 2020

Stay safe and protect your communities by washing your hands, coughing into your elbow, not touching your face, and staying home if you are unwell.

Wishing you and your family good health over the next critical months.

From Anna, Percy & the whole team here at 4v4s

The post Coronavirus update appeared first on 4vallees4saisons.com.

A few weeks ago we bumped into a local couple out hiking up the Col des Mines.  Leaning on their hiking poles, they were delighted to stop and share their favourite nuggets of local knowledge from the vast encyclopaedia that they had gathered over their last 30 years here.  The thing that piqued my interest the most was when they told us that you could find Edelweiss growing wild at the top of the mountain.  “Whereabouts?”  I asked excitedly, with my head spinning in anticipation, wondering if we could do an urgent detour on the way home.  “Up by the top of the Pierre Avoi.  Take the lower path, not the one that climbs to the summit, and then leave the path.  You really have to know where it is, but there are about six of them, maybe 200m away from the footpath, sort of in the rocks.”  In my excitement I foolishly believed that these must be sufficiently precise instructions, so the very next day we got our hiking kit together and set off with the boys, who are 5 and 7 years old.  I had been talking to them about Edelweiss all summer, while pointing out all the different flowers we could see on our many hikes, explaining that it was incredibly rare and so they should look for it at all times.  I have never seen the delicate yellow and white flowers growing in the wild, despite spending many happy years tramping about the Alps in summer, and held them in kind of magical regard.  We were all quite excited to think that we knew where to find some, so we set off with a spring in our step, hunting for Edelweiss in La Tzoumaz.

I took the lead, with my head turning steadily from side to side, eyes constantly scanning the ground up to 200m from the path.  I tripped up several times as I wasn’t really able to look where I was going without dragging my eyes away from their search.  I didn’t really know where to look: separated from other flowers?  in sparsely-grassed areas?  in the shade of small boulders?  The Alpine Flowers book that we carried said somewhat enigmatically and rather unhelpfully that “You’ll recognise it when you see it.”

We eventually neared the top, where we came across a lady who was out walking with her dog.  “Hello! We were wondering if you could help us. We’re looking for Edelweiss. Do you know where we might find some near here?”  “Edelweiss…?  Ummm…  Is that it?” and she pointed to the nearest flower.  The type with a large, tough flower-head and no neck, that looks like someone has beheaded it and dropped it on the ground.  Definitely not Edelweiss.  We walked on, none-the-wiser, until we came across another lady, this time without a dog.  “Hello! We were wondering if you could help us. We’re looking for Edelweiss. Do you know where we might find some near here?”  “Umm… There are some marmottes over there…!”

Great.  Marmottes.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the furry little fellows. With a clever design that is a sort of cross between a giant squirrel and a miniature bear, I think they are loveable and cute and a great tourist attraction.  I’m just convinced that they are all part of a conspiracy organised by manufacturers of 300mm zoom lenses.  The marmottes lie in wait until we wander into their catchment area, then they shout and whistle from far away to make sure that we notice them.  Then they stand still in front of stunning panoramic vistas, waiting patiently while we line up our cameras.  Then the mischievous little fellows try to keep a straight face while we scowl frustratedly at the screens on our cameras and smartphones and try to make out whether we got a photo of them or just some more rocks.

Anyway, we carried on winding around the rocky outcrop, with me becoming more and more convinced that the whole outing was a disaster.   My only consolation was that at least we could visit the Maison de la Foret on the way home to La Tzoumaz and see where they have planted some Edelweiss in their nature display.

Soon we arrived at the foot of the climbing area and came across two couples enjoying the climbing routes.  “Hello! We were wondering if you could help us. We’re looking for Edelweiss. Do you know where we might find some near here?”  “Edelweiss…?  Ummm…  There’s some here by my foot.”  I looked up at the climber in astonishment.  True enough, he was pointing at something growing 10m up the sheer rockface, clinging onto a tiny ledge near his foot.  I didn’t know whether to laugh triumphantly or cry in despair as we would never get a good look at it from down here.  “And here’s some more!” he said, pointing to another flower, this time only 10cm from his nose.  How I longed to be up on that wall!

“Right, team!”  I cried with renewed enthusiasm, “Everyone split up and start looking on all the rocks and cliff faces.  Shout when you’ve found some!”  Now that I knew that Edelweiss really did grow around here, I was sure that we’d get lucky and stumble across some.  Sure enough, within a couple of minutes, the shout came loud and clear.  “Over here!”  We all scrambled over the boulders, inched precariously to the edge and peered over.  There it was.  My quest was over.  For the first time in my life, I was looking at real, wild Edelweiss on the side of a Swiss mountain.  Suddenly the Sound of Music was in my ears and I burst into song,

“Edelweiss, Edelweiss,

Every morning you greet me,

Small and white, clean and bright,

You look happy to meet meeeeeeeee!”

The boys were too young to understand the significance of finally finding something that you had for years believed was near-impossible to find, but they seemed infected with my enthusiasm.  Stroking the thick soft petals gently with our fingertips, we cooed over their beauty.  We called out to passers-by to come and look, but most just nodded and walked on, leaving me to wonder if the magic was somehow being eroded by today’s multi-cultural society.

