Switzerland: Wonderful Mountain Villages; Obligatory Cheese Fondue -
Some of the major ski resorts in Switzerland include: Verbier, Zermatt, Saas Fee, Gstaad, St Moritz, and Davos. Here’s a run down of all the ski resorts across Switzerland one of the world's most popular winter wonderlands.
Graubunden is home to 10 ski resorts: Arosa is set on the edge of the Schanfigg valley. The resort, at 1800 metres, is snow-sure and reaches a height of 2653 metres. Engadine St. Moritz is bathed in sunshine all year round. Not only does it offer skiing for all levels, but it is the birthplace of snowkiting; skiers and snowboarders glide over the frozen Lake Silvaplana. Beginners can learn at the snowkiting school.
Laax is a young, trendy resort packed with well-groomed slopes stretching for 220 kilometres. Klosters is the most famous resort in this area. It has managed to maintain its traditional charm while appealing to all ages of visitors. Its ski area stretches between 1194 and 2844 metres altitude. Other winter sports include snow-shoe trekking, tobogganing, winter walking, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and dog sledding. Davos boasts a large and varied ski area with plenty for non-skiers to do. Other resorts in the Graubunden area include: Viamala, Engadine, Lenzerheide, Savognin, Disentis, and Sedrun.
The Lake Geneva Region is home to the ski area of Chateau-D’oex/Rougemont. You’ll find 250 kilometres of pistes. Cross-country skiers can head to La Lecherette with its 42 kilometres of trails. Chateau-D’oex is also known as the world capital of hot-air ballooning. The International Balloon Festival runs from Jan. 24 to Feb. 1 every year. Other ski resorts in this area include: Les Diablerets, Leysin/Les Mosses, St Cergue, and Villars-Gryon.
The Valais region includes 14 ski resorts. Aletsch is often described as "the insiders choice" as it remains largely unknown to those outside Switzerland. This means no queues at the ski lifts, plenty of space on the pistes, and family-friendly prices. Aletsch offers 99 kilometres of pistes lined with snowmaking facilities. A great glacier stretching 23 kilometres is at the top of the mountain.
The resorts around Visp combine a traditional atmosphere with modern amenities. Winter activities feature skiing, boarding, snowshoeing, and tobogganing. Children under the age of nine ride here for free.
The neighbouring resorts of Blatten/Belalp, Rosswald, and Rothwald offer traditional wooden chalets, a six-seater chairlift, the longest in Switzerland, good snowmaking equipment, sunny terraces, and sweeping mountain views.
Sierre-Anniviers is bathed in sunshine and surrounded by five striking 4000-metre peaks. The ski area offers 220 kilometres of piste as well as snowparks, toboggan runs, cross-country ski trails, and ice rinks.
Valais is also home to the two ski giants Verbier and Zermatt. Verbier offers a massive 410 kilometres of piste reaching heights of 3330 metres and is packed with lively nightlife. The charming traditional village of Zermatt has 313 kilometres of pistes (1620 – 3883 metres) linked by 65 mountain trains, cableways, and lifts. Children are well catered for here with plenty of ski schools and kids’ entertainment.
Other ski resorts in the Valais area include: Crans-Montana with its upscale shopping as an added incentive, Goms, Grachen, Leukerbad, Lotschberg, Nendaz, Portes du Soleil – Chablais, and Saastal.
The region of Bernese Oberland features eight resorts. Adelboden offers a winter arena of more than 185 kilometres of pistes connected via 56 lifts. This is one of the largest and most beautiful skiing centres of the Swiss Alps and also the site of various winter sporting highlights such as the FIS Skiing World Cup.
Popular Grindelwald is a winter playground set against a backdrop of ice-capped mountains. Grindelwald is home to two famous ski areas. On one side of the slopes is the ski area of Kleine Scheidegg and Maanlichen with its 110 kilometres of pistes, which is best suited to experienced skiers and boarders. On the other side of the slopes is Grindelwald, which is particularly appealing to freestyle skiers and boarders. Its 50 kilometres of piste are especially popular with families. It also features a 15-kilometre toboggan run – the longest in Europe.
Gstaad extends from the winter sports region of Zweisimmen up to the 3000-metre-high glacier. Here skiers will find 250 kilometres of piste of varying levels, 135 kilometres of cross-country trails, and 62 ski lifts. Don’t leave without taking a horse-drawn sleigh ride.
Haslital is renowned for its freestyle; the world’s top boarders and freestyle skiers flock to the area to practise cool jumps and stylish slides. Other resorts in Bernese Oberland include tranquil Lauterbrunnen, traditional Lenk Simmental, pretty Murren, and the car-free village of Wengen.
Eastern Switzerland and Liechtenstein is home to six resorts. Braunwald is a romantic village nestled on sunny mountainside. 32 kilometres of piste are accessed via unique gondolas that don’t face uphill but sideways, offering breathtaking views. Further winter sports include two toboggan runs and cross-country skiing.
Elm is an idyllic mountain village set beneath 40 kilometres of snowsure piste to suit all levels. Freeriders will enjoy the snowfields and snowpark. There’s also two toboggan runs and winter hiking paths.
The Heidiland holiday region is easily reached on the fast train from Zurich. Powder-seekers can head up to Flumserberg while families enjoy the wide gentle pistes of Pizol.
Lake Zurich ski region is on Zurich’s doorstep. The sleepy village of Amden basks in sunshine and is connected by seven lifts to the challenging slopes of Mattstock. Cross-country skiing can be found up on the Ricken pass.
Malbun sits in a sheltered location at 1600 metres and is particularly popular with families and locals. Here you’ll find 23 kilometres of slopes, a cross-country ski circuit, winter walking trails, and a toboggan run. Toggenburg offers 60 kilometres of piste as well as other winter sports such as snowtubing, snow scooters, a freestyle park, and toboggan run.
Five ski resorts are dotted across Central Switzerland. The Andermatt/Sedrun ski area is a legend among freeriders. Its challenging powder-covered slopes stretch far and wide. Andermatt offers 130 kilometres of well-prepared pistes connected by 25 lifts while Sedrun has 168 kilometres of downhill skiing with 10 lifts. Both are ideal for all levels from beginners to experts.
Engelberg-Titlis reaches heights of 3020 metres offering year-round snow. This area appeals to families with the wide, sunny pistes of Brunni as well as experts who choose to tackle the rails and jumps of the terrain park and challenging high-altitudes.
Melchsee-Frutt offers access to 32 kilometres of piste between 1080 and 2255 metres. The Erzegg freestyle park is also popular with experts while the Fruttli-Land adventure play area is perfect for families.
Sorenberg is ideal for cross-country skiers who flock to the 35 kilometres of trails. Stoos offers simple, good-value skiing with 35 kilometres of contrasting pistes, pretty cross-country trails, and a chairlift complete with heated seats taking passengers up to a height of 1935 metres.
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