Valais, Switzerland

Capital City: Sion
Closest Airport: Sion Airport
Population: 294,608
Resort Area: Obergoms - Saas-Fee - Zermatt - Crans Montana - Val d'Annivers - Val d'Herens - Champex
Snow Season: Mid-December - end March
Main Language: French
Currency: Swiss Franc

With 17 peaks over 4,000 metres, Europe's longest glacier (the Aletsch) and the mighty Matterhorn sharing residence with those lucky f ... olks of Valais, it'll come as no surprise to hear that the skiing round here is, well, rather better than average.

They've wasted no time maximising the potential of their landscape, the Valaisians. The region has nearly 50 resorts, most of which are easily accessible from Basle and Bern, as well as Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich airports. Of those, you're likely to be familiar with the likes of Saas-Fee, Crans Montana and Zermatt, at least by name. But look beyond the biguns and you'll find a chocolate box of fine places to choose from.