Located in the south of Valais, 180kms east of Geneva, Anzère ski resort is set high up in the Valais Alps and is very popular with intermediate skiers who appreciate a more laid-back après-ski scene. With its 40kms of slopes, Mont Blanc in the background and summer skiing nearby, Anzère is an excellent ski destination.

Twenty minutes from Sion, Anzère is a delightful chalet village perched on a sunny mountainside above the right bank of the Rhône. The traffic-free centre is a hive of activity and shopping opportunities, while accommodation comes in all shapes and sizes, with 7,500 beds available.

The longest run at Anzère is five kilometres and its 40kms of slopes are divided into 20 percent beginner slopes; 60 percent for intermediates; and 20 percent for advanced skiers. Eleven ski lifts can move 9,500 people per hour. In addition, there are 13kms of quality cross-country trails.

Other winter activities and facilities include: snowboarding (with a terrain park and a halfpipe); hiking (including 30kms of walking trails); ice skating (artificial); mountaineering; snowshoeing; curling; sledding; bowling; and indoor swimming. Après-ski is more sedate in Anzère; however, there is a choice of bars and discos and the larger hotels also have entertainment programmes.

The best snow can be had in February to early March and the cheaper rates apply during the run-up to the Christmas holidays, in mid-January, and from mid-March.

Geneva International Airport is the gateway airport and has its own rail terminal with direct hourly connections to Sion, from where buses and taxis go to Anzère ski resort. The alternative option is to hire a car from the airport.