Swiss Alps Ski: Gorgeous Goms!

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1 Swiss Alps Ski: Gorgeous Goms! Swiss Alps Ski: Gorgeous Goms! Swiss Alps Ski: Gorgeous Goms! 1395 Intro Plus The Obergoms valley is renowed for it's top class cross country skiing. The area is a mecca for cross country skiers from throughout the world who want to enjoy the Swiss Alps and explore 'La vallee de Conches' the valley of the church bells. With up to 85 km of trails the Goms offers something for everyone, from beginners to ski racers. It is truly a 'Swiss chocolate box' winter wonderland. With the help of the local train we can explore new trails every day. 5 days of ski instruction Optional video Analysis Ski from village to village on easy trails Take the train below the Furka Pass to ski Realp to Andermatt Reliable snow conditions Cross country skiing can offer more than just the enjoyment of fresh mountain air and stunning views. Once mastered this 'low impact' exercise is a great way to improve your fitness while enjoying ever changing scenery! DeparturesSwiss Alps: Cross Country Skiing The Obergoms valley is quite simply an alpine gem perfectly suited for cross country ski enthusiasts. The valley is also know in French as 'La vallée de Conches', the valley of the church bells. Along the length of the Obergoms there are beautiful baroque churches and bell towers. This winter wonderland can be explored at a relaxed pace, but is also the training ground of many ski racers, and home to the famous 'Gommerlauf' international ski race. The snow usually arrives here in November, and lasts until April, providing a perfect winter playground for cross country ski enthusiasts. The tracks are easily accessible as every village has a stop for the Matterhorn Gotthard train, and you simply hop on or off as you feel like it. As with many aspects of the famous Swiss 'precision organisation' the tracks and trains are designed to be efficient and easy to use. Our 'Intro Plus' weeks, which are done in the 'classic' style