Europe 2025/26

[MarzNC]

Nice.
My wife and I used a 21 day eurail pass to visit Ger, IT, FR, Switz in May-June 1983! Also rode buses and boats with that pass. Visited Jungfrau, Zermatt, Garmisch, Paris, Rome, etc. Terrifically memorable trip totaling 25 days in Europe, carless.

A difference between the 1980s and the 2020s is that with the Eurail app and other apps for individual country railroad schedules, it's a lot easier to get up-to-the-minute info. Although still pays to look carefully at signs once in a station. There was one change where the track had changed and the app was updated. It was a short change situation, so ended up with a bit of a run down some stairs to get one track over where the train we wanted was in the midst of boarding. Then we had to find a 2nd class car.

Signage at the train stations is good, but learning to interpret them took a bit of practice.

For the days we would be on the train most of the day, we used one phone with the automatic daily fee in order to have WiFi access. While there were places with free WiFi, didn't want to end up without access. I also learned to take a screen shot of my activated daily Eurail pass QR code. That way, it didn't matter if I didn't have WiFi access when the conductor wanted to see it.

 

[MarzNC]

Even if he's in a single base ski resort for a week, his wife will want the car to do something else.

Probably not applicable to the trip likely for @jimk 's wife in Jan 2026, but If I were the non-skier staying in Chamonix, I would have no interest in dealing with a car for solo sightseeing. Assuming that lodging was a short walk to a bus stop or train station. When riding a train and taking in the views is an option, would much rather do that than be a solo driver. On a snowy day, would let the skier(s) take the car if they didn't want to use the Ski Bus or the Mont Blanc Express train.

Mt Blanc train stops between Chamonix and Vallorcine, Argentière is the stop for Grands Montets
The views going down off the ridge of the ridge top to Vallorcine are worth the train ride. The tunnels are fun too.

 

[ChrisC]

I was speaking with my UK friends, primarily about Wimbledon - my MBA-friend got corporate tickets to the event (semi-finals, very jealous), but things turned to skiing.

They are thinking of two places for a 4-day Long Weekend late January/early February 2026:

1. Les Deux Alpes/La Grave, France
2. Engelberg (again)

They picked Engelberg again - how can you not for an easy weekend? It's 1 hour and 15 minutes from Zurich Airport. And they promised Andermatt for a Friday or Saturday Guided Day.

They thought La Grave/Les Deux Alpes was too far for a 4-day weekend. Me: You did that in the 2000s for a Bachelor Party? WTH? However, this outcome is excellent - I did not want to try to reposition from Southern France to Austria. I also think snow chances are better for Engelberg/Andermatt versus La Grave/Les 2 Alpes, but both are quite good.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I also think snow chances are better for Engelberg/Andermatt

Jimk and son should be considering those too. Engelberg is bit over 2 hours from Bern. Caveat is that Swiss guides are expensive and you need to do that for the Big Five at Engelberg and from some far ranging itineraries at Gemsstock that ChrisC skied but I have not.

 

[ChrisC]

Jimk and son should be considering those too. Engelberg is bit over 2 hours from Bern. Caveat is that Swiss guides are expensive and you need to do that for the Big Five at Engelberg and from some far ranging itineraries at Gemsstock that ChrisC skied but I have not.

Yes. Swiss Guides are expensive and typically cost 700+ CHF per day. Partial days are possible, but generally cannot be booked too far in advance; obviously, guides want/need full days. However, guides will start accepting half-day offers about 24-72 hours in advance. I did a half-day private at Verbier - primarily for my own safety, but also to ski the Backside of Mt. Fort and explore couloirs.

Below are typical Guided Group Days for the major Swiss Freeride/Expert Mountains (i.e. how to ski the best of Switzerland cheaply and safely). These days are typically priced at 190 CHF per day.

I rationalize that I am paying the equivalent of a $300 Alterra/Vail ticket at Squaw/Snowbird/Jackson, but getting a much better deal --> a local guide to access the best terrain, untouched powder, and cutting lift lines at some places. Less crazy, manic Powder Panic. Europe can be a much, much better value at the Expert end of the scale.

