Winter resorts

Beauty comes from above: Anyone taking ski lessons in Adelboden will, with luck, meet the bestlooking ski instructor in Switzerland.

The insiders' choice: Although Aletsch has been included on UNESCO World Heritage list since 2001, it remains an insiders' secret among winter resorts.

Three cantons, one ski area: You should be able to trust an Olympic champion: “The run down from the Gemsstock is my favourite piste, and one of the most beautiful in the Alps,” says Bernhard Russi.

Snowsure and carbon-neutral: Arosa enjoys a wonderful location: at the far end of the Schanfigg valley, at an altitude of 1,800 m, with no through traffic and few – if any – day-trippers.

From the heart: Around Visp the views are glorious: from panoramas taking in Switzerland's highest mountains to dramatic glimpses into deep, unspoilt valleys.

Car-free, fog-free, carefree: Anyone who rides the funicular up to snowy Braunwald on a sunny winter’s day understands the talk of a “fairytale world”.

Triple winter fun: From Brig it is easy to reach the famous big ski resorts of the Valais. But the true gems lie much closer. Directly above this alpine town lie three wonderfully intimate resorts offering a variety of pleasures on the pistes: Blatten/Belalp, Rosswald and Rothwald.

Excellently prepared wide sweeping pistes and a wide range of winter sport activities to choose from - this is the Rhaeto-Romanic holiday region of Brigels Waltensburg Andiast.

Guaranteed connection: You can take a narrow view of the Pays-d’Enhaut – and still enjoy 40 km of attractive piste at the small but diverse ski area of La Braye above Château-d’Oex, especially appealing to families.

Contrasting: The sun loves the Val d’Anniviers: you can tell from the healthy faces of the locals.

The full programme: Idyllic mountain village or alpine metropolis? The twin communities of Crans and Montana embody both, and combine the conveniences of a modern holiday resort with abundant nature and a five-star panorama taking in the finest 4,000 m peaks: the Matterhorn, Mont-Blanc, Weisshorn and Dent-Blanche.

Davos will fulfil your every winter dream. As one of the largest winter sports areas and Europe's highest town, Davos is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. A winter sports metropolis, Davos is a paradise for snowboarders, downhill and cross-country skiers, ice-skaters, winter walkers and for those simply looking for fun.

Simply good: The air in the upper part of the Surselva region feels filtered: it's pure, clean and healthy. That is what the ski area feels like too: unspoilt, authentic and tranquil.

Home of legends - The idyllic mountain village of Elm in canton Glarus is proud of its home-grown legends: Vreni Schneider, the most successful Swiss ski racer of all time; and Elmer Citro, the local lemonade popular throughout Switzerland.

Pure sunshine: The mountains, the space, the light… This region on the southern side of the Swiss Alps is famous for its uplifting open vistas, its dramatic mountain backdrop, and its exceptionally sunny climate: skies are blue for 322 days a year.

Eternal snow: Up at 3,020 m, winter lasts all year. Of course, this fascinates the many visitors from all over the world who arrive at the glacier from Lucerne in barely an hour; but the local snowboarding and freeskiing community also greatly values the year-round snow and the benefits it brings.

Good value and family-friendly: This region has long been an open secret among cost-conscious winter sports fans.

Cross-country heaven: The Goms is a paradise for crosscountry skiers.

Family happiness: When the kids have a good time, so do the parents – and the Valais village of Grächen does all it can to make this happen.

The village below the Eiger: Grindelwald is a winter playground set against an unparalleled icecapped mountain backdrop.

Perfect conditions: Gstaad Mountain Rides is the name of the winter sports region that extends from Zweisimmen all the way up to Glacier 3000 – the only glacier ski area in the Bernese Oberland.

Setting trends in freestyle - Haslital is into one style more than any other: freestyle. Passionately so, and for more than two decades.

Cool pistes, hot springs: There’s no shortage of excellent reasons to visit the Heidiland holiday region in winter.

Accorded UNESCO World Heritage status, fast and convenient to reach. Kandersteg is considered the northern Mecca in the Bernese Oberland. Offering expertly prepared cross-country skiing and winter walking trails, a curling hall, husky trekking and a ski jumping facility, it offers everything a northern heart- could ever yearn for. For avid skiers, there are two small but excellent skiing regions: Oeschinensee and Sunnbüel. An excursion into the neighbouring Kiental is also well worthwhile.

Klewenalp-Stockhütte enjoys a perfect setting high in the mountains of Central Switzerland.

If an original and undisturbed setting is just what you are looking for, then Klosters is the perfect place for you! At 1,200 m above sea level, Klosters has maintained an authentic village feeling.

Unlimited fun: Laax is young, trendy and dynamic. Packed with possibilities, this snowblessed winter resort offers everyone the chance to live their holidays to the full, celebrating their own style.

A place rich in winter energy: The sleepy village of Amden, close to the buzzing metropolis of Zürich, lies on a sunny terrace. It’s an energizing place, and, thanks to its manageable piste layout, particularly family-friendly.

In the 19th century, no journey through Switzerland was complete without a trip to Lauterbrunnen: the famous Staubbach falls inspired Goethe to write his poem “Song of the Spirits over the Waters”. Now, every winter, the 72 waterfalls of this valley transform into icicles – and don’t sing so much as crack and crash!

