Share your passion for off-piste with the family in Engelberg

Engelberg, which you may not be familiar with yet, is relatively new on the map when it comes to the really big ski areas. However, its popularity has exploded over the past 10 years. Now it’s becoming a feature on the lists of the best off-piste in Europe, just as you can find 100 km of groomed pistes for those who don’t fancy deep powder.

And it takes less than two hours to get here from Zurich Airport.

An experience for the whole family

The combination of off-piste and the large, continuous piste area is Engelberg’s great charm. This gives the area something to offer for all ages and all levels. There is the opportunity to challenge the strong skier in the powder with a mountain guide, just as the children can practice their skills both on and off the piste – depending on the level. Therefore, we have already booked both mountain guides and ski instructors for the trip.

Engelberg is designed so that the whole family can gather after a day on the mountain where everyone felt challenged by level. It could be where mom and dad got an adrenaline rush, the oldest kids got to try out their off-piste artwork right off the piste, while the youngest went to ski school.

It gives something to talk about during dinner.

Snow guaranteed well into spring

When you think of the European ski resorts, the snow reliability is usually high. The technology means that most ski areas can maintain a suitable level in the piste even if the snowfall has been limited. In the off-piste, however, it is different and here you usually do not connect Austria, France and Switzerland with a snow guarantee at the end of the season.

Fortunately, that’s not entirely true. In Engelberg, the ski area is so fantastically arranged that many of the pistes and off-piste tracks are on northern mountain sides. This means that the sun’s rays do not work nearly as well in the snow when it starts to get warmer at the end of March, beginning of April. At the same time, the area receives around 7 meters of snow a year, so you can hunt good powder well into the spring. This is also why you can catch a glimpse of many of the Swedish freeski luminaries in Engelberg, who are just about to bring the last of the season with them.

The Big Five – from the savannah to the Alps

When you hear “The Big Five” your thoughts usually go to the savannah. The lion, the leopard, the elephant, the pronghorn and the buffalo. If you see them all on your safari, you’ve seen ‘The Big Five’.

In the Alps, however, the term has a different meaning. Here are the five off-piste runs that can make any skier foam at the mouth.

If you’re a die-hard freeskier with a passion for powder, then Engelberg should be on your wish list – just based on the five routes. The famous Laub, the challenging Sulz, the wild Steinberg, the hidden Steintäli and the awesome drop from Galtiberg. Five different routes, a common dream for everyone looking for new exciting off-piste terrain. All five lines can be caught without having to take off your skis – so no hiking. However, it is highly recommended that you do not take the roads without a mountain guide, as you will be quite a distance from the piste. It requires you to have a person with you who has deep knowledge of the area.

Recharge your batteries at a luxury hotel

After a long day of skiing, you must have loosened your muscles and renewed your energy for the next day. What better way than in a fantastic hotel in the middle of Engelberg city?

The Ski Lodge Hotel is built for those who love to climb the mountain. The hotel offers cozy and modern rooms, which give you everything you need when you kick off your boots. From the room you can even enjoy the unique view of Mount Titlisbjerget.

The return after a full day of skiing also takes place in the first row to the mountain, where it is possible to enjoy the hotel’s spa with an ice-cold beer. The spa is located outside, which provides a unique experience when you enjoy the fresh alpine air while warming up your body. Then you can talk about getting the batteries charged.

The hotel has a wonderful restaurant, where you prepare various regional dishes from Swiss cuisine combined with Nordic inspiration. Everything made with local ingredients. In addition, there are plenty of options for the whole family – such as The MOAB, the “Mother of All Burgers”. There is a cozy atmosphere around the Ski Lodge Hotel, as it is considered a gathering point for the city’s guests for a beer after the day’s challenges on and off the slopes.

The city center location also means less than 10 minutes to the gondola that takes you up Mount Titlis. So it’s not far from the ski cellar until the skis are on.

What else does Engelberg have to offer?

The area has, as one of the first destinations in the world, a rather unique gondola. It rotates while taking you up the mountain. It gives a unique 360 degree view that you don’t see in many places.

The ski area offers a large number of good, rustic alpine huts, where you can get everything from local dishes and cheese fondue to pasta and pizza. Here you can find everything the heart desires when the family comes in and gathers strength for the afternoon’s exertions.

For the children, there are also great opportunities for activation. In the piste there is an action park where you can e.g. can have its speed measured. When you’re done with your skis, you can take them to the sledding hill. However, be aware that it is not for the very little ones. The toboggan run has plenty of speed, sharp curves and steep sections, so there is a guarantee of laughter for both children and adults.

We can only recommend Engelberg as your next family destination. Here there is a lot of fun for all ages and lovely surroundings to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Off-piste skiing holiday with the family: Read more about the trip.