When I was thinking about where to go skiing alone with our little one, my choice was Elsigenalp. Simply because the website of this small ski resort in the Berner Oberland proclaims that it’s a great place for families with kids, literally a kids’ paradise. Is it really? You can see for yourself in the following lines.

Getting there

Elsigenalp is located in Berner Oberland. From Bern, you can get here by car in about an hour. Leave the A6/A8 motorway via the Spiez exit in the direction of “Kandersteg/Autoverlad”. Continue to Frutigen, then take the exit “Frutigen south” in the direction of Adelboden to Achseten. Follow the signpost “Elsigbach” in Achseten and turn left immediately after the second bridge to Elsigbach. Then you will drive about two kilometers uphill on a narrow road full of serpentines. Free parking is available at the valley station of the cable car.

Skiing at the Elsigenalp

Elsigenalp belongs to the “family” of ski resorts in Adelboden-Lenk. It forms a joint area of Elsigen-Metsch with the ski resort of Metschalp in close proximity. Together you will find 30 km of beautiful wide slopes of all abilities. Your ski pass is valid for both resorts, which you can switch between. My daughter and I only skied at Elsigenalp.

Ski pass prices

I positively welcome the fact that there are several types of ski passes to choose from – for 4 hours, from 11 am, all-day and multi-day.

A full-day ski pass for an adult costs 57 francs and 24 francs for a child aged 6-15. The deposit for a ski pass is 5 francs. You can also buy ski passes online – they are slightly cheaper than at the ticket office.

Skiing for the little ones

Just 150 m from the top station of the gondola is a paradise for the smallest skiers. Two of the three lifts (the low-rope lift and the platter lift leading towards the T-bone lifts) are even free of charge). The kid’s area includes a carousel and even an ice rink. Facilities for the little ones (toilets etc.) can be found in the Berggasthaus Elsigenalp just opposite.

Elsighorn

Make sure you don’t hesitate to ride the T-bone lift up to Elsighorn. Here you have a beautiful view of the valley and then up to Lake Thun and the impressive Niesen ridge. For the descent down, you can try the Speed Check – a timed speed section.

White pearl & “Krimi Spass” slope

The beautiful long blue slope “White Pearl” starts at the top station of the Homatti lift. The “Krimi Spass Piste” – the first ski slope in Switzerland where you can play detective and solve a murder mystery – starts a short distance away. Eleven stations for this interactive game are spread throughout the Elsigen-Metsch area. The start is either at the top station of the Elsigbach-Elsigenalp cable car or at the bottom station of the Metsch ski lift. We did the Krimi Spass a few years ago at our place – you can read about our experience here.

Snow Kids Park

Kids (and adults too) will love the Snow Kids Park.

Because who wouldn’t want to experience jumping over a car, driving through a container, going down a winding slope or ringing cowbells?

Valley run

Personally, I was most impressed by the 3.5 km long descent into the valley, directly to the parking lot. There is also a toboggan run on this trail, so be careful here.

Summary

• Elsigenalp is a small but very pleasant ski resort.
• Here you will find very well groomed, beautiful and wide slopes.
• There are only “pull” lifts in the ski area – so it’s basically a very good place for a windy day when other areas with chairlifts and cable cars may be closed.
• On the other hand, I would have appreciated if these lifts were staffed (there was only one T-bone lift staffed in the area). After all, if the resort presents itself as kid-friendly, and then the kid can’t reach the platter lift on their own, that takes away plus points from a great experience.
• I would also appreciate (but this is more of a minor detail) if the slopes were numbered in the printed version of the resort map – it would be better for easy orientation (because there are numbers on the slopes).

What about you? What is your experience with skiing on Elsigenalp? Did you like it here? Let me know in the comments!