Lauchernalp - Lötschental, Switzerland

Lauchernalp is well known to the Dutch but so far relatively few British skiers seem to have discovred it. Situated on the edge of the UNESCO world heritage area, Lauchernalp is the main ski area in the Lostchberg region. The ski area is only 5kms from the southern end of the Lotschental rail tunnel (which also carries car-trains) and an hourly post-bus proves a connection for foot passengers. Lauchernalp has an aspect that is rather similar to nearby Crans-Montanna but it is a very different place altogether. Whereas Crans is very developed and the hillsides brisstle with hotels, here there are just modest chalets occupying the equivalent sunny south-facing slopes - quite a magnificent and tranquil aspect really with ski-in ski-out convenience. Below the resort, there is plenty of cheaper accomodation, including several small hotels, in the uniqely rustic Lotschenthal Valley. The villages of Kippel and Wiler, famous for their narrow streets, ancient twisted houses and frequent masked carnivals are both ideal bases although January in the valley can be a bit too cold and shadowy for some tastes. Both villages are within walking distance of the cable car that provides the only lift access to the ski area high above, roughly every 30 minutes. The Lotschental valley is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Valais, located between the Berener and Walliser alps in the UNESCO World Heritage Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschorn. There are plenty of options to explore it either on foot or on cross-country ski trails. Piste skiing at Lauchernalp is not all that extensive but in its defence it is certainly varied and there are a few very testing steep runs down from the glacier at 3111m that see a lot of moguls. Views from the top, north into one of the biggests wild areas of the Alps - the Bernese Oberland and south towards the Matterhorn, are truly spectacular and from the top station there is access to the highest winter walking route in the Alps. Off-piste skiing has much more to offer than the groomed stuff and the resort has largely targetted itself at freeriding skiers and snowboarders. Snowboarders in particular can explore a wonderful natural arena of steepish terrain from short traverses and walks at the top. The vertical range is impressive - you can ski right back to Kippel and Wiler at the end of the day - otherwise skiers tend to stay above the Stafel station at 2100m because the valley tends to be in shadow and return cable cars too infrequent. Just as at Crans, the south facing aspect is a mixed blessing because the off-piste quickly develops a crust after sunny days and on warm days small avalanches are common.

Resorts close to Lauchernalp - Lötschental include: Belalp - Blatten - Naters (12 km), Eischoll (15 km), Kandersteg (15 km), Riederalp - Aletsch (15 km), Brig - Rosswald (16 km),