January27 Alps trip planning: Davos, St Moritz and Val d’Isère vs Dolomites?

A snowHead

Hi all,

We are planning a trip for January 2027 (likely arriving around 10 January) and would really appreciate some advice from people who know the Alps well.

We’ll probably have around 18–20 days in total and will rent a car from Zurich. The current idea is something like:

• 4 nights in Davos / Klosters
• 6–7 nights in St. Moritz
• then a final block somewhere else

We are also open to suggestions as it is still early days..

For that last stop we’re debating between Val d’Isère (which we’ve never been to) or heading into the Dolomites somewhere like Corvara or another village in Alta Badia (never been to the Dolomites in winter either).

A bit of context about our skiing:

We’re solid intermediates and tend to enjoy big areas with long cruisy reds more than very technical or challenging terrain. For reference, we absolutely loved the Three Valleys, Lech/Zürs and Flims-Laax. Zermatt, however, felt a bit full-on in places for my partner.

That’s why we’re a bit unsure about Val d’Isère. It looks incredible from a skiing perspective, but we’re wondering if it might feel a bit too challenging overall.

The Dolomites (Corvara / Alta Badia etc.) are appealing because the scenery and food look amazing and the drive from St. Moritz would be much easier than heading all the way to France. My only concerns there are snow reliability in January and whether the areas get very crowded.

So a few questions for those who know these regions:

Does Davos/Klosters make sense as a first stop for ~4 nights, or would you skip it and focus on two bigger bases?

Given our skiing preferences, would you lean more toward Val d’Isère or somewhere in the Dolomites like Corvara / Alta Badia?

How reliable is the snow in the Dolomites around mid-January compared with the big French resorts?

Are there particular villages in the Dolomites that stand out for intermediate terrain and great scenery?

We’ll have a car, so moving between resorts isn’t a major issue.

Thanks in advance really appreciate any insights!

A snowHead

Sella Ronda is huge, has the capacity to absorb thousands, and you will be going outside of holiday season. End January is peak cold, with 2 months of snow already. I don’t understand your concerns. Just don’t stretch your visit until Carnival week in Feb, ensure it’s before that.

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The Dolomites are almost entirely reliant on artificial snow. That and their natural shelter from poor weather from the west, makes them very reliable for skiing by Christmas. I think Davos and St Moritz are normally quite reliable in early January.

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The snow making in the dolomites is very reliable and it's usually excellent in January.

You can be unlucky anywhere but being storm bound with only a very restricted area in Val D'Isere is possible.

Unless you're planning to ski off piste the snow conditions shouldn't be a problem in the Dolomites

Val D'Isere does have good skiing for all standards but it doesn't have better skiing for intermediates than the dolomites.

If your other half found Zermatt a bit much I suspect they would not enjoy the runs to resort in Val D'Isere.
The scenery is far superior in the Dolomites and the variety of eating places is better too.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Val d’Isere is hard work. All the resort runs are black/very hard red. There’s about of downloading required to get anywhere if you’re not comfortable with that.

If you go to the Dolomites (which are wonderful) try to keep off the Sella Ronda. That’s where everybody is, going round and round it as though they enjoy ring-road traffic jams.

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Val D’Isere also a bit of a trek from St Moritz. Maybe some of the smaller/ pretty areas around Engadin as a contrast to the bigger resorts of Davos and St M.

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For what you want (which chimes with me!) Davos sounds like a great first stop. You just have to be accept the way it is split into different areas linked by bus - not that it is a problem given the efficiency of Swiss public transport.

St Moritz I can't advise on, though I have visited in summer I have never skied there.

For a third destination, though you would find plenty to do from Val d'Isere I would favour the Dolomites. There is something about the skiing there which sets it apart from other Alpine resorts. And despite @James the Last, there would be nothing wrong about doing the Sella Ronda given you wouldn't be peak season (and the Hidden Valley, given you are coming all the way from Sydney you might as well do the iconic trips).

Not sure why you are talking about renting a car rather than taking the train, though for the Dolomites you would need a bus right at the end.

After all it is free

St Moritz isn’t that big. I would say 4-5 days is plenty unless you’re doing the itineraries.

That said, there’re quite a lot of other things to do in Saint Moritz besides skiing.

@Malbec85, I can't help with some of your Qs about the Swiss places, King Charles knows a bit about Davos/Klosters, but not sure he's on here!! snowHead

But late Jan is a good time to hit Dolomites, runs are complete with artificial snow from mid-Dec and there's a good chance of some natural snow by then to pretty things up. The snow depths might not be as impressive as other places, but there will be plenty to ski on and hopefully lots of nice sunny days to admire the jaw-dropping scenery!

