Verbier may not be a place that resonates in the ears of budding mountain bikers like Morzine or Les Gets, but be sure that it will be pricking up the ears of those looking to get away from the obvious spots and expand their bike-travel portfolio.

Before now, Verbier has very much been a mountain biking destination for those in the know – but 2015 is the start of much more. With over 200km trails open and plenty more in the works – Verbier is now firmly on the MTB destination map.

On point arrival

From the alpine hub of Geneva airport, a Swiss train will take you and your bicycle in comfort and classic Swiss punctuality through the green pastoral lands, into the mountains and through tunnels and below peaks until you are deposited at La Chậble.  Sat in the valley, La Chậble is base for many people who feel the glitz and glamour of Verbier is a little too much.  Verbier is after all, the land of the rich and famous – you might have seen photographs of the Royals or Richard Branson skiing in Verbier. The Royals like it so much that they have a permanent residence here.

But what does this place of foie gras and high society have to offer a bunch of dirt loving mountain bikers?

As it turns out, a lot.

Chris Winter from the legendary Big Mountain Adventures tour company knows this only too well…

“I’ve been riding and taking groups to the Verbier area for over 10 years and the terrain, riding, views are some of the best I’ve come across, it’s why I keep going back”.

In the last year, the Swiss government passed a law that opened up over 200km of hiking trails to bikes – that had previously been a complete no-go by bike.

And accompanying these excellent trails, are seven dedicated DH trails in Verbier Bike Park – there is an awful lot of riding to go around.

Visiting Verbier

I made a quick visit to Verbier last summer to check out this new world of foot-cycle opportunity for myself, and after three days I just did not want to leave.

Fabrice Tirefort – or Trifon to most – is a man on a mission. He’s aiming to create a bike park that will blow the trousers of anyone who puts wheels on it. He is the bike park manager, trail designer, trail builder, train maintenance team, pro-DH-racer-in-his-own-right and marketing director – and the list goes on. He wears so many hats it’s surprising he can hold his head up.

Trifon is truly passionate about riding his bike and creating a place that will instil in others that same fire. So charged, and talented is he on his bike that the Blue Trail – the easiest on the hill – is still a pretty wild ride, and after a hot lap chasing him down, I did have to say that maybe it would be worth building a slightly mellower, pump-track style blue run for beginners.

It’s tough here – Verbier is steep. In the winter it is a big mountain skiing mecca for just that reason. But thanks though to the new law there is a long fire road, interlaced with single track. This will take absolute beginners from the top of the lift to the base allowing them a taste of the mountains on a bicycle without scaring them away from both the mountains and bikes forever.

From the two lifts that service the park you get a lot of bang for your buck – 7 trails may not sound like much but thanks to some clever trail design on Trifon’s part you can cut between the various lines down the mountain meaning endless opportunity to get creative.  After a day in mist engulfed peaks with my hands burning, eyes popping and heart thumping I found myself chasing Trifon down like a fox does a hare. And I wanted more.

The bike park will grow and develop – and as it does it will cater for a larger audience, but right now it’s a small gem of undiscovered wild riding.  And that’s just the bike park – the day that followed Bike Verbier took myself and a couple other good old boys on what can only be described as an epic.

High mountain passes; no fall zones; hike-a-bikes that made you feel like you were choking on glass; snow capped peaks; foot-out-flat-out descents; super technical make-you-swear-at-your-bike descents; near mutinies and a train home.

A true big day out on the bike and a story I’ve told many riding friends since that day.

We say

As an MTB destination, Verbier is great package – yes it’s expensive, but it’s got the quality to match the price. If you want to do it on the cheap you can pitch up at a self catering spot in the valley and just plan your adventures from there. But don’t just take my word for it, go see for yourself. 

We’ll see you there. 

Where to stay

In Verbier; The 3* Hotel L’Ermitage is a rad little hotel in the centre of town. Rooms start from 94CHF per night based on 2 people sharing which isn’t too bad considering its a very short stumble from all the best restaurants and bars. For more info, click here

In the Valley; 3* Hotel La Vallèe is a stunning little hotel located 10 minutes away from Verbier, has hot tubs, offers Mountain Bike adventure packages and is the only hotel in the entire Swiss canton of Wallis to have it’s own Helipad.  They offer a great range of options from Dorm style accommodation for 50CHF per night with breakfast to private rooms with 2 beds costing 80CHF per night with breakfast.  They also offer personalised prices for groups. Information right here.

How to get there

Swiss Travel System

The Swiss Travel System provides a dedicated range of travel passes and tickets exclusively for visitors from abroad. The Swiss Transfer Ticket covers a round-trip between the airport/Swiss border and your destination. Prices are £96 in second class and £153 in first class. For the ultimate Swiss rail specialist  visit www.swisstravelsystem.co.uk.

Switzerland Tourism: For more information on Switzerland visit www.MySwitzerland.com or call our Switzerland Travel Centre on the International freephone 00800 100 200 30 or e-mail, for information info.uk@myswitzerland.com; for packages, trains and air tickets sales@stc.co.uk.

Swiss International Air Lines

UK to Zurich:

SWISS offers up to 19 daily flights from London Heathrow, London City, Birmingham and Manchester to Zurich. Fares start from £147* return, including all airport taxes, one piece hold luggage and free ski carriage. (*Please note this is a leading fare and is subject to change, availability and may not be available on all flights. Terms and conditions apply.) For reservations call 0845 6010956 or visit: www.swiss.com

Who to go with

Bike Verbier

The mad men, and women, behind our epic all mountain day.  If you want to ride with the locals these are the people to do it with.  Great guides, great sense of humour, completely mad.  What more could you want.  for more info and to book check out www.bikeverbier.com

Big Mountain Adventures

Chris Winter has been bring mountain bikers from all over the world to the Val de Bagnes for many years.  Staying at the Hotel La Vallèe and being guided by mountain bike legends such as Joe Schwartz and Wade Simmons, you’d be hard pressed to ask for a better experience.  On the Alpenrock trip you spend the first half of your trip in the Val de Bagnes before heading up to the spectacular trails below the Matterhorn and finally finishing in Italy.  To find out more about Big Mountains trips check out www.ridebig.com

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