Ski holidays for non skiers, planned for the whole group
Which resort gives non-skiers the most, what there is to do in each, how to turn the chalet into a day of its own, and a timetable that keeps skiers and non-skiers together.
Ski holidays for non skiers work well when two choices are right: a resort where lifts, trains and walking trails take you up the mountain without skis, and a chalet good enough to be a destination in itself. For a mixed group, Zermatt and St. Moritz give non-skiers the most; Courchevel has the longest list of organised activities, and Verbier suits the sporty. The rest is timing: who leaves when, and where everyone meets for lunch.
Most advice on this subject is a list of activities. Lists help, but they miss what decides whether a non-skier enjoys the week: being able to share the views, the long lunch and the evening with the skiers, rather than spending six days waiting for them. A good resort for non-skiers is one where the mountain is open to people on foot, the village is pleasant to walk in, and the journey between the two is easy.
The chalet does the rest. When the house has a pool, a hammam, a treatment room and a chef, a slow day indoors is a pleasure rather than a fallback. That is why we look at both on this page: first the resorts, then the house. If Zermatt sounds like your group, our luxury chalets in Zermatt are a good place to start.
The mountain without skis, in figures
Checked against official sources, so you can plan with confidence.
Zermatt maintains over 40 km of winter hiking trails and more than 20 km of marked snowshoe trails.
Source: zermatt.swissThe Gornergrat railway climbs from Zermatt to the Gornergrat summit, at 3,089 m.
Source: gornergrat.chCourchevel lists 9 snowshoe itineraries, graded from green to black like ski runs, and 15 regularly groomed footpaths for walking without snowshoes.
Source: courchevel.comCourchevel has a 2 km toboggan run through the fir trees from 1850 down to Courchevel Village, and a 3 km descent to the foot of the slopes at Moriond.
Source: courchevel.comThe sledge run from Savoleyres down to La Tzoumaz, over the ridge from Verbier, has a vertical drop of 711 m; the gondola up requires a lift pass or a sledging pass.
Source: verbier.chThe funicular to Muottas Muragl, above St. Moritz, has been running since 1907 and climbs to 2,456 m.
Source: muottasmuragl.chThe best ski resorts for non skiers, compared honestly
We judge the four resorts where we have chalets on the questions a non-skier actually asks: can I get up the mountain without skis, is there a village worth walking in, and what is there to do when the weather closes in? None of them is a poor choice, but they reward different people.
- If nobody in the group skis much: St. Moritz, because the town and the lake carry the week on their own.
- If the non-skiers want the views: Zermatt, where a train takes you higher than many skiers go.
- If the non-skiers are children: Courchevel, for the aquatic centre, the ice rink and the two children’s sledging areas.
- If the non-skier is active and curious: Verbier, for the long sledge run and the sports centre.
| Resort | Up the mountain without skis | On foot in the village | Its weak spot | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zermatt | A cog railway to the Gornergrat, a funicular to Sunnegga, cable cars towards the glacier; pedestrian tickets are sold by the lift company | Car-free, compact, with the Matterhorn in view from the main street | Steep lanes that are slippery after fresh snow | Walkers and scenery lovers; groups who want to lunch together at altitude |
| St. Moritz | The Chantarella funicular to Corviglia, the historic funicular to Muottas Muragl, and trains along the valley | A real town above a lake, with boutiques, museums and events on the frozen lake | The ski mountains are spread out, so you rely on transport | Non-skiers who want the most varied week: culture, events, rail journeys |
| Courchevel | Selected lifts and the gondolas between the villages; check with the lift company which accept pedestrians | 1850 is lively; Le Praz and Saint-Bon have the most village character | Life revolves around the slopes, and the villages are spread along the mountainside | Families with non-skiing children or teenagers; anyone who likes organised activities |
| Verbier | Gondolas to the walking routes and to the La Tzoumaz sledge run | A sloping village around Place Centrale, lively in the evening | Hillside chalets, so a chauffeur matters | Sporty non-skiers: sledging, climbing wall, snowshoes |
Lift timetables and which lifts are open to pedestrians change through the season; check the lift company’s website or ask us before you travel.
