Why Verbier
The Alps, At Full Size.
Verbier is the big one. A Swiss village on a sunny balcony above the valley, the 4 Vallées on its doorstep, and a reputation that brings the best freeriders in the world here every March. You spend your winter in a traditional chalet in the middle of it all.
Award
7
Times Switzerland's Best Ski Resort
World Ski Awards, seven times in eight years to 2025
Award
2
Times World's Best Ski Resort
World Ski Awards, 2021 and 2022
Freeride
30
Years of the Xtreme Verbier
The Freeride World Tour final, on the Bec des Rosses since 1996
Size
410km
Of pistes in the 4 Vallées
The biggest ski area in Switzerland
Height
3,330m
At the top of Mont Fort
The highest point in the 4 Vallées
Getting here
2 hrs
From Geneva airport
And your airport transfer is included
Switzerland's Favourite, Seven Times Over.
Voted for by skiers and the ski industry at the World Ski Awards, and home to the biggest day in freeride every March.
And the people who train with us
Awards from the World Ski Awards, 2018 to 2025. Freeride figures from the Freeride World Tour. Checked October 2026.
In the press
What They Say.
Verbier doesn't need much of an introduction. Here's what the travel press say about it.
The Telegraph
“It has long attracted a young crowd intent on making the most of both the slopes and the après ski.”
Lonely Planet
“It's a world-class ski resort, some say only equaled by behemoths like Jackson Hole in the USA and Furano in Japan.”
Time Out
“Verbier opens onto one of the largest ski areas in the Alps, the 4 Valleys, and offers excellent terrain.”
01The mountain
One Village, Four Valleys, 410km Of Pistes.
Verbier sits at 1,500m above the Val de Bagnes, and it's the biggest resort in the 4 Vallées, the largest ski area in Switzerland. One lift pass links it with La Tzoumaz, Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Thyon, all the way up to Mont Fort at 3,330m.
For a trainee instructor, that's the point. Ten weeks here and you'll have skied wide groomers, bumps, trees and some of the most famous off-piste in Europe, all on one pass.
Freeride capital
The Bec Des Rosses.
Every March since 1996, the final of the Freeride World Tour has come to Verbier, to one face.
- 3,223m
- At the top of the Bec
- About 600m
- Of vertical, on one face
- 43°
- Average steepness
You won't ski the Bec on the course. But from week 4, the 4 Vallées and off-piste are part of your training, and the Off-Piste Course is built around everything else this mountain has.
Rated Excellent By Past Interns.
02The numbers
2,500 Metres, From Glacier To Valley.
From the top of Mont Fort to Le Châble in the valley, with Verbier village in between. Here's how it fits together.
Side on
Simplified, side on, to scale for height but not for distance.
One pass
Five Resorts, Four Valleys.
Verbier is where you live and train most days. The rest of the 4 Vallées is on the same lift pass, for the days you want to go exploring.
01
Verbier
Home for the winter, and the biggest resort in the 4 Vallées.
02
La Tzoumaz
Over the ridge from Verbier, through Savoleyres.
03
Nendaz
In the middle of the 4 Vallées, linked through Siviez.
04
Veysonnaz
Further along, above the Rhône valley.
05
Thyon
The far end of the 4 Vallées.
Across the valley from Le Châble is Bruson, whose tree runs are part of the Off-Piste Course.
From above
Five Areas, One Pass.
Verbier's own side of the 4 Vallées, grouped by lift into five areas and shaded as a rough guide to the colour of the pistes. Tap one to see what's there.
Choose an area, or tap one on the map.
The area
La Chaux And Mont Fort.
The top of everything. La Chaux's sunny blues, the Jumbo cable car up to the Col des Gentianes, and Mont Fort at 3,330m.
For you
Where the view is, and the steepest piste in the area.
Best on a bluebird day. From the top you can see the Matterhorn one way and Mont Blanc the other.
Key figures
- Mont Fort
- 3,330mThe highest point in the 4 Vallées
- Col des Gentianes
- 2,894mTop of the Jumbo
- La Chaux
- 2,265mSunny blues and the snow park
Terrain
Beginner to expert.
Wide, sunny blues at La Chaux, with the snow park alongside. Then the Jumbo up to Gentianes, and one steep black from the top of Mont Fort, with the Bec des Rosses next door.
Good to know
The Bec des Rosses, 3,222m, is right here. Every March the Freeride World Tour final is skied on it.
It's the highest and most exposed part of the area. When the wind gets up, Mont Fort and the Jumbo close first.
Lifts: La Chaux Express from Les Ruinettes, the Jumbo cable car to the Col des Gentianes (2,894m) and the Mont Fort cable car to the top (3,330m).
Heights from the Verbier sector piste map. The map is simplified and not to scale, with Verbier's side of the 4 Vallées grouped by lift into five areas. Use the resort's own piste map on the hill.
