This is the best time of year to start making plans for a group trip to Europe. Whether you are part of an established group or are just thinking about getting a group of friends together for a winter vacation, making plans now will help ensure that you will be able to book in the destination of your choice. It’s important to know the general personality of the group to help you choose the best resort. Your group members don’t have to all be skiers; you can choose from many European resorts that offer a variety of outdoor activities as well as cultural events and historic sites.
Switzerland often comes to mind when someone thinks about skiing in the Alps, and with good reason. The country offers a vast array of destinations ranging from traditional alpine villages to more modern cities. Magnificent scenery is the backdrop at each of these resorts that vary in personality from après-ski havens to quiet hamlets. Two good group destinations in Switzerland are Engelberg and Interlaken. Take a look at a short description of the two:
Interlaken
This small town lying between the lakes Thun and Brienz is an excellent base for winter sports and sightseeing in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. Interlaken is located slightly to the southwest of the center of Switzerland and is about a one-hour drive from Bern, the Swiss capital. Its prime location offers access to the famed Jungfrau Top Ski Region of Switzerland, which includes the resorts of Grindelwald, Mürren, and Wengen.
The Jungfrau region provides 213 kilometers (113 miles) of downhill trails accessed by 45 cable cars and lifts. There are three main skiing areas within the region: the Mürren-Schilthorn, the Kleine-Scheidegg-Männlichen, and the Grindelwald-First area. There are 30 kilometers (19 miles) of cross-country tracks, and at least 100 kilometers (63 miles) of scenic hiking trails. The Männlichen area is a favorite for snowboarders because of its variety of terrain.
Non-skiers or those taking a break from the slopes should plan an excursion from Interlaken to the Jungfraujoch, the “Top of Europe.” At 3,454 meters (11,333 feet), it is the highest-altitude railway station in the Alps. The Junfraujoch, part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschorn area, is designated as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and offers visitors the Sphinx Observation Hall with a magnificent view of the Aletsch Glacier and the dramatic mountain peaks that surround it. Interlaken itself provides stunning views of the soaring peaks of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
Engelberg
This pretty village of 3,500 is nestled into a scenic valley in central Switzerland about an hour and a half drive from Zurich. Engelberg has an 800-year history and was built up around a Benedictine monastery. The monks brought skiing to the valley in the early 20th century. Engelberg is home to the first revolving gondola, the Rotair, that takes riders to the top of Mount Titlis at 3,020 meters (9,800 feet).
The slopes surrounding Engelberg provide 82 kilometers (51 miles) of runs as well as some excellent off-trail terrain. Intermediates have the most terrain to explore (60 percent of the slopes) which includes the Titlis, Jochpass, and Trübsee trails on the shady side of the valley. Thirty percent of the resort’s trails are marked for beginners. The sunny Brunni area is great for beginners and families. Children who are skiing for the first time will enjoy the Yeti-Park, the children’s ski center. Expert skiers have 10 percent of the runs but when you include great off-trail terrain and some of the more difficult intermediate runs, there are more opportunities for experts than the numbers show.
Engelberg is a good group destination, especially for those with some non-skiers among them. Off-slope winter activities include ice climbing and hiking, tobogganing, snowshoeing, and horse-drawn sleigh riding. For those who prefer sightseeing the Glacier Grotto is a must-see. The grotto is a tunnel that runs down from the top of the Titlis Glacier with a length of 350 meters (1,151 feet) and is complete with small rooms with ice tables. Visitors also enjoy Engelberg’s shops filled with watches, crafts, lace, and chocolates.
So if Switzerland does come to mind when you think of a winter vacation in Europe, group-friendly Interlaken or Engelberg may be just what you’re looking for.