You can enjoy Switzerland beyond skiing—here's how

Switzerland’s sporty mountain resorts have traditionally offered far more than just downhill skiing. In these long-settled local towns, getting from A to B in winter has often required ingenuity. In Arosa, a horse-drawn sleigh takes riders from railway station to hotel, while in the Engadine, the Ice Trail winds skaters 3km along the River Inn, and over in St Moritz there’s the chance to go skijöring — horse-powered skiing — across sparkling St Moritzersee lake. From winter walking and snowshoeing to skijöring, ice skating and more, the Swiss Alps offer some of the most diverse ways to have fun on frozen water.

Take a winter walk in Laax

With 224km of slopes stretching up to the Vorab glacier, five snow parks and the world’s largest halfpipe, Laax is known for its freestyle skiing. For something less hair-raising, try its 100km of winter trails and the 1.6km treetop walk. Ski Solutions offers seven nights self-catering at the Rocks Resort from £1,295 per person, including flights and rail transfers.

Hit the ice around Scuol

This little-known resort in the Engadine valley has some 80km of pistes that curve through a wooded landscape. But for a different type of forest adventure, try the Engadine Ice Trail for skaters that winds 3km along the River Inn, with plenty of ups and downs en route. The Swiss Holiday Company offers four nights at Hotel Belvedere from £1,298 per person, B&B, including flights and rail transfers.

Go ballooning over Château d’Oex

Just 90 minutes from Geneva, you’ll find a host of top-notch ski spots such as Villars, Les Diablerets and Saas-Fee, all now covered by the new Magic Pass lift pass. Hop off at Château d’Oex for a magical hot air balloon ride from CHF299 (£278) per person. Fred Holidays offers four nights at Hotel Landhaus, in Saanen, from £1,105 per person, B&B, including flights and rail transfers.

Try skijöring in St Moritz

St Moritz is a place to be seen, especially in February when thousands attend the White Turf skijöring races. Try the horse-powered skiing yourself, with sessions taking you across the beautiful expanse of frozen St Moritzersee lake. From CHF190 (£177) for 90-minutes, including training. Inghams offers seven nights at Hotel Monopol including half board, flights and transfers from £1,809 per person.

Go cross country in Davos

From the chic town of Davos, you can downhill ski into the maze of pistes in the forests around Klosters. Lesser-known are the cross-country trails that start from town and allow you to glide alongside the Landwasser river, often shrouded in wisps of mist. OTP offers seven nights at the Alpine Inn, B&B, including rail transfers, from £1,088 per person.

Try curling in Zermatt

Zermatt has it all: a glacier offering skiing right through summer, accessible off-piste and over 300km of pistes that stretch around the Matterhorn into Cervinia, Italy. For a novel apres-ski experience, head for Resort Hotel Alex to try a curling session, the Olympic sport of sliding stones towards a target across ice. From CHF100 (£93) for groups of up to 10. Crystal Ski offers four nights at the Schweizerhof Hotel from £1,373 per person, B&B, including flights and transfers.

Sled-ride through Arosa

Arosa’s nicely varied runs are particularly popular with snowboarders, especially now the resort is linked to Lenzerheide, offering a total of 225km of pistes. But for a different form of riding, take a horse-drawn sleigh. With the coachmen waiting to collect passengers from the train station, it’s a novel way to arrive or leave town. From CHF120 (£112) an hour for up to four people. The Ski Club offers a week at the Hotel Altein from £2,250 per person, half board, including flights, transfers and six days skiing with Ski Club reps.

Go night skiing in Nendaz

Less famous than its upmarket neighbour Verbier, Nendaz offers value for money in the middle of the giant 4 Vallées ski area. Don’t miss its monthly moonlit skiing evening, which costs just CHF69 (£64): enjoy an aperitif, dinner and music, then explore the floodlit slopes, after which you can ski back to the village led by local guides, or take the gondola down. Iglu Ski offers seven nights at Hôtel Nendaz 4 Vallées & Spa, half board, from £1,629 per person including flights and transfers.