Still buoyed by our success, we stopped to gather berries on the way down the hill, amassing an impressive quantity of fresh bilberries, raspberries and wild strawberries.  “That was a good day!” the boys agreed later on after dinner, with sticky fingers coated in warm summer fruit tart and big grins on their tired faces.

Hunting for Edelweiss

The Pierre Avoi is accessible within about 20 minutes hike from the top of the Savoleyres telecabin, or 90 minutes if hiking up from La Tzoumaz.  Best seen during July or August, but still present during September.

Be prepared

Take a day-pack with extra layers of clothing, sunglasses and high-factor SPF suncream.  Walking boots (or strong trainers), water and a picnic are advisable.  A zoom lens could be useful to thwart the marmottes.  Don’t forget to remind yourself of the lyrics to the song.

Recommended for

Hikers, nature-lovers, families and anyone with some level of fitness who remembers the Sound of Music

Not recommended for

People uncomfortable with narrow mountain footpaths or uphill hiking.

Insider knowledge

Start looking around near the big white arrow on this map:

The post Hunting for Edelweiss in La Tzoumaz appeared first on 4vallees4saisons.com.

INSIGHT #1 – Even if you’ve never been on a two-family holiday, consider asking a family of like-minded friends to join you.  If the kids get on together and you enjoy the adult company then this can be a great mix.

I got my first lesson in the complexity of the self-catered multi-family holiday before we left home.  As we ran around hastily shoving the last few items in the food box, with no idea if we had the makings of at least one meal for eight or not, I started to understand why so many groups plan a long time in advance.  I’ve often been bemused by clients contacting me up six weeks in advance to ask what dimensions of baking trays would be available in their chalet or whether there was a soup-mixer.  Now I realised that this is simply the sign of an organised, experienced holidaymaker and that I was hopelessly outclassed.

INSIGHT #2 – Plan at least the first few meals in advance, and make sure you have the relevant spices, herbs and oils.  You can expect the previous clients to have left behind some salt, pepper and random condiments, but if you really need Piri-Piri sauce or extra virgin olive oil, then take it with you.  Don’t forget the basics like butter, milk and coffee/tea, along with paper towels, dishwasher tablets, a few bin bags, sandwich bags and hand soap as these are not normally provided.

Given the late time that we were scheduled to arrive, I had cleverly pre-cooked the dinner for our arrival.  As such, I found myself sitting in the passenger seat of our overstuffed car with a big cooking pot of chilli between my feet and a bag of raincoats on my lap while the children bounced all over the back seats in excitement.

Our next good idea for the trip was to meet the other family at the village playground when we arrived.  The trampoline, table tennis, swings and slides acted like a huge sponge as the boys kept feeding them more and more energy.  When the others arrived, we got to have a quick hug and catch up whilst the kids all tried to show off their latest gymnastic and judo moves to us and to each other.

INSIGHT #3 – Plan somewhere to meet so you can all arrive at the chalet together, either a playground or a handy café.  The first family to arrive can visit the agency to check in and get the keys, along with a host of local and tourist information.

We had chosen the fabulous Chalet Chaupine for our holiday and as we drove up the winding road everyone was peering out of the car windows in anticipation to try and get the first glimpse of where we were going call home for the duration of our trip.

“Wow!” came the first call, as a large black, three-storey chalet came into sight.  It was raised up from the side of the road into a prominent position and set in a wonderful, varied-level garden area.  Before I had time to cut the engine, the kids had bolted out of the car to run around exploring.  “Coo-eee!” came a small voice from the upstairs balcony.  “Coooooool! I found a tree-house!” came another from the wild meadow area up level with the top floor.  I breathed a sigh of relief, safe in the knowledge that happy, excited children were virtually all that we needed for an excellent holiday, and this place seemed to ooze adventure and discovery.

INSIGHT #4 – Make the most of the outdoors.  The change of environment makes it very easy to set the expectation that there will be no screens or computer games during the holiday, and children will enjoy the freedom and creativity that comes with unstructured time outside.

As the heavy wooden door swung open we were hit by the wondrous smell of larch wood.  “Shoes off right now please!” I wailed helplessly after the children as they ran through the entrance area like a charging herd of buffalo.  It was a well thought-out space, with plenty of hooks and shelf space with a long bench running the whole length through.  There was even a second row of hooks at child height, which was sadly ignored by the boys as they threw their jackets on the floor and sprinted into the chalet.

I soon learned that there are three phases to moving into a chalet.  The first part is one of Exploration and Decisions.  We had already had a pre-discussion on who would be sleeping where and why. Paying no attention to such boring logic, the kids ran straight into the room with four bunk beds and decided to make camp.  The adults went more methodically through each floor, looking into all the rooms and figuring out which room they wanted to negotiate for.  Thankfully, they were all great options with plenty of storage space and access to good-sized bathrooms.  The downstairs rooms had wooden beams running across the ceiling, access to the lower level garden and either a fabulous view across the valley or a promise of morning sunrise over the distant mountain peaks.  The two upstairs had a charm of their own as they were set into the exposed rafters.  Although we all secretly understood that we were not actually intending to use it, we were all excited at the prospect of there being a sauna in the chalet.

