Luzern is surrounded by some of the best winter sports mountains in the world, with an efficient road network and public transport system that make getting there and coming home almost effortless. The base stations for Engelberg and Klewenalp can all be reached by public transport in under an hour, Sörenberg and Melchsee-Frutt in around an hour and Stoos, Meiringen, Andermatt and Hoch-Ybrig in less than two. By car even more resorts can be reached in less than two hours. For detailed information about each mountain, please check this website out.
Ski & Save
There are two excellent schemes you may want to avail yourself of. The first is the Schneepass Central Switzerland which gives you season-long access to 13 ski destinations and around 500 km of slopes, all within easy striking distance of Luzern – including big resorts like Engelberg and Andermatt. For an adult the swipe card costs CHF 1,100 and there are substantial discounts for the elderly, young and families. See the website for details.
Should the Schneepass not work for you, Swiss Railways’ Snow’n’Rail scheme is an equally attractive alternative. It covers all the major resorts in Switzerland, plus a large number of smaller ones, and gives you a combined 20% discount on public transport and your lift pass for one, two or six days. It also gets you a discount on equipment hire from Intersport outlets. More detailed information in German can be found in brochures available from any main railway station, and on their website in both English and German.
With the strength of the Swiss Franc, a number of other discounts have been on offer in recent seasons, including free or discounted lift passes with accommodation. Check with the resorts for details or at this blog where most of them get picked up.
Nic’s Top Tips
If you are tempted to venture off-piste, ensure you are fully prepared. Even for relatively modest off-piste excursions, I would recommend you and your companions each carry an avalanche transceiver at the very least. A fully charged mobile phone is essential, with relevant emergency numbers programmed in. You might also want to download a ski tracker app, so you can review your day in the snow later – I use one called Ski Tracks.
It is always better to be prepared for temperatures to be colder than expected rather than warmer. However, it can get very warm if the sun comes out, so you may want to reduce the layers accordingly once you are on the slope. Also make sure every potential bit of exposed skin is covered with sun protection cream whether it is sunny or not.
One final point – check that your insurance covers you for winter sports, specifically search and rescue, hospital costs and third party liability. You can get top up insurance from Snowcare or may be interested in joining Rega, who provide helicopter rescue to members.
About our expert: Nic Oatridge has been skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland for over 20 years. He writes a ski blog and maintains the SwissWinterSports.co.uk English-language winter sports website.
