Snowshoe hikers on the snowshoe trail on Rellerli. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Yannick Romagnoli / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Beautiful, snowy winter landscape on Rellerli.

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Sustainable winter holidays

Going on holiday without overburdening the environment? Experience the traditions of the region up close? Or discover nature up close and learn something about it in the process? We offer you various ways to spend your holidays more sustainably and we have a few tips for you!

We thank you for your commitment to making Gstaad more sustainable.

From the coachman's point of view, you can see two horses pulling a sledge. The landscape is snow-covered and at the back you can see a rocky mountain. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Melanie Uhkoetter / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Carriage ride in winter in Lauenen

Two people hiking through the snowy forest  ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Melanie Uhkoetter / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Winter hiking in forest

Three cheese biscuits lie on the table. There are also more cheese biscuits in a white cardboard box decorated with black silhouettes. The labelling is written in an old script. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Pia Ulrich / Stiftung Alpenruhe

Regional products from the holiday region Gstaad

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Our tips!

Together we can achieve more. Support us in our mission, for example by:

  • Staying longer with us - There are many reasons!
  • Travel to us as sustainably as possible. Why not travel by train for once?
  • Come Up - Slow Down - Take a break and discover our enjoyable places, coffees, restaurants and resting benches!
  • Shop locally. You'll get the best memories right here! From cheese to honey and meat, but also traditional silhouettes and more can be found in many local businesses! You will also learn a lot about how they are made.
  • Reduce, reuse and recycle - for less waste in our region! Thank you for your help.
  • Snow sports with respect - please respect the wildlife rest areas and wildlife reserves and stay on the paths in the forest. The wild animals will thank you for it.
  • Do you want to actively help us with our various events? We organise annual Trailkeeper Days and Clean-ups - get information via our newsletter.

«Slow traffic» to slow down

From one overnight stay in the holiday region Gstaad, you are entitled to the Gstaad Card. With this guest card, public transport in the holiday region is included. A highlight is certainly the train ride with the GoldenPass Express, the panorama or nostalgic train. In addition, almost all offers in the region are easily and uncomplicatedly accessible by public transport. Or why not simply walking!

View into a train compartment with an antique interior. Seat cushions are turquoise, ceiling is dark brown wood and there is a dark carpet on the floor. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Yannick Romagnoli / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Belle Epoque Train Gstaad

A dark blue/white train composition leaves a village and travels through a snowy landscape. The train consists of five cars. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 unbekannt / MOB

Train in winter

The Belle Époque train passing in front of a snowy mountain landscape. ©  (c) unbekannt / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

The Saanenland and Simmental now offer unrestricted mobility in winter, too

Couple hiking through the snowy mountain landscape on a winter hiking trail, past two snow-covered huts.  ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Yannick Romagnoli / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Go on an unforgettable winter hike through the most spectacular winter landscape.

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On the left in the foreground of the picture you can see the Hotel Palace - a white castle building. Around it you can see many green trees, wooded hills and at the back of the picture mountains with some snow on them. A green sticker is positioned on the top right-hand side. It says Swisstainable III - Leading and a small Swiss cross.

Swisstainable Level III - Leading

©  (c) unbekannt / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus, Gstaad Palace

All hotels in the Swiss sustainability programme Swisstainable

These accommodations are part of Swisstainable, the sustainability programme of «my Switzerland» and consciously address sustainability in their operations. The various hotels are labelled Level I (committed), Level II (engaged) or Level III (leading). They are constantly improving in the three areas of ecology, economy and society - all in the spirit of «a more sustainable Gstaad».

Our alpine and regional products

If you love culinary delights, the holiday region Gstaad is the right place for you. Regional specialities include various types of cheese, dried meat from Simmental cattle and Saanen mustard made from cherry purée.

There are four different paper bags with a small plastic window on a white base. In the windows you can see the different types of tea - green leaves and red and yellow flowers. The bags are nicely labelled and a small amount of open tea lies in front of them. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Pia Ulrich / Stiftung Alpenruhe

Tea varieties

Saanenbrätzeli are a thinly rolled sweet pastry. Two rolls lie crosswise on a third Brätzeli. Behind them you can see the white packaging box. It is labelled in old, black lettering and a quarter of a round silhouette is depicted on it. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Pia Ulrich / Stiftung Alpenruhe

Saanenbrätzeli

On a wooden table there is a bread basket, an empty cup, a sugar bowl, a jug, a cup with cream, small pieces of sliced cheese, pieces of alpine cheese and sliced cheese rolled in a glass. There is also a small bouquet of flowers in a glass. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Kerstin Sonnekalb / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Alpine products

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Two people hike with snowshoes through the powdery snow. You can see blue sky, snow-covered mountain peaks and further up an alpine hut. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Melanie Uhkoetter / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Snowshoeing

 Snowshoe hikers on the snowshoe trail on Rellerli. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Yannick Romagnoli / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Beautiful, snowy winter landscape on Rellerli.