Built on tradition: At the far end of the Simmental, in one of the most beautiful valley heads in the Alps, lies the resort of Lenk. The typical Simmental chalets, along with the local traditions – very much alive here – give the village an unmistakable charm.

Twice as beautiful: In Lenzerheide sun-lovers are doubly spoilt: in the morning, sunshine floods the western side of the valley; in the afternoon, the eastern.

Thrills for adventurers: In the heart of the Lake Geneva Region, surrounded by nature, lies Les Diablerets.

Wellness unlimited: Around four million litres of thermal spring water gush out of the rock every day at Leukerbad – more than anywhere else in Europe.

Snowboarding mecca: Leysin embraced snowboarding and freestyle skiing early on.

Highlight: With the Valais stretching out to one side and the Bernese Oberland on the other, you could call Lötschberg the pinnacle of the winter sports world.

Accorded UNESCO World Heritage status, fast and convenient to reach. The original Lötschental has much to offer in the way of tourism attractions apart from upheld traditions such as the Tschäggättä. To cite an example, a new ski lift now leads up onto the glacier on the Lauchneralp at an altitude of 3,111 metres, opening up a near-perfectand sunny skiing region. An excursion to the neighbouring Jeizinen ob Gampel is also well worthwhile.

Family fun in the Principality: The people of Liechtenstein swear by their small, family-friendly ski area, where people know each other, stop to chat to visitors and enjoy precious leisure time.

In the heart of Switzerland: In the middle of Central Switzerland, surrounded by lakes and mountains, lies the delightful little holiday region of Melchsee-Frutt.

A natural high: Take the Schilthorn cable car up to Mürren, and glide back to another age. The highest village in canton Bern to be inhabited year-round is a secret little world unto itself.

A wealth of possibilities: Located at the heart of the famous "4 Vallées" winter sports area below the 3,330 m Mont-Fort, Nendaz offers an impressive 400-plus kilometres of piste.

Unlimited fun: At the gateway of the Valais lies the most impressive winter sports area in the world: the Portes du Soleil. Straddling the border between France and Switzerland, this region offers 650 km of piste and 204 skilifts, all on one lift pass.

100 per cent winter: Under the piercing blue Valais sky, 18 peaks topping 4,000 m are gathered around the slopes of the Saas valley.

Saint-Cergue radiates all the charm of a cosy Alpine resort. Vacation visitors are assured excellent amenities and a wide choice of accommodation, ranging from hotels, holiday apartments to chalets. In addition to traditional sports, Saint-Cergue also offers the delights of skiing by night.

Sainte-Croix/Les Rasses is located on a scenic sun terrce overlooking Lake Neuchâtel. Superb panoramic views extend over 250 captivating kilometres of Alpine landscape. Cross-country skiing and downhill skiing are just a few of the many sporting opportunities on offer.

Enjoy the charming mountain village that is home to the eastern Alps' largest ski arena, the Silvretta Arena Samnaun/Ischgl. Stroll through the only duty-free oasis in Switzerland, or enjoy the fresh breeze of winter on a toboggan ride, a winter hike, while snowshoeing or on the ice rink.

Number one: Savognin rolls out the carpet for families: the longest covered magic carpet in Switzerland, to be precise.

Scuol is a snowsport area for doing not queuing. You'll see things you thought had long gone out of existence. The picture-book villages of the Lower Engadine, for example, where you more or less expect the valley's answer to Heidi to come rushing out of one of the sgraffiti-decorated houses any minute.

Sils in the Engadine is the perfect setting for wonderful winter sports and holidays in unforgettable surroundings. Set in beautiful countryside, like a precious stone amongst the lakes, Sils is the cultural centre of the Upper Engadine.

600 km of piste: Boasting 600 km of piste ranging from easy to extremely challenging, the Sion Region in the heart of the Alps is a mecca for skiers and snowboarders.

Paradise for winter walkers: The largest winter sports area in canton Lucerne lies within the scenic Entlebuch UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Cross-country heaven: The Jura region of canton Vaud is often compared to the Arctic north.

Close, simple, good-value: The only dazzlingly modern thing about Stoos is the new chairlift, complete with heated seats, up to the top of the Klingenstock (1,935 m).

In the land of fairytales: Behind the seven peaks of the imposing Churfirsten lies a paradise for little people: the fairytale landscape of the Toggenburg.

All you could wish for: Numbers like this get the pulse going… 90 skilifts serving 410 km of piste rising as high as Mont-Fort (3,330 m) make the winter sports area of Les 4 Vallées – the “Four Valleys” – one of superlatives.

The many faces of winter.

Land of light: Villars-Gryon seems so bright and sunny that it feels as if it lies nearer to the sky.

A much-loved classic: This car-free village at the foot of the Lauberhorn lies on a sunny sheltered terrace 400 m above Lauterbrunnen.

France has the Eiffel Tower, Italy the leaning tower of Pisa - and Switzerland...? We have the Matterhorn! At its foot lies the exclusive and traditional winter sports resort of Zermatt, where modern mountain transport systems, cosy hotels and holiday apartments, and friendly hosts await you.