Travel to Leysin with travel insurance from Essential Travel

One of the smaller resorts in the Gstaad area, Leysin is only 30kms from Lake Geneva in the canton of Vaud. Host to the Snowboarding Championships, the snow park at the resort is first-class. The resort is mainly popular with holidaymakers on a budget and students. Beginner and intermediate skilled skiers will find many runs prepared for them; while more advanced skiers can challenge themselves off-piste.

From its vantage point of 1,200m, the picturesque village of Leysin gives scenic views over the Rhône Valley. The village is small in size, but spaciously laid-out, so a bus may be needed to the ski lifts from your accommodation. Excellent services/facilities that you may expect from a larger resort are all present here, with good shopping, a museum and a convention centre.

Suitable mainly for beginners and intermediates, Leysin ski resort’s local pistes total 60kms, but when combined with Les Mosses resort, the length of runs available rises to 100kms. The longest of the runs is five kilometres. Sixteen ski lifts transport 12,400 skiers per hour.

The ski season at Leysin ski resort runs from December to April, with special rates available for pre-Christmas, January and mid-March guests. The most convenient route to the resort is to fly to Geneva, take a train to Aigle and then on to Leysin-Feydey.

Skiing in Leysin

The Vaud region, close to the eastern shores of Lake Geneva and above the town of Aigle, is the location for Leysin. Students and budget travellers like the ski resort, due to the après-ski options and the 42kms of gentle slopes (perfect for learners). Snowboarders are attracted to the village for the January Snowboarding Championships.

The 60kms of groomed slopes at Leysin provide an ideal location for beginners. An incredible 70 per cent of slopes at the resort are classified for beginners, leaving 20 per cent for intermediate and five per cent each for advanced and expert skiers. Eight draglifts, seven chairlifts and a gondola are able to move 12,400 people an hour. Cross-country enthusiasts are catered for with 10kms of trails.

Alternative winter activities at the resort of Leysin include: ice-skating, curling, paragliding, mountaineering, horseback riding and hiking along 40kms of mountain paths. The indoor sports centre offers swimming, tennis, squash and fitness. Plenty of busy bars and clubs keep the thriving après-ski scene alive.

At Leysin ski resort, the ski season runs from December to April. For those wishing to ski pre-Christmas, in January and mid-March, special deals are available. The best route to the resort is to fly to Geneva and take a train to Aigle and on to Leysin.

Apres-ski in Leysin

A wide range of accommodation can be found at Leysin, with 8,400 beds in total. Après-ski at the resort is provided by lively bars and nightclubs, especially when the students are present. For children (age two and up) a nursery ski school can provide tuition.

Crans-Montana and the Portes du Soleil circuits can be accessed with a six-day ski pass. Expert skiers will find more challenging alternatives to the Leysin runs here. An experience sightseers should not miss is a restaurant on Mount Berneuse; Le Kuklos resides at a height of 2,048m, so a cable car is necessary to reach this revolving restaurant’s amazing panoramic views.

Transportation to Leysin

Situated 30kms from Lake Geneva, Leysin ski resort sits above the town of Aigle. Access to the resort is available by road or rail. Self-drive is a feasible option, as there are many good roads. The most practical route is to fly to Geneva and use the train to transfer to the village.

By car, the route from Calais takes you via the cities of Reims, Dijon and Lausanne (830kms; eight hours). If you decide to hire a car from Geneva-Cointrin Airport, take the A-1/A9 autobahns around Lake Geneva, route 11(east) for Aigle and Le Sépey, and then to the resort. From Zürich (240kms), the drive utilises the A-1 and A-12 motorways.

From London by train, allow for three to five changes and a travel time of between 9 and 16 hours. The Eurostar train from London (Waterloo) to Paris (Nord) at 08:12 is one of the more convenient connections. From Paris (gare de Lyon) the TGV service goes to Lausanne; an Interregional train leaves from here to Aigle and then a regional for the final trip to Leysin-Feydey arrives at 18:10.

The nearest major airport is Geneva-Cointrin. The train from the airport to Leysin ski resort takes a little over two hours and leaves for Aigle frequently. From Aigle, the cog-rail train takes you the rest of the way. By car, the journey from Geneva should take around 1 hour, 30 minutes.

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