La Tzoumaz (also referred to as Mayens de Riddes) is a pretty Alpine village located in a green side valley off the main Rhône valley, in the canton of Valais, in the south west of Switzerland.
The name comes from the word "tzoumer", which means taking a break - the ideal place for rest and relaxation!
In winter, La Tzoumaz is a popular ski resort within the 4 Vallées ski region, which consists of various resorts, including Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, and Thyon. The resort has a brand new 8 seat (cable car) telecabine, five chair lifts, five drag lifts and one children's ski lift. The summit of the telecabine links directly to the 4 Vallées ski area, with 98 more ski lifts and a total of 400 km of ski runs. La Tzoumaz is situated on north-facing slopes and hence enjoys a long ski-season, lasting from early December all the way through to late-April. The resort is especially popular with families, including a small ski lift for children, a natural ice rink, a heated swimming pool and the longest floodlit sledge run in Western Switzerland (at 10 kilometres).
In summer, a range of activities is available in the region, from walking and hiking, to paragliding, mountain biking, rock climbing and fishing. There are tennis courts in the village, and a golf course in Verbier with stunning, panoramic views! The walking and hiking can be as strenuous as you like, with over 150 km of well marked footpaths. If you fancy something a little more gentle, you can try a stroll alongside the historic watercourses, known as bisses, to be found throughout the region, through beautiful, peaceful forests of larch and pine. Or if you feel more adventurous, you can explore the summits of Mont Gelé and Mont Fort.
