Villars-Gryon is the stronger all-round pick here — it offers more vertical than Donovaly. That said, Donovaly is no slouch, and beginners may prefer what it offers. For most holiday skiers, Villars-Gryon delivers more mountain for your trip.
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger result for each metric. Numbers are measurements — compare them directly.
| Villars-Gryon | Donovaly | |
|---|---|---|
Vertical Drop Height from top to bottom — more is a longer, bigger mountain feeling | 1,700m (5,577ft) | 380m (1,247ft) |
Summit Elevation How high the mountain reaches — higher tends to mean colder, drier snow | 2,120m (6,955ft) | 1,361m (4,465ft) |
Base Elevation Height of the base village — affects snow quality at the bottom of the mountain | 420m (1,378ft) | 981m (3,219ft) |
Annual Snowfall Average natural snowfall per season — more means better powder odds | 500cm (197in) | 400cm (157in) |
Trail Count Total marked runs — more variety over a week-long trip | 75 | 28 |
Lift Count Total lifts — more lifts typically means shorter queues and better mountain access | 16 | 14 |
Skiable Area Total groomed and patrolled terrain in hectares | 1,250ha (3,089ac) | 30ha (74ac) |
Beginner Terrain Percentage of trails rated beginner — higher means more options for new skiers | 30% | 30% |
Intermediate Terrain Percentage of trails rated intermediate — the core terrain for most holiday skiers | 50% | 50% |
Advanced Terrain Percentage of trails rated advanced or expert — higher means more challenge | 20% | 20% |
Villars-Gryon has a clear edge across most measurable categories. It's the stronger choice for most skiers making this comparison.
Villars-Gryon has significantly more vertical — a full run takes noticeably longer and the mountain feels much bigger.
Villars-Gryon gets a bit more snow on average, giving it a slight edge for powder days.
Both resorts offer a similar proportion of beginner terrain — neither has a meaningful edge for first-timers.
Villars-Gryon is much larger — significantly more trails means more variety and far less chance of skiing the same run twice in a week.
Donovaly's higher base elevation helps snow stay cold and dry longer — better conditions through the day and into spring.
Villars-Gryon has a comparable amount of beginner-friendly terrain and is a lower-pressure environment for new skiers.
Villars-Gryon wins on the stats that matter most for experienced skiers — more mountain to explore over a full week.
Villars-Gryon gets more snow annually — better odds of fresh powder and better conditions into late season.
Both resorts offer a similar amount of beginner terrain (Villars-Gryon: 30%, Donovaly: 30%), so neither has a clear edge for first-timers. Focus on which resort offers better ski school programs and convenience for your group.
Villars-Gryon gets more snow on average. That translates to better powder days, longer seasons, and more reliable conditions throughout January and February.
Villars-Gryon is the larger mountain by trail count (Villars-Gryon: 75 trails, Donovaly: 28 trails). On a week-long trip, a bigger mountain means more variety and a lower chance of feeling like you've exhausted the terrain.
Both resorts offer a similar proportion of advanced terrain (Villars-Gryon: 20%, Donovaly: 20%). Expert skiers should look beyond percentages at the quality of the black runs, off-piste access, and whether there's lift-accessed backcountry terrain.
Both Villars-Gryon and Donovaly are similarly suited to families. Look at ski school quality, on-mountain kids' facilities, and accommodation proximity to lifts when making your final decision — those practical factors matter more than raw stats for a family trip.
Other matchups featuring these resorts and their regional peers.