Gstaad (Adelboden ski area)
Whereas the village of Adelboden itself is traditional, sedate
and pretty, the fragmented nature of the skiing is probably its
greatest disadvantage. The scenery however is fantastic, with
Adelboden sharing the same range as Wengen and Gstaad. It is
also a great area for other winter sports in general, so those
who don’t ski should find plenty to keep them busy. The
Après-ski is reasonably quiet, with the majority being
hotel, restaurant and bars. There is a ski school which is particularly
suited to children.
The Adelboden slopes comprises of 5 specific areas. 3 are lift-accessed
from the village and the other 2 linked by a bus service. In
total there are over 200km of runs, offering excellent skiing
for beginners and intermediates alike. Experts will find it harder
to locate any decent runs. Adelboden also offers 2 half pipes
and a special park for snowboarders.
In summary, Adelboden is a great place for a ski touring holiday
if you have your own transport. A car is really needed to get
around the area and sniff out the best slopes. It's a picturesque
and wonderful Swiss environment to discover.
Champery
One of the many Portes du Soleil resorts, Champéry impresses
with access to over 650km of runs, providing ideal conditions
for a whole range of skiers of different ages and abilities.
It is one of the most charming places to visit in the region
maintaining an old world charm which sets it apart from the other
resorts. It also boasts awesome views of the surrounding mountain
range. Hotels offer the majority of the accommodation and the
majority of evening haunts. You will also find a whole range
of shops and cafes.
Unfortunately, Champéry is lift and not ski-linked. You'll
have to take a bus for the cable car up and you can't ski back
to the bottom. Overall Champéry's slopes are extremely
sunny and are ideally suited for novice/intermediates. Unfortunately,
beginners have to pay for a full ski pass just to access the
training slopes. Avoriaz is well worth the travel for experts.
Klosters
A favourite with Prince Charles and the majority of the Royal
Family, Klosters is part of the Davos ski range. They share the
same ski range, but the two towns are 10 kilometres apart and
Klosters has its own ski area, known as the Madrisa. Klosters
is split into two parts, Platz and Dorf, but surprisingly they
are not the exclusive resorts you may think. Platz has some posh
hotels nearby and rather more fizz than Dorf, whereas the latter remains
very quiet. Both have plenty of Swiss charm.
There are some fantastic bars and restaurants,
but as a rule the nightlife is pretty quiet. For the non-skiers
there is ice-skating, sleigh rides and sled runs down the front
of the mountain. There are quite a number of picturesque walks up and
down the slopes by the river which run up into the mountains.
All abilities are catered for within the area. Experts have
great on and off piste areas, intermediates have plenty of long blue
and red runs and beginners will find the Parsenn is excellent
for gentle, developing runs. The lift system at Klosters, with
parts named after Prince Charles has been partially upgraded;
however, local bus services are necessary to access other areas.
Overall, Klosters has managed to stay away from
the limelight despite its royal connections. It can still be rather
pricey and upmarket, but the skiing offers something for the
whole family and if you go at the right time who knows who you
may meet!
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