- 410km
- of pistes across the 4 Vallées
- 3,330m
- at the top of Mont Fort
- 1,500m
- Verbier village
- 821m
- Le Châble, in the valley
- 2,500m
- of vertical, Mont Fort to Le Châble
- 5
- resorts linked on one pass
- 1996
- the first Xtreme Verbier
- 2 hours
- from Geneva airport
Off-piste, safely
Off-piste safety and avalanche training are part of the course, before you ski anything ungroomed.
Getting here
Fly into Geneva. Your airport transfer is included, and Verbier is about 2 hours away.
Your lift pass
It isn't in the course price. It's CHF 600 to 1,000, depending on your age and when you buy it.
Ready for a course?
You need to ski a red run confidently. Check yours with our skiing ability guide.
Heights from the Verbier sector piste map. Ski area figures from the World Ski Awards and public resort listings. Freeride figures from the Freeride World Tour. Checked October 2026.
03Your winter
A Verbier Winter, Month By Month.
Start in late November, in January or in February. Here's where every course sits, from your first day in the chalet to your last exam.
Ski, BASI Level 1 and 2
BASI Level 1 And 2, Three Start Dates.
The same course in 9 or 10 weeks, with Level 1 in week 3 and Level 2 at the end. You live in a catered chalet in the middle of Verbier.
December start, 10 weeks29 November 2026 to 6 February 2027. CHF 11,950.
January start, 10 weeks3 January to 13 March 2027. CHF 12,400.
February start, 9 weeks7 February to 10 April 2027. CHF 10,500.
TrainingWeeks 1 and 2 are an assessment and your action plan. Week 4 takes you across the 4 Vallées and off-piste.
ExamsLevel 1 in week 3. Level 2 in the last two weeks, after a week of exam prep.
Ski schoolAbout 70 hours of ski school experience in weeks 5 and 6, inside real lessons.
Same course, three start dates. The coaching, the chalet and the exams are the same on each, and the February start is a week shorter. Orange is training, grey is ski school, and the dark blocks are your Level 1 and Level 2 exams. The bars are approximate.
Ski, Level 1 and off-piste
Level 1 On Its Own, Or A Winter Off-Piste.
For a shorter first step, or six weeks of serious coaching away from the pistes. All three include the catered chalet.
BASI Level 1, 4 weeks3 to 30 January 2027. CHF 6,500.
BASI Level 1 and Off-Piste, 10 weeks3 January to 13 March 2027. CHF 12,400.
Off-Piste Course, 6 weeks31 January to 13 March 2027. CHF 8,950.
Level 1 trainingThree weeks of coaching to get you ready for your exam.
Level 1 examIn week 4.
Off-pisteMoguls and itinerary runs, off-piste safety, powder, route planning and map work, ski touring, and the tree runs at Bruson.
The Off-Piste Course has no exam, so it suits anyone who wants six weeks of coaching to take their own skiing up a level. The bars are approximate.
Before you book
You need to be 18 or over, and able to ski a red run confidently. There's no upper age limit. Not sure about your skiing? Send us a video and we'll tell you honestly.
Getting here
Fly into Geneva. Your airport transfer is included, and Verbier is about 2 hours away.
04Chalet life
Your Own Chef, In The Middle Of Verbier.
You live in a traditional Swiss chalet in central Verbier, with the people you train with. The lifts are a walk away, and some chalets are ski-in. A chef cooks for you and a cleaner looks after the place, so your evenings are for the pool or sauna at the sports centre down the road, a debrief over dinner, or bed.
- Chalets
- Traditional Swiss chalets in central Verbier
- Housemates
- 8 to 14 trainees, about 10 on average
- Meals
- Continental breakfast and a 2-course dinner, Monday to Friday
- Also
- A cleaner, wifi and laundry
- Single room
- CHF 3,000 extra on the 10-week courses
“Ten housemates, one chef, and the lifts a walk from the door.”
Included on Level 1 and 2
- Exam fees
- Airport transfer
- Avalanche safety training
- An off-piste adventure day
- Video analysis
- Performance clinics
- A ski servicing clinic
- Mentor support
- Career advice
- Team photos and action shots
- Socials and fancy dress
- Clothing
05The Alps
The Whole Of The Alps On Your Days Off.
Verbier is in the corner of Switzerland where it meets France and Italy. On your days off, a lake, a castle, a mountain pass or another country is never far away.
Montreux and Château de Chillon.
Lake Geneva, a castle on the water, and the Christmas market in December.
The Grand St Bernard.
About 45 minutes away, with a tour of the monastery at the top of the pass.
Champex-Lac.
A frozen mountain lake, about 45 minutes away.
Italy and France.
The Aosta Valley one way, the Portes du Soleil the other.
Bern.
The old town of the Swiss capital, for a day off the snow.