The second phase of moving in is the Grand Unpacking.  The kitchen was large, modern and well-stocked.  We pulled open cupboard after cupboard to discover pots, pans, raclette machines, fondue sets, mixing and baking kit, more glasses, bowls and mugs than we could hope to use and even a champagne bucket.  I loved the huge double fridge with its multitude of large vegetable drawers and its ice-machine. The fact that the kitchen was so well-stocked presented the first challenge.  Each family had brought supplies.  Where was there an empty cupboard tall enough to store enough breakfast cereal for a horde of eight hungry holidaymakers?  The next challenge was trying to get the hob to work, before realising that my precious pan of homemade chilli was not actually compatible with the induction hob.

The final phase is setting up the Moment of Calm.  Once the children had been fed, bathed, storied and put to bed with promises of a holiday jam-packed with adventure, the chalet took on a calm, serene feel.  Within minutes, the fire was lit, the wine was poured and the adults collectively took a deep sigh of relaxation. Snuggled up on the deep, comfy sofas, with music drifting from the stereo dock we let go of all the daily stresses and strains and allowed ourselves to be enveloped by the magic of the mountains.

INSIGHT #5 – Don’t forget that you are on holiday as well as the children!  If you keep the days full of adventure and activity, then there won’t be any complaints about being sent to bed at a reasonable time to allow you some adult time.

Daytimes were filled with an array of adventures and activities. A small amount of research had allowed us to sign up for the Trail de la Pierre Avoi, a heavyweight trail running race that climbs a dizzying 2000m from the valley floor to the top of the highest rocky outcrop and back through La Tzoumaz to return to the host village of Saxon, a punishing 36km later.  Thankfully there was a 1km children’s race so we didn’t have to sign up for the Trail itself.  All participants were awarded a commemorative trophy and a barbecue ticket so that took care of lunch as we applauded each muddy, exhausted and exhilarated finisher as they sprinted or limped home after five or six or more hours of racing.

A short drive from La Tzoumaz is the Parc des Iles, a fabulous green space with a large lake, playground with miniature steam train, and plenty of other attractions.  There are trampolines with elastic harnesses, a climbing wall, mini golf and a high-rope park with 160 features, some of which are accessible to children from age 4.  When we were there, there was a paddle-boarding open day on the lake with have-a-go lessons and wacky races. There was also a life-sized model dinosaur exhibition amongst the trees with a quiz for the children.

INSIGHT #6 – Look online before you travel to see what events are organised in the area.  Often there are more things scheduled over the weekend, which can leave you a bit stuck for ideas on a weekday.  If you arrive on a Friday or Saturday list a few options for the first day or two, and save the lazy days in and around the chalet for the quieter weekdays.

A visit to Saillon took in this historic walled town perched on an island of rocks near the valley floor, with its steep and curving streets and tower perched on top.  There is a Museum of Counterfeit Money and an easy walk up to the castle tower, which is open for climbing up the spiral staircase to admire the incredible views from the top.  From here you can clearly see up and down the length of the wide and glaciated Rhone Valley, with the tiny cars crawling along the bottom, and the rocks of the Pierre Avoi towering overhead. It was a rainy morning for us so we were privileged by a host of large snails clinging halfway up the grass stalks, and small fluffs of clouds clinging halfway up the huge mountainsides.  On another day, we planned to visit the thermal baths at Bains de Saillon with their indoor and outdoor pools, hot swimming stream and range of saunas and plunge pools.

There are hiking trails criss-crossing the mountainside, labelled with a liberal sprinkling of the ubiquitous yellow signposts that are almost a trademark of Switzerland.  Many lead steeply up to fantastic peaks marked with crosses or cairns, or to beautiful cols where the mountain range spans away from you on all sides.  The celebrated footpaths that follow the “bisses” make perfect family hiking routes as they follow the ancient streams that were channelled in a gentle incline around the mountains.  With very little encouragement, the children discovered a veritable treasure trail of fascinating birds, insects, plants and creepy crawlies.

INSIGHT #7 – There’s hours of fun to be had out on the mountain footpaths and trails.  Pick up a map from the local tourist office and ask them if they have a Treasure Hunt or quiz or themed trail with animal sculptures.  Then put a picnic in your backpack and get out there, keeping an eye out for interesting flora and fauna to keep excitement levels up.

The traditional “Inalpe” at Balavaud took us right into the local culture.  After twenty minutes’ drive up an impossibly narrow and winding forest road we arrived at the fabulous Chalet des Alpes restaurant, set in a tiny hamlet with a backdrop of traditional wooden chalets on stilts and an operational chairlift.  We had turned up too late to see the moment the huge and muscular black Herens cows were released as they arrived for the first time in the pastureland.  Each year they naturally go through a fighting process to define the hierarchy for the herd, with each pair locking horns and pushing until one gives way to cede her place in the hierarchy.  The local villagers have long made a festival out of this occasion, and we were delighted to find a marquee complete with hot cheese raclette being scraped onto plates with special miniature potatoes and paired with cornichons and silverskin onions.  This was being washed down with plenty of local Fendant wine as the delightful notes of an alphorn trio drifted through the air.  A handful of delighted tourists mingled with the assorted locals and weather-beaten farmers who spoke in thick Valaisan accents.  Everyone was in high spirits and looking forward to the late afternoon finals, where the cows would again be brought out for the final stages of the tournament that lead up to the final knockout round to identify which one will be crowned Queen. Each cow wore a number and a handy brochure told us the stage name of each cow so that we could pick our favourites.

