PURE ENERGY, PURE ESCAPE: VERBIER IN SUMMER 2025
Welcome to Verbier for summer 2025: Why not discover the lesser known and more remote parts of the valley that offer an exhilarating, enriching and endlessly surprising escape into the wild heart of the Swiss Alps. This is a destination that brings together all walks of life into one fabulous valley. The region comprises six villages with different vibes: Cultural Le Châble, cosmopolitan Verbier, wild Upper Val de Bagnes, authentic Bruson, discreet Vollèges or family friendly La Tzoumaz: each has a unique quality that you can use as a starting point for your immersion in the Bagnes region.
During summer, the mountains pulse with energy. World-class music festivals spill out onto open-air stages, mountain biking and trail running events draw sports-seekers from across the globe, and wildflower strewn pastures offer peace, beauty and endless hiking possibilities.
Whether seeking high-adrenaline action or slow, scenic wanderings, Verbier has it covered: 700km of bike trails (from gentle e-biking to full-throttle downhill), 500km of hiking routes, and an event calendar packed with alpine adventures, cultural happenings and some quirky events thrown in for good measure.
FREE: For every night spent in Verbier-Val de Bagnes – La Tzoumaz this summer, visitors will receive a free Verbier Infinite Playground Pass ( VIP Pass ) that offers discounts and 50 free activities to the entire area all summer season. This includes pedestrian lift access/bus travel in the region. www.verbier.ch
Discover everything in Verbier-Val de Bagnes’ Summer 2025 press kit. If you would like any more details or images, or wish to talk about potential press trips, please just let me know.
NEW
Where Rustic Charm Meets Alpine Chic: Stay on a Working Goat Farm
Dreaming of swapping city stress for fresh mountain air, homemade cheese and goat cuddles, well this might be the perfect summer escape. Tucked away in the peaceful hamlet of Montagnier, Mauricette and Jean-Louis Fellay’s family-run farm stay is the perfect way to dip into the slow, soulful rhythm of Alpine life. Part of the Grand Entremont sustainable agritourism initiative, this beautifully renovated retreat offers two stylish double rooms and a cosy family room, each with its own bathroom. Breakfast is a homegrown affair, featuring fresh farm produce straight from the land. Outside, a herd of 30 inquisitive goats roam, where guests can pop in for a farm tour or stock up on local goodies at the on-site shop. It’s a proper slice of Swiss authenticity and a gentle, grounding counterpoint to the glamour of Verbier up the mountain. www.agritourismedemontagnier.ch
Unplug and Reconnect: A Mindful Weekend in the Mountains of Louvie
High above the tree line in the heart of the Val de Bagnes, an altogether different kind of escape awaits. Think alpine stillness, hanging glacier views and soul-stirring silence broken only by birdsong. The Awareness Weekend at Louvie is a two-day immersion in nature, wellbeing and mindful movement. It begins with a scenic two-hour hike from the hamlet of Fionnay up to the tranquil plateau of Louvie, where a mirror like lake and panoramic views of the Grand Combin set the scene. Guests are welcomed by Claudia, the warm-hearted refuge warden, before unrolling yoga mats for a golden-hour session with local instructor Amélie. As the sun dips behind the peaks, it’s time to unwind and savour the simplicity of mountain life. The next morning, sunrise yoga opens the day, followed by a guided four-hour hike through untamed Alpine wilderness before the descent back to the valley. It’s the ultimate digital detox with no emails, no noise, just space to breathe and be.2025 Dates: 31 May – 1 June | 21 – 22 June | 27 – 28 September | 4 – 5 October Price: CHF 270 pp www.louvie.ch
100 Years of Cabane Mont Fort: A Century of Alpine Spirit
