Verbier (Summer)

This large and lively Alpine resort is located on a sunny plateau above the Rhône valley. Mont Blanc, Europe's highest peak, looms in the distance. The spectacular mountains are a paradise for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, as well as rafting, hang gliding and other extreme sports. There are two 18-hole golf courses, 13 tennis courts and indoor and outdoor pools. There's a huge range of accommodations, from five-star luxury hotels with elegant spas to backpacker hostels to holiday apartments for families. Most guests are Europeans, and many belong to the young crowd, making this very much a party town. Cheese and white ...

This large and lively Alpine resort is located on a sunny plateau above the Rhône valley. Mont Blanc, Europe's highest peak, looms in the distance. The spectacular mountains are a paradise for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, as well as rafting, hang gliding and other extreme sports. There are two 18-hole golf courses, 13 tennis courts and indoor and outdoor pools. There's a huge range of accommodations, from five-star luxury hotels with elegant spas to backpacker hostels to holiday apartments for families. Most guests are Europeans, and many belong to the young crowd, making this very much a party town. Cheese and white wine are specialties of the Valais region, and an Alpine meadow studded with wildflowers makes an ideal place to picnic on sausages, bread, and a bottle of the local Fendant. Le Hameau de Verbier, a faux quaint village with a small museum, is worth a visit if the weather is bad. The Gianadda Museum in Martigny is a short train ride away.

About the Expert

Charlie Morris is the author of the Open Road guidebooks Best of Honduras, Best of Costa Rica, Best of Belize, and Switzerland Guide.