The area is famous for much more than fighting cows, and every available inch of land seems to be cultivated for wine-growing or fruit production.  The landscape is smothered with row upon row of neatly-arranged vines and blooming apricot trees.  Strawberries and asparagus were in season so we called into one of the many local farm-shops to savour the freshness of the produce and left with our arms laden with goodies. Along with enough fruit and vegetable to feed the hungry hordes, we also picked up some locally-brewed beers and loads of real fruit juice, along with some Iserables cheese and a perfectly-spiced dried sausage for aperitif.

INSIGHT #8 – There are plenty of handwritten signs at the side of the road showing you where you can pick up fresh fruit and veg, just follow one and see what’s in season.  It may be asparagus season or apricot time when you visit, but you’re guaranteed that freshly-picked flavour and freshness.

Early evenings back at the chalet were filled with lazy barbecues, which had to compete with tree-house adventures, swing-ball tournaments and table-tennis matches, or the children quite simply running around the surrounding pastureland with sticks and butterflies, alpine flowers and the imagination of five-to-nine-year-old group-think.  Randomly clad in socks and shorts, shoes and raincoats, sunhats or t-shirts, it didn’t seem to matter to them.  The blissful freedom and wonder of life in the mountains is such an easy place for the young to step out of their day-to-day world of homework or electronic devices and re-discover creative free-play.  My only regret was forgetting to pack paper towels, as the children were quickly plastered from head-to-toe in chicken marinade.  A beginner’s error.

INSIGHT #9 – Garden games can provide hours of fun for children.  Some chalets have table tennis or boules.  We provide Swingball sets in many of our chalets as it is hilariously good fun and can be adapted to suit all ages – try asking Dad to play on one leg to make it fair for the younger ones!

Late evenings were filled with that gorgeous peacefulness of parents enjoying the well-earned knowledge that the children are sleeping deeply once again.  Conversations moved easily from subject to subject as the evenings moved easily from the long dining table under its impressive two-level stag-antler chandelier to the soft cushions and animal-skin rug of the lounge area.  The open mezzanine area upstairs that served both as a den and a boardgame battleground during the day was transformed into a quiet haven for reading, or sometimes a chilled zone to watch the match without disturbing the rest of the group.  Even the dishwasher seemed to be an ultra-quiet version that didn’t intrude on the evening calm as the lights across the valley slowly winked out, one by one.  There is no light pollution here, so the stars are an amazing sight to behold from the balcony.

INSIGHT #10 – If you have gone for the highly-recommended screen-free holiday option check if there are books, board games, toys or even a deck of cards in the chalet, if not it would be wise to bring a couple to ensure you get that downtime after dark.

It was a shame to leave at the end of our stay, but nobody seemed too sad as everyone was still buzzing from our adventures.  We had spent a lot of quality time together and the two families had smoothly merged into one.  When the family bonds are this tight, it seems that all is right with the world and I smiled contentedly to myself as I drove them back to the real world, already planning our next summer holidays here in the mountains.

Do you have any insights to share?  We’d love to hear them in the comments section below.

Further reading

• Check out our extensive range of chalets in La Tzoumaz to see which one would suit you and your tribe.
• Can’t decide when to visit?  Here’s our month-by-month guide on when to visit.
• Links galore on the family resort of La Tzoumaz and the surrounding area here on our links page.

The post 10 family insights for a great summer chalet holiday appeared first on 4vallees4saisons.com.

Designing the hike

1) Go up!  I don’t know if it’s due to short stride length, inefficiency of motion or reduced body weight, but compared to adults, children seem much better at hiking upwards than hiking along the flat.  We unintentionally proved this one day by selecting a route with 8km of flat followed by 800m of climb.  The 8km of flat took us four hours, the 800m hike upwards took less than two hours.  Lesson for the future: save walking along the flat for the grand-parents.

2) Hike in woods.  When the boys were young, they would walk much better on a woodland path than on an open footpath.  I don’t know why, but perhaps it’s because a path lined with trees demands to be followed?

3) Do a one-way walk.  A great route is to take the route de foret vert from La Tzoumaz around the mountain to Iserables, then take the bus back to La Tzoumaz.  Be warned, the bus only runs every two hours.   www.cff.ch.  Another favourite is hiking from the station in Grenolier through the woods to St Cergue.  The hike would take 2 to 3 hours, and we’d finish with lunch in a cafe before taking the train back down the hill to the car.  

