Reach the region via a rental car from the Geneva airport or by taking the European rail from Geneva into Sierre. From Sierre, you can ride the funicular that arrives at Vermala station at the eastern end of Montana (the Montana tourist office is next door) or you can take the bus that runs from Sierre. Once inside the resort, there are free shuttle buses that take you around the entire property. There are a variety of hotels for all budgets, such as the Pension Centrale in Crans and Olympic in Montana, and the Lac Moubra campsite has somewhat primitive dorms.
Skiing is the big draw in winter. The slopes begin on the plateau and stretch all the way up to the Plaine Morte Glacier, at 9,842 feet (3,000 meters). There is a chairlift for the advanced skiers to take to the top or beginners can stay on the lower slopes. The most popular advanced slope is down the 12km Piste Nationale, longest in the region. If downhill or slalom is not your thing, there are opportunities for cross-country skiing, hiking and ice skating.
Summer tourists enjoy fishing, horseback riding, mountain climbing, water skiing, paragliding, basic hiking, tennis, squash, archery, the 18-hole Severiano Ballesteros Golf Course, two mini-golf courses and even bowling. You can also rent mountain or electric bikes from specialty shops in both towns.
In March, catch the annual Crans-Montana Snow Games. July is a busy month with the national horse show jumping competition, the Scandia open-air music festival and the Les Sommets du Classique Festival for classical music. In September, catch the annual Omega European Masters Golf Tournament.
