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We talked to Maxime Derivaz from Les Guides de Verbier to discover what this prestigious mountain guide bureau is all about, the kind of guided adventures they offer, what kind of clients they cater to, and how you can best-prepare for an exciting excursion in The Alps.

Les Guides de Verbier

Les Guides de Verbier is your ticket to the ultimate alpine adventure!

Since 1947, their team of mountain guides has been guiding happy skiers and snowboarders on epic freeride skiing escapades, ski tours big and small, heart-pounding climbs, and even e-bike escapades during the warmer months.

With safety at their core and a love for mountain magic, Guides de Verbier turn the Alps into your personal adventure paradise. Currently 100+ professional guides deep, the team at Guides de Verbier have a stellar team that have great excursions to offer in all corners of the European Alps for a wide range of clientele.

Simon Passaquay on his way to Pointe de Grands, Trient Massif, Valais, Switzerland. Les Guides de Verbier excursion: Ski touring in Bas-Valais

An interview with guide, Maxime Derivaz

Maxime is a certified IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations) guide based in Fully, Switzerland. Responsible for training the aspirant mountain guides of Les Guides de Verbier, Maxime has over 16 years of experience as a mountain guide. 

Maxime’s passion for the mountains has led him to explore diverse mountainscapes and cultures, from the peaks of Valais to the remote fjords of Greenland (and many peaks and valleys in between).

We spoke with Maxime to understand more about Guides de Verbier, and what they have to offer.

What sparked your passion for the mountains? Did you grow up amidst the beautiful mountains of Valais, or did they draw you in later in life?

From an early age, I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time in nature with my parents, doing a lot of hiking. Thanks to my school's mountain club, I then discovered the high mountains via climbing, ski touring and mountaineering. The guides who supervised us helped me to learn the different techniques step by step, and helped me to build a healthy respect for the mountains.
After high school, I went on to train as an instructor and did a lot of training with friends who were also mountain guides. For me, mountain guide training was the next logical step, enabling me to make a living from the most beautiful profession in the world.

When you’re not guiding clients or training Guides de Verbier staff, where can we find you?

My hobbies are all related to nature. It’s important for me to spend time outside without trying to do anything complicated. Whether it's skitouring, cycling or rock-climbing, spending time outdoors is for me the most beautiful way to live. I regularly try to discover new regions, especially closer to home here in the Alps, so I can minimise my air travel.

Credit Simon Passaquay. The morning view from Rote Furka to Silvrettagletscher, Graubünden, Switzerland. Les Guides de Verbier excursion: Silvretta Haute Route.

What’s a typical day like for you as a guide? If there is such a thing as “typical” when the Alps are your office!

A typical guiding day begins several days before the actual excursion. It’s my job to ensure the safety of our clients, but also to find an outing that suits their desires and skills. This time is spent balancing these considerations to formulate the best plan for the people and the conditions. 

On the day of the outing, we check again to ensure that what we've planned is feasible, and before setting off, it's always important to explain clearly to participants the conditions they can expect, and how the day will unfold. 

The day often ends with a drink to celebrate a successful day in the mountains. 

What’s your favorite ski touring route in the Verbier area, and why does it hold a special place in your heart?

It's hard to pinpoint a favorite itinerary in Verbier, so wide is the choice depending on conditions and the day's guests. I will say that I really like the Rosablanche sector, because there are so many variants and the atmosphere is much calmer than near the ski area.

How do you keep clients motivated when the going gets tough on a steep ascent? Do you have a signature pep talk, or keep a reviving snack or thé au marche on hand? 

Staying calm and positive really helps when things get a bit more difficult.
As a guide, you have to encourage clients, but not lie to them, because that would only postpone the problem. Whenever possible, we always plan an alternative route - this is an important joker card to have up your sleeve when a customer is not feeling well enough to complete the initial plan.

A group of happy clients on their way to Schneeglocke, Austria. Les Guides de Verbier excursion: Silvretta Haute Route.

With a team of over 100 mountain guides, how does Guides de Verbier ensure that each guide embodies the company's values and delivers a consistent, high-quality experience to clients?

Les Guides de Verbier is a guiding bureau where everyone knows everyone, and the culture we have bred here ensures that every guide is highly motivated to do a good job. 

What's more, to become a member of Les Guides de Verbier, you have to work for a few years as an assistant and then be accepted by the member guides at the general meeting. This is how the values of our office are passed on from year to year.

What kind of clothing and equipment is necessary for a ski tour or freeriding day with Guides de Verbier? Do you have any tips that will turn a suffer-fest into a fantastic experience?

Good gear can make all the difference. Bad clothing and equipment can make you fall behind, or feel exhausted and dragged down by heavy equipment - or worse - gear that is broken or not functional. 