4) Hike to a trampoline, or a bouncy castle.  The croix-de-coeur restaurant between Verbier and La Tzoumaz has a magic trampoline and a bouncy castle outside until the end of October.  We know the trampoline is magic:  we had dragged our five year old on a four hour hike, and every step he told us how tired his legs were.  Within seconds of seeing his brother on the trampoline, the tiredness seemed to magically evaporate!
http://www.buvette-alpage.ch/croix-de-coeur

Having fun on the hike

5) Find some snow in Summer!  Need I say more?  If there are two children of different ages/speeds, the child in front can use a stick to write messages or draw pictures in the snow for the child coming behind.

6) Look for mountain flowers.  Every swiss child has heard of the mysterious edelweiss.  The locals here know where to find them.  If you search for our edelweiss blog you will know too!

7) Dam a stream, or cross it on stepping stones.

8) Listen for birdsong, and look for animals. Cuckoos are fabulous as you can have a conversation with them by imitating their familiar sound, and there is usually at least one to be found somewhere in the forests around La Tzoumaz. Mischievous marmots can often be heard on sunny slopes, always sitting just out of range of whatever photography equipment you’ve bought with you.

Motivating the little ones

9) Start from different places, or at different times, and do a race.  Every time the children walk faster or further the new pace seems to stick, so even just doing this occasionally makes a big difference to the other walks.  And they really enjoy winning.

10) Climb to the top of something and promise to take a silly picture at the top.  It works to motivate adults as well!

And some bonus tips…

1) In Switzerland, the hiking routes are marked differently from mountain trails, which are significantly more dangerous.  The enclosed site gives a good description
http://www.wanderland.ch/en/hiking-trail-network-and-signalization.html

2) Take warm and waterproof clothing, and don’t forget the sunscreen, and a spare pair of socks if you’re going anywhere near water

3) Take non-sugar based snacks, and plenty of water.

4) Remember that being tired is necessary in order to get stronger.  The average time to the first “I’m tired” is normally less than 15 seconds, as is the time to subsequent repetitions.  Short of finding a magic trampoline, I don’t know of a way to stop this.  Patience, tolerance or earplugs are recommended.

This post first appeared as a Guest Blog by Percy Kirkman, on http://www.genevafamilydiaries.net/, a great blog for families in the Geneva area.

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We took our clients on a guided Harley Davidson tour from La Tzoumaz to Sanetsch.  It was a beautiful, sunny day and the scenery was mind-blowing…  the wiggly roads were jam-packed with hairpin bends and long winding corners… just what we were looking for!

See the video here:

Other fantastic routes to try on a motorbike

Here are a few of our other local roads with stunning scenery and nice blacktop:

• From Martigny, Col de La Forclaz, Trient Village and visit the dam at Barrage d’Emosson
• From Sierre ride up to Loèche by the old road and visit the Gemmi or spend the day in the thermal baths there
• From Viège, ride up to Stalden and Moosalp, with super view and super restaurant, perhaps even riding on to Zermatt
• From Gampel, go up towards the Loetschberg and arrive at Goppenstein.  Here take the train (organised for motorbikes, 16 CHF, train leaves every 30 minutes, trip lasts for 15 minutes, see video here: http://bls.ch/e/autoverlad/goppenstein.php) to arrive at Kandersteg.  Visit the Blausee and the Bernese Oberland
• From Brig, head up the Conches Valley to the Rhône Gletscher at the start of the Furka
• From Bex head up to Gryon, Villars et follow the Col de la Croix as far as Les Diablerets

If you’re heading out by bike in the region, give us a call as we’d love to join you on our Fatbob and share our tips and top cafes with you!

With grateful thanks to the Harley Owners Group of Geneva Chapter West Switzerland for showing us so many of the beautiful places to go in the region (and for making our 2013 wedding so memorable!)

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It is only a short hour in the car from La Tzoumaz to Crans Montana, so we packed our hiking boots after a leisurely breakfast and set off down the mountain towards the autoroute.  James, our guide for the day, had already selected our start point, so we did not have to choose whether to visit the accessible station of Montana or the chic village of Crans.

Within an hour we found ourselves planning our picnic in Montana’s magnificent cheese shop (www.laiterieaupetitchalet.ch), ooooing and aaaahing over the different varieties of local tomme and the big vat of fresh honey that you can buy by the scoop.  As I stuffed my purchase into a rucksack, James didn’t hesitate to remind me smugly that “tomme” isn’t considered to be anything fancy by the locals as the word just means “cheese”.

There was plenty of parking at the Violettes Express telecabin station and we climbed into the modern cabins to be whisked away up to 2250m, clutching our 15CHF one-way tickets.  The mist was swirling atmospherically around us as we arrived at the top station, level with the clouds and we headed off behind the cabin onto a narrow footpath.  In one section the path rose so steeply that someone had thoughtfully installed some ladders, bolted into the rock and with strong rope for handrails.

We were chattering excitedly and swapping stories up and down the line when we got calls of “Shhhushhhh!!  Shhhhushhhh!” from our guide.  There, in front of us, posing like a fine, furry fellow, was a cute little marmotte, on the edge of a precipice with a stunning panorama as a backdrop.  It was a picture postcard moment, and I reflected on my own private suspicion that marmottes are part of a mountain conspiratory, and their role is to lie in wait for tourists, whistling loudly until we spot them, then looking as cute as possible until we finally admit that they really are too small to photograph without buying a new zoom lens.

