Interlaken

A skiing vacation in Switzerland is a dream of all avid skiers. Switzerland has more slopes than Austria or Germany and is more formal and better organized than France or Italy. Most ski vacation resorts are within a couple of hours from the larger cities making them easy to access. Interlaken, situated in the heart of German-speaking Switzerland, is the base for some of the most spectacular skiing in the Alps.

Interlaken is the largest resort in the Bernese Oberland and with its excellent amenities it is a popular tourist destination. A beautiful lakeside city better known as a summer vacation resort, Interlaken has always been a favorite with winter sports enthusiasts because of its prime location. Furthermore, its hotels and other facilities offer very low rates during the winter. It is within forty minutes of three of the top Swiss ski resorts, Wengen, Grindelwald and Murren.

Skiing became all the more attractive with the introduction of the Jungfrau Top Ski Regional lift pass. This now gives access to 100 miles of trails in ski centers above Grindelwald, all linked to Interlaken by a mountain railway included in the ski pass. The average length of runs in the area is a remarkable four to nine miles. With the pass, it is possible to ski a different ski area every day for a week. Skiers and snowboarders could easily stay for a month without getting bored.

While the Interlaken is well known for its outstanding ski runs of the intermediate to expert range, there is also a smaller ski area at Beatenberg, closer to Interlaken which is suitable for beginners. Novices can also find a good selection of nursery slopes and gentle slopes to graduate on at Wengen. Intermediates are spoilt for choice in all the skiing centers and will find excellent skiing throughout the area. Experts will find some challenging runs in Wengen and Murren. There is also opportunity for some excellent off piste excitement.