Resort Guide for Les Diablerets, Switzerland

Resort Profile

Les Diablerets' skiing has two main sectors, both of major significance. Firstly the Isenau gondola rises from one side of the resort to the local skiing on the mountain. Here there are red runs served by drag lifts above the tree line and long reds back down to the resort. Most significant, however, is a long trail down to Col du Pillon where, after crossing the road, skiers can take the cable cars up to the Diablerets glacier and some of the most exciting skiing in the area. From the glacier itself there's a wonderfully long easy run of 14km (9 miles), with one unavoidable steep black mogul section which eventually takes you back to the ski bus stop at Reusch on the road to Gstaad. You will ski a 1650m (5414feet) vertical on this one descent. Incidentally, whether you take this route, or the cable car back down to Col du Pillon, you will then need to take the ski bus or some other transport back to the resorts as the lifts can get you from the village to the glacier, but not all the way back! Les Diablerets' second and larger ski sector is accessed through a series of chair lifts up towards the Chaux des Conches area, above the tree line linking the resort to Villars since the mid '90s. This recent link means that skiers based at Les Diablerets have access to a huge area of largely intermediate standard skiing above Villars and over on to a third mountain area below Croix des Chaux with its long blues and shorter blacks. Beginners have nursery slopes by the village itself. Apart from the on-piste expert options it's worth hiring one of the resort's dozen mountain guides to take you out on one of the high-mountain tours or off-piste descents; heli-skiing is also available. The Alpes Vaudoises Pass means that skiers can choose to take a combination of public transport options (bus and train) between resorts and hop onto the lifts of neighbouring Chateaux d'Oex, Saanenmoser, Adelboden, Leysin or Rougemont and half-a-dozen other areas. A minimum four day pass must be purchased and a day is normally allowed in each area. If you're looking for inspiration then the resort does boast two champions of its own, Lise-Marie Morerod, World Cup Downhill winner of 1977. Telemark skiing and Big Foot is offered by the ski school and there are 25km of cross-country trails, including a 5km (3 mile) floodlit loop).

Resort Statistics

	Resort Height : 1155
	Top Station : 3000
	Bottom Station : 1155
	Vertical Descent : 1845
	Drag Lifts : 15
	Chair Lifts : 4
	Opens : Dec - April & May - Nov
	Expert Rating : 6
	Intermediate Rating : 10
	Beginner Rating : 8

Accomodation & Après Ski

Accomodation data not available.