La Tzoumaz is a ski resort

Ski resort

A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...

 in the Swiss Alps

Swiss Alps

The Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps....

, in the canton

Cantons of Switzerland

The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...

 of Valais

Valais

The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...

. It is part of the "Four Valleys" ski area, which consists of various ski resorts, including Verbier

Verbier

Verbier is a village located in southwestern Switzerland in the canton of Valais. It is one of the largest holiday resort and ski areas in the Swiss Alps, is recognized as one of the premiere "off-piste" locations in the world...

, Nendaz

Nendaz

Nendaz is a municipality in the district of Conthey in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-History:Nendaz is first mentioned in 984 as Nenda. It was also known under its German name Neind though that name is no longer used.-Geography:...

, Veysonnaz

Veysonnaz

Veysonnaz is a municipality in the district of Sion in the Swiss canton of Valais.-Geography:Veysonnaz has an area, , of . Of this area, or 29.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 44.5% is forested...

, La Tzoumaz, and Thyon. As such it has direct access to over 400 km of runs. Named after the word "tzoumer", which means taking a break, La Tzoumaz nestles against the same mountain as Verbier, Mont Savolyres, and is at the same altitude (1500m). However, unlike Verbier

Verbier

Verbier is a village located in southwestern Switzerland in the canton of Valais. It is one of the largest holiday resort and ski areas in the Swiss Alps, is recognized as one of the premiere "off-piste" locations in the world...

, it is situated on North-facing slopes and hence enjoys a longer ski-season, lasting from early December all the way through to late-April.

Quieter than Verbier

Verbier

Verbier is a village located in southwestern Switzerland in the canton of Valais. It is one of the largest holiday resort and ski areas in the Swiss Alps, is recognized as one of the premiere "off-piste" locations in the world...

, it is a resort popular with families, having a small ski lift for children, a natural ice rink, a heated swimming pool and the longest floodlit sledge run in Western Switzerland (at 10 kilometres). The resort has a population of just over 300 and is popular with British, German and Dutch visitors as well as Swiss Nationals.

Geography

La Tzoumaz is located in a green valley above the Rhône River

Rhône River

The Rhone is one of the major rivers of Europe, rising in Switzerland and running from there through southeastern France. At Arles, near its mouth on the Mediterranean Sea, the river divides into two branches, known as the Great Rhone and the Little Rhone...

, in the canton of Valais and has one main access road, which starts in the town of Riddes

Riddes

Riddes is a municipality in the district of Martigny in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-History:Riddes is first mentioned in 1001 as Ride. It was previously known its German name Riden, though that is not used anymore.-Geography:...

, 13 kilometres away (and at exit 24 of the Martigny motorway). La Tzoumaz is also at a base station of the Savolyres Cable Car (a 30 minute ride to Verbier

Verbier

Verbier is a village located in southwestern Switzerland in the canton of Valais. It is one of the largest holiday resort and ski areas in the Swiss Alps, is recognized as one of the premiere "off-piste" locations in the world...

).

Coordinates: 46.14470°N 7.23306°E

Resort in Winter

The resort has 1 brand new 8 seat cable car, 5 chair lifts, 5 drag lifts and 1 children's ski lift. There are 12 ski runs with a total length 28 km (30 % easy, 60 % intermediate, 10 % difficult), a snowboard piste, a natural ice rink and a 10 km toboggan-run (long 10 km). The resort is also directly linked to the Four Valleys ski area, with 98 more ski lifts and a total of 400 km of ski runs. The [Verbier] zone of the Four Valleys is renowned for its off-piste opportunities. In particular Tortin, Mont Fort, Valon D'Arby and Creblet are popular excursions.

Resort in Summer

The village offers 1 outdoor tennis court, fishing, paragliding and climbing. It is situated on the Bisse du Saxon (part of a 19th Century irrigation system that offers 100 km of gently inclined paths suitable for walking and mountain biking). Within a short drive of the resort are many family, cultural and historical attractions including Lake Geneva, the Grande Dixence dam

Grande Dixence Dam

The Grande Dixence Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Dixence River at the head of the Val d'Hérens in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. At high, it is the tallest gravity dam in the world and is part of the Cleuson-Dixence Complex...

, The Medieval town of Sion, Aqua park, Thermal Baths and underground salt mines.

Accommodation

As well as having 6 small guesthouses and hotels there are many privately owned apartments and chalets.