Crans Montana, Spring luxuries in the mountains, explores a long weekend of culture, food, spas and mountain walks perfect for a luxury getaway.
What is it that makes us head for the mountains? For many of us it is to ski and skiing is a fantastic sport, but when we look a little deeper I think actually its being in the mountains itself surrounded by snow with their magical and healing quality.
There are many fables across the mountain ranges but one story which is certainly based in science is there impact on our wellbeing, and it was this very reason that the British started visiting the region in the first place later introducing skiing to the area but Crans Montana is also a great place in summer as in 1908, an Englishman, Sir Henry Lunn also contributed to the resort’s history, opening the highest golf course in the world, or in his words the most beautiful alpine golf course.
They are famous for their apricots and during my stay I visited a vineyard further down the valley. Though in no way am I here to undermine the skiing, something I have a great love for and with their ladies Ski World Cup they have every reason to be proud but think of Crans Montana as a luxury resort that just happens to offer excellent skiing, 140km of, as there is many other attractions with panoramic views from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc, more than 150 shops and 70 restaurants, a championship 18-hole golf course, a casino and a cinema contributing to its all year round resort status.
You can cross-country ski, snowshoe, ice-skate and do curling though around 50% of winter guests come to Crans-Montana for reasons other than skiing and boarding. Enjoy the 63km of paths for walking (280km in summer) and is apparently the sunniest ski resort in Switzerland and the scenery of the Plaine Morte glacier, accessible by cable car and at an altitude of 3,000 metres, is not to be missed
I travelled with the excellent The Oxford Ski Company – www.oxfordski.com – 01993 899 420
Who offers luxury ski holidays with a portfolio of over 400 luxury ski chalets and hotels across Europe and North America which are able to deliver a truly special service to visitors.
Upon founding the Oxford Ski Company in 1998, they began beautiful ski chalets in Crans-Montana.
You should also have a read of our connected feature about The Crans Ambassador Hotel –
Crans Ambassador Luxury Ski Hotel, Crans-Montana
We suggest a long weekend in the mountains either as an antidote to your skiing addiction or as a jet set weekend of luxury, to relax, spa, ski, eat and be pampered.
We recommend you fly from City Airport to Geneva then either take a helicopter, car or train to Crans Montana
We have put together a little itinerary of what you could get up to for such a trip
Fly out Friday –
08:15 Depart London City Airport Flight British Airways BA2281 to Geneva
10.50 Arrive Geneva
11.21 Depart Geneva Airport by train to Sierre and transfer to funicular –
13.45 Depart Sierre and arrive Crans Montana
14 :00 Arrival at Crans-Montana (Funicular)
1415 – Check-in at The Crans Ambassador
1430 – 1530 Lunch at the hotel on the veranda…
1530 – 1715 Wander into town to shop……
1800 – 1900 Spa
1945 – Head of for some Friday night fun
Sat
1000 – Snowshoe walk. Do get in touch with https://fannyzambaz.ch/ This is the second time I have tried snowshoeing and it really is very good. If like me you like being in the mountains but for various reasons you cannot or should not ski anymore but really want to be on the snow and in the mountains then this is a great idea and if you want to feel a bit more adventurous then going into deep snow is not only quite a wild feel but is also a good workout.
I really cannot praise Fanny enough, and I am not being paid to say so. She really understands what it is to offer a luxury experience, really looking after me, engaging in good conversation and does all she can to help. I was very impressed.
1300 – 1430 Traditional Swiss lunch in the mountains! https://www.oxfordski.com/resorts/switzerland/crans-montana/chetzeron/
A very, very cool hotel that you must go to.
Snowshoe down to the bottom
Arrive back at the hotel at about 1530
Shower and change
1615 -1815
If you speak French then do take a wine tour in the valley where you will not only taste some lovely wine but also learn about some local history.
1830 – 1930
If only to experience the outdoor pool and see the beautiful sun go down we really do recommend a swim at Spa at the Le Crans Hotel
After a long day we recommend you return to have a casual and cosy dinner and drink at
Sunday
If you are skiing then make a day of it otherwise why not have a lie in, breakfast then head to the spa. Read details of our spa experience
Crans Ambassador Luxury Ski Hotel, Crans-Montana
then we suggest you head up the cable car to have lunch at the lovely Les Violettes Restaurant
If the sun is shining, then just eat, relax, chat and have a snooze in the sun.
Head down late afternoon, possibly have a sleep and ask reception to book you a restaurant in town.
Monday
Leave Hotel at 1000 and you should be back in your London apartment at about 430pm
I feel certain your excursion to the mountains will have been well worth it. Bon Chance