Spring, summer, autumn or winter – seasons are not paramount for the travellers. For them, their joy lies travelling. For some, however, travelling within Switzerland during the cold winters and chilly springs might require an extra touch of effort to persuade the brain to stop lolling and to head right out into the cold snowy white world.
White is beautiful, white is serene and white is Haldigrat. Away from the prying eyes of the touristic army, Haldigrat is one of my most recent discoveries – and it is just about the one-and-a-half-hour-long drive from Zurich.
Alternatively, you could take a train from Zurich to Lucerne and from Lucerne to the Niederrickenbach station, walk for about 5-7 minutes and take a cable car from valley station Dallenwil-Niederrickenbach to brace the cold and find yourself centre stage in the middle of a winter wonderland.
Google map directions to Haldigrat
The real joy is the 30-minute walk along a wide, well-maintained path to the Alpboden. The trail is beautiful under the grey sky with plummeting temperature and even better when the skies are bright blue and the sun is gleaming off the white slopes.
Then head to the chairlift to Haldigrat at Alpboden. The lift is around 1200 mt above sea level. The 12-minute-trip makes you witness the best of the wintry landscape – the white mountains, meadows, piste and sometimes the wildlife that may not be easy to spot all year-round.
On top of the mountain, there is a perfect abode to live up those cold long evenings by the crackling fire. The restaurant-cum-mountain inn at Haldigrat is ideal for a little break from the city life. In winter, the place beams with local skiers. The affordability of the place makes it an enticing getaway.
Most people get back to their city-lives as the darkness sets in. However, staying there overnight is altogether a different experience. Imagine the bliss of watching the snowfall on the top of the mountain, from a cosy, well-lighted house, sipping coffee or wine and listening to the winds of winter.
For those looking for snow adventure, the place offers easy access, and unlike many other ski resorts, Haldigrat is very affordable.
While it is a fact that most of the Swiss Alps in winters turn into an outdoor playground for the skiers and that places like Zermatt, Arosa, Pizol and Davos are among the most visited ones, Haldigrat is for those who are looking for a crowd-free snowy escapade. It is apt for a freerider, a family group or even the beginners trying to learn the basic of the skiing (without being embarrassed in front of a crowd – if that matters!). The place offers one of the most scenic mountain views, delectable cuisine and some of the best ski runs.
Winter sport is not everyone’s cup of tea unless one counts snowball throwing and playing tic-tac-toe on snow. So, yes, there is something for everyone – and what better way to be out and about to enjoy the snowy Alps in winter during the days and cosy up by a fireplace in the evenings.
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