Upcoming dates not published yetAdventure CampsArt Camps

Les Elfes International Summer Camp: Residential Alpine Camp in Verbier

SwitzerlandLes Elfes International

Latest published dates
Jun 6 – Jul 3, 2026
Duration
2–4 weeks
Ages
6–17
2026 price

$2,781

Course price for 1 week

Pioneers Group for Teens 15-17

We'll let you know when this camp adds new dates.

Les Elfes International Summer Camp is located in Verbier, a renowned year-round resort in the Swiss Alps, offering a stunning sunny plateau setting. The atmosphere is vibrant, international, and inclusive, welcoming children and teens from over 75 countries into a safe, multicultural environment focused on fun, friendship, and personal growth. The camp is designed for boys and girls aged 6 to 17, segmented into three age groups: Discoveries (6-10), Explorers (11-14), and Pioneers (15-17). Its primary goal is to provide a balanced experience of adventure, language learning, and cultural exchange. The general format combines structured outdoor and indoor activities, optional language courses, weekly cultural excursions, and tailored evening programs within a framework that emphasizes safety and personal development.

Language

English

Program type

Adventure Camps, Art Camps

Accommodation

Campus

About

About the Course

The program's educational approach is holistic, combining structured learning with experiential development. The core academic component is optional language instruction, provided in partnership with Verbier Language School in English, French, Spanish, German, and Mandarin. Students are grouped by proficiency level, with a maximum class size of 8. The focus is on practical, conversational skills. Course types include Conversational, Intensive, and Private lessons, supported by detailed progress certificates. Beyond language, the curriculum is heavily activity-based, emphasizing soft skills like leadership, teamwork, and independence through structured outdoor education, public speaking workshops, team-building exercises, and tailored programs for different age groups that encourage stepping out of comfort zones and personal responsibility.

What’s Included

The base package includes accommodation in the purpose-built chalets, full board meals, a comprehensive schedule of over 45 daily sports and creative activities, weekly cultural excursions within Switzerland and to neighboring countries, evening entertainment programs, and 24/7 supervision. Airport transfers from Geneva (GVA) are organised for an extra fee, with staff meeting campers at a dedicated airport booth. Optional extras include: refistration fee, booking deposit, 1 compulsory additional course, intensive or private language courses, specific high-adrenaline activities or sports, laundry services, private transfers or transfers outside the designated dates and accident / cancellation insurance.

Accommodation

Accommodation is in two purpose-built, traditional Swiss Alpine chalets within a five-minute walk from Verbier's center. Campers stay in cozy, single-gender, 4-bed rooms with private ensuite bathrooms. The chalets are fully equipped for camp life, featuring communal dining and living areas, game rooms, and dedicated equipment storage. Safety is ensured through 24/7 supervision, with night guards and nurses on campus, and a high overall staff-to-camper ratio.

Meal Plan

The camp operates on a full board basis, providing three main meals daily plus afternoon snacks. Meals are prepared by an in-house kitchen team and include options served at a private mountain restaurant. The menu is varied and designed to cater to diverse dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, halal, and kosher diets, ensuring all campers are well-nourished.

Activities & Excursions

The program offers an extensive range of over 45 activities, including rock climbing, mountain biking, ropes courses, water sports (banana boating, wakeboarding), and creative workshops. Weekly cultural excursions visit iconic Swiss cities and landmarks like Zermatt, Geneva, and the United Nations. Evening activities are varied, including themed nights, games, and skill-building workshops, all designed to foster teamwork and social interaction.

Facilities

The campus features two chalets with reception halls, spacious dining and living rooms, a library, games hall, cinema, and sports facilities including climbing walls, trampolines, and fields for ball sports. A fully equipped ski room is on-site. Beyond campus, activities utilize the extensive natural playground of the Alps, local swimming pools, skill parks, rope courses, and the facilities of partner organizations for specific excursions.

Camp Experience

With over 37 years of operation as a family-run business, Les Elfes has extensive experience in organizing international camps. Education is delivered by specialized language school teachers and activity instruction by qualified, often year-round, staff, including Swiss Ski School accredited instructors and expert mountain guides. The atmosphere is consistently praised for its international diversity, focus on safety, and its success in creating memorable, confidence-building experiences, as reflected in its return rate of campers and partnerships with over 250 international schools.

Language Camp prices

Pioneers Group for Teens 15-17

12 Lessons · 15–17 yrs · All levels

2026 price

This is the most challenging program for participants aged 15 to 17, designed to push boundaries and prepare them for future independence. The format is packed with exhilarating activities on the lake and mountains, culminating in a 'leap-of-faith' final challenge. It provides a valuable experience for older teens to stand on their own two feet and make decisions, including optional supervised village visits. Participants can optionally enroll in language courses (English, French, Spanish, German, Mandarin).

