Located 90kms south of Zürich, Engelberg ski resort is the major skiing area in central Switzerland and has both challenging and mellow skiing, with beginner slopes down the one side of the valley and intermediate and advanced down both sides. The imposing 3,030m Mount Titlis Glacier guarantees skiing to June and has some particularly difficult runs.

The village of Engelberg, lying at 1,050m above sea level, is a pretty village in a region blessed by a natural beauty. Engelberg is a relatively small town with a major tourist capacity and only has just over 3,000 residents. There is a good supply of shops here and alternative facilities for the non-skier.

There are over three times as many guest beds as residents’ beds, with 11,000 beds available in hotels, guest houses, pensions, and private homes and apartments. Après-ski is fairly sedate but comes with a good quota of bars and discos. Engelberg also has an excellent ski school kindergarten.

Engelberg ski resort has 30 runs over 82kms of downhill slopes in all colours (green/beginner to black/expert), and the longest run is 12kms. Twenty-three ski lifts operate over all pistes, and include: six cable cars; one gondola; one funicular; seven chairlifts; and eight T-bars; with a total capacity for 21,400 people per hour.

The beautiful 12th century Benedictine abbey at the edge of town is well worth a visit and, for alternative skiing, Melchsee-Frutt is a smaller ski resort nearby. Mount Titlis has the world’s first rotating aerial tramway cabin, offering a spectacular 360 degree panorama during the five minute ride. For more extensive touring, take the train for a tour of Lucerne and the four lakes area.

Engleberg’s ski season runs from December to early May with special offers up to the Christmas holidays, mid-January, and after Easter. The best way to get to Engelberg ski resort is to fly to Zürich and take a regular train, via Lucerne, to the resort.