Non skiing activities, resort by resort
These are the activities each resort’s tourist office lists for winter, grouped by what they give a non-skier. Opening depends on snow and weather, so treat every outdoor line as likely rather than guaranteed, and keep an indoor plan in reserve.
| Activity | Courchevel | Verbier | Zermatt | St. Moritz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panoramic ride | Lifts between the villages and up to the high points | Gondolas to Les Ruinettes and Savoleyres | Gornergrat railway, Sunnegga funicular | Muottas Muragl funicular, Chantarella funicular |
| Winter walking | 15 groomed footpaths | Eight marked walks; only the route from Les Ruinettes needs a pedestrian pass | Over 40 km of winter hiking trails | Prepared trails marked with pink posts |
| Snowshoes | 9 graded itineraries, or with a guide | Marked trails, or with a mountain leader | More than 20 km of marked trails | Routes marked with violet posts, Furtschellas among them |
| Sledging | 2 km from 1850 to Village; 3 km at Moriond; children’s areas | Les Esserts for children; La Tzoumaz for adults | Rotenboden run; Täsch trail | Muottas Muragl, with gentle and fast runs |
| Dogs, horses, flying | Dog sledding, horse riding, paragliding | Dog sledding | Husky sledge rides at Trockener Steg | Ask us |
| Indoors | Aquatic centre with slides and an adults-only spa area, ice rink, bowling, media library | Sports centre with climbing wall, squash, tennis and pool; ice rink | Wellness and fitness centres | Museums, among them one devoted to the painter Segantini |
Sources: the official tourist office sites of each resort. Fares for lifts, sledging passes and activities are on the official websites or available on request.
Let the trains do the climbing
Zermatt and St. Moritz give non-skiers an advantage Courchevel and Verbier cannot match: mountain railways that run in winter and treat the journey as the outing. In Zermatt, the cog railway to the Gornergrat is the obvious first morning, and the summit is high enough that skiers often arrive there on the same train. In St. Moritz, the line south over the Bernina makes a day trip to Italy possible, and the funicular to Muottas Muragl gives the view down the whole chain of Engadin lakes.
The great journey links the two Swiss resorts where we have chalets. The Glacier Express takes about eight hours from Zermatt to St. Moritz, over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels, which makes it a natural way to split a fortnight between two chalets. Our guide to the Glacier Express covers classes, seats and luggage.
A chalet spa day, done properly
On a ski holiday, the house is where non-skiers spend the most time, so its spa matters more to them than to anyone. The difference between a pleasant day and a memorable one is preparation: treatments booked in advance, the pool to yourself while the skiers are out, and lunch served when you want it rather than when the kitchen expects it.
- Choose the chalet for its spa, not just its pool
Look for a treatment room, a hammam or sauna and somewhere to rest between them. At Chalet Azelia, St. Moritz, the wellness floor has three private treatment rooms, a spa manager and daily massage treatments as part of the stay. At Chalet Anelle, Zermatt, a Nordic bath sits beside the hammam and sauna.
- Book treatments when you book the chalet
In-chalet treatments can be arranged on request in our chalets, but therapists are busiest in the school-holiday weeks. Tell your advisor how many people want treatments and on which days, and we line them up before you arrive.
- Take the morning while the house is quiet
Once the skiers have left, the pool and the spa are yours. A swim, a sauna, then the massage: the order most guests settle on after the first day.
- Lunch in the chalet, at your pace
Ask the chef for a light lunch in the late morning, when you order breakfast. In chalets where the chef prepares lunch or dinner each day, it is simply a matter of saying which.
- Meet the skiers at afternoon tea
Afternoon tea is served daily in most of our chalets, and it is the moment the two halves of the group come back together, before the hot tub and the evening.
A day plan for a mixed group
The secret of a good mixed-group day is to split the morning and share everything else. This is the shape we suggest; it works in all four resorts, with the lunch meeting point adapted to each.
- 8.30am: breakfast together
Skiers eat first and leave with their instructor or guide. Non-skiers take their time; there is no lift queue to beat.
- 10.00am: non-skiers go up
Take the train, funicular or gondola to a high point, or set off on a winter walk or a snowshoe outing with a guide. A chauffeur covers the gap between the chalet and the lift where the house is on a hillside.
- 12.30pm: lunch at altitude, together
Agree the meeting point the evening before: a mountain restaurant reachable by a lift open to pedestrians, so nobody has to ski or walk far. Book the table; in high season the terraces fill early.
- 2.30pm: one shared hour
Sledging is the great leveller: skiers and non-skiers on the same run, children included. Otherwise, the non-skiers ride back down while the skiers do the afternoon runs.
- 4.30pm: back at the chalet
Afternoon tea, then the spa, the hot tub or the cinema. In Courchevel Village, the gondola to 1850 runs late, which makes a sunset drink in 1850 easy before dinner.
- 8.00pm: dinner by the chef
The evening belongs to everyone equally, which is the strongest argument for a catered chalet over a hotel for a group like yours.
| Resort | Where non-skiers usually meet the skiers for lunch |
|---|---|
| Zermatt | Along the Gornergrat line or at Sunnegga, both reached by rail without skis |
| St. Moritz | On Corviglia, by the Chantarella funicular from the town |
| Courchevel | At a restaurant near a lift that accepts pedestrians; we check which are open that week |
| Verbier | Above Les Ruinettes, where the gentle walk to La Chaux starts (pedestrian pass needed) |
When the plan needs a plan B
- It snows all day: the high lifts may close, but the village, the indoor pools, the museums and the chalet spa do not. This is the day for treatments and a long lunch in the house.