We were more focussed on having a pleasant, social stroll than a hard work-out, so James soon brought us to a superbly-located restaurant, the Cry d’Er, perched on the edge of the steep mountainside and overlooking the Rhone Valley.  As seems fitting in Switzerland, we opted for triple chocolate – a steaming mug of hot chocolate served with individual squares of chocolate and then supplemented by our own hiking supplies of foil-wrapped Cailler.

“Is that the Matterhorn?”  we asked, surveying the snowcapped peaks around us.  “Ummmmm… let me just check…” replied James as he reached for his smartphone.  This was the moment that all of my romantic notions of guides and their mythical mountain knowledge came crashing to an abrupt end.  For years I had been in awe of anyone in the Alps who could answer a question such as “What’s that peak over there?” with a knowing gaze and an informative answer.  Three minutes and four euros later, I too had downloaded the PeakFinder app (www.peakfinder.org/mobile) and was happily scanning the panorama for my favourite mountains names.

We were out of the clouds now, so when we set off again we had a clear view of the lac de Tseuzier and the impressive dam that holds it back.  We also had a better view of the lunatics heading down the mountain-bike trails, clad in full-face helmets, shinpads and forearm guards.  I have to admit that it was a shame we had not come to ride the trails here, as it did look like fun.

Lunch was a sun-drenched picnic overlooking the Rhone valley from the terrace of a small restaurant that was closed until the ski season.  For the first time we managed to strip off down to t-shirts, although it was nowhere near hot enough to have melted my tomme.

On the way back down, we stopped from time to time to admire the different alpine flowers and mushrooms that we spotted, testing each other’s knowledge with interest, and concluding that most of us could barely tell a tasty chanterelle from a poisonous toadstool.  The last few hundred metres was a pleasant ramble along a forest trail and James led us dutifully into the animal-skin covered seats on the terrasse at Bar7 for an apres-hike beer to a chorus of “thank-yous” and a cheer for the guide.

On our way home, we took some time out to walk through the village of Montana and browse some of the shops.  There are enough to wander around for an hour or so, and we enjoyed looking through the ski stores for off-season discounts, and checking out the latest marmotte trinkets in the mountain deco shops.

Crans Montana Day Trip

Crans Montana is approximately 60 minutes drive from La Tzoumaz.  Plan to spend at least 4 hours there before sunset.

Be prepared

Take a day-pack with extra layers of clothing, sunglasses and high-factor SPF suncream.  Walking boots (or strong trainers), water and a picnic are advisable.  A zoom lens could be useful to thwart the marmottes.

Recommended for

Hikers, bikers, afternoon strollers and anyone who wants to see the Rhone Valley from the other side

Not recommended for

Anyone who doesn’t like mountains

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“It’ll be a bit steep for 15 minutes before you turn left into the forest and into the more gentle section.”  This was the only technical advice we received before he headed back into his cabin, despite neither of us having really seen a trottinette before.  Upon closer inspection, we accepted that his briefing was probably sufficient – a trottinette is essentially made up of a short plank between two small mountain-bike wheels that is equipped with front and rear suspension, two disc brakes and a large sticker displaying the telephone number for the emergency services.

We let off the brakes and started to roll down the hill.  As a keen mountain-biker, I first had to adjust to the fact that there are no pedals, no gears and no saddle.  Although I instinctively bent my knees a little to absorb the bumps, I found the lateral balance options a little restricted.  Once you get used to the fact that there is no possibility of shifting your weight between the pedals or even sticking your knee out for balance, the only option is to hold on tightly and try to start the braking sequence in time.  Trottinettes are quite heavy and the mountainside is steep, so they accelerate quickly and brake slowly.  Another feature of continental biking became painfully obvious as I desperately tried to scrub off some excess speed to get round one particular corner in the loose earth.  British bikes have the front brake on the right, like a motorcycle.  Continental bikes have the front brake on the left and under pressure I find it easy to confuse the front and back brakes.  The worst thing was that my husband was fiddling with his camera and missed

the whole graceful performance that ended with me crashing down into the soft earth with a grunt at his feet.

Now mildly winded and authentically decorated with muddy scrapes, this tumble had given me new confidence.  I now understood how the laws of physics would prevent my trusty steed from behaving like anything other than a runaway bicycle with no pedals, and if I treated it with such low expectations we would get along just fine.  We squealed with laughter at each twist and turn of the dirt track, fighting to stay upright as we raced each other down the hill.  Each bump, gravel patch and deep rut in the ground provided its own challenge to negotiate and required such focus that we were barely aware of the stunning mountain panorama around us.

We bounced past hikers and dog-walkers who waved us a cheery “Bonne descente!”  We whizzed past serious cyclists climbing up the long road to the summit.  Children and adults alike stopped to look at us with amazement, perhaps wondering if they should have a go themselves.  We took pity on a novice mountain-biker who was sliding gingerly down the footpath and we stopped off to adjust his bike and give him a few pointers.  All too soon, and before you could say “trottinette-tastic” we had arrived in the village and were grinning from ear to ear.  “Again…?” we said in unison and then burst out laughing.

