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Frequently Asked Questions

International All-Year Round Camps
Verbier, Switzerland

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General Information

Is it possible for my child to have a double room ?

Yes it is possible to have a double room but this is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. There is a 100.-CHF extra charge per child per day to stay in a double room.

What is the best time to contact our children when they are at your camp?

The best time to call your children is ideally between 18.00 and 20.00 Swiss time (GMT+1) in order not to disturb the activities.

What is the main language at the camp?

Even if Verbier is located in the French speaking part of Switzerland, the main language spoken at our spring camps, summer camps or winter camps is English. All our staff is fluent in English but also speak another language such as Russian, Arabic, French etc. 70% of our staff are English speakers, 20% are French speakers and 10% are from all over the world.

What is the maximum time my children can spend at the camp?

There is no time limit that your child can stay at Les Elfes camps. For the summer camp there are 2-week and 3-week sessions so the minimum period of stay is 2 weeks and the maximum is 10 weeks.
For the winter camps the minimum stay is 1 week.

Are boys and girls in the same chalets?

In Verbier, we propose spring, summer and winter camps. We have 2 chalets next to each other and boys and girls are separated in the different chalets. Each room accommodates 2-4 students from the same age category. Each room has a private bathroom.

Is it possible to learn skiing and snowboarding?

Of course, not during Summer but for sessions in spring or winter it is possible to learn skiing one week and snowboarding the next. It is not possible to take skiing or snowboarding for a few days only and switch after.

What are the children’s nationalities attending the camps?

International Students come from all over the world and Les Elfes is proud to welcome over 75 different nationalities every summer and winter.

We have over 75 nationalities that come to our summer camp and winter camp. In general, we always aim to diversify nationalities by not having more than 15% of any one nationality at any one time. However, in some specific period there might be a dominant nationality (spring camp).

What is the weather like in the summer and in the winter?

The weather in the winter is mountain style weather, with cold temperatures between 5°c and -10°C, with snowfalls.
In the summer Switzerland enjoys beautiful weather with temperatures of between 15°C in the mornings and 25°C in the afternoons with highs of up to 30°C.

What is the maximum amount of students you can welcome at once ?

The campus of Verbier has 35 rooms with 140 beds in total and is divided between two Swiss-style chalets located next to each other.

As a parent, can I also attend the camp with my child?

Our winter and summer camps are exclusively designed for children aged 6-17 year old. As such, we do not accept any parents on our campus. We do partner with multiple hotels and agencies in Verbier in case parents would like to stay nearby. Check out the day camp page to find our recommended partners.

Pre-Arrival

Can Les Elfes help with the visa procedure?

Les Elfes is happy to issue invitation letters that you can present to the embassy and that will help the visa process. For students from Ukraine and Russia it is compulsory to present the original invitation letter to the embassy.

Is the deposit of 1000.- CHF included in the price?

Yes and the deposit required to secure your child’s registration will be deducted from the total amount of your final invoice.

What kind of insurance is required?

It is compulsory to have health and accident insurance. Les Elfes can offer an insurance policy that covers everything.

Can you provide a clothes list for the students to bring along?

Les Elfes provides you with a list of clothes to bring after the registration of your child is complete and finalized, depending spring summer or winter activities.

What kind of transfers are offered from the airport to the camp and back to the airport?

Les Elfes offers the possibility of return transfers from and to the airport, Pick up in Geneva airport to Les Elfes’camps and return back to the airport. Les Elfes has a welcome desk at Geneva airport during Summer in the arrival hall.
It is also possible to organize a pick up from a hotel in Geneva or Lausanne.

Life at Les Elfes International camps

What is the difference between 8 hours language lessons and 15 hours language lessons per week?

During winter and Summer, 8 hours of lessons per week teach the students the basics of a new language or help to improve some skills already acquired at school. 15 hours language lessons are very intensive courses and will go deep into the grammar of the new language and bring your children to an advanced level of skills.

What is the mobile phone policy for the children?

Students are not allowed to carry mobile phones during daytime activities for safety reasons and also not to disturb the activities. However every day they are allowed to pick up their mobile phone at Les Elfes reception and use it from 5-8pm.

What kind of food is served at Les Elfes?

Les Elfes wants to give students what’s best for them and therefore serves well balanced menus of international food freshly cooked daily. Les Elfes can cater for any special requirements such as food allergies, religious diet, vegetarian diet etc.

What is the policy about choosing the language courses?

It is possible to choose to study different languages but each language has to be taken for at least 1 week and it is possible to choose another language for the next week.
During Summer and Winter we propose English, French, German or Spanish.

Do you provide sodas and snacks to children ?

Children attending summer and winter camp do not have acces to soda or snacks dispensers. Les Elfes is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps and has access to very high quality tap water which is available for campers at all time. An afternoon snack is served at around 16:00 every day. At Les Elfes, the kitchen team aims to make every meal well-balanced and avoid high-sugar processed foods such as candies but rather replace them with ceral bars, fresh bread with jams and hot soups. 

Staff and Safety

Do your instructors carry mobile phones in case of emergency?

All our instructors carry a mobile phone at any times that allow them to react very quickly in case of emergency.

Is there an emergency number to contact the camp?

The emergency contact number will be given to you after registration and should only be used for emergencies. (open 24h).

Are there medical facilites nearby ?

The village of Verbier is home to 3 medical centers located within walking distance of the Les Elfes campus. In case of more serious injuries or illnesses, the nearest hospital is located in the town of Martigny at a short 30-minute drive from the campus.

Do you have medically-trained staff at Les Elfes?

Les Elfes always hires a qualified nurse as part of its team. In addition, all members of the staff all follow a two-week training program prior to the start of winter camp and summer camp.  During this time, all employees have to follow a first aid training. There is however no doctor, nor psychologist on campus given the availability of nearby medical centers.

Are there any items that are prohibited on camp?

At Les Elfes International, the use of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, vapes, energy drinks, and coffee is strictly prohibited. Engaging with any of these substances may result in expulsion, contingent on the specific circumstances and the extent of use.

About Verbier

Verbier, the original home of Les Elfes, is situated in the French speaking part of Switzerland and only two hours away from Geneva. Verbier’s stunning location on a south facing plateau guarantees an exceptionally sunny climate in both summer and winter.

In addition to the breathtaking panoramic views, Verbier is one of the most famous resorts in Europe and offers a variety of sport and leisure activities all year round in a cosmopolitan and relaxed atmosphere.

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Campuses

Our two purpose built wood and stone chalets follow the Swiss Alpine tradition and offer charm and comfort to our guests. Both chalets are situated in green, peaceful nature surroundings.

Our staff

Each Camp is supervised by a Resort Manager and an Activities Manager. Les Elfes runs the camps with all appropriate staff, including animators, kitchen staff, nurse, night guard, cleaning team, private drivers,…

Learn more about other camps !

Group of kids and teens having fun at the lake doing banana boat during their 2024 international summer camp activity at Les Elfes

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Winter
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