The resorts are alive in summer

Hiking in the mountains, dips in crystal-clear lakes and unhurried lunches on the sunny terraces of slope-side restaurants – summer is a wonderful time in the Alps. Festivals of wine, music and art have become an increasingly popular feature of the Swiss mountain villages of the Four Valleys, whilst zip-lines, paragliding, yoga retreats and plenty of biking or trail-running tracks keep active types busy.

You don’t have to head to the crowded beach resorts of southern Europe to enjoy a surfing lesson now you can use the wave pool surrounded by soaring peaks at Alaïa Bay in Sion – opened last year by the action sports and hospitality brand also behind the skateboarding park at nearby Lens. “There has always been so much potential for the Valais to be a summer destination within Europe,” says Adam Bonvin, Alaïa’s co-founder. “Younger, outdoorsy people are now realising that and coming from the UK and the United States.”

Whilst the Valais resorts have been seriously reinventing themselves for summer tourism, the Covid pandemic accelerated the trend towards buying homes to enjoy from June to September as much as during the winter season. Along with residents from Geneva seeking more space to enjoy flexible working, international buyers have been looking to the Four Valleys – Switzerland’s largest ski area - for year-round homes.

Increasingly at the top of many buyers’ lists has been Nendaz for its convenience and amenities within the popular Four Valleys. Sharing the same slopes as top-dollar Verbier, Haute Nendaz, as it’s also known offers many of the same activities and is a good-sized, modern and family-friendly resort. Within two hours of Geneva airport, it offers all the practical commodities – from supermarkets to bakeries, interiors shops and a wide choice of restaurants.

Since the high-end Mer de Glace apartment development completed in 2014 in the heart of the resort – with property owners able to access the facilities of the Hôtel Nendaz 4 Vallées & Spa, it has attracted clientele from all over the world. This has translated to interest in the purchase of properties in the resort, that are typically 30 per cent lower than Verbier.

According to the 2021 UBS Alpine Property Focus, the average price per square metre for a property in Verbier being achieved was CHF14,600; in Nendaz it was CHF6,700, but the gap is closing due to the uptick in interest in Nendaz during the pandemic.

Typical of the sort of property it’s possible to find, is the three-storey Chalet Lune, priced at CHF2.3m. Offering ski in, ski out access, it’s located in the tranquil area Les Clèves from which there are superb panoramic views across the Rhone Valley. The four-bedroom, four-bath property offers plenty of outside terraces to enjoy sunny evenings – hot tub optional. Very similar in size and quality, nearby Chalet Etoile is also available for both Swiss residents and second home-owners to purchase.

Both properties are available through Alpine Homes, a team of experienced and multi-lingual property experts in the Swiss Alps. A one-stop shop for discerning local and international buyers, the small, family-owned company can assist with all aspects of purchasing your Swiss dream property.