|
|
Switzerland | _ | | _ | | | One of the oldest and most fashionable ski resorts, Davos is the highest city in Europe and lives up to its reputation for excellent skiing and exciting night-life. With five ski areas spread out on both sides of the valley and descents from almost 9,000 feet, Davos offers the alpine skier an endless variety of terrain. In addition, this multifaceted winter sports complex offers miles of cross-country trails, tobogganing, sleigh rides and skating on Europe's largest outdoor rink.
| | | _ | | _ | | | The hospitable mountain village of Grindelwald (1034 m) lies in the Berner Oberland - and acts as the stage for a wonderful drama. The set is composed of the ice capped peaks of the Wetterhorn, Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, with visitors and tourists as the leading actors... What's more, there are endless pistes and runs for skiers, snowboarders and sledgers in winter, a giant network of hiking trails in summer, and an almost infinite variety of leisure activities. There are countless ways to explore this fascinating mountain world, through sports and activities or by adopting a gentler, more relaxing approach. You can engage in extreme mountaineering, or simply enjoy the view... A particularly amazing experience is the trip to the Jungfraujoch, the `Top of Europe', at 3,454 m Europe's highest railway station right in the heart of the UNESCO world natural heritage site.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Gstaad-Saanenland, which means "Sunland", is a very popular holiday destination for summer as well as for winter with great scenery at an ideal altitude of 3609 feet and healthy climate all year round, Gstaad is situated in the western Bernese Oberland in Switzerland.
Thanks to strict building regulations the wooden houses in Gstaad are built in the lovely traditional chalet-style that harmonize perfectly with the beautiful mountain scenery. In the villages of the Saanenland tradition is featured strongly. The trademark spicy Saanen cheese has been produced for some three hundred years and handcraft such as pottery, woodcarving and alphornmaking are still alive in the region. | | | _ | | _ | | | St. Moritz is all about `chic', elegance and exclusiveness, the place where you can literally feel the `dry, bubbly Champagne climate' on your skin. St. Moritz is the world famous holiday destination that arouses equal passion in summer and in winter. Summer consists of enjoying the natural surroundings, culture, sports and relaxing peace and quiet. Winter is Alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and much more besides, including the Engadin ski marathon, horseracing on the frozen lake of St. Moritz, curling, cricket and polo tournaments as well as the St. Moritz gourmet festival. The World Championships in Alpine skiing were held there for an amazing fourth time in 2003! Incidentally, St. Moritz (1,856 m) lies in the heart of Oberengadin's lake district, where the sun shines for 322 days a year on average. Which of course adds to the truly spectacular experience of taking a train ride on the Glacier or Bernina Expresses...
| | | _ | | _ | | | Verbier, "the resort that smiles at the sun", and the second largest resort in the Swiss Alps, is a delightful French speaking village located on a sunny plateau, in the grand circuit of the "4 Valleys" ski area. Situated between the Matterhorn and Mont-Blanc at a height of 5,000 feet, Verbier has one of the largest skiing areas in Europe. Your lift ticket is honored at the 100 plus lifts and cable cars which service over 250 miles of ski runs. This vast ski area is topped by Jumbo, the Verbier-Mont-Fort cable car, with a 150 person capacity. Ascending to almost 11,000 feet, this telepherique opens up some of the steepest mechanically accessible ski runs in the Alps. Moderate and easy runs are plentiful and the "4 Valleys'" 200 instructors are there to help you develop your skills. Verbier's ultramodern sports center enables you to play tennis, squash, ice-hockey, curling, skating and swimming. Verbier has some 60 restaurants plus 9 nightclubs and pubs, and though sporty and active, appreciates an equally calm and relaxing atmosphere. For nonskiers, nearby cities such as Montreux and Lausanne are easily accessible by public transportation. Verbier...a must for vacationers!
| | | _ | | _ | | | A very picturesque resort which has welcomed skiers since the 19th century, Wengen has probably the most spectacular scenery of any mountain resort in the world. Serious competitors are its neighbors in the Jungfrau region, Grindelwald and Murren.
Car-free, with life centered on the railway (which ultimately reaches Europe's highest rail station) Wengen has the spectacular backdrop of the Eiger as well as the Monch and Jungfrau. It is one of the 'original' downhill skiing destinations pioneered by British tourists, and was the first resort in the world to offer uphill transportation (the railway to Kleine Scheidegg, completed in 1911).
The resort is the base of the famous Downhill Only Club (DHO), established in 1924 when the English visitors first persuaded the locals to keep the railway running in the winter to get a lift up the mountains, then jump out and ski 'downhill only'. Wengen is also home to the legendary and spectacular annual Lauberhorn World Cup downhill course, the longest and many believe the greatest there is.
Wengen's presence in the lists of 'most favorite resorts' for those who have visited it is an unusual one. Most other entrants will be there because of their fantastic skiing. Wengen will be there because of how you feel just being there, even before you put your skis on. The awe inspiring mountainscape above and below borders on a spiritual experience for many, which makes even the most bland skiing experience seem transcendental.
Not that Wengen's skiing is bland - far from it. Nearly 100 miles (160 km) of trails, shared with neighboring Grindelwald, are lift-linked from the village, with a further 40 km (25 miles) also on the Jungfrau Top Ski Lift pass across the valley at Murren. The main ski area (shared with Grindelwald) is the Kleine Scheidegg
| | | _ | | _ | | | Mile-high Zermmatt, an idyllic mountain village at the foot of the Matterhorn, has developed into one of the world's most famous ski resorts. Favored by it's southern exposure, sheltered by the wind and generously endowed with snow, Zermatt enjoys some of the most spectacular skiing in the Alps. The scope and variety of skiing is tremendous with a network of lifts serving trails that rise over 12,000 feet. Three main ski areas offer wide open slopes for beginners while the more advanced skiers enjoy the challenge of the internationally known Tiefbach, Aeroleid or Momatt. You can ski over the Theodulpass to Cervinia, Italy for lunch.
The new Klein Matterhorn lift, ascending to 12,533 feet, the highest aerial cablecar in the Alps has opened up new glacier ski runs which give Zermatt one of the longest ski seasons in Europe. Numerous sun-decked restaurants dot the mountainside and provide lunch as well as a rendez-vous for skiers from around the world. For cross-country and touring skiers, a variety of courses are also available. | | | | | | |
|
|
To speak with a knowledgeable
ski specialist, a real person,
Call 888 463 9676 before you book!
Rocky Mountain Ski Vacations
931
Blake Avenue · Glenwood Springs · Colorado (CO) ·
81601
Email:
info@rocky-mountain-ski-vacations.com
|
|