PHOTO: Petra enjoying a sleigh ride in Gstaad
On a trip to Gstaad and Interlaken, Petra Shepherd found out what other winter activities are on offer at these traditional resorts.
Despite its exclusive reputation, the real essence of Gstaad is not to be found in the village and in the luxury shops but in nature and in our traditions, says Claudia my smiling guide on a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the region.
The resort’s tag line “Gstaad – come up, slow down” rings true, the sun is blazing down, the trees are laden with snow and it’s all impossibly picturesque. I’m in the glamorous Swiss ski resort in the Bernese Oberland to ski but also to discover what other winter activities are on offer.
Located at the intersection of two Bernese valleys, Gstaad has influences from both French and German speaking parts of Switzerland and over 200km of slopes to explore, between 1000 and 3000 metres. The resort also has the only glacier ski area in the Bernese Oberland, the Glacier 3000.
The slopes are well-groomed and tree-lined and easily skiable in a day, leaving plenty of time for the plethora of other activities on offer. On my visit in late January 2025, the snow was exceptional and the slopes quiet, however if you’re looking for something a little more challenging, the 2.5km black section of the Tiger Run on The Wasserngrat near Gstaad is considered the steepest ski slope in the region.
Gstaad is home to the iconic and fairytale Gstaad Palace Hotel, one of the Leading Hotels of the World, towering over the town and enchanting visitors since 1913. However, Gstaad is not only home to one of the grandest hotels in the region but also one of the coolest in every sense of the word, Iglu-Dorf, one of the original snow hotels.
The Iglu-Dorf Gstaad is located near the mountain station of the cable car Saanerslochgrat, above Saanenmöser and about 2000 metres above sea level. International artists decorate the igloo rooms with great attention to detail, creating magical new worlds of snow and ice every year. On my visit the theme was wild animals – who’d not want to stay in a room watched over by a hippo or zebra?
An igloo night is a unique experience and offers a complete package with fondue, snowshoe trek, hot tub/sauna and breakfast buffet. There’s also an alternative “escape room” in the form a mystery igloo, teams solve cool winter puzzles to enter the igloo.
My accommodation was a tad warmer – The Golfhotel Les Hauts de Gstaad & Spa, a traditional, family-run 4-star superior hotel set above Gstaad next to the cablecar station, offering beautiful views of the town and surrounding mountains. All 57 rooms, most of which have a balcony, are furnished in a chic Alpine style, and the hotel also boasts three restaurants and a wellness area. In the cosy Chalet le Gessenay in the hotel garden, with a large fireplace, I enjoyed a Fondue Chinoise, a Swiss dish that’s similar to a hot pot. It’s made by cooking meat and vegetables in a simmering broth at the table and dipping them into a variety of sauces. I was saving the full cheese fondue experience for later.
Gstaad has retained its Alpine authenticity, the chalets are either original or freshly interpreted but always true to tradition and with a population of 7200, there are almost as many cows, including Rosie the cow, a bronze statue donated by Elizabeth Taylor, in the resort’s main street. Gstaad is renowned for attracting the famous, the celebrated actress owned Chalet Ariel, which she and Richard Burton used as a base in Europe.
The Sitting Duck is another bronze statue cast by Blake Edwards, the husband of perhaps Gstaad’s most famous honorary citizen Julie Andrews. As a 33-year-old, Andrews discovered Gstaad together with Edwards. From then on, this place was for her “the last paradise in a crazy world” and although my visit was short, I do tend to rather agree.
It’s no secret that Swiss trains are frequent, 100% reliable and connect well at stations. To travel between Gstaad and Interlaken I travelled Prestige Class on The Golden Pass Express, a luxury panoramic train travelling between Montreux on Lake Geneva and Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland. Travelling by train is by far the best way to explore Switzerland’s breathtaking landscapes and watching the stunning blue and turquoise colours of Lake Thun framed by the snow-covered Alps on route to Interlaken was totally mesmerising.
PHOTO: Raclette rafting with Outdoor Interlaken on Lake Brienz
It’s difficult to find activities in the Alps that are totally unique and as a regular visitor that I’ve not done before. As a cheese addict I was therefore thrilled to discover raclette rafting, an alpine culinary delight on the water. The raft (an inflatable rib with a cushion on either side to sit on) has a table attached to the centre of the raft, on top of the table are placed various raclette grills. Each passenger has their own tray and there’s no shortage of slabs of raclette cheese to melt (the one infused with chili our favourite) and plenty of wine. A professional rafting guy will then row you gently through Lake Brienz as the evening lights of Interlaken twinkle into the distance.
The activity through Outdoor Interlaken starts in Bonigen and then continues along the Aare River into Interlaken. The cosy and atmospheric cheese adventure, perfect for small groups, takes about a couple of hours – be sure to dress up warmly.
As far as I’m concerned, you can never have too much melted cheese, but it’s probably best to do some kind of activity beforehand.
I’ve done it before – but it wasn’t up hill – and I found snowshoeing through deep virgin snow up a steep incline much harder than I thought but the effort well worth it for a rewarding warming fondu in an igloo at the end.
The Stockhorn igloo at 1600 metres above sea level and initially reached by a cable car is about half an hour outside Interlaken. Outdoor Interlaken offers snowshoe hiking through the pristine winter wonderland, expertly led by a mountain guide, also invaluable to pull you out when you sink into a deep hole. There are four different snowshoe trails in the Stockhorn area around the two frozen lakes of Oberstocken and Hinterstocken offering an immersive connection with the landscape with a minimal impact on the environment.
My final activity was a kayak tour of Lake Brienz, a chance to see the lake in daylight after the evening’s raclette rafting. Gliding effortlessly across the glassy, impossibly turquoise water, soaking in the scenery, the mist rising over the mountains adding to the atmosphere was a fitting end to a busy few days. Hightide Kayak School (a 10-minute bus ride on bus 103) from Interlaken hands out top line Palm dry suits in all sizes keeping you completely dry on your kayak and toasty warm. We were also given thick socks to fit inside neoprene boots and neoprene gloves attached to the paddle to keep our hands warm.
With the right gear, kayaking is surprisingly fun in winter. Tours last about 3 hours with 2 hours on the water. Our patient guide Phoebe did a great job, instructing us what to do, taking photos and offering up welcome tea and biscuits on a short break to stretch our legs and visit Ringgenberg Castle.
With plenty of skiing on offer in Gstaad along with alpine tradition and charm and some unique activities in Interlaken, my itinerary was action-packed, if a little quirky. However, a winter break in Switzerland is more interesting with a range of experiences.
TRAVEL FACTS
Petra Shepherd flew to Zurich from London Heathrow with Swiss.
To travel around Switzerland Petra used a Swiss Travel Pass.
Petra stayed at The Golfhotel Les Hauts de Gstaad & Spa in Gstaad and at Essential by Dorint Interlaken West in Interlaken
For further information on Gstaad & Interlaken, visit gstaad.ch/en/winter & interlaken.ch/en
Categories: Resort News & Reports, Switzerland