 Two people snowshoeing on a sunny day ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Melanie Uhkoetter / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Couple hiking through fresh powdery snow with snowshoes.

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Snowshoe hikes

Trudging through the snow, enjoying the silence of nature - another highlight in our region! Unlike normal hiking boots, snowshoes prevent you from sinking into the deep snow. This means you can also go on tours off the official winter hiking trails. The view of the winter landscape with its snow-covered fir trees becomes even more intense - let yourself be surprised!

Fondue or raclette backpack - a highlight in winter too!

Our special backpacks make it possible to enjoy a regionally produced fondue or raclette in the middle of nature. The fondue or raclette backpack with the necessary accessories can be reserved at the dairies in the region, and the five oversized fondue caquelons and two specially equipped huts can be reached on foot, on skis or by public transport.

 Red fondue caquelon with two people’s hands eating cheese fondue. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Melanie Uhkoetter / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Exclusive fondue indulgence on the Wasserngrat with a magnificent view.

A fondue backpack next to a small picnic table on a ski slope, with a barn and snow-covered mountains in the background. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Marco Felix / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Fondue backpack on a ski slope

©  Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus
A red/white chequered tablecloth lies on a round table. On it is the ‘Vulcano’ outdoor raclette oven. There are two small towers of raclette cheese slices, two smaller loaves of bread, a black cheese pan and two white/yellow flowers (daisies). In the background is a brown rucksack. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Melanie Uhkoetter / Destination Gstaad / Melanie Uhkoetter

Raclette backpack

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From the coachman's point of view, you can see two horses pulling a sledge. The landscape is snow-covered and at the back you can see a rocky mountain. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Melanie Uhkoetter / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Carriage ride in winter in Lauenen

 Snow-covered Gstaad promenade with a view of the chalets and horse-drawn carriage ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Melanie Uhkoetter / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Romantic carriage ride through the snow-covered chalet village.

 Horse-drawn carriage drives alongside the snow-covered Lake Lauenen. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Melanie Uhkoetter / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Carriage drives around Lake Lauenen.

Two laughing women sit in a carriage covered and warmly dressed while they drive through the snowy winter landscape. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Melanie Uhkoetter / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Cozy and magical excursion through the winter landscape.

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Enjoy a comfortable carriage ride!

A ride on a horse-drawn sleigh through the beautiful area is a year-round highlight in the holiday region Gstaad. Thanks to the various carriage companies and their different routes, there is a great choice of experiences. Your own route requests will also be taken into account.

Winter hiking - simply switch off!

How about a romantic hike through the snow-covered winter landscape of our region? The many prepared winter hiking trails invite you to take short or longer tours. Whether in the valley or on our magnificent mountains, our many attractions guarantee you an unforgettable experience. Enjoy a hike with a local hiking guide - their extensive knowledge will make your sporting excursion even more educational.

Two people hiking through the snowy forest  ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Melanie Uhkoetter / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Winter hiking in forest

Two people walking along the winter hiking trail at sunrise in front of an impressive mountain backdrop ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Yannick Romagnoli / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Magical atmosphere on the Eggli

 Couple hiking hand in hand on a winter hiking trail, against a snowy mountain backdrop ©  (c) Yannick Romagnoli / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Winter hike with great views of the mountains.

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A man is making a Saanen sledge with a drill. The sledge is on the workbench and almost finished. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Katrin Espiasse / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Sledge builder

The sledge maker saws the sledge timbers with a machine. He wears a noise protector. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Katrin Espiasse / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Sledge maker with machine

The sledge builder burns the name of the sledge into the wood with a hot iron. The sledge lies on its back. ©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Katrin Espiasse / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Building a sledge

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Make your own sledge!

Have you ever conquered the slopes with a sledge you made yourself? With this activity, you can. You will get an insight into the traditional art of toboggan-making and assistance to make your own toboggan. An Älpler Zvieri (Alpine snack) with regional products can be booked on request.

Build your own snowshoes

Take up the challenge and make your own snowshoes! The material is already provided and together with your guide you will learn step by step how to make two snowshoes. To top it all off, you can test your self-made shoes directly in the terrain on a snowshoe tour. So, what are you waiting for!

Two snowshoes made in the traditional way. With a wooden frame, struts made of ropes and two straps to tie them on.

Snowshoes like in the old days

©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Michel Zysset / Alpinzentrum Gstaad
A glass cup full of dark red Saanen mustard with a teaspoon in it. Next to it is a yellow flower on the table.

Saanen Mustard

©  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 unbekannt / Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus

Saanen mustard – the perfect souvenir

Saanen mustard – a genuine local product! Every family has its own Saanen mustard secret recipe. It is therefore interesting to produce a jar of Saanen mustard together with the locals. Unlike other types of mustard, cherry puree is used here. Why not take advantage of this Gstaad Card offer to find out more about this classic.