I know Switzerland is great for downhill skiing, but what about for cross-country skiing? Are there any resorts that might be particularly nice for XC? How is Bernese Oberland? Any recommendations for resort hotels there?<BR>Thanks in advance for any advice!

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J, a lot depends on the snow situation -if it's a good year, there'll be plenty at 1'000m and up, and it's generally at this altitude that you'll get most X-country skiing opportunities. If it's not that great a year, then it's better to focus on higher-altitude areas, say at 1'400 m. and slightly higher. One particularly well-known is the Engadine area in eastern Switzerland, the swath of valley from Maloja/Sils Maria all the way to Scuols. This is where the Swiss Ski Marathon is held everyyear. Can't really tell you the best resort to stay in; have stayed in Pontresina, which sits up above the valley somewhat, and lodged at the Hotel La Collina, excellent and great service. There is an indoor swimming pool complex in the village if you want any further wellness-type facilities.<BR><BR>Otherwise, in Switzerland, would recommend:<BR><BR>In the Berner Oberland/Fribourg Pre-Alp area:<BR>- the whole region comprising Chateau d'Oex-Rougement-Saanen-Gstaad-Sch&ouml;nried-Saanenmoser. Very nice places to stay are Hostellerie Bon Acceuill in Chateaux d'Oex; Hostellerie Alpenrose in Schoenried; and Hotel Hornberg in Saanenmoser. Gstaad is the glitzier place of the lot, plus there's an indoor swimming pool/wellness complex there. <BR><BR>- Other areas in Switzerland: Gruyere/Charmey (Fribourg canton); the Jura mountains around La Chaux de Fonds; Flims/Laax near Chur (Hotel Adula is great, has a super wellness complex); and Lenzerheide.<BR><BR>For further hotel ideas, do a search on www.swisshotels.ch<BR><BR>

Hi J! Another suggestion...Not in Switzerland, but in the Dolomites in Italy. The Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa are well-known for their cross-country terrain.

Absolutely agree with xxx. The Engadine, especially the Upper Engadine around St. Moritz, is probably the best XC-region in the Alps. About 180 km of tracks at an altitude of 1600 to 2200 meters. <BR>www.skiengadin.ch www.stmoritz.ch<BR>You should stay in Sils, Silvaplana or Pontresina.<BR><BR>I second the recommendation of Saanen/Gstaad/Chateau d'Oex. Unfortunately not very snow reliable in the valleys. www.gstaad.ch<BR><BR>The Jura mountains are also great - Vallee de Joux is probably the best area there. www.valleedejoux.ch The landscape has a more nordic character - plains with large forests and lovely hills.<BR><BR>I was not very impressed by Flims/Laax and Lenzerheide. The tracks are quite short - 50 or 60 km in each resort. Flims/Laax is relatively risky for snow conditions.<BR><BR>Davos/Klosters are very good for XC. Davos about 75 km, Klosters 50 km.<BR><BR>Not to forget one resort in the canton Valais - Goms, the upper Rhone valley. About 100 km of XC tracks, quite snow reliable. Not crowded, nice typical villages.<BR><BR>Ingo<BR><BR>

Ingo - that's right about Davos, forgot there's a whole sort of plateau up there for X-country. And I must have had a memory block about the Valee Joux in the Jura, as I've X-country skied in some races in that area (back in my &quot;youth&quot - also on top of the ridge that demarks the Vallee Joux from the lower Swiss Lac Leman area.<BR><BR>But in the end, IT'S ALL A QUESTION OF THE SNOW!

Hi j<BR>There are also a lot of other places in the Berner Oberland with great cross-country skiing slopes beside: http://www.kandersteg.ch/english/sport/langlauf.html<BR>In my opinion Oeschinensee is one of the most beautiful alpine lakes...<BR>From Kandersteg it's not so far to Elsigenalp (above Frutigen) or to Adelboden as well (www.adelboden.ch - also in English). Have Fun!

Sorry forgot to mention; the Oeschinensee will probably be frozen, thats where one of the slopes will be.

xxx, you are absolutely correct, it is a question of snow. But you can be quite sure to have snow in Davos, Goms and the Engadine. Last year, when the snow situation was very bad, they started their snow machines and prepared about 60 km of tracks around St. Moritz!<BR><BR>I cannot believe I forgot Kandersteg! Very good area for XC. Sunnbuel and Lake Oeschinen are also very snow reliable, both accessible by lift.<BR><BR>Ingo