Andermatt - Andermatt Guides. (Funny - this operation was created 20 years ago by an American, Dan Loutrel).
Every Friday, they organize "Freeride Fridays" from January to mid-March. https://www.andermatt-guides.ch/service-page/freeride-friday-2
This culminates in a 4-day Weekend in early March of Freeride activities.
Additionally, they offer numerous 'courses' (guided skiing groups) throughout the winter. https://www.andermatt-guides.ch/

Engelberg - Engelberg Mountain Guides
Every Saturday, they offer "Big 5" Tours from January to mid-March. https://www.engelbergmountainguide.ch/winter/freeride/freeride-tag/
Or on other days, if a guide is interested: https://www.engelbergmountainguide.ch/winter/freeride/die-big-5/
Powder Day Alarms - sometimes last-minute guided days. https://www.engelbergmountainguide.ch/winter/freeride/powderalarm-engelberg/
Lots of courses https://www.engelbergmountainguide.ch/en/calendar/calendar-2/

Verbier - Verbier Guides / Les Guides de Verbier
I am surprised Verbier does not have larger sources of Freeride Guided Groups, like Val d'Isère, Chamonix, and St. Anton.
However, every Wednesday they offer Freeride Groups from January to March. https://guideverbier.com/en/activite-hiver/freeride-verbier-2/
Note: They do not actively promote these groups and typically go out with a minimum of 3-4 persons.

I have not researched Freeride Days at other Swiss mountains, such as St. Moritz (Corvatsch/Diavolezza/Lagalb), and Davos (Jakobshorn/Parsenn). Davos offers 'Yellow' controlled itineraries that extend beyond the backside to bus pickups, allowing for a DIY experience.

Zermatt and Zinal/Grimentz - I did not find groups. One possibility: Guides and Heli Zermatt will conduct single drops on high peaks and may organize groups. These outings can range from the Schwarztor to other prominent peaks.

I should consolidate all my Europe Guiding Info in one post. Add St. Anton/Arlberg, Chamonix, Courmayeur, La Grave, Val d'Isère/Tignes, Alpe d'Huez, and Serre Chevalier.

 

[ChrisC]

A big difference from a travel planning standpoint between LCC/BCC/Parley's Canyon is that the public transportation around the Chamonix valley is much more organized. Between the train and the ski bus, there would be no reason to drive for ski days. We used Eurail passes since we started in Basel (visiting my old friend and daughter's godmother) and finished in Geneva. For people with snow driving experience and ski gear, having a rental car could make sense when the trip involves destinations other than Chamonix.

I will use Swiss Rail / SBB to travel from Zurich to Engelberg (round trip) and then pick up a rental car for Austria. The train is a scenic, only 2-hour journey via Luzern and its surrounding lakes.

I will likely purchase a First Class ticket (50 CHF) instead of a Second Class ticket (33 CHF), as I want ample storage space for my skis during the morning rush hour. You can get quite good discounts by booking early. If you are unsure about your train time, you can purchase a Flex Ticket, which allows you to travel on any train on your travel day (60 CHF).

Swiss ski areas that are well served from Zurich:

• Andermatt
• Engelberg
• Jungfrau-Region (Interlaken/Mürren/Wengen/Grindelwald)
• St. Anton
• Zermatt
• St. Moritz (need to consider public transit at the destination to get to the local ski areas). Easy bus to Covatsch.
• Davos (need to consider public transit at the destination to get to the local ski areas). Very easy to use bus/train system.
• Arosa

I would be less likely to use rail to Chamonix, since the outer areas are difficult to visit (Courmayeur, Verbier, Megeve). Still, if you are visiting the only core Chamonix area (Le Tour/GrandMontets/BreventFleger/Aguille/Les Houches) it's easy. I took the return bus to Courmayeur after descending the Vallee Noir & Vallee Blanche into Chamonix.