Leukerbad: Thermal Springs and Mountain Scenery
Accommodation in Leukerbad
Leukerbad combines thermal waters, alpine trails and winter activities. Consider whether you would like to focus on thermal baths and cultural trails or on mountain and winter sports during your stay.
Thermal waters and trails through the village
Leukerbad Therme has ten indoor and outdoor pools with water temperatures ranging from 28 to 44 degrees. Attractions include two slides: the Badnerblitz is 126 metres long and has two 360-degree curves, while the BĂĽrgerblitz is 106 metres long. Opening hours may change, so check the information for your planned visit.
The approximately 2.5-kilometre-long Thermal Springs Route runs through the village and along the Dala Gorge. Nine information panels explain how the springs formed and how thermal water has been used in Leukerbad since Roman times. The approximately 600-metre-long Thermal Springs Footbridge also runs through the Dala Gorge. This steel structure allows you to draw thermal water directly from a spring. Access and trail conditions may change; check the current situation before your visit.
Gemmi, Torrent and mountain sports
The Gemmi cable car takes you from Leukerbad to the Gemmi Pass, at an altitude of 2,350 metres, in just a few minutes. It operates seasonally and schedules may change, so it is worth checking the timetable for your travel date. The historic Gemmi Pass connects Leukerbad with Kandersteg. This connection does not run along roads; it is made by mountain cable car.
The ascent to Torrenthorn leads across the alpine pastures of Torrent. In summer, cows, sheep and goats graze there. When visibility is good, the summit offers a 360-degree panorama. The Torrent ski area offers a different focus: 50 kilometres of pistes and views of 20 peaks over 4,000 metres in the Valais and the RhĂ´ne Valley. Facilities and seasonal operations may change.
The adventure via ferrata above Leukerbad is another standout mountain-sports option. The horizontal route is 800 metres long and includes a 65-metre suspension bridge and a 20-metre ladder that twists through 540 degrees. Access depends on safety conditions.
Hiking and winter trails
The easy hike to Majingsee can be reached from Leukerbad via two routes and takes about two hours. Along the way, there are panoramic views of Torrent and the Gemmi. The Römerweg Leukerbad is an approximately seven-kilometre circular hike starting at the Leukerbad Sports Arena; in winter, it is also suitable for snowshoeing. The route passes through traditional alpine hamlets with sunlit wooden houses, barns and small chapels.
For sledging, the Snowpark Sportarena has a roughly 150-metre-long run that is separate from the ski slope. Sledges and bobsleighs can be rented on site. On the Gemmi, the Gemmiwind sledging run starts at Gemmi Lodge 2350 and winds down in a wide curve to Daubensee. A small shuttle cable car takes you back to the Gemmi Pass. The Daubensee–Gemmi area also has cross-country ski trails that are five and seven kilometres long. The Gemmi cable car takes you to the plateau; from there, a shuttle goes to Daubensee.
Culture in the village
Galerie St. Laurent is in the historic centre, right by the village square. Local artists and artists from across Switzerland exhibit their work there. The gallery’s Literature Lounge is open to the public and offers a curated selection of books. The Dala-Raspille Cultural Trail also starts in Leukerbad and is marked as a cultural route.
Leukerbad played a role in the early history of tourism in Switzerland. Notable visitors included Isabelle de Charrière, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Guy de Maupassant and Mark Twain. For over 30 years, authors, publishers and literature enthusiasts from around the world have gathered in Leukerbad to read, discuss and exchange ideas.
When choosing when to travel, you can weigh up the thermal baths, which are open year-round, against the seasonal mountain activities. This lets you tailor your search for hotels in Leukerbad to the experiences you would like to focus on during your stay.
Discover more destinations:
Ergisch, Varen, Turtmann, Gampel-Bratsch, Leuk, Agarn, Inden, Niedergampel
Back to the main travel overview: Leuk.
