Crans-Montana Travel Guide

Crans-Montana

Crans-Montana © lynnsta

Overview Claiming to occupy the sunniest plateau in the Swiss Alps, the twin villages of Crans and Montana are perched 4920 feet (1,500m) above the Rhone Valley. Crans-Montana provides the best of both a mountain village and modern Swiss ski resort, offering an Alpine shopping paradise, and easy access to nearby attractions like the museums of Sierra, the underground lake near St-Léonard, and the glacier at Plaine Morte. The resort has a glitzy reputation and enjoys a fashionable nightlife. Crans-Montana offers many summer activities, including water skiing, swimming, mountain climbing, hiking, and a championship golf course.

Skiing Skiing in Crans-Montana stretches 9,842 feet (3,000m) up to the Plaine Morte Glacier, which provides year-round opportunities. There are 87 miles (140km) of marked pistes served by 27 ski lifts. While the golf course provides a gentle proving ground for beginners, experts may find little to challenge them. There are 22 miles (35km) of cross country trails, and the resort offers night skiing on Fridays until 10pm.







Negatives Crans-Montana's sunny location can have a negative effect on its snow. Traffic is heavy in the high season as most guests come in cars. There are few challenging runs for advanced skiers.

Activities

Glacier Express Advertised as the 'slowest express train in the world', the Glacier Express is also the most panoramic, and is a breathtaking way to experience the magnificence of the Swiss Alps. The seven and a half hour journey begins daily from Zermatt. The red mountain train crosses more than 291 bridges, winds its way through 91 tunnels and seven valleys and over the 6,670ft (2,033m) Oberalp Pass to the resort of St Moritz, in a spectacular feat of mountain engineering. The train is equipped with large windows for clear viewing and the scenery, including mountain panoramas, quaint villages and wooden chalets, forests and alpine pastures, is stunning. A dining car provides lunch and the mini-bar contains tilted wine glasses to counter the lean of the carriages along the steep mountainous route. The train can be taken in either direction, and if time is short it is possible to travel along a short section of the route, but either way it is advisable to make advance bookings as the train is very popular. There are several departures a day during summer and one a day in winter.


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