Adelboden Lenk Ski Resort

Host of the FIS Ski World Cup on January 11 & 12 (Men's Slalom / Giant Slalom).

210 kilometres of exhilarating groomers, 72 lifts and a bumper season extending from November to May: No wonder the ski region Adelboden-Lenk is a favourite among all winter sports fans. High in the Bernese Oberland, skiers can take their pick between five ski areas, each offering a range of runs spanning all difficulties and tastes.

The largest ski area, boasting 80 kilometres of runs, links two major towns in the region, with Lenk in the Simmen valley and Adelboden in the Engstligen valley providing the access points. Beginners are best advised to take the lifts up from Lenk, as the slopes surrounding Metschstand (2,100m) and Hahnenmoos (1,957m) serve up plenty of inviting blue-marked runs. Hahnenmoos should also be the first port of call for freestylers, home as it is to the Gran Masta Park. This terrain park offers rails and jumps for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. From Adelboden, there is quick access to the groomers down from Sillerenbühl (1,974m) and Aebi (1,530m), both of which offer plenty in the way of eye-catching intermediate runs for advanced skiers. Experts should head for the Boden-Chuenisbärgli lift which links to the top of the area’s famous World Cup course.

Adelboden-Lenk not only offers a huge amount of terrain, it also has a great choice of mountain lodges and restaurants: The ski area boasts over 18 places to eat and drink. Restaurant Aebi serves delicious dishes on a sun deck decorated with cow bells – it doesn’t get much more Alpine than this! If it’s views you’re after, head for Panoramarestaurant Bühlberg which towers over Lenk and offers sumptuous vistas over the surrounding mountains. Traditional dishes like Rösti and Fondue are fixtures on the menu at Chuenisbärgli.

If you feel confident in your abilities, the ski area offers the unique opportunity to try your hand on the World Cup Course on the Chuenisbärgli.

The winter backcountry can also be easily explored on a winter hike, with the region offering some 190 kilometres of paths. In Adelboden, for instance, there is a circular route on the Engstligenalp which takes in a flat, high-level plateau. If you are looking for a longer route, there is an excellent three-hour trek starting at Gasthaus Höchst. In Lenk there are plenty of other routes signposted, including through the valley or up to the Betelberg or Bühlberg-Metsch.
Sledding fans won’t be disappointed in Adelboden Lenk either. In Lenk, they can choose between a three and six-kilometre course. Adelboden even offers as many as seven different sledding runs, with the longest winding five kilometres down from Sillerenbühl-Bergläger.
If you fancy making a splash away from the slopes, the Hallenbad Frutigen offers four different pools and a chill-out area with panoramic views of the mountains. Lenk boasts the Wallbach Badleisure centre with a 25 m pool as well as an outdoor whirlpool with 34°C water to help relax those tired muscles.

After the mountain closes, the party continues in Adelboden in the Time Out Pub, Scott’s Bar or the Berna-Bar. In Lenk, Bar Bazar and the Tipi-Bar are the places to be.

In Lenk, food lovers should not pass up the opportunity to taste the delights of Lenkerhof. Oh de vie serves Mediterranean dishes, while the Spettacolo offers food from all corners of the world. The cuisine even picked up 15 points from the Gault Millau guide. Foodies visiting Adelboden should head for Aebi if they want to taste the bounty of the region and products from the restaurant’s own farm. The Alpenblick is known locally for its outstanding meat specialities, and it received 14 Gault Millau points. If you are looking for a taste of the exotic, the Tropenhaus Frutigen serves unusual fruits and specially bred fish, something that no doubt helped the restaurant pick up 13 Gault Millau points.

By car: Take the Spiez exit after following the A6. If you want to hit the slopes from Adelboden, follow the main road towards Frutigen-Adelboden. If Lenk is your destination, head along the Bundesstraße 11 until Zweisimmen and then turn onto Lenkstraße there.

By public transportation: If you are travelling by train, alight at the station in Frutigen for Adelboden. Visitors to Lenk can take the train to Zweisimmen, from where the “RegioExpress Lötschberger” departs to Lenk.

The airport in Bern is only one hour away from the ski area.