Laax Skiing at a Glance:
Vertical 6,292’
Summit 9,900’
235 kilometers of slopes, 28 lifts
4 terrain parks, 30 on mountain restaurants
Laax Official Web Site
Everyone’s heard of Switzerland’ skiing at Zermatt, Gstaad, Verbier, but have you heard of Laax? Well, “relax” and check out Laax in central Switzerland’s beautiful Graubünden region. This huge ski arena connects three villages, Falera, Laax and Flims west to east, and has tons of ski terrain and modern lifts, plus lots of on mountain chalets for scenic delicious ski to lunches.
Riding lifts from the lower villages of Falera, Laax and Flims, you arrive above-tree-line to high alpine plateaus, spectacular alps views, lot of modern lifts (28 total) in many directions, and big mountain terrain – you can ski almost everywhere you can see.
Laax skiing is mostly moderate in pitch, with wide groomed pistes (trails), a few interesting forested trails down the valley, and top terrain parks like the 23’ Super pipe at the Galaaxy summit. Laax’s highest elevation skiing is at 9,900’ on the Vorab Glacier which you reached via a connection of several gondolas and trams, then finally up the side by side T-Bars that serve two glacier runs.
Laax’s central summit hub is Crap Sogn Gion – home to the bizarre GALAAXY perched atop the peak where six lifts intersect. This massive mountain lodge is home to two trams stations, a hotel, and resembles a spaceship with its recent reno from its 50s design. From the outside its funky, inside its fun and whimsical with a copper fireplace lounge, an old school library, an LP record room, a vintage TV room, and a mod hotel and hostel. The Galaaxy rooftop Bridge Bar and Hanger offer panoramic views, towering over the slopes and Laax’s superpipe.
Laax’s modern lifts handle the masses, on all this terrain, from well-groomed long runs, to high alpine bowls, with high capacity gondolas, two big trams, and lots of quads and six-pack chairs. For free riders and adventurers, Laax’s off-piste terrain to explore is huge, just off the groomed marked trails, hire a guide to be safe on these unmarked unmonitored slopes.
Laax is loaded with on mountain chalets, 30 ski-to restaurants and bars from cozy chalets to mod and chic lodges, most offer stellar views and sun terraces for outdoor dining, plus interior dining. Stalla Alp Nagens is a classic ski hut with a huge scenic sun terrace, and a cozy interior where we dined on cheesy Raclette the Chef melted over an open fire. More mod, Elephant is a chic Michelin-rated restaurant at the Crap Masegn summit, elegant cuisine is served in this chic setting, ask about the true story of the Elephant here at 7,000’, and be sure to visit the toilets with the best view ever, really!
Lodging at Laax, we enjoyed being slopeside at Swisshotel Flims with a mountain view balcony from our nice room, steps to the gondola, with underground parking, a ski room, and an adults spa. Waking to church bells in the village, and a bountiful breakfast in their La Griglia restaurant, where fondue dinner is served in the Stubli, and watching the night sledding on the ski slopes, sleeping under down duvets to the sound of groomers out our balcony door – perfectly relaxed in Laax. In the heart of Flims village, we could walk to après ski next door at Arena, shopping and a Coop market in the Stenna base lodge, fine dining at Chesa. Romantik Hotel Schwietzerhof looks even more luxe in Laax.
Laax has lots to do for the non-skiers too, sledding on designated groomed trails, Nordic skiing, and winter wandering (lift accessible walking trails) in the high alpine, or riding the gondolas and trams to the upper mountain to meet your ski friends for a scenic lunch.
A Swiss Alps ski holiday in Laax could encompass skiing nearby Arosa Lenzerheide, Obersaxen, Brigels, Davos, and Andermatt. Laax is just 140 km to Zurich.