Perched high above Verbier at 2,457 metres, with views that stretch across glaciers and jagged peaks, Cabane Mont Fort is more than just an overnight mountain refuge, it’s a piece of Swiss alpine heritage. And in 2025, this legendary outpost marks a magnificent milestone: 100 years since it first opened its doors to weary hikers, climbers and dreamers. Originally built by the Jaman section of the Swiss Alpine Club in 1925, the Cabane has become a cherished part of the region’s mountaineering soul. To celebrate its centenary, an inspiring programme of events will unfold throughout the year with music, storytelling exhibitions and events. From 1 June to the end of September, an open-air exhibition along the Levron Bisse will chart the Cabane’s remarkable history. In July, a concert will bring music to the mountains. But the highlight comes on 7 September, when the daredevil Flying Frenchies take to the skies for a breathtaking aerial performance above the refuge, fusing extreme sports, Balkan beats and poetic acrobatics. The celebrations culminate in December with a moving torchlit procession led by a hundred mountain guides, closing this historic chapter in style.www.cabanemontfort.com
Lac/itude: Where Indie Music Meets Mountain Magic at 2,500m
Leave the crowds behind and climb into a different kind of festival experience this summer, as the PALP Festival launches Lac/itude, a new high-altitude event fusing hiking, horizon views and live music in one of the Alps’ most soul-stirring settings. Taking place on Sunday 20 July 2025 at the serene Lac des Vaux, the day begins with a scenic cable car ride from La Tzoumaz to Savoleyres, followed by a gentle 6km hike (around 1hr 45min) across a landscape of wildflowers, sweeping mountain views and stillness. The reward? A lakeside concert unlike any other. Headlining the natural amphitheatre are cult indie icon Peter Doherty and Swiss sensation INEZONA, whose atmospheric blend of alternative, folk and rock promises a soundtrack as stirring as the setting. It’s raw, real and utterly unforgettable. After the music fades, festivalgoers can meander back down via the peaceful Vallon d’Arbi, a slow descent from a truly elevating day.www.palpfestival.ch/evenements/lac-itude
Enduro2 Comes to Verbier: A New Chapter in Alpine Mountain Biking
Mountain biking enthusiasts, take note: the renowned Enduro2 event is expanding its horizons in 2025, introducing a thrilling new race in the Swiss Alps. From 5–7 July 2025, Verbier will host this exhilarating three-day event, marking the first time Enduro2 ventures into Switzerland. Enduro2 is celebrated for its unique pairs format, emphasising camaraderie and teamwork as duos tackle challenging trails together. Participants can anticipate over 10,000 meters of descent spread across 15 diverse stages, predominantly featuring singletrack routes. The event promises a blend of high-altitude alpine trails, technical descents, and breathtaking vistas, all set within Verbier’s expansive 4 Valleys area. This expansion underscores Verbier’s growing reputation as a premier mountain biking destination, offering riders an unparalleled blend of challenging terrain and stunning alpine scenery. www.enduro2.fr
Say Cheese: Etiez’s New Dairy is the Cream of the Crop
The scent of freshly melted Raclette drifting on the Alpine breeze is always a good sign. But in Etiez, it now signals something even more exciting. It’s the launch of a brand new, state-of-the-art cheese dairy that’s putting local producers firmly on the map. After years of careful construction, the new Etiez dairy brings together many of the region’s finest cheesemakers under one roof. It’s a bold step forward in preserving the traditions of the Val de Bagnes while future-proofing its most delicious export. As part of the wider Grand Entremont initiative to support sustainable mountain agriculture, the dairy isn’t just a production facility. It’s also a welcoming space for visitors, with a shop and café where you can sample the goods, meet the producers, and savour a slice of Swiss rural life. www.fromagerie-etiez.ch
Events
Verbier Festival
For several years, music lovers from all over the world have been gathering in Verbier for the annual Verbier Festival in July. It has always aimed to encourage interaction and exchange between the great masters and young musicians from all over the world. The stars of the international classical scene, both regulars and newcomers, will converge on Verbier for 32nd edition, as will young emerging talent who often come from the Verbier Festival Academy. 16 July – 3 August. www.verbierfestival.com
