St-Luc Chandolin
Ski Resort

With charming narrow winding streets and historic wooden chalets, St Luc Chandolin is a good choice for winter sports enthusiasts and nature lovers seeking a more authentic and relaxing alternative to bigger and better-known Swiss ski resorts. Both villages retain their status as hidden treasures waiting to be discovered and are easily accessed by road and rail from the nearest international airport in Geneva.

One of the standout features of skiing in St-Luc-Chandolin is the awe-inspiring scenery encircling the slopes. Majestic peaks such as the renowned Matterhorn (4,478 m) and Weisshorn (4,506 m), Dent Blanche (4,357 m), Zinalrothorn (4,221 m) and Obergabelhorn (4,063 m) provide a stunning backdrop for your ski holiday. When the skies are clear, skiers and snowboarders are treated to uninterrupted vistas of the alpine panorama, with snow-capped summits extending as far as the eye can see. Also an internationally renowned observatory for fans of astronomy.

With 60km of ski pistes and 1,400 m of vertical between 1,600 and 3,000 m, the St-Luc Chandolin ski area has plenty of diverse terrain for all levels of ability. Most of the skiing is on well-groomed blue and red runs for beginners, not many black runs but plenty of off-piste terrain. Also a terrain park for freestyle skiers and snowboarders, and some superb north-facing free-ride off-piste terrain for couloirs and fresh powder long after the last snowfall. Best for families with young children, beginner and low intermediate adults and experienced off-piste skiers and snowboarders.

There’s a good enough selection of mountain restaurants and a peaceful laid-back atmosphere, but limited opportunities for apres-ski or nightlife which could disappoint some. Even St-Luc, the larger of the two villages, with more restaurants and bars, is quiet in comparison to bigger and better-known Swiss ski resorts, but that’s part of its charm and reputation as a “hidden gem” in the Swiss Alps. Perfect for relaxing with family and friends, cosying up with a mug of mulled wine or hot chocolate beside a flickering fire and savouring traditional Swiss cuisine including raclette and fondues.

Most of the guest accommodation is in St-Luc which offers a choice of four main hotels, ranging from 2-star to 4-star deluxe including the highly regarded Hotel Bella Tola, Grand Chalet Favre and numerous rustic chalets. With a high proportion of repeat guests, book early to avoid disappointment.

Other activities in St-Luc Chandolin in winter include cross-country skiing on over 35 km of scenic trails, snowshoeing, ice skating, sledging and winter walking trails around the villages as well as in the ski area. Additionally, the village of St-Luc includes a small selection of shops selling crafts as well as traditional patisseries, a supermarket and a couple of sports shops offering the latest equipment.

Keen skiers will find plenty more skiing nearby in Val d’Anniviers and at Grimentz-Zinal especially, which are easily reached by car or free Postbus service every 20 minutes. Including St-Luc Chandolin, Val d’Anniviers offers 210km of excellent skiing on groomed runs and an abundance of off-piste and backcountry terrain for experienced freeriders and ski tourers.

Over 50% of visitors come from Switzerland (mostly from the French-speaking Valais region) and another 20% come from France and Belgium, so French is the first language for the majority of guests as well as locals.

While St-Luc Chandolin has a smaller ski area than Grimentz-Zinal (on the other side of the valley), the village of St-Luc is bigger, prettier, sunnier and arguably a nicer place to stay.

St-Luc Chandolin Strengths & Weaknesses

+ Picturesque ancient villages and authentic atmosphere
+ Stunning panoramic views of the Swiss Alps
+ Diverse terrain for all levels of ability
+ An abundance of off-piste and backcountry ski terrain
+ More affordable than bigger and better-known Swiss ski resorts

– Relatively small ski area (60km of groomed runs)
– Limited après ski and nightlife compared to larger resorts
– Limited shops and amenities in the villages