Champéry

Champéry is located in Valais, tucked beneath the Dents du Midi, and is one of Switzerland’s gateways into Portes du Soleil. The village is old and fairly traditional rather than purpose-built, with the Croix-de-Culet gondola taking you straight up to the ski area above town.

The local network connects with Les Crosets, Champoussin, and Morgins on the Swiss side, and onward to the entire Portes du Soleil if you have the larger lift pass. That opens up one of Europe’s biggest linked ski areas, with around 373 miles of pistes on the French and Swiss sides.

Skiing around Champéry is best for those who want lots of variety. From Planachaux and Les Crosets, you can choose between wider runs, technical reds, steeper sections, and fast connections onward toward Avoriaz, Châtel, or Morgins. The most famous challenge is Chavanette, often called “Le Mur Suisse,” a steep, ungroomed mogul run on the border with France.

Champéry is a great fit if you want to stay in a real Swiss village while still having direct access to a massive lift network. It’s not the most snow-sure high-alpine choice in the Alps, but when conditions are good you’ll get plenty of skiing, dramatic views of the Dents du Midi, and one of the most characterful bases in Portes du Soleil.