Located in the north of the canton of Valais, in the southwest of Switzerland, Leukerbad ski resort has an array of superb pistes mainly suited to beginners and intermediate skiers; while advanced and expert thrill-seekers have plenty of chances to ski off-piste. Some of the runs have seen World Cup races and Leukerbad is also well known for its thermal baths.

The village of Leukerbad is situated at the very end of the Dala Valley at an altitude of 1,411m, and boasts Europe's largest Alpine thermal bath facilities, famed since Roman times. There are a wide variety of shops and Leukerbad has the added attraction of a traffic-free centre after 22:00.

Slope-side lodging is available in Leukerbad; there are 28 hotels with 1,400 beds and an additional 1,700 apartments with 6,900 beds. Nightlife flows around the 50 restaurants, bars and discos and the many cultural events that are usually found in spa towns. A kindergarten and children's ski school caters for children from four years old.

Leukerbad ski resort has more than 50kms of prepared slopes running over beginner and intermediate terrain, with a longest run of six kilometres. There are 17 lifts, including two trams, two gondolas, three chairlifts and 10 T-bars, with a capacity for 12,000 people per hour.

For alternative skiing, there are better known resorts such as Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Crans-Montana and Verbier nearby. Zermatt is linked with the mighty Matterhorn, while the nearby summit of Gornergrat, accessed by the Gornergrat mountain railway, offers spectacular views. The high trio of resorts east of the medieval city of Brig (Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp) offer stunning views of the Aletsch, Europe's longest glacier.

The ski season runs from mid-December to late April, with special rates at the beginning and towards the end of the season (apart from Easter), and in mid-January. The easiest way to get to Leukerbad ski resort is to fly to Geneva and take a train/bus combination to the resort.