Engelberg Luxury Ski Resort

Engelberg’s web-site says “Welcome to Heaven!” … Engelberg was founded in 1120 by Benedictine Monks who built the Monastery which still dominates the village. They also gave Engelberg its name, which literally translates as “Angel Mountain” and refers to the impressive Titlis mountain which towers above the resort. Two of the Monks from the Monastery were the first to climb to the summit of Titlis in 1744.

Skiing began here in the 1850s and the first cable car began running in 1912 (the first in Switzerland), making Engelberg one of the oldest ski resorts in the world. Engelberg became known as a mountain playground for the rich and famous.

British Skiers were among the first to “discover” Engelberg in those early pioneering days and the resort has been welcoming discerning skiers from Britain (and all over the world) ever since. English is widely spoken in the resort, including by many of the ski instructors.

Today, Engelberg is a modern and thriving resort with state-of-the art facilities and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere – it was recently voted the friendliest ski area in Europe.

The skiing season in Engelberg is long, which is testament to the excellent conditions which the resort enjoys. The main skiing season runs from early November to the end of May, although the lifts on the glacier are open in the summer as well for the super keen. The resort has also invested in extensive snow making facilities.

Skiing in Engelberg is extremely varied, catering for all abilities, from the Snowli Village, an area close to the Monastery which is dedicated to children learning to ski, to the “steep and deep” off-piste runs for which Engelberg is rightly famed.

There are two main skiing areas on either side of the resort - Titlis and Brunni.

The Brunni Mountain is best suited to beginners and to intermediate skiers who want to take things a little easier. There is also a wonderful children’s winter snow park called the Yeti Park.

The main skiing area in Engelberg is on the Titlis Mountain and is served by the Rotair, a cable car that revolves through 360 degrees (the first of its kind in the world), giving breath-taking views as you climb the mountain.

The slopes on Titlis rise to 3020 metres, giving an impressive vertical drop of 2000 metres. The run from the top of Titlis down to Engelberg village is a muscle-burning 12 kilometres long.

Beginners start on the lower slopes of Titlis, known as Gerschnialp, where there are several blue runs, before moving up to the early intermediate slopes at Trübsee (the name of the mountain lake which sits at 1800 metres). To get to many of the slopes here, skiers ride the Trübsee Hopper chairlift, which crosses above the frozen lake.

Titlis is perfect for intermediate skiers who have the run of the mountain, with several excellent red runs, although the black runs from the top of Titlis and on the Gemstock are only for the boldest of intermediate skiers, or experts. Mile-hungry intermediate piste bashers whose only interest is in skiing a new area every day may be better suited to one of the French mega-resorts. However, those who want varied and technically demanding slopes on which to test and hone their technique, amongst wonderful scenery, will be in their element in Engelberg.

For advanced intermediates who are ready to try something new or for those who are already expert skiers or boarders, Engelberg has fantastic off-piste skiing and boarding. The resort has long been a mecca for off-piste aficionados, with Scandinavian skiers and boarders in particular making their annual pilgrimage to the resort. Many end up staying for the entire season, exploring new places to indulge their passion.

Engelberg is extremely popular with snowboarders. Aside from the marked runs and off-piste areas, there are also two boarder parks, a rail park and a boarder cross slope.