Trottinette rental

Rent your trottinette for 15 CHF per hour at the la Tzoumaz telecabin base station, or 20 CHF including one-way lift ticket

http://www.verbierbooking.ch/en/activites-ete/trottinette-0-175

Be prepared

Take good trainers or hiking boots, a cycle helmet if you have one (they’ll lend you one if you don’t), long sleeves/long trousers and mountain-bike gloves

Recommended for

Group or family activity on a dry day

Not recommended for

Children under 7 or the faint-hearted

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Percy had new boots.  And new skis.  And new skins.  And then he remembered that he had snapped his ski poles at the end of last season, but his hiking poles had no baskets.  Surely this was a recipe for disaster…?  There’s surely not enough snow.  Perhaps when we get to the top there will be more?  We can always walk if it’s too rocky.  And buy new skins if we ruin them.  And get the skis serviced if we wreck the bases.  And do 5 weeks of rehab before Christmas if we injure ourselves…

Enough excuses and we were on the piste, fighting to click into our Dynafit bindings.  Even after 32 years skiing, I find the first ski of the year is always exciting as it feels so unfamiliar after the long summer.  There’s a thrill that rushes through me when I first slide over the snow, hearing it squeak underfoot, trying to remember how to balance.  The skis felt heavy as we pushed them uphill, our legs conditioned to the easy life of summer hiking in light trail shoes.  The clouds that had swirled around us all day were settling into the valley below, looking like a sea of fluff filling the valley, with a delicate sprinkling of city lights here and there.  I chuckled as I thought of all the city people, blanketed below and unaware of the magic above.  The sunlight played on the last few mountain peaks, giving us a stunning display of mountain panorama, then it was gone.  We had head-torches in the rucksack just in case, but we chose to rely on our night vision as dusk overcame us.

Percy was struggling with his new equipment and grumbling about his bindings so we had just about decided to head back down again, when we noticed our shadows in front of us…  Is that the moon?  Is it full??  Wow isn’t it beautiful!!!  The snowy scene came back into view in an almost unearthly light.  The moonlight caught the ice crystals in the snowdrifts, making them sparkle and twinkle in a dizzying manner.  The tree branches glowed eerily, laden with the new snowfall, and struggling to deal with the extra task of shedding the snow along with their autumn needles.  There were one or two tracks from earlier in the day, where winter walkers had passed by, and these were illuminated like the emergency exit lights on an airplane, guiding us ever upwards.

Before long, we were at the summit  of our climb, the Croix-de-Coeur restaurant on the ridge, with its altiport, heli-ski meeting point and its view over both La Tzoumaz and Verbier.  The Verbier side also had a blanket of cloud, but here it glowed orange, tinged with the lights from the densely-packed resort.  There was an icy cold breeze, but it made no sound and we looked around in wonder, each quietly confirming that our move to the mountains a year ago had been an inspired decision.

  We gently peeled off our skins and stowed them in our rucksack, glad to pull out helmets and jackets and gloves, goggles and head-torches from the seemingly tiny daysack we had taken out on our impromptu outing.  Clicking our bindings into “ski” mode and snapping our boots shut in the soft fluffy powder seemed a very strange thing to be doing in early November, a world away from the mountain-bike ride we did up here a mere three days ago.

Heading off down the mountain, I made a mental note to wax my skis before my next outing.  The snow was grabbing at them, begging me to stay at the top, but I pushed on.  My balance was uncertain, my style was not pretty.  The 18-month-old reconstruction work in my right knee complained bitterly at every twist and turn.  We gathered speed as we wound our way down the mountain, often choosing to stick to the smooth snowy roads rather than the unpredictable rocks and shrubs of the wilder terrain.  The moon was still watching over us, and I reflected on how natural the first day back on skis can feel when you are in glorious sunshine on a freshly-groomed resort run.  Here I was on a random Thursday night, laying down the first tracks of the season and I was butchering them!  When you’re skiing on the first snowfall, there is no base layer and the grass pokes through.  We had 6 – 10 inches of fresh powder sprinkled on top of a full autumn regalia of bilberry bushes and azaleas that were red and gold.  Autumn was not yet ready to be finished.  Luckily for my embarrassingly awkward track marks, the locals round here say that when snow falls before the meleze have shed their leaves, it will not stay for long.

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Leaving La Tzoumaz, Andrew admires the lawns of the chalets below our route, especially the best looking one which isn’t real grass. We pass the wood cutter cutting wood, and the road winds into the forest below the Vallon d’Arby. The road descends, sometimes steeply, sometimes gently, becoming more of a track than a road. Streams cross it, we hear birds in the trees. The colours of the trees are magical. As we walk round the head of the valley we feel the coolness of pockets of cold air, then warmth as we come back into the sun. To our left we see more and more spectacular views of La Tzoumaz, perched under the Savoleyers and the Pierre-Avoir. We pass trails joining from both sides and wonder where they go. Crossing another bridge we reach the Iserables side of the valley. We’re out of the forests into the open fields we’ve been looking at from our windows. We pass a sign telling us about roman artefacts found here, and see strange houses, built of wood and raised from the ground one stilts. We pass a mountain torrent bubbling under the road. John and Andrew stop to play pooh sticks, but the stream is flowing so fast the sticks vanish in an instant. We end up working as a team, with one person dropping the stick and the others trying to see it as it flashes down the mountain.

