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• Resort Guide

Resort Height: 1200m

Les Diablerets is an ancient and largely unspoilt village in a beautiful location within the Vaudois Alps. One of the early pioneers of winter sports holidays a century ago, people have been skiing on the gentle meadows beneath the forest slopes for many years, but that's just the very beginning for the huge ski possibilities from Les Diablerets today.

The resort has multiple attractions for skiers and boarders. There are the local ski slopes, which are lift linked to form a larger ski area incorporating neighbouring Gryon and Villars. The regional Alpes Vaudoises pass includes Les Mosses, Leysin, Gstaad, Adelboden and Lenk.

Then there is a separate high altitude glacier ski area, Glacier 3000, which offers skiing from October to May. From here you can see no fewer than 24, four-thousand-metre-high mountains including the Matterhorn, Jungfrau and Mont Blanc. The former cable cars up, which took a lead roll in one of the James Bond movies, have been replaced by modern lifts leading to the stunning Botta 3000 mountain restaurant, the award winning design of which was completed by architect Mario Botta.

Beginners

Beginners will find nursery slopes near to the resort and located next to the Swiss Snow Kids Village. The Iseneau ski area above the resort contains several pleasant blue progression runs to move on to once you have mastered basic technique, and there's a lovely long blue all the way back down to the village. Learn-to-ski packages including tuition, rentals and lift tickets are available through us.

Intermediates

Ideally suited to intermediates, you can ski a different area every day of the week if you wish. The Isenau area above the resort contains blue and red runs served by five drag lifts at the top of the lift up from resort.

You can ski down to Col du Pillon to get the cable car up to the glacier from there, or just take a five minute bus ride from the village centre. Stay on the bus and you reach Gstaad in about half an hour, where your area pass also covers some of the skiing.

From the other side of the village the lifts access the linked ski lifts of Gryon and Villars, offering much more intermediate level terrain. Still more ski areas at Leysin and Les Mosses are another short bus ride away.

Advanced

Experts are likely to find the most exciting terrain off the predominantly easy-intermediate pistes and on the open powder fields or down through the trees. Some of the runs below the glacier are quite challenging however, and one of the legendary runs in the area for good skiers is the 14km (nine mile) long Combe d'Audon run down from the glacier.

The local mountain guides provide off piste courses and ski touring excursions, whilst the Air-Glaciers company offer heliskiing excursions in the area.

Snowboarding

Glacier 3000's Monsterpark is rated as one of the best snow parks in Switzerland. Thanks to its location on the permanent ice fields it is also one of the longest established each year - from mid-October to May. The park offers three levels of difficulty and includes a Super Pipe and Big Mama to get the adrenaline pumping in every snowboarder and freeskier.

Other Activities and Facilities

Alternatives to downhill skiing include cross-country trails (there's a three kilometre year-round altitude loop on the glacier). Snowshoe hikes are available, as are day or night toboggan runs up to seven kilometres (four-and-a-half miles) long, ice-skating or curling.

There's also an indoor swimming-pool and sauna open to the public in the Hôtel des Diablerets. During the ski season, a lot of activities are organized by the village, including concerts, historical tours, farm and cheese-making visits, introduction to curling, and children activities such as sledging or craft afternoons.

The Alpine Coaster on Glacier 3000 is a special attraction, the highest of its kind in the world; this is a kind of downhill roller coaster accessed by a chair lift. The high adrenaline attraction features ten turns, six waves and three jumps along a one kilometre track, with a 520 degree turn culminating the experience. Also on the glacier there's the opportunity to try dog sledding.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Les Diablerets has a laid back nightlife with mostly hotel-based bars and restaurants. There are several lively bars, including Mac Twist, the locals' favourite L'Ormonan, and late night spots including the B' Bar and the discotheque La Pote.

The resort does have a reputation for great food. For Chinese and Italian cooking try Locanda Livia or Chez Lacroix. Regional cheese dishes are served at the Auberge de la Poste, les Souces and les Vioz amongst others. For gourmet standards the Café des Diablerets, Auberge de l'Ours or les Lilas are all good choices.

Families

Les Diablerets has the Swiss 'Families Welcome' official standard in recognition of its efforts at all levels, for families. A major bonus for families on a budget is that children do not pay for lift tickets here until age nine.

The Swiss Ski & Snowboard School Les Diablerets operates the Swiss Snow Kids Village, which provides ski or snowboard group or private lessons for children aged four and older. This operates daily with lessons from 9.45 to 11.45am and 1.30 to 3.30pm with or without lunch cover. Reservation is highly recommended, and obligatory in peak holiday periods.

Regular children's group lessons are available from age five and up. The Formule Club based at the Kids Village offers four to eight year olds ski lessons in the morning, lunch and then non-ski kindergarten in the afternoon and operates from 9.45am to 5pm.

For younger children the Kindergarten Le Diabolo accepts those aged at least two years old, for morning, afternoon or full day. Alternatively a baby sitter list is available from the tourist office.

Ski/Board Suitability Guide

Suitable for families:	[Yes]
Suitable for beginners:	[4]
Suitable for intermediate skiers:	[5]
Suitable for advanced skiers:	[4]
Suitable for boarders skiers:	[5]

Piste Map for Les diablerets

Accommodation in Les diablerets

• Des Diablerets - 4 star, half board
• Eurotel Victoria - 4 star, half board
• Le Chamois Hotel - 3 star, half board

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