- Too cold for long walks: choose a short panoramic ride and a warm restaurant at the top rather than a trail; altitude makes the cold feel sharper.
- Boots and kit: non-skiers need proper winter boots with grip, not fashion boots. Ice grips for town walking are worth packing for Zermatt’s lanes.
- A non-skier wants to try: one or two private lessons on a quiet beginner area, with no pressure to join the group, often turn a non-skier into a happy occasional one.
- The group is large: for groups of friends where half ski, our page on a luxury ski chalet for a group of friends covers room plans and shared spaces.
Chalets that suit skiers and non-skiers alike
Chosen for their spas, their walk or drive to the village and the lifts, and what they offer the people who stay in.
The chalets side by side
Zeyr is a two-minute walk from the Sunnegga funicular, Valmont about 150 metres from the boutiques of 1850, and Sally has an indoor beach of real sand.
| Residence | Guests | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Living area | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalet AzeliaSt. Moritz | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1,000 m² | Indoor Pool, Cinema Room, Hammam, Massage Room, Jacuzzi |
| Chalet AnelleZermatt | 12 | 6 | 6 | 692 m² | Nordic Bath, Hammam, Sauna, Massage Room, Jacuzzi |
| Chalet ZeyrZermatt | 12 | 6 | 7 | 565 m² | Sauna, Massage Room, Jacuzzi, Gym, Elevator |
| Chalet SallyCourchevel | 20 | 8 | 9 | 830 m² | Ski-in / Ski-out, Cinema Room, Hammam, Sauna, Massage Room |
| Chalet ValmontCourchevel | 14 | 6 | 7 | 717 m² | Indoor Pool, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Sauna |
| Chalet OscoCourchevel | 14 | 8 | 9 | 520 m² | Heated Pool, Nordic Bath, Hammam, Sauna, Gym |
| Chalet AmbreVerbier | 10 | 6 | 7 | 700 m² | Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Sauna, Massage Room, Jacuzzi |
Rates are on request and depend on dates and services. Your advisor confirms availability and the final details of every residence.
How we plan for the half that does not ski
Non-skiers are often an afterthought in ski planning. We start with them.
A plan for every day
Before you arrive, we suggest what each non-skier could do on each day, with an indoor alternative, and book what needs booking.
Chalets we have walked
Our team has visited every residence, so we can tell you whether the village is a stroll away or a drive, and how steep the walk back is.
Treatments arranged ahead
We book in-chalet treatments, guides for snowshoe walks and dog-sledding outings before the busy weeks fill them.
Beyond the published list
Some residences close to the village centres are available without being published online. Ask, and we include them.
Ski holidays for non skiers: your questions
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamWhat to do in Verbier if not skiing?
Walk one of the eight marked winter routes, most of them free, ride the gondola to Savoleyres for the long sledge run down to La Tzoumaz, or try snowshoeing with a mountain leader. On a grey day, the sports centre has a climbing wall, squash, tennis and a pool. Our Verbier ski resort guide explains the village and the valley around it.
What to do in St Moritz if you don’t ski?
Walk the lake and the marked winter trails, take the historic funicular to Muottas Muragl and sledge back down, spend an afternoon at the Segantini museum, or watch one of the winter events held on the frozen lake. The Bernina line south also makes a day in Italy easy.
What are the best things to do in Zermatt in winter for non skiers?
Take the Gornergrat railway for the view of the Matterhorn and the glaciers, walk some of the 40 km of winter hiking trails, book a husky sledge ride at Trockener Steg, or sledge on the Rotenboden run. The car-free village itself is a pleasure to wander, and lunch with the skiers at altitude is easy to arrange.
What to do in Courchevel if not skiing?
Courchevel lists 9 snowshoe itineraries and 15 groomed footpaths, a 2 km toboggan run from 1850 to Courchevel Village, dog sledding, paragliding and horse riding, plus an aquatic centre, an ice rink and bowling for bad-weather days. Our Courchevel ski resort guide compares the villages to stay in.
Is it worth going on a ski holiday if you don’t ski?
Yes, if the resort lets you reach the mountain without skis and the chalet is a place you are happy to spend time in. Non-skiers enjoy the week most when they share lunch and evenings with the skiers. Choose a resort with trains or pedestrian lifts, and a house with a spa and a chef.
You may also like
Plan a week for skiers and non-skiers
Tell Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad who in your group skis, who does not, and what the non-skiers enjoy. They will suggest the resort and the chalet that fit, and a plan for each day. Message us on WhatsApp at +33 7 80 98 05 43 or write to contact@lutetia-group.com; we usually reply within the day.