10 adventure activities to do in Verbier this summer

Verbier is much more than just a winter ski resort - it's the ideal base for your European playtime in the summer too. Nestled in a south facing slope high in the Swiss Alps, the resort will send you home feeling revived and invigorated, whether you’re looking for high adrenaline adventures, or something a little more ‘in control’.

I checked out Verbier's new free summer VIP Pass to find out what's on offer for adrenaline junkies.

Hiking

With more than 400km of walking trails and routes on your doorstep, the Verbier area offers fantastic choice and could keep you busy for weeks. Whether you’re looking for multi-day hikes on technical trails across mountains and glaciers, or a half day walk to Lac des Vaux for a refreshing swim, it’s all here. Verbier also boasts the second largest nature reserve in Switzerland - the Haut Val De Bagnes - packed full of rare and beautiful animal and plant species. Plus there is a civil engineering feet with the eight highest dam in the world - Mauvoisin Dam - offering a jaw dropping viewing platform .

Be sure to download the following brilliant free map app which will pinpoint you exact location and marks all the footpaths in Switzerland.

Mountain Biking

Verbier has been working super hard on its downhill mountain bike offering, and you’ll now discover more than 12 km of marked downhill trails in the region. The Verbier Bikepark boasts seven downhill trails of varying degrees of difficulty, from the blue trail for beginners to the competition trail complete with fencing and padding on trees. Three runs of different levels are equipped with a “Freelap” timing system, providing an opportunity to rate yourself against the best or to challenge your friends. There are also 213km of ‘enduro’ bike trails - the bike equivalent of ski touring - which can offer multi-day adventures taking in different valleys and restaurants, and 500km of Cross country trails.

With the VIP Pass, there is 20 per cent reduction in the daily rate for mountain bikers.

Trail Running

The annual Trail Verbier St Bernard Ultra Marathon takes place at the beginning of July, and is fast establishing itself as one of Europe’s top mountain ultra-running events, now attracting upwards of 2,200 entrants. There are four different options from a family friendly 6km, open to all ages and abilities, right through to the longest and toughest - namely the X-Alpine - totalling 110km with a brutal 8,400m of ascent and briefly passing through Italy. The event starts and finishes in Verbier’s town centre, and it is worth noting the route uses public footpaths, so you can recreate as much or as little as this as you wish in your own time. There are of course dozens of other routes you can create yourself heading out of Verbier. For example If you’re looking for a good pre-breakfast run, I’d recommend Le Vieux Bisse which follows the horseshoe curve of the hillside tracking a manmade irrigation channel, and tops around 13km.

Via Cordata up Mont Fort

Literally translated into ‘group of climbers roped together’, this rolls hiking, mountaineering and climbing into one awesome fun package, delivering you an adrenaline fuelled day’s adventure. As the name suggests, you’re tied to your fellow hikers - and a guide you’ll be pleased to hear - so teamwork is key, and you’ll be required to use all your wits and nerves to scramble, climb and hike your way along this thrilling route. The day starts out with a glacier crossing, and then things get vertical as the route becomes more akin to a climb. After a couple of hours and around 500m of ascent you’ll reach the summit of Mont-Fort at 3,329m for a well-earned celebratory photo with the most stunning panoramic backdrop.

Via Ferrata & Zip-Lining Madzeria

Akin to its sister sport above, this version - the ‘iron road’ - sees you roped individually to a metal safety line at all times as you traverse your way along a vertical river gorge. There are two routes - one is suitable for children from the age of 8, the second being more technical and demanding - and a total of 720 rungs and cables are placed in the cliff face acting as hand and foot grips. Right by this activity, there is also a fun zip-line which traverses the same river valley, some 120m and a 30m drop over the gorge.

E biking

If you’re after a more leisurely way of checking out the bike trails without the physical exertion required to get you up hills, the latest range of e-bikes are the perfect solution for you. Verbier has a partnership with Trek cycles, and all the bikes have just been renewed to the very latest model.

Paragliding & Skydiving

If you’re looking for the ultimate thrill, a 40 second freefall tandem skydive out of a helicopter is surely the adventure activity for you. Paragliding offers a more ‘relaxed’ way to really soak up and appreciate the breathtaking vistas of Mont Blanc and the surrounding mountains.

Climbing

Head up to La Barme, just a short drive from Verbier town, and here you will find climbs of up to 120m, grade range 4c-8b, and a total of 71 routes. There are also plenty of other routes in the area too if you’re looking for a wider selection and climbing if your thing.

Hike “Passerelle de Corbassière”

At 210m long and 70m high, crossing the Corbassière walkway is an exhilarating experience as you look down towards the raging glacier meltwater river below. Opened a couple of years ago, it links up the mountain huts at Brunet and Panossière and really allows you to appreciate the Corbassière glacier, famous for its impressive size and magnificent setting. If you haven’t seen a glacier up close and personal, it comes highly recommended. After an exhilarating morning’s hike, you can enjoy a well deserved lunch at Cabin de Panossiere with the most amazing fondue and a complete a stunning day hike, or even stay in one of their rooms the night, and complete a multi day loop of the area.

Mountaineering

With anything from a day’s hiking across a glacier, right through to the famous Haute Route comprising a fully immersive 5 day hike from Verbier to Zermatt, there is something for everyone.