5 Best Things - Lauterbrunnen

1. Stunning scenery

The scenery in the Lauterbrunnen valley is simply awe-inspiring. The name means 'many springs' and is due to the 72 different waterfalls which pour down off the steep valley sides. The most spectacular is the Staubbach waterfall, which drops 300m down the vertical cliff face close to the Chalet Rosa.

The Jungfraujoch overlooks the valley with its three impressive peaks - the Jungfrau, the Mönch and the Eiger. It's easy to see how JRR Tolkien took his inspiration for the valley of Rivendell in his Lord of the Rings books, and the scenery is bound to inspire you as well.

2. Iconic Swiss style

The village of Lauterbrunnen is the sort you might expect to see on a box of chocolates, with beautifully ornate timber buildings and traditional Swiss architecture. The Chalet Rosa was originally built in 1658 and was renovated for Ski Miquel in 2006 to typically high Swiss standards, so internally it offers a cosy yet modern feel. With views of the high valley walls and the Staubbach waterfall, it's easy to see why this is one of Ski Miquel's more impressive locations.

3. Mountain trains

The Swiss are famous for their love of impressive infrastructure and Lauterbrunnen benefits from an advanced train network, which quickly and efficiently moves skiers around the resorts of Mürren, Wengen and Grindelwald in comfort and style - Where else could you get a train up to the top of the mountain! With no cold chairlift to start the day, simply pick up your skis from our storage depot at the station in the village and hop on the train, then get off at your preferred stop, clip in and start skiing - It really is that easy!

4. The 'First Flyer'

With nothing but air all around you, feel what it's like to fly like an eagle soaring through the valley! Travelling 50m off the ground from First to Schreckfeld at a top speed of 50 miles per hour, it's certainly not for the faint-hearted! Either travel down in the talons of a giant eagle with 3 other people, or go solo with your own harness attached to the 800m cable above you, it's certainly a breathtaking experience, and the best news is that this is all included on your lift pass!

5. The Top of Europe

At the top of the Schilthorn above Mürren you can take in the spectacular scenery of over 200 mountain peaks, enjoy a superb lunch in the revolving restaurant, and follow in the footsteps of the UK’s most famous secret agent 007. The Piz Gloria was chosen as the secret lair of supervillain Blofeld in the 1969 film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and you can experience the interactive James Bond exhibition, which is a must for any film buffs.

On the other side of the valley above Wengen you can visit the 'Top of Europe' at a height of 3,454 metres above sea level, where the viewing platform at the Sphinx Observatory gives you fantastic panoramic views of the spectacular Aletsch Glacier from the south side of the Jungfraujoch. You can also visit the special Lindt chocolate shop!