Corvara is probably the nicest resort in Italy and right in the middle of some of the most impressive scenery on the axis from Val Gardena, the Sella Ronda & Cortina, so a good spot if you can afford it. After your Swiss sojourn it might seem like a bargain! If you wanted a slightly cheaper base then La Villa or Badia could be good options or further N down the Badia Valley if you don't mind a short commute.

I'd be tempted to spend some time in W Austria, the easiest route from Zurich to Dolomites is through Austria (Arlberg & Brenner)

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@Malbec85, If you are planning to visit Davos check when the WEF (World Economic Forum) is on. Whilst the slopes will be quiet there is not usually any reasonably price accommodation to be had for miles around.

I would be a bit dubious about Val d'Isere, not for skiing reasons - it is one of the best areas in the alps (world), but it is a long way from your other locations. The Dolomites, might well suit your profile better and a fairly easy drive from either St Moritz or Davos (no need to head north into Austria). It is possible to use public transport between Davos or St Moritz and say Val Gardeina but probably is too much faff (bus link from Zernez to Mals and then from Waidbruck but 3 trains and 2 buses is probably too much, they are reliable but maybe better spend less time travelling more time skiing)

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I don’t get the point of all these heartache about train and buses. The OP said he’s going to have a car!

For someone spending 3 weeks in the Alps, a “faff” of even a whole day spent from one resort to another will simply be a well deserved rest day.

You know it makes sense.

If you aren't looking for anything too technical or challenging, the Dolomites are my recommendation over Val d'Isere
Better food, cheaper, nicer restaurants, perfectly groomed pistes.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@j b, There is a bus link between Zernez (in the Oberengadin) and Mals (in the Vinschgau) the buses connect with the trains. However unless you are a bit of a train buff then a car is going to be a lot less faff

A snowHead

Thanks @munich_irish, having looked at a map (which is what I should have done the first time) yours is the right route. And if the buses run then the road over the pass is open so car is easier.

A snowHead

@Malbec85, A good plan. I have done all those resorts multiple times in January. Davos/Klosters has some wonderful long rolling runs. It may be best to stay in Klosters as the home run to Davos (black 7) might be challenging for your partner at the end of the day. however, if you do it at about 10.30 to 11.30 it can be wonderful - fairly quiet and the snow softened up a bit.
St Moritz is a step up in expense but has great pistes. A couple of times that I've been there in January there has been low snow cover so not all runs open but next year might be better. who knows!
Dolomites definitely a good choice for variety of easier runs for your partner, fantastic scenery and greta food. Have just returned from Colfosco which would be a good base - I'd recommend Hotel Mezdi.
Some of the Dolomites blacks would be classed as reds in Val d'Isere so worth checking later as to whether you would be up for them (I'm thinking particularly Black run CIR down from the ridge separating Selva from Colfosco (after Dantercepies gondola) but also others.
Another option might be Madonna but I think Colfosco is better value.

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@Malbec85, Just some additional on transfers. Zurich-Klosters-St Moritz-Dolomites is quite doable. It is also viable by public transport. Staying in Selva rather than Colfosco/Corvara would be easier transport-wise as it cuts about an hour off the journey from St Moritz - but not quite as nice a location in my opinion

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@Malbec85,
If hiring a car in one country & wanting to use it in another make sure the contract allows you to, & that the insurance covers cross border driving.
Having done seasons in both the 3Vs and the Espace Killy I reckon you'd be fine in VdI (surprised you found Zermatt tough), but it is a schlep from your first two choices of resort.
But Davos & St Moritz! Was grandad the black sheep of some Eurotrash royalty sent to Oz to avoid scandal? Toofy Grin

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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@j b, I’m really not convinced the OP can ski first lift to last everyday for 18 days! So I suspect a bit of, indeed a lot of, faffing is probably not going to “eat into” some of their less than full on ski day.

On such a long holiday, I think it’s probably more important the base village is pleasant. And hopefully not costing an arm and a leg. Or at least at some of the stops.

(I’m about to embark on a 2 week holiday myself. I’m definitely looking at bases that have things to do after skiing)

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@abc, fair enough! So it is also worth saying that Davos and Klosters have different characters, Davos is more a town that just happens to have skiing while Klosters feels like an overgrown village. Depends on which ambience suits. St Moritz retains some character as an upmarket village.

After all it is free

@luigi, Very unlikely the road in Switzerland would be closed as it would cut off both Livigno and Val Mustair and even if it were there is an easy detour via Nauders and the Reschen pass, the Swiss keep the roads open. Also if there is that much snow the Brenner would be a nightmare - take your camping kit! Yes to & from Zürich its via the Arlberg & Brenner

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January27 Alps trip planning: Davos, St Moritz and Val d’Isère vs Dolomites?

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