Travel to Switzerland

Switzerland is a great all year round holiday destination. Whether you're in search of a winter skiing holiday, a summer sightseeing vacation or a city break, you will have an enjoyable time in Switzerland. This European country is brimming with beautiful ski slopes and stunning scenery, and boasts pretty alpine villages and fascinating cities, as well as a wealth of culture and history and a whole lot more (not forgetting, of course, the delicious chocolates and cheese!). Switzerland also offers a good selection of holiday property rentals, so it's perfect for a self-catering holiday.

For those looking for fun and adventure, you need look no further than Switzerland, which is a skier's paradise. It offers superb skiing facilities for all abilities - and it doesn't matter whether you're looking to learn to ski or if you're an experienced skier. Switzerland has some fantastic areas where you can take to the slopes. The popular resorts include Arosa, Champery, Crans Montana, Davos, Grindelwald, Gstaad, Klosters, Lenzerheide, Murren, Saas Fee, St Moritz, Verbier, Villars, Wengen and Zermatt.

The Valais region offers some good skiing facilities, as well as a host of other activities, attractions and things to see and do. For example, the lovely town of Nendaz, which is in Switzerland's Valais region and in the heart of the Four Valleys ski area, is a great destination to visit both in summer and winter. In the summer months you can enjoy many leisure pursuits here such as walking, hiking, mountain biking and climbing. If you like the outdoor life, this area will definitely appeal. There is also a sports centre, which offers a variety of sporting activities, such as tennis, squash, football and swimming.

A great way of exploring this area is by foot. You can walk along a network of lovely paths (Bisses) which run along the irrigation canals. Nendaz boasts 98km of walks along 8 bisses. Not surprisingly, there are some amazing views of the valleys, villages and mountains when you pass along this route. Mountain biking is another way of seeing the sights in Nendaz. You can hire a bike and take to one of the trails available, whether you're an experienced cyclist or just a beginner, there's something here for you!

Paragliding is another popular pastime in Nendaz. You can also play golf in nearby Sion. There are also courses at Crans Montana, Verbier and Villars. Nendaz has a good variety of shops, supermarkets, banks and plenty of restaurants as well as bars, so it's ideal for a holiday property rental. The town is also a perfect base from which to tour, as there are many attractions and sights to see around the surrounding of Nendaz.

Meanwhile, in the winter Nendaz is a haven for skiers. It is located in the Four Valleys ski area, with its 412km of pistes and 92 ski lifts. There are some great skiing opportunities for all ages and abilities of skier in this area. It's a good family holiday destination too, as there are facilities for children, including a snow garden, ski schools, a nursery, as well as various activities. You can also take part in a variety of winter sports in this area, such as snowboarding, sledging, snowtubing and ice skating.

So if you're looking for adventure or relaxation, why not make Nendaz (or indeed another area of Switzerland) your next holiday destination? It has something to offer everyone, whatever your age, taste or type of vacation. It's a fantastic all year round holiday location and an ideal for a self-catering break too. This is just a taster of what is available in this beautiful European country - there is so much more to see and do here. Why not check it out soon?

With brilliant white snow and crisp clean air, Switzerland represents an amazing opportunity to hit the slopes.

Listed below is a breakdown of Switzerlands top 10 resorts and places to ski. These locations represent some of the finest skiing resorts in the world!

1. Arosa - Doubling as both a summer and winter resort, Arosa is located in the Eastern section of Switzerland. Arosa, with its traditions and unusual history, cannot be fully experienced in one trip. So how are the slopes? Arosa has over 50 miles of pristine terrain for you to fully immerse in. The air is especially pure and the slope drop offs will challenge even the most experienced skiers. Nature lovers will also enjoy the relative isolation of Arosa as compared to some of the other resorts on this list

2. Gstaad/Saanenland - Looking for a ski resort where you can gain some experience without be subjected to extremely difficult courses? If so, then Gstadd might be the place for you. Their courses attract mostly beginners and intermediate skiers because the slopes aren't as insane as some of the other locations in Switzerland. The only drawback for me is Gstaad is a bit on the pricey side. Swank hotels, trendy shops, and upscale restaurants are a common sight throughout. However, if money is not an obstacle, you will be pleased to know that the Gstadd/Saanenland area is one of the largest ski resorts in the Alps.

