Thursday, January 22, 2009

Adelboden

Adelboden

This small village in the Bern Alps is known for one of the most demanding FIS World Cup giant slalom race trails.

The Bern Alps were first discovered as a ski destination by English officers, who were here spending their vacations earned in then colonies. The Adelboden resort is located near the Jungfrau region, in which the Grindelwald-Wengen and Müren resorts are situated. Trendy Gstaad with the Glacier 3000, where members of some royal families spend their vacation, is also near by. The Adelboden resort is 65 km away from the Swiss capital of Bern.

Prices in hotels and apartments are typically Swiss, that is, high. The best way to find accommodation is through local tourist office where you will get information on available accommodation and prices. Before choosing your place of stay, take a look at the village map, so you wouldn't end up far from the village center or the gondola. Also, take into account that the one- or two-star Swiss hotels can have a shared toilet on the floor. It is advisable to obtain a travel health insurance policy before leaving for a ski holiday in Switzerland, because medical treatment there is very expensive. Food and beverage prices are also typical Swiss: simple dish such as French fries and sausage, or spaghetti is around EUR 10, beer is EUR 4, and Coca-Cola is EUR 2.5. Larger meat dishes in restaurants are above EUR 20. On the slopes, there are two places where you can consume your own food and drink, or buy something at the tap room. The Swiss precision reflects in their way of treating the customers, who have no reason to complain. Adelboden is definitely not a trendy place when it comes to accomodation and wild night parties. However, skiing infrastructure on the slopes is very modern and developed, which makes the resort very interesting for those who come there primarily for skiing. Here, you will find year long tradition and the peace that only Switzerland can offer.

The resort has a new hooded four seater lift called Chuenisbärgli and already mentioned FIS Ski World Cup race track situated close to the center of the village. Also, you can take the gondola, which will need only 25 minutes to take you to a very nice and modern resort connected to the village of Lenk. The resort's full name is thus Adelboden-Lenk, with 90 km44 km out of which are blue, 34 km are red and 12 km are black. All in all, every type of skier will here find something for themselves. Expert skiers will be thrilled by the black run No. 40 with two terrain jumps. The ski lift infrastructure consists of 14 mostly modern ski lifts. There are 3 gondola lifts3 hooded 6-seater lifts, four 4-seater lifts (two of which are hooded, and one with heated chairs), and four surface lifts. One surface lift covers very well maintained snow park. Skiers who ski alone have priority at the ski lifts, which, if you ski alone, can be an asset during crowdy weekends and throughout February when school children are on ski holidays. All the trails, except for the WC race tracks and those leading to the village, are situated between 1500 and 2200 meters a.s.l.. Sixty percent of the trails are covered by artificial snowmaking system, which ensures skiing from the start of December to mid April. The trails are very well connected and even the less brave skiers will make a complete tour of the slopes. Freeride lovers will also be happy here, that is, if they are not into long descents. of slopes, (two of which serve for accessing the slopes),

Apart from this large resort, there are three smaller resorts also worth a mention: Elsigenalp and Tschentenalp family resorts, and a great freeride destination - the Enstligenalp resort, which is opened until May due to its favorable position facing the sun. All these resorts are linked by local bus services.

The Swiss are fond of sledding, so almost every resort has sledding trails. You can rent a sled on the spot, and after buying a ticket at the price of EUR 21, you can take as many runs as you wish on 2-5 km long sledge trails.

One day ski lift pass is EUR 35, and six day pass costs EUR 153. One day ski pass for children aged 6-15 is EUR 20, and six day pass for them is EUR 87. There is also a family discount (obtainable for at least one adult and one child) of about 7% of the above prices. Night skiing on Fridays and sledging on Wednesdays are included in the ski pass price. The four or more day ski pass includes a visit to the Gstaad resort (for additional payment of EUR 6), or the Glacier (for additional payment of EUR 17).

If you wish for an exclusive ski experience, do visit the Adelboden resort and other resorts in the Bern Alps. You will be thrilled by breathtaking Swiss mountains and preserved alpine settings.



www.ski-mag.com

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