Wow! The scenery alone is breathtaking. When you're in Zinal, you're in the heart of the imperial crown, so the landscapes are truly magnificent, surrounded by five peaks over 4,000 meters high. Not to mention the others, each with its own equally spectacular beauty. Then there are the villages. Both Grimentz and Zinal boast historic sections worthy of the most beautiful postcards. Shops are readily available, and you'll find everything you need for resort life.
Now, let's get to the heart of the matter: the skiing. Both areas offer slopes for everyone, from beginners to experts, and even more if you choose to venture off-piste, but I'll come back to that later.
I know the Zinal area better because it's already more than enough for a week of skiing to keep you entertained without getting bored. But there's nothing stopping you from skiing between the two areas, as the gondola connection, opened a few years ago, has made things much easier. Previously, it was possible to ski down from Zinal to Grimentz, but the return trip required either a bus or a car, with some planning. All that is over now, and the gondola is so convenient that we sometimes ski down to Grimentz for just a few runs before returning to Zinal!
The slopes are superbly maintained, and the lifts are in good condition, varied, and fast, especially the more modern ones. The connection between the two resorts allows for a very long and varied descent; however, it requires an advanced skill level and a head for heights. It's also possible to reach the village of Zinal from the top of the ski area without taking the gondola again, offering another long descent.
Both resorts boast excellent ski parks that allow for some truly spectacular tricks. Personally, I love fresh powder, and I'm thrilled by the numerous easily accessible off-piste areas and the truly vast, safe off-piste terrain where the most experienced skiers can jump off some rocky outcrops. Ski touring enthusiasts will also find plenty to enjoy on the superbly marked hiking trails.
I also find the lift pass price, for such an offering, quite reasonable compared to many neighboring resorts. Accommodation is sufficient for tourists, and there are restaurants and bistros in both villages. As for nightlife, there must be something, but I confess I don't know... Early evenings strolling through Zinal are very pleasant thanks to the postcard-perfect scenery and mountain atmosphere. Children have fun on the natural ice rink; there's also a small rolling tunnel to take the little ones back up to the heart of the village along a slope where they can make their first turns or have fun with their sleds.
I see very few drawbacks to this resort, and finally, in these times of climate change, there are still good amounts of snow even in the leanest years.