The methodology is centered on high-challenge activities and fostering self-reliance, preparing participants for future independence. Language instruction is provided in partnership with Verbier Language School. Students are grouped based on their language proficiency levels, with a maximum class size of 8 students per teacher. The learning format prioritizes leadership, personal challenge, and decision-making through adrenaline-filled activities and opportunities for supervised autonomy. For more in-depth learning, the Intensive language course combines speaking with reading and writing and totals 12 hours per week from 09:00 to 12:00 during summer.

A boundary-pushing, exhilarating program focused on personal challenge, leadership, and preparing for future independence.

Daily Schedule

  1. Breakfast

    07:3008:30

  2. Classes

    09:0011:00

  3. Activities or excursions

    11:0012:00

  4. Lunch

    12:0012:45

  5. Activities or excursions

    12:4518:45

  6. Dinner

    19:0020:00

  7. Evening activities

    20:0021:30

  8. Lights out

    22:0022:30

Included items

  • 24/7 supervision
  • International students
  • Small groups
  • Arts & Crafts
  • BBQ
  • Bowling
  • Disco
  • Cafeteria
  • Games area
  • Laundry room
  • Medical Centre

Optional Extras

Top recommendation

Recommended for most families

Smooth arrival and fewer surprises.

Transfer outside designated dates/hours

Transfer outside designated dates/hours, one way

First aid course & Mountain Fitness

First aid course & Mountain Fitness (Nutrition, Yoga & Pilates)

Education12
Other1
Support2
Transfer2

Photos

School

Les Elfes International logo

Les Elfes International

Les Elfes International Camps, founded in 1987, is a premier family-run organization dedicated to providing safe, challenging, and educational experiences for children and teens aged 6 to 17. Nestled in the Swiss Alps in Verbier, the camp operates year-round and champions a philosophy built on four core pillars: Safety, Fun, Inclusion, and Personal Development. Its mission is to foster an environment where young people from over 75 nationalities can express their individuality, build lifelong camaraderie, and develop essential life skills within a truly international community. The camp’s holistic approach ensures every student feels heard and respected, emphasizing personal growth through diverse experiences. While not a traditional academic school, Les Elfes incorporates structured Language Courses into its immersive program. Education here is experiential and integrated into daily camp life. The methodology blends hands-on outdoor adventure with cultural exposure and language practice, facilitated by skilled instructors and outdoor education professionals. Learning extends beyond the classroom through activities like leadership training, team-building exercises, and cultural excursions across Switzerland and neighboring countries, ensuring development in communication, confidence, and global awareness. Key advantages of Les Elfes include its exceptional safety standards, with a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:2 (1:7 for monitors), year-round employed professionals, and comprehensive staff training. The camp boasts purpose-built campuses with modern facilities, including 4-bed ensuite rooms, private dining, and extensive sports infrastructure. Unique highlights are its all-year operation across seasons—offering skiing, hiking, climbing, and more—alongside a snow guarantee from December to April. Additionally, The camp ensures a secure, enriching, and unforgettable experience for every child.

www.leselfes.com/

Location

Map showing camp locationVerbier, Valais, Switzerland

More about this camp

Les Elfes International Summer Camp is run by Les Elfes in Verbier, a year-round resort in the Swiss Alps, on a sunny plateau above the Rhône valley. It accepts a wide range of children and teenagers, aged 6 to 17. Programme and activities. The camp is built around outdoor adventure, sport, language options and excursions, using Verbier's alpine setting. The atmosphere is deliberately international — campers come from many countries — which is central to the experience and encourages English and French practice outside any formal lessons. Accommodation. Campers stay in two purpose-built, traditional Swiss Alpine chalets, a five-minute walk from the centre of Verbier. Purpose-built chalets rather than a rented school give the operator direct control over the setting, and the short walk into the resort keeps the camp connected to the village. Ages, dates and duration. The camp accepts a very wide 6 to 17 range — from young children to older teenagers — with 18 arrival dates from early June, one of the most flexible calendars in this catalogue. Families of the youngest children should ask specifically how age groups are separated for accommodation, activities and supervision, since a 6-year-old and a 17-year-old have very different needs. Location and travel. Verbier is in the canton of Valais, in the Swiss Alps. Geneva is the usual arrival airport, around two hours away with onward transfer. Transfer arrangements are not published and should be confirmed. Who the programme may suit. This camp may suit families wanting a well-known international alpine camp with a genuinely wide age range and a very flexible choice of dates, including for a younger child. The same operator runs a winter camp in Verbier for the ski season, so families wanting snow rather than summer have that option. Parents of the youngest children should make the age-grouping question part of their first conversation.