As we come into Iserables, it’s clear it is a unique town. Road access to the town was only opened in the 1960’s; before that the only route was via the cable-car (built in 1940) or on foot. Being there feels like stepping back in time, to how small mountain towns really were 70 years ago. The houses are so close to each other there’s barely space for a single car on the road. In the centre of the town, the closeness of the old buildings and the dark windows feels almost oppressive. Coming to the church we see roads angling up and roads angling down. From here we’re back in the sunlight and can see the town of Riddes and the Rhone Valley opening up below us. The boys are clearly tired after the 5km walk, Andrew is on my shoulders. We’re all happy to reach the top station of the cable car from where we’ll get the local bus back to La Tzoumaz. Back home, we watch the lights of Iserables that evening. “We were there”, says Andrew proudly.

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“Err… how far do we have to walk?” asked Richard with concerned edge to his voice, as he breathed heavily in the thin air.

“You’re going to walk a hundred metres and stop for lunch,” replied my husband in a soothing tone.

“Ahhhh… excellent news.  That’s exactly what I needed to hear!” chuckled Richard with pleasure.

Laura was bright and chatty as always as she handed us our plates of “Assiette Valaisanne”, a deliciously assembled selection of very finely-sliced cold meats and local cheeses served on a wooden block with wholesome, nutty bread.  The forest hut is a cosy and informative place, and the staff are very knowledgeable about their surroundings.  Laura showed us the freshly-cut sprigs of apple mint that the local bar uses for their mojitos, and a tasty-looking plate of bolets that she had just picked and was planning to eat later.

We sat outside on a wooden picnic table in the shade of a huge larch tree, overlooking the stunning mountain panorama, with its jaw-dropping views across the Rhone valley some 1000m below.

Feeling suitably prepared for a post-prandial stroll in the forest,we announced that we were heading off along the Five Senses Nature Trail (Sentier des Sens).  Laura duly handed us a satchel filled with wooden boxes and wished us a pleasant walk.  Each wooden box contained a bird whistle and some instructions on how to communicate with the specific bird depicted on the box.

Within minutes we were in the calm of the larch forest, and I started blowing on the whistles with all of my imaginative genius, desperately peeping and cooing in an attempt to sound realistic.  The forest responded with silence, although I suspected I could hear it chuckling quietly at my foolishness.

“Are you hunting the birds?  Will you shoot them…?  Eat them…?” asked one lady who walked past, eyeing me suspiciously as she tried to peer into the satchel for evidence of a feathered feast in the making.

After a few more minutes perfecting my Pipit whistle, I suddenly heard a clear response from further up the footpath somewhere.  A bird had responded, perhaps thinking I was a potential mate!  A thrill rushed through me and we all hushed excitedly.  Out of the trees came another group, walking towards us with their own satchel, and we all burst out laughing as we realised that they had been making their own Pipit calls in response to ours.

“Here, let me try the Song Thrush!” said Richard, gamely, when they were once again out of earshot.  What happened next had us briefly stunned into silence.  He proceeded to chirp and whistle on the small wooden device, and expertly finished the call with a little trill.  The response was immediate, and from the tree tops we clearly heard the call exactly repeated.  Another tune, with different chirps and trills, and again we heard the response.  Laughing with glee now, we urged him to do another, then another.  Within minutes there was a crowd of other people gathering round us and pointing with joy towards the tree-tops as yet another response rang out from above.  Here’s a sound file that will help you to understand how hard it is to imitate:

This simple connection with nature had brought the forest to us and as we walked on, it seemed now that we were hyper-tuned to the wonders around us.  Birds fluttered from tree to tree, flowers were suddenly loaded with butterfiles and bumble bees, and mushrooms appeared all along the sides of the path wherever we looked, seeming to sprout up just in front of our eyes.

The mile-and-a-half-long circuit was too soon finished, and we stopped off to share our success stories with Laura.  She was expertly multi-tasking, serving beers from the bar, delivering food to the tables and chatting with everyone who wandered in or out.  She froze in shock when she heard Richard, the Bird Whisperer, chirping and trilling on the whistle.

“Wow!” she exclaimed.  “I’ve been working here for over five years, and I’ve never heard anyone play the bird whistle that expertly!  What are your rates?  Can we hire you as a guide?”

“I was just messing around…” said Richard, looking pleased with himself.

The Maison de la Foret in La Tzoumaz is a kilometer or two above the village and is open from early June to the end of September 9.00 – 17.00, with a range of activities that engage the five senses for young and old to enjoy.  It is pram- and wheelchair-friendly and accessible to all.  Don’t miss the children’s playground and the interactive wildlife display rooms before you head off to walk around the circuit.

Further information from the Maison de la Foret website, with pictures and videos (text in French only):

http://sentier-des-sens.jimdo.com

You can learn more about the Song Thrush on the RSPB website:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/songthrush/

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