Add to your winter
- French or German lessons
- Snowboarding
- Telemark
- Cross-country
- Snowshoeing
- Skinning
- Tandem paragliding
- Yoga
- Freestyle or race coaching
Worth knowing
Switzerland Isn't Cheap.
Prices are in Swiss francs, and a lunch or a drink on the hill costs more than at home. Your chef covers breakfast and dinner Monday to Friday, and there are good lunch deals around the village.
The Pros And Cons.
Verbier ski instructor courses are brilliant for the right person, and not for everyone. Here's the honest picture.
Why Verbier works
- The 4 Vallées410km of pistes on one pass, and some of the most famous off-piste in Europe.
- Chalet lifeA traditional chalet in the middle of the village, with your own chef and about 10 housemates.
- Coaches who teachBASI Trainers, BASI 4s and Swiss-qualified instructors, who teach in the ski school too.
- Close to homeShort flights to Geneva, and your airport transfer is included.
Worth knowing
- A job needs an EU passportWorking in the ski school after your course needs an EU passport. On a UK passport, the Off-Piste Course and the 4-week Level 1 give you the coaching, without the job.
- Switzerland isn't cheapPrices are in Swiss francs, and so is everything on the hill.
- Lift pass not includedCHF 600 to 1,000, depending on your age and when you buy it.
- 18 and overThere's no upper age limit, but you need to be 18 to join.
06Your course
Your Verbier Ski Instructor Course.
Our Verbier ski instructor courses: BASI Level 1 and 2 with three start dates, Level 1 on its own, and two ways to spend the winter off-piste.
Ski, BASI Level 1 and 2
BASI Level 1 And 2 Ski Instructor Course, Verbier
Nine or ten weeks of coaching with BASI Trainers and Swiss-qualified instructors. Level 1 in week 3, about 70 hours of ski school experience, then Level 2 at the end. You live in a catered chalet in the middle of Verbier, and your exam fees, airport transfer and avalanche training are included.
- Starts
- 29 Nov, 3 Jan or 7 Feb
- Length
- 9 or 10 weeks
- You leave with
- BASI Level 1 and 2
- Where you live
- A catered chalet
- Price
- From CHF 10,500
Every course, every price
BASI Level 1 and 2, December start
29 November 2026 to 6 February 2027. 10 weeks. Catered chalet included.
See the course ›CHF 11,950about £11,100
Hold my placeBASI Level 1 and 2, January start
3 January to 13 March 2027. 10 weeks. Catered chalet included.
See the course ›CHF 12,400about £11,550
Hold my placeBASI Level 1 and 2, February start
7 February to 10 April 2027. 9 weeks. Catered chalet included.
See the course ›CHF 10,500about £9,750
Hold my placeCHF 6,500about £6,050
Hold my placeBASI Level 1 and Off-Piste
3 January to 13 March 2027. 10 weeks. Catered chalet included.
Ask us about this course ›CHF 12,400about £11,550
Hold my placeOff-Piste Course
31 January to 13 March 2027. 6 weeks. No exam. Catered chalet included.
Ask us about this course ›CHF 8,950about £8,300
Hold my placePrices are in Swiss francs (CHF), as invoiced. Pound figures are a rough guide at CHF 1 to £0.93, and will move. Course only, without the chalet: CHF 6,500 for any Level 1 and 2 start or for Level 1 and Off-Piste, and CHF 5,500 for the Off-Piste Course. Your lift pass isn't included.
On a UK passport
Same Coaching, Same Chalet.
Working in the ski school after your course needs an EU passport. On a UK passport, you get exactly the same coaching, exams and chalet, just without the job. The Off-Piste Course and the 4-week Level 1 are a good fit, because neither includes work.
Not sure Verbier is the one? You can compare our ski instructor courses, in one place.
Still deciding where to go? Compare all our locations.
What Past Interns Say.
Read Before You Choose.
Free guides, written by us for people in exactly your position. Start with the skiing ability guide, to check you're ready for Verbier.
Skiing Ability Guide
Are you good enough yet? The standard, in plain words, with a way to check.
Read the guide ›
Resort Comparison Guide
The resorts we work with, side by side. Size, snow, housing and who each one suits.
Read the guide ›
The Real Cost Of A Canadian Season
The whole sum, from flights and insurance to food and kit.
Read the guide ›
How To Book Our Courses And Internships
From first chat to first chairlift, step by step.
Read the guide ›
Insurance Guide
What cover you need, and what to check before you buy it.
Read the guide ›
Travel And Flights Guide
Flights, transfers and getting to the mountain without stress.
Read the guide ›
Fitness Guide
Turn up fit. The plan that gets your legs ready before you fly.
Read the guide ›
What To Take
The packing list for a winter in the mountains.
Read the guide ›
Clothing Essentials
Layers, gloves and what is worth spending money on.
Read the guide ›
Girls On Tour
For women heading out on a season, by women who have done it.
Read the guide ›
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