Take a ski lift or hike to the top of the world for winter sports avocations at Swiss ski areas touting imperial glacial slopes
Swiss ski areas in Europe rank as one of the top places to find winter sports opportunities, no matter your experience level. This is due to the all-encompassing, snow-capped Alps, modern ski facilities, and the abundance of upscale hotels, resorts and apartments to accommodate visitors. It’s almost as if Switzerland was made for winter sports.
Swiss Ski Areas
An amazing number of regions in Switzerland’s winter wonderland are exceptional ski areas. They welcome groups and host thousands of winter sports enthusiasts every year. Although the Swiss Alps provide a myriad of opportunities, these Swiss ski areas are sure to leave an impression.
Grindelwald – Swiss ski area for winter sports enthusiasts.
Mount Titlis
At 10,000-feet, Mount Titlis in the Lake Lucerne region at Engelberg is the largest ski area in central Switzerland. It’s conveniently located only two hours from the Zurich Airport. Mount Titlis has as many as 25 lifts, downhill runs for the pros and three slopes for beginners. And with the glacial slopes at 9,800 feet, the snowpack makes skiing possible from October to May.
After a full day in the snow and sun, your party can retire to a comfy hotel, guesthouse or apartment. Afterward, indulge in one of the Swiss’ favorite dinners—fondue and wine in front of a warm, roaring fireplace.
There are 51 miles of slopes and trails in the Titlis ski area, with a variety of snowy winter sports available. Gear up and get outside for winter hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and sledding. In fact, there’s even an igloo village where groups can relax over dinner and drinks after a day snowbiking (yes, that’s a thing!).
Jungfrau Region’s Many Mountains
In the Jungfrau region, three spectacular mountains reign supreme—the massive Eiger, Mönch and Junfrau. Throughout the area, skiing, snowboarding, sledging and winter hiking also reign supreme for winter sports enthusiasts.
Jungfrau Region
Beatenberg-Neiderhorn, Habkern, Grindelwald-First, Mürren-Schilthorn and Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen ski areas all combine to make the Jungfrau region popular. The Swiss ski areas have the most beautiful backdrop in the world making for memorable adventures. Groups coming here enjoy numerous choices of accommodations, restaurants, and excellent transportation including trains, aerial cables, buses and automobiles.
Skiing Murren Schilthorn in the Jungfrau Region
Valais Swiss Ski Areas
High above the Rhone Valley in the southwestern part of Switzerland is the beautiful Valais region. There are two neighboring trendy resorts, Crans and Montana, at an altitude of 5,000 feet that lie on the sun-drenched Plaine Morte plateau. Together they form one of the largest vacation spots in the Valais. Ski slopes here stretch from the plateau up to the glacier at 9,800 feet. Additionally, this region hosts the Ski World Cup races, as do Wengen (Jungfrau), Adelboden, Lenzerheide and St. Moritz.
Sass-Fee and Verbier winter sports
Near the quaint alpine village of Verbier, with its slate-roofed chalets, are nearly 100 lifts and more than 250 miles of ski runs for all levels of expertise. At Saas-Fee, called the Pearl of the Alps, groups find all sorts of winter sports. Cross-country skiing with five miles of trails, ice sports, snowboarding, sledging and snowshoeing with a professional guide are just a few. The area is surrounded by 18 stunning peaks of 13,000 feet or more.
Kneipp for hydrotherapy
Surrounded by Saas-Fee’s unique mountain scenery, the new Kneipp hydrotherapy area is the ideal place to give your body and soul a healthy boost. It has a foot bath, water stream, arm bath, barefoot trail and relaxation zone. Close by are the resort areas of Saas-Grund, Saas-Almagell and Saas-Balen. They all boast cozy accommodations, excellent food and special events during ski season.
Snowshoeing Grindelwald
Zermatt and the Matterhorn
Zermatt, the resort city with a world of charm, sits a mile above sea level in the heart of the highest peaks in the Alps. Everyone loves to see the Matterhorn, ski the area’s slopes and relax in the evening at charming restaurants and enjoy the après-ski scene.
The panorama at the Matterhorn glacier area provides a breathtaking view of Italian, French and Swiss alpine mountain giants from an altitude of 12,700 feet. Here you are at the peak of the international ski area while beneath you lies the largest summer ski area in Europe. Not far away there’s a cool snow park for snowboarders and free skiers, open 300 days a year. Besides skiing and snowboarding, there’s winter hiking, tobogganing, cross-country skiing, paragliding, curling and ice skating.
Muerren in winter
St. Moritz Ski Region
In the eastern region of Switzerland is St. Moritz, a jewel known for its inspiring panoramas, dramatic mountain backdrops, sunny climate (322 sun days a year), and celebrated shopping and glamour. Winter sports were invented here more than 150 years ago: the first ski lift was installed in 1935, and St. Moritz has hosted two Winter Olympic Games.
St. Moritz. Photo courtesy of m.prinke via Flickr
With 217 miles of ski slopes, the Engadin St. Moritz region is one of the largest snowsports area in Switzerland. (Zermatt, with 223 miles of trails, has the most). It’s a complete package for tour groups, with glacier runs and full-moon descents.
Switzerland’s beauty, expansive accommodations and warm hospitality are the keys to a successful “run” for your next group tour. With so many Swiss ski areas to choose from, winter sports opportunities are everywhere.
For more amazing Swiss ski areas and winter sports opportunities, download the current issue of the Switzerland Tour Guide today.