3. Murren - Murren is truly a picturesque sight to see. Located on a high cliff in Lauterbrunnen Valley over 5,400 ft. in the air, this mountain village can only be reached by cable car. During the rare occasion where snow is in its top form, you will have no problem finding other activities to do. However, during peak snow season you will find that Murren offers some of the best snow and slopes around, attracting more advanced skiers.

4. Davos/Klosters - Davos is located in East Switzerland on the Landwasser River. The popularity of Davos has tailed off a bit from its heyday and the village is a bit rundown. Klosters offers a better alternative and brings in many skiers from The Netherlands and UK. This region offers ample slopes for the less experienced skier. First class hiking and fine dining located thousands of feet in the air, are just a few things to do.

5. Laax/Films/Falera - This area offers a wide range of summer sports. The winter months provide ample opportunity for world class competitions. Skiing and snowboarding are just a few of the many top notch events that attracts visitors. Combinded, the Laax/Films/Falera area occupies over 130 sq. miles of prime skiing opportunities. The Vorab Glacier and Crap Sogn Gion attract much of the cross country skiing crowd while Foppa and Nagens represent an awesome downhill alternative for beginner and intermediate skiers. The lodging accommodations are reasonable and isn't as pretentious as say Gstaad. If crowds aren't your thing be sure to book your trip during the weekdays, the locals take advantage of the prime snow conditions during the weekends.

6. Saas-Fee - Saas-Fee is located in southwest Switzerland, next to Zermatt, and is home to the highest mountain in all of Switzerland, The Dom. What attracts many visitors to Saas-Fee is the amount of glacial activity. Glaciers of the Dom and the Allalinhorn allow for year-round sports activities, including summer skiing in some locations. With a wide range of blue rating slopes, Saas-Fee brings in much of the intermediate and advanced enthusiast. Don't be intimidated,however. There are also many slopes and schools of training for beginners.

7. Grindelwald - Next on my list is Grindelwald, which lies in the valley of Bernese Oberland, located very close to the middle of Swizterland. With over 120 miles of prime ski slopes, Grindelwald skiers have many different areas to choose from, most choose the Kleine Scheidegg for a fine sking experience. What sets this location apart from the others are the slopes accesabile only by helicopter. Griendwald has some of the best helicopter skiing in the world! In addition, you will be amazed to find that Grindelwald is a hub for activity. If you ever get tired of the slopes, (highley unlikely) Grindelwald is filled with museums, top notch golf courses, and a wide array of other adventure sports.

8. St. Moritz - Fancy a place with over 300 days of sunshine, superb housing, and a resort full of ancient history? If so, then St. Moritz is the place for you! Located in the far south east corner of Switzerland, St. Moritz is one of the most famous destinations in Switzerland. Beginners will enjoy the area of Corviglia where you will experience relatively easy slopes while advanced skiers will soak up the mind-numbing bliss of Pontresina. The view is said to be majestic. However, as with many of the other higher end resorts in Switzerland, be prepared to spend a bit of money!

9. Verbier - The runner up on my list of top places to ski in Switzerland is Verbier. As one of the more popular Swiss resorts in the Alps, the slopes can get a bit crowded during peak season. The slopes stay in pristine condition during the Spring months and make for a wonderful alternative to the sometimes overcrowded winter. The wide assortments of unique and challeneging courses suits both beginners and advanced skiers. Tortin has consistently been rated as a top draw for experts while the numerous ski training locations in Verbier create a fun atmosphere for the beginner. In addition, superb hotels, dining, sporting activities, and night life make Verbier one of the world's top ski destinations and tourist attractions.

10. Zermatt - Heard of Zermatt? If you haven't heard about Switzerland's greatest ski resort, you have now! In Zermatt, skiing is a year round affair. Enjoy the Sunegga and Gornergrat regions during the winter months and make your way over to the Theodul Glacier for a fine intermediate adventure during the warmer summer months. With great snow, a wide array of obstacles and challenges, and some of the cleanest,freshest air in the world, Zermatt caters to just about everyone. 

In addition to incredible skiing, Zermatt features some of the most beautiful, natural ice skating rinks and many other adventure sporting activities such as climbing and paragliding. The world famous Matterhorn draws locals and tourists alike to scale this magnificent mountain. Nature lovers will appreciate the car-free resort with unbelieveable natural hiking trails. To visit Zermatt is said to have a Zen-like feel and this is why Zermatt is my top place to ski in Switzerland!

Copyright (c) 2009 Jason Boehle