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Leukerbad Ski Resort
Hundreds of thousands of gallons gush out of Leukerbad’s thermal springs each day, at a soothing 51°C: the Romans reaped their bathing benefits, and we’re still enjoying them today. This is the biggest thermal spa resort in the Alps, with thirty public and private pools in total – ones with light shows, ones with breakfast service, ones with cinema screens, you name it.
So as you can expect, this place has history. Records of settlement exist from the 13th century, with Roman artefacts discovered from way before then. The whole place was rebuilt in the 16th century after avalanches destroyed the town. It rose ever more glorious over the centuries, seeing Goethe and Mark Twain among notable visitors in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Not content with just offering a wellness wonderland, the first ski lift was built in 1948.
These days, the town - also known by its French name, Loèche-les-Bains - mixes traditional chalet buildings with swish modern architecture. Dramatic mountain face wraps around it in a horseshoe shape, with the Torrent and Gemmi lifts whisking you up to snowier landscapes. The Torrent serves the ski area, with 53km of pistes between 1411m and 2610m. Take the Gemmi lift and you’ll reach a Nordic area with cross country trails, snowshoeing and toboggan runs.
To help you enjoy the very best of both worlds, a snow and spa pass have been available in recent years to provide access to the ski lifts and thermal baths.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Valais, Switzerland
Established: 1948
Open: December - April
Downhill: 54km
View our detailed Leukerbad snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Leukerbad snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Geneva (GVA) | 194km, 2 hours |
| Bern (BRN) | 107km, 2 hours |
| Basel (BSL) | 292km, 3 hours |
| Zurich (ZRH) | 316km, 3h20 |
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| Top Altitude: | 2610m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1411m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1411m |
| Longest run: | 9.5km |
| Slope Orientation: | |
| Vertical Drop: | 1199m |
| Skiable Vertical: | |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 54km |
| Beginner slopes: | 7.4% |
| Intermediate: | 50% |
| Advanced slopes: | 43% |
| Lift Pass Price: | 288CHF (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Adelboden, Crans Montana | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Leukerbad
Torrent’s where you’ll find the alpine skiing here - the bulk of the pistes are red graded, with a few black runs and freeride routes for an extra challenge.
The Swiss ski school has a learning area up at Rinderhütte and there’s a good beginner zone near the Sportsarena on the other side of the town… But once you’ve conquered the basics there isn’t much by way of easy pistes – the blue Kumme and Schwalbennest make up the 4km of gentler terrain here.
There are 27km of red runs, including the wide, scenic Lingelen (9) from the top station, some good forested runs from Rinderhütte and the Feuillerette into Leukerbad.
Experts can ski the FIS slopes from the top station and connect with the Talabfahrt nach Leukerbad, finishing up on the Feuillerette red followed by drinks and snacks in Leukerbad. We like the 2km Waldpiste back to Raschen and the Torrentstaffel freeride routes which demand short turns and concentration.
For freestylers, there’s a funpark with kickers, rails and boxes.
The Gemmi area has some excellent cross country skiing, from the Daubensee Trail which crosses a frozen lake to the 10km Lämmernboden Trail.
Leukerbad Apres Ski
Après spas rule over après bars in this neck of the woods and the public baths include Walliser Alpentherme, the Volksheilbad Spa and Leukerbad Therme – which has a whopping TEN pools.
That’s not say you can’t find a watering hole when you want one, whether you’re having cocktails and tapas at Chinchilla Bar, trying local wines in Al Vino or dancing at Courage Club.
You’ve no shortage of restaurants to choose between – feast on gorgeously presented posh nosh in Balmhorn, Lounge 1411 and Waldhaus (where you can choose between 70 types of grappa for an aperitif…). Pizzeria Giardino has a laid back, family vibe and serves awesome Italian nosh, while Alpina’s worth trying for the Brendel family’s good old fashioned Swiss fare.
There’s a sports arena if you like to keep active, with an indoor ice rink, climbing wall, tennis courts, squash courts and a gym. Outdoors, you snowshoe and can whoosh down sledding slopes up around Gemmi or try the gentler toboggan runs by the Sportarena.
(Images: Leukerbad Tourismus)
Best time to go
Best time to ski Leukerbad
Best time to visit & ski Leukerbad
Reaching up to a heady 2610m, the highest slopes tend to do a good job of holding onto the white stuff throughout the season. We like to visit in March, when clear skies and sunshine make for spectacular scenery – and you’ve always got the spas if the pistes are struggling under the afternoon sun.
Peak Dates
On previous years, Christmas in Leukerbad has included torchlight walks from the town square to the Sportarena for a merry time with music, wine, punch and cookies.
Ski in the New Year in Leukerbad from the Torrent pistes, or steam in the New Year in one of the spa centres – either way you’re in for a wonderfully refreshing week on the mountains.
Teachers and families who need to escape the daily grind will love Half Term in Leukerbad for good times on the snow and downtime soaking in thermal waters.
We love the Easter market that usually happens in Rathausplatz over Easter in Leukerbad. The views are incredible at this time of year, and you can appreciate them from open air thermal pools as well as the piste side.
Families in Leukerbad
Under 8’s can usually get free lift passes for the Torrent and Gemmi areas, as well as the Leukerbad and Walliser thermal spas and the Sportarena. With no minimum age, everyone can enjoy a session in the thermal baths, which include special padding pools and play areas for children.
Older kids will love the sledging runs in the Gemmi area, which stream down from a seriously scenic 2350m on 1.2km and 1.5km trails. There’s also a gentler 150m slope at the Snowpark Sportarena for tots.
If you need childcare, the Thermi Kindergarden looks after children aged 18 months to 7 years, with limited space for infants above 3 months. You’ll find it at Rathausstrasse near the bus station, and full, half day and hourly options are available.
A lot of the hotels here have facilities for families, from playrooms to baby food prep equipment.
GroupsGroup Holidays Leukerbad
If you’re a group who like to mix skiing with other activities like spa sessions and winter walks, this place could be just the ticket. The Torrent ski area isn’t the biggest in Switzerland at 54km, but Leukerbad is the biggest spa destination in the Alps meaning there’s plenty of rest and relaxation available when you’re not strapped onto your skis. This makes Leuk a cracking place to bring non skiers, who won’t be at a loose end while the skiers of the group enjoy the snow.
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