Skiing in St-Luc Chandolin

St-Luc Chandolin Ski Area Overview

St Luc-Chandolin ski resort benefits from a long ski season and good snow conditions thanks to its high elevation with good skiing between 1,650 m and very nearly 3,000 m.

One of three ski areas in Val d’Anniviers, St Luc-Chandolin is the most cohesive area with lifts linking the ski area above the two villages in both directions. Together they offer about 60 km of enjoyable skiing, mostly red and blue runs above the treeline, plus four marked itineraries, which are steeper. The slopes mostly face southwest so can suffer from too much sun later on in the season although the highest ones (the top lift rises to a very impressive 2,980m) are generally okay.

The ski area at St-Luc Chandolin is accessed either by the Tignousa funicular train departing from St-Luc or Le Tsapé chairlift for guests staying in Chandolin. There are a few modern lifts, mixed with older slow chairlifts, T-bars and Platter lifts and a good variety of blue, red and black runs. Still, for advanced and expert skiers the main attraction is the huge expanse of off-piste terrain including untracked slopes long after the last snowfall.

The full Val d’Anniviers lift pass also allows skiing on the other side of the valley at Grimentz-Zinal and Vercorin (both are easily reached by car or free ski bus service via Vissoie) or you can buy a lift ticket for St-Luc Chandolin only. Three ski areas offer a total of 210km of ski runs and because of their high altitude, the ski areas at St-Luc Chandolin and Grimentz-Zinal are snow-sure until late season.

The free public bus journey between St-Luc Chandolin and Grimentz-Zinal takes about an hour (or 30 minutes by car), so it’s not something you will want to do every day. If you want to ski Grimentz-Zinal or Vercorin, having a car is much easier as taxi services are expensive.

Beginner Skiing in St-Luc Chandolin

St Luc-Chandolin is a good place to learn to ski on well-groomed slopes and in good weather. Around 33% of the slopes are designated blue runs for beginners and with red runs (mostly relatively easy intermediate skiing) accounting for 50% of slopes, the ski area offers confident beginners the opportunity for rapid progression.

Each village has a ski school, both are members of the Swiss Ski Schools Association and there are specially designated safe zones for novices located close to Le Tsapé and Tignousa mountain restaurants.

With most of the ski area at high altitude above the tree line, it’s not so much fun in adverse weather conditions and the preponderance of long T-bars and Platter lifts (accessing the highest points in the ski area could prove challenging for some beginners, younger children especially.

Intermediate Skiing in St-Luc Chandolin

St-Luc Chandolin ski area is best for intermediate skiers and boarders seeking a combination of relatively easy skiing or riding, good snow conditions and spectacular mountain views.

Most of the ski runs are in the area above St-Luc including the longest run (a 6km red run) from the highest point (Bella Tola 3,000m), a delightful run down to Le Prilet mountain restaurant on the outskirts of St-Luc. There’s also an enjoyable and relatively easy black run down to the bottom of the Tignousa funicular lift, best experienced with fresh powder on a firm base, and two runs down to the village of Chandolin offering a choice of blue and red slopes.

Experienced intermediate skiers keen to test themselves in deeper snow will find plenty of opportunities to ski between the pistes. Keen skiers will find plenty more groomed slopes nearby at Grimentz-Zinal, which is well worth visiting.

Advanced & Expert Skiing in St-Luc Chandolin

With black runs accounting for just 17% of the groomed slopes, and mostly not very steep, opportunities for advanced skiers in St-Luc Chandolin are quite limited except for some good off-piste on north-facing terrain including couloirs for experts and fresh powder long after the last snowfall.

The nearby resort of Grimentz-Zinal offers twice as much piste skiing including significantly steeper and longer black slopes. Also an abundance of off-piste terrain, and even better snow conditions on north-east facing slopes.

Intrepid skiers can stay overnight in the ski area either at Cabane Bella Tola mountain restaurant or at Hotel Weisshorn, accessible only with ski touring equipment or on foot.

Mountain Restaurants in St Luc Chandolin

Five mountain restaurants in St-Luc Chandolin ski area offer tasty Swiss cuisine, warm hospitality and breath-taking views of iconic Swiss mountain peaks towering above 4,000m.

All mountain restaurants except the Illhorn Hut are owned and managed by the lift company, including the Tignousa next to the top station of the funicular lift from St-Luc and Le Tsapé at the top of the chairlift up from Chandolin. The Cabane Bella Tola in the heart of the ski area is recommended and in good weather, there is table service on the terrace at Tignousa.

Tignousa Mountain Restaurant, St-Luc

Located in the heart of the St Luc ski area, next to the arrival station of the funicular and 300m from the François Xavier Bagnoud observatory, the Tignousa is a large self-service restaurant with scenic views of the imperial crown of five 4000m peaks. Also a table service area inside and on the sun terrace in winter. Tel: +41 27 476 15 55. Web: www.tignousa.ch

Buvette Tsigère La Cohà Mountain Restaurant, St Luc

Located next to the start of the “Col des Ombrintzes” ski lift in the heart of the Saint-Luc ski area, Tsigère La Cohà’s specialities include polenta and raclette as well as other local dishes and a choice of Valais wines. A popular spot for an aperitif on the slopes as well as for lunch with live music on Saturdays in February and March! Tel: +41 27 476 15 50

Cabane Bella-Tola Mountain Restaurant, St-Luc

A typical mountain hut in the heart of the St-Luc Chandolin ski area with a restaurant and sun terrace. The traditional Swiss menu includes Roesti, fondues, and tartares as well as burgers and their homemade rum is also recommended. The Cabane Bella-Tola also has 41 cosy beds in dormitory rooms with 2-8 beds for groups and individuals with sunset views of the surrounding 4000m peaks. Tel: +41 27 476 15 67. Web: www.cabanebellatola.ch

Le Tsapé Mountain Restaurant, Chandolin

Le Tsapé is a modern self-service restaurant at 2400m with floor-to-ceiling windows and a large sun terrace offering breathtaking views of the Rhône Valley and the Val d’Anniviers. Tel: +41 27 476 15 65.

Illhorn Hut Mountain Restaurant, Chandolin

Located on the ski slopes of Chandolin at an altitude of 2145m, the Illhorn Hut is a small wood-panelled hut offering a choice of local dishes including specialities Raclette Anniviarde, savoury and sweet pancakes for a snack or dessert. Tel: +41 78 205 80 03. Web: www.cabanillhorn.ch