UNLTD is a creative lab promoted by the Verbier Festival. It’s an innovative concept that breaks with norms, pushes boundaries and stimulates curiosity around music. Think outdoor concerts in unexpected places, in restaurants or on summits, plus artistic explorations in conjunction with other disciplines and other styles of music etc. The Unlimited showcases emerging talent and interactive performances for all generations and complements the Verbier Festival programme each summer. www.verbierfestival.com/en/unltd/
Palp Festival
The Palp Festival is a real adventure, fabulous and extravagant, full of memorable gatherings, cultural highlights and culinary delights. The twenty or so events that light up this extraordinary festival kick off in spring, peak in summer and finish in autumn and all have one feature in common:
they highlight and create a dialogue between all forms of tradition and contemporary culture. For example, festivalgoers can enjoy raclette paired with electro music at Electroclette 15 – 16 August or with rock music at Rocklette 2 – 10 August www.palpfestival.ch
Bagnes, Capital of Raclette: A Cheese-Lover’s Dream Festival
If a perfect weekend includes golden, bubbling raclette, crisp mountain air and a celebration of Alpine traditions, then Le Châble is the place to be this September. The weekend of 20 – 21 September 2025, will see more than 15,000 food lovers descend on this charming valley village for Bagnes Capitale de la Raclette, one of the largest and most beloved cheese festivals in Switzerland. The stars of the show? Local producers from the Bagnes and Entremont regions, serving up their finest wheels of creamy Raclette AOP, each more delicious than the last. The festival is as much a cultural spectacle as a culinary one. On the Sunday, the spotlight shifts to the noble ‘reines’, horned Hérens cows from the mountain pastures parading through the streets in a folkloric procession that’s as photogenic as it is symbolic of this deep-rooted mountain way of life. Expect hearty plates, Alpine music, and plenty of reasons to toast to tradition. www.bagnesraclette.ch
Why not?
Adopt a Queen: EdelAlp’s Summer Invitation to Alpine Life
Ever fancied adopting a cow? This summer, in the lush mountain pastures above Verbier and Bruson, visitors can do exactly that. Not just any cow, but a local regal Hérens beauty known for her strength and character. EdelAlp’s brilliant agritourism initiative invites guests to sponsor a ‘Queen’ for the season, deepening their connection with traditional Alpine farming. For CHF 275, sponsors will be welcomed to a series of summer events on the high pastures, receive a CHF 100 voucher for partner dairies, and even collect their very own wheel of cheese. It’s a meaningful way to support local agriculture while experiencing Val de Bagnes’ proud pastoral heritage firsthand and the adopted cow might even be a champion in one of the region’s famous cow fights. www.edelalp.ch
Ride to the Roof of the Alps: An E-Bike Escape to Cabane Chanrion
Six mountain huts are dotted throughout the Val de Bagnes. But for those who prefer their Alpine adventures on two wheels rather than two feet, a two-day e-bike trip to Cabane Chanrion is a thrilling and surprisingly accessible way to reach the wilder edges of the Val de Bagnes. Starting from the foot of the dramatic Mauvoisin Dam (the highest arch dam in Europe) the ride takes in tunnelled passages through the rock and a jaw dropping reveal of Lake Mauvoisin, glinting like a shard of turquoise glass. It’s here that the real climb begins, zigzagging along the lake’s edge to reach a high plateau flanked by glaciers and forgotten valleys. At 2,462m, Cabane Chanrion is the prize, a beautifully renovated refuge offering rustic charm, hearty food, and a welcome charging point for tired e-bikes. It’s the perfect place to disconnect and soak in the solitude of the mountains. After a good night’s sleep (and perhaps a fondue with glacier views), guests can explore the area on foot or glide back down to the valley on a gravity-fuelled descent. It’s the kind of micro adventure that makes you feel like you’ve crossed continents all within a 29km round trip. https://www.verbier.ch/summer/offers/barrage-de-mauvoisin-mauvoisin-en-summer-2794087/
Direct flights from 10+ UK airports to Geneva, with a 2hr40 scenic train journey via Lake Geneva to Le Châble. From there, gondolas whisk guests straight to Verbier. Once there, free electric buses, cable cars and e-bike stations make car-free exploration effortless.
