Ski Holidays to Klosters | SkiingHolidays.com

The elegant Klosters resort has become synonymous with the rich and famous and visiting royals, in particular Prince Charles who loves the excellent off-piste. They come for the old-world charm, the quieter slopes and the upmarket feel. Linked with big bustling Swiss resort Davos, Klosters has 307 km of pistes, across six ski areas - Gotschna, Jakobshorn, Madrisa, Parsenn, Pischa and Rinerhorn. You can jump on the Rhaetian Railway between Klosters and Davos, and use an extensive railway network and buses to access the other areas.

Beginners will love Madrisa which is close to the two villages in the resort, and will find descent variety of slopes to progress on as the whole area is really suited to learners and intermediates. This is also a great place to keep warm - when it's a nice day the slopes are drenched in sun for the entire day. Try the longest, most scenic Madrisa run - head from Glatteggen, 8.340 feet down to the Sclappin overlook.

Intermediates will find a wide open paradise for cruising in the massive expanse of Parsenn, and if experts can tear themselves away from the off-piste, they'll enjoy the steep runs from the highest point (Weissfluhgipfel) and the sharp runs into the Klosters villages. If you want to really push yourself, join a ski mountaineering trek to Austria, combining both skiing and climbing. Boarders and freestyle lovers will head straight to the Sunrise Snowpark, which centres around a 110 m long, 5.5 m high Nidecker monsterpipe.

The quaint centre of town is packed with boutique specialty stores and surrounded by elegant homes. The two pretty villages, Klosters-Platz and Kloster-Dorf have a cosy ambience in complete opposition to the hustle, bustle and multi-story buildings of Davos. There are great on-and-off -mountain restaurants and in general the nightlife is fun but low key, with Platz the more lively area than sleepy Dorf. Klosters can be a little on the expensive side, but with its beautiful ambiance, charm, massive slopes and excellent facilities it can't be beaten as a mountain escape.

beginner skiers

Beginners should hang out on the sunny Madrisa slopes, which are all geared towards learners and intermediates, and are right near the villages. Also paradise for beginners - Pischa and Rinerhorn. Klosters is split into Dorf and Platz. Dorf is quite a good place to stay if you are a beginner or novice skier because it is closer to Madrisa.

intermediate skiers

There is more skiing on the Madrisa than the piste map suggests - even intermediates will enjoy a day or two here. The Gotschna cable-car takes skiers up to a range of challenging reds on Gotschnagrat and Parsenn.ody.

expert skiers

The best expert runs on the Parsenn are from the top of the Weissfluhgipfel. Otherwise you might find the rest of the runs there a little boring, so speak to instructors about where the steepest lines to take are. Elsewhere, the trails that drop into town alongside the Parsennbahn are wickedly challenging and the Drostobel-to-Klosters run is narrow and sometimes steep. The Wang trail, which runs directly under the Gotschna cable car, is one of the toughest expert runs in Europe. The black runs on Jakobshorn and Rinerhorn will test the more experienced skiers, and boarders love Jakobshorn and Pischa.

Klosters Ski Schools

You have a good selection of ski and snowboard schools in Klosters, offering private and group lessons for all abilities and a great kindergarten and playground for small children.

Absolute Powder

Absolute Powder guarantees you are choosing a real professional. All their instructors have gone through formal Swiss snowsport education, have at least 10 years` experience and are continuously taking courses to keep up to date. You choose your snowsport-instructor yourself. At each member you can see the attached diary and their availability. Should your first pick be booked already, please check out their other members.
www.absolute-powder.ch

Après Ski and Off the Mountain Activities

Après Ski

Klosters nightlife is fun and chic, but low key. When leaving the slopes you can ski down to Gaudi's Graströchni for a refreshing après-ski drink. Most of the nightlife centres around the major hotels. The Piano Bar at Chesa Grischuna is the most stylish. The late-night disco/club in town is the Casa Antica, with a disco on the ground floor, and classy cocktail bars on the two upper floors. The Schwendis (mountain chalet bars) and favourite spots like Gaudi's get packed with people straight from the slopes. There are some fabulous restaurants, including the Michelin-starred The Walserhof, the traditional, rustic and affordable Chesa Grischuna and Post Aeuja which serves up fondue specialties such as fondue bourguignon. A bit out of town by taxi or sleigh ride is Höhwald in Monbiel with a wonderful rustic setting. And for delicious pizzas try Al Berto.

off the mountain

Klosters is permeated with small speciality stores and some exclusive art and crafts galleries. You can also head over to Davos, a mega-resort with more than 100 stores. The Klosters museum Nutli Hüschi houses valuable exhibits and gives you the chance to check out a typical 16th century Prättigau farmhouse inside and out. The head along to St. Jacob's Church and the old corn mill in Rohr. There are several beautiful marked walks up and down the valley by the river and up the mountains like the walk past the ancient hamlet of Montbiel to the old Garfiun restaurant where cross-country skiers and walkers take a break in the sun. If you're not in a hurry and like to stop and smell the roses, take a trip on the Glacier Express. Advertised as the 'slowest express train in the world', the Glacier Express is also the most panoramic, and is a breathtaking way to experience the magnificence of the Swiss Alps. The seven and a half hour journey begins daily from Zermatt and train crosses more than 291 bridges, winds its way through 91 tunnels and seven valleys and over the 6,670ft (2,033m). There are also seven toboggan runs, ice hockey and figure skating lessons, organised snow-shoe treks, curling rinks and horse-drawn sleigh rides through snowy landscapes. Most of the larger hotels in the area offer indoor swimming pools and spa treatments. In nearby Davos, reached by bus or train in a few minutes, there is indoor golf, tennis and squash and a large casino.

How to get to Klosters

by air

The closes airport is Zürich International Airport (150kms) which is serviced by scheduled and charter services worldwide. Two trains per hour head from Zürich to Klosters via Landquart, where you board a second train (2 hours, 30 minutes); hourly trains leave Landquart for Klosters. You can reduce the transfer time by an hour if you hire a car from the airport. The other options are Geneva Cointrin International Airport (GVA), and Berne Belp Airport (BRN).

by train

There are two trains from Zurich International Airport, every one hour, which travel to Landquart. At Landquart you must change on the train to Klosters. There are suitable connection trains hourly. Travelling by car will take you an hour less than the train combination.

by car

From Zurich International Airport, get on the A3 Zurich-Chur road. When you reach the Landquart/Davos exit continue via Kublis and then to Klosters-Dorf. The road will finally take you to Klosters-Platz.