It all adds up in Crans-Montana
August 17, 2022 - Booking now for the ski season, Six Senses Crans-Montana hotel in Switzerland delights guests with 41 neighboring mountains above 4,000 meters, 140 kilometers of pistes, 300 days of sunshine a year, and 360-degree views from the glacier. Don’t miss our Top 10!
Crans-Montana is well-known for its exceptional panoramic views and beautiful scenery stretching from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc. However, there is more to this 100-year-old ski resort than meets the eye. Try our Top 10 to make the most of it.
1. Skiing under bluebird skies
Extending across a plateau above the Rhône valley, the villages of Crans-sur-Sierre and Montana bask in sunshine year-round, and you can often squeeze nine hours of sun out of a winter’s day. Sun doesn’t mean slush, however, as the 3,000-meter Plaine Morte glacier at the top of the resort ensures plenty of snow. The ski terrain also pleases just about everyone, from long cruises to the impressive Adrenaline snowpark, Olympic halfpipe, and forest trails. The Alaia Chalet is a new 5,000-square-meter indoor playground for freeskiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, BMX, and more. Ramps, an airbag, and a pump track provide cutting-edge training facilities for all action sports fans.
To make your ski experience even more delightful, our Six Senses ski concierge and team are on hand to arrange lift passes or lessons and store or service your skis. They’ll also whisk off any wet boots or clothes to dry while you settle back and relax in our lounge.
2. Stretching your way to recovery
Six Senses is synonymous with wellness, so it’s no surprise there’s a 2,000-square-meter spa, which includes a Biohack Recovery Lounge, Alchemy Bar, indoor and rooftop pool, and state-of-the-art floatation pod. With its serene relaxation area, nail and hair salon, nine treatment rooms, sauna and steam facilities, and fitness and yoga studio, you are more than welcome to hang up your ski boots and spend all day here instead.
If you spend the day on the mountain, however, you’ll still find some out-of-the-ordinary recovery benefits too. Everybody is talking about our Stretch Pod, where dedicated therapists will use deep stretch movements to increase maneuverability, strength, and injury prevention. 45 minutes later, you’ll wonder why you have never considered booking a post-skiing stretch before. You’re welcome!
3. Freeriding and ski touring
The adventurous (and equipped) can head to the Col du Pochet behind the Bella Lui for some challenging off-piste skiing, with long descents and snow-filled chutes. The towering Mont Bonvin massif offers plenty of options both on and off the piste. From the glacier, there are often less-intensive lines to build your confidence in plain view of the slopes so you can bail out halfway down!
Ski touring, where you place skins on the bottom of your skis and walk them uphill, is popular in this part of the Alps. Crans-Montana has responded by creating Europe’s largest ski touring area with 40 kilometers of marked paths and varying grades of difficulty. One of our many advantages at Six Senses Crans-Montana is that we are located right next to the Crans gondola so seize the day, beat the queues, and enjoy the early-morning magic while conditions are at their best.
4. Practicing your swing
Best-known for the annual European Masters Tournament, Crans-sur-Sierre is only one of four golf courses in Crans-Montana. Right next door is the 9-hole Jack Nicklaus course, which has been voted the most beautiful in Switzerland four times. You may notice your game improves as the ball flies further above a certain altitude and the mountain air will keep you cool even in the height of summer.
After the 18th hole, come back and use the NormaTec boots in our Biohack Recovery Lounge to massage tired legs ready for the next round.
5. Eating and drinking
Crans-Montana boasts Valais wines, Michelin stars, and artisanal cheese and chocolate. If, however, you need to work up an appetite, why not try our Hike & Wine experience, which takes you up the famous Grand Blisse de Lens while learning about the Valais wine region? In the end, clink your glasses to the beautiful mountain views.
Back at Six Senses Crans-Montana, our all-day brasserie Wild Cabin, serves classic Swiss dishes, seared meat and fish, and sharing plates. For something a bit different, Japanese-inspired hoba miso, sushi, hotpots, hot stones, and grills are served up at Byakko, with a fun and funky bar for sake blends, cocktails, and live music nights.
6. Shopping
We can’t put an exact number on the designer fashion and interior collections that make their way to Crans-Montana, nor on how much you’ll bring home with you! An open-air shopping center in the heart of the Alps, Rue du Prado offers top luxury brands, sporting trends, jewelry stores and home décor delights.
7. Trail running
If ever there was an experience to make you feel like a mountain goat, the Trail des Patrouilleurs is one of the more challenging alpine runs. You’ll take on a 55-kilometer point-to-point trail through the mountains above us, encountering 4,00 meters of difference in altitude along the way.
Afterwards, wobble your way back to our Biohack Recovery Lounge for smart tech to optimize natural healing, including the Hypervolt percussion massager and Venom Back Wrap, which uses the soothing power of heat with vibration to melt away stress and tension on the lower back. Our Sleep With Six Senses standard, incorporated into all of our rooms and suites, provides a cloud-comfy bed and all the fundamentals for restoring tired limbs.
8. Sledding
If you’d rather let our furry friends do the hard work for you, the Great North is a beautiful husky sled ride that takes you through this most picturesque of regions. Don’t forget to keep your camera to hand.
9. Mountain biking
When the snow melts, the region is an ideal playground for mountain biking, with the Chetzeron blue MTB trail ending right here at Six Senses Crans-Montana. More than 180 signposted tracks are within easy reach thanks to the Sierre-Montana funicular and year-round cable cars up to the mountains. Ease into it with the 4-kilometer Family Forest Loop, offering gentle terrain and a few surprises (obstacles, steps, jumps, and more) through the Moubra forest. A more demanding route, signposted for the Mountain Bike World Championships in 1988, will test your fitness while you enjoy the natural beauty of the Aminona. Ask us for information about specialist shops and qualified guides.
10. Feeling festive
Crans-Montana is a beautiful setting for cultural events and music festivals, from the Crans-Montana Classics concerts to Caprices electronic dance festival. In summer, the Cirque au Sommet festival brings the joy of the circus to the mountains. In winter, the Etoile Bella Lui Festival honors the magic of winter lights in the mountains.
Our Terrace Rooms and Suites have a slope-side position, and a Swiss chalet feel. You can check availability and book directly through our website, or for more information, email reservations-cransmontana@sixsenses.com.