Lauchernalp, a peaceful paradise and off-piste delight, lies in the Swiss region of Wallis: a ‘snow-locked’ ski in/ski out resort for powder junkies and families alike.

Lauchernalp (or Lotschental) could easily be overlooked by skiers, being a traditional and smaller resort and boasting modest piste mileage. At 1968m Lauchernalp can easily be considered a ‘high altitude’ resort. With an excellent snow record, visitors are rarely disappointed. The ski in/out resort and the village of Willer below are favoured by Swiss and Dutch skiers but are little known to those in the UK. The villages of Willer and nearby Kippel lie in the shadow of the mighty Hockenhorn. At 3293m and with the piste reaching 311m, the descent to the valley below takes you through two vertical kilometres.

The Hockenhorn glacier lies adjacent to the piste and is overlooked by the Hockenhorngrat lift station, adding drama to the incredible beauty of the Lauchernalp valley. Facing the Hockenhorn across the valley is Bietschhorn, the chief peak above the staggering Grosser Aletsch glacier, a site of incredible beauty and wonder in both winter and summer seasons and well worth a visit. The villages are drenched in traditional and unique architecture with winding narrow roads sheltered by local businesses and a range of ski accommodation.

The resort is car-free and accessed most conveniently in winter via the cable car from Willer below. The lack of traffic makes Lauchernalp especially peaceful and popular with families. In Lauchernalp, your skis or board can take you almost everywhere and the lifts will take you back again – most ski accommodation is very close to the piste and the resort’s amenities are mostly adjacent to a gentle blue  run that courses through the resort centre.

There are good runs for skiers of all levels and some steep advanced runs to challenge the more experienced. Bear in mind, however, that heading up to the top for a clean run to the bottom can be a bit tricky for beginners as there are sections where the choice is between red and black runs. The piste grooming is good and the lifts are modern. However, the secret of Lauchernalp isn’t found on the piste. The rolling powder-full slopes provide skiers and boarders with endless off-piste adventures for all skill levels, both near to and far from the beaten track. As with all off-piste skiing, guidance and caution is important, but great local knowledge can be found amongst local ski schools and chalet owners.

The pistes of Lauchernalp are not complex. With only a handful of options at each main meeting point, this is excellent for groups that want to split up and reconvene with ease. And though this could be unfortunate for those who enjoy a ‘big day’ tour of many peaks and valleys, as we know, the adventurers in Lauchernalps do so off piste.