Clothing. A good layering system for ski touring will ensure you stay comfortable whether you're working hard on an ascent, or taking a lunch break on a windy peak. Don’t buy expensive ski gear if you’re not a frequent skier, rent your outfit with our partners Cirkel Supply before you travel - they have great quality clothing, and deliver to your accommodation.

• Outer layer: a windproof, waterproof and breathable 3L shell jacket and pants* are best to keep stormy weather out, but release heat when you’re ascending. 
• Mid layer: a synthetic mid-weight down jacket that can be added or removed as you heat up and cool down.
• Base layers: base layers of merino wool that keep you warm when it’s cold, but breathe well and wick moisture when you’re warm. 

*Editor’s note - if you’re unsure of the difference between 2L and 3L gore-tex, see our article that explains ski clothing terminology like 2l jacket, 3l jackets, and why 3l is best for a big excursion with our friends at Les Guides de Verbier. 

Ski touring equipment. Weight matters, but so does ski performance. The lightest ski might make you fast on the ascent, but a liability on the ski down. Head to our partners, Mountain Air to receive sound advice and rent the most appropriate ski touring skis, boots, and poles for your ability, and the day you have planned with Guides de Verbier. 

Avalanche safety equipment. All clients of Guides de Verbier are welcome to borrow a Mammut avalanche backpack for their trip. It’s essential for clients to bring a backpack with an avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe - these items can also be rented or purchased from Mountain Air. 

Emergency equipment and first aid. Our guides always carry a first aid kit, clients only need to bring any personal supplies such as medication where relevant. If you happen to have a personal locator beacon such as a Garmin Inreach, you should also bring that along. 

Drinks, snacks and other essentials. Bring a water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, SPF lip balm, a neckwarmer, handwarmers, and a ski tie. 

From freeride skiing and ski touring to mountaineering and e-biking, Guides de Verbier offers a pretty diverse range of activities. What’s the most popular excursion?

• Freeride Skiing. Verbier - 4 Vallées is one of the best regions in the world for freeride and ski touring. The area is vast, and it's possible to do days of Freeride using only the lifts, or ski touring away from the crowds. The variety of altitudes, orientations and micro-climates means you can adapt from day to day to suit the conditions and skills of your skiers.
  
  The terrain is ideal for unique outings, starting with the ski lifts and then ski touring to summits or passes before descending to another valley. The ski lifts or a taxi system will take you back to Verbier afterwards. 
  
  
• Haute Route.

A legendary and historic route linking Chamonix to Zermatt via Verbier. The route takes between 5 and 7 days to complete, depending on the options chosen. It's a unique journey into a world of high mountains, where skiers are surrounded by glaciers and cut off from civilization for a week. 

  
  The Haute Route should be seen as a journey, but don't expect to be freeriding in powder every day. The snow can be variable, some mornings frozen, and the rucksacks are heavier than for a day's skiing in Verbier! But the atmosphere is absolutely unique and the memories last a lifetime.

Maxime Derivaz and his group of clients freeriding in the Verbier area – Valais, Switzerland

How do you tailor these experiences to cater to both novices and seasoned skiers and snowboarders? Is there a minimum level of experience necessary?

We have a series of questions for our clients when they book to find out their physical and technical level. 

For a day of ski touring or freeriding, clients obviously need to know how to ski, but depending on their level, the guide will choose the terrain that is best suited to the client's safety and comfort. And that's another of Verbier's assets - there's terrain for every ability. 

For the Haute Route Chamonix - Zermatt, we have a minimum level required (physical and technical) because the itinerary is fixed and it's important to be able to complete the stages within a certain timeframe for safety reasons.

We appreciate that safety is paramount in all mountain adventures. What measures and training protocols does Guides de Verbier implement to ensure client safety across its various activities?

Safety is obviously the number one priority for Les Guides de Verbier. The primary way in which safety is managed comes from the experience, knowledge and planning that the guides do before an outing. The aim is to avoid having to use rescue equipment. 

We train regularly in the use of rescue equipment and Les Guides de Verbier offer safety courses at the DVA Park des Ruinettes. 

With our equipment partner Mammut, we also provide AirBag backpacks for our customers to further optimise safety.

Freeride skiing in a secret powder stash in the Verbier Area – Valais, Switzerland.

"We had the pleasure to enjoy a 3 days mountaineering adventure with Les Guides de Verbier. Perfectly organised, safety first approach and a very positive and enriching person that made this adventure outstanding. Many thanks and see you again soon."

The quote above is just one of a huge number of positive reviews about Les Guides de Verbier. What’s the secret to ensure everyone has a great day on the mountain?

Respect and communication are the key to a successful day in the mountains. 

With good communication from the guide, the client will better understand and respect their decisions. In the other direction, good communication from the client will enable the guide to understand their expectations, so they can optimise the level of comfort, challenge and fun during the day's skiing adventures.