Resort Review

Thyon ski resort is located on the western side of the Val d'Hérens in the Lower Valais, close to the canton capital of Sion, Thyon forms the eastern gateway to one of the largest continuous skiing areas in the Alps, Les 4 Four Vallees, providing excellent skiing terrain for all levels.

Perched high up on the side of the mountain with superb views of the surrounding resorts and peaks including Crans Montana and the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Thyon is ideal for family ski holidays, beginners and intermediates with most of the accommodation being ski-in / ski-out.

It’s obvious that Thyon has worked hard to compete with its high-priced neighbour. There are many new, quality ski chalets being built and capital spend on infrastructure such as the recent high speed four man chair - Etherolla.

Les Collons is at the bottom of an east facing slope down from Thyon 2000 which in itself, is just a collection of apartment blocks and hotels that links into the 4 valleys. Les Collons also has a number of good restaurants and bars.

Children

Thyon has put a lot of effort in to making sure the kids are well looked after. There is a kid's village for children aged between 3 1/2 and 6 years old where there is professional supervision and skiing lessons. There is also a nursery that takes infants from 18 months up to 6 years old.

Thyon ski area guide

The 4 Valleys is divided into 2 sectors: Printze and Verbier-Mont-Fort (Verbier, La Tzoumaz, Mont-Fort) with each sector having skiing for all levels.

The Printze sector, that includes Thyon, Nendaz and Veysonnaz provides ample terrain for beginners to experts with motorway blues like the Trabanta to the looming Etherolla black run and lots of off-piste.

Skiing in Les 4 Vallees

Ski holidays in Thyon also allow you direct access in to The 4 Vallées - the biggest ski area in Switzerland with more than 412 km of slopes and 92 lifts linking the resorts of...

• La Tzoumaz
• Nendaz
• Verbier St. Bernard, and
• Veysonnaz

Other ski holiday activities

• Paragliding
• Sledging down a 1km track at Thyon 2000
• Ice skating
• Cross-country skiing - 6km of local trails
• In-door swimming pool
• Ice climbing
• Snow shoeing alomg 30km of marked trails
• Huskey dog sledding which takes place every Tuesday on the plateau of la Muraz between 1pm and 4pm

Après-ski

Thyon resembles a typical commuter town - it is close enough to get in the mix of things, but far enough to escape the crowds. The low-key après-ski keeps the late night noise pollution to a minimum, but can still generate the lively nights in a handful of pubs such as Joyce O’Sullivan’s Irish bar off the Trabanta lift.

Ski holidays in Thyon - Les Collons are relaxed, great value and with easy access in to the fantastic ski area of Les 4 Vallees. A couple of suggestions for your ski holidays...

• If you have a car and don't mind an hours drive then head to Grimentz. The road to Grimentz from Thyon takes you back down to Sion and then a short drive on the motorway before heading back up the mountain. Grimentz is a stunning traditional Swiss ski resort although you feel like you have gone back in time with cobbled narrow streets in the old town and some ski chalets on stilts - a great day out.

• Try the torch light ski run organised by the Tourist Office followed by mulled wine - an experience you wont forget and good fun
• A day trip to Leukerbad where you can relax in the open air thermal baths surrounded by snow
• Suonen – these are ancient irrigation channels, which run along the contours of the land - the vertical change is small so they offer quite gentle walks

If you like Thyon, you might also want to look at Canazei in the Italian Dolomites. The scenery of the Dolomites is truly spectacular with 3000m jagged peaks in every direction...