If you’re looking for a ski area where you say “Wow!” every time you look out of your window each morning, nowhere beats the stunning Swiss Jungfrau region. Dominated by the truly awesome Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains, it’s a place that British skiers have been drawn to for well over a century and summer tourists since long before that.
Encompassing two valleys, three mountain ranges and 211 kilometres of perfectly prepared pistes, the Jungfrau ski region is one of the largest in Switzerland and the world, with a huge variety of terrain and a big vertical opening up many glorious long descents, all with that amazing backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains.
But this ski region offers so much more besides, exciting terrain parks, brilliant beginner runs, perfect powder for freeriders and many other attractions besides. What’s more, although long-term fans of the Jungfrau love its wonderful historic mountain railway system for getting about, which immediately takes you back to the pioneering years of skiing, hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent in recent years creating a stunning new system of comfortable, high-speed, high-capacity gondola lifts to whisk you up into the heart of it all.
Nestled in the heart of the Jungfrau ski region, the picturesque mountain village of Grindelwald offers seamless access to all its corners. With a selection of three gondolas, including the cutting-edge Eiger Express—one of the finest ski lifts you’ll ever experience—getting to the slopes is effortless. The Eiger Express whisks you directly to the Grindelwald – Wengen Ski area in just 15 minutes. Each gondola boasts 26 heated seats, providing comfort as you glide alongside the renowned north face of the Eiger.
One of the big draws for experienced skiers here is the piste where the famous Lauberhorn World Cup ski run is staged each January. You can ski it yourself, if you dare, outside the race period.
Fast lifts also take you straight to the Grindelwald – First, Top of adventure ski and snow fun area, or Grindelwald First – Top of Adventure is not only a wonderland for freeskiers but is also home to a remarkable selection of adrenaline and pure fun activities to enjoy as an alternative to skiing or riding.
To begin with there’s the thrilling First cliff walk which provides some of the best views yet of those 4,000m peaks and if you have the nerve the First View platform hanging over a cliff edge opens up nine different vistas of the surrounding mountainscape. You can even get airborne and ride through the air at up to 84kph on the 800m long First Flyer, or soar like an eagle on the First glider lying face down with up to three friends as you whizz down above the slope and all this is included in your Jungfrau region Ski Pass. If all that weren’t enough, amazingly, the world’s longest toboggan run of 15km starts here.
Back on your skis or board, the Grindelwald-First snowpack, which has been designed and is supervised by no lesser person than the great Gian Simmen, the first Olympic Halfpipe Champion! Not just for experts like Gian though, the park offers different levels of challenge for freestylers, including those just honing their skills, but including a 130-metre half pipe where you can practice your tricks.
Grindelwald-First is also home to one of the Jungfrau’s two areas, which are designed especially for families and children. The Lily Fun Slope here has lots of fun obstacles for kids to navigate and ski through.
For an amazing ski holiday in one of the most beautiful destinations on earth, with lots of extra and in some cases unique activities to enjoy and wonderful fast gondola lifts to access it all too from the perfect Alpine village of Grindelwald you can book your ski holiday now with any of the Jungfrau region’s many travel partners.
For more information and to book your skipass visit: jungfrau.ch/de-ch/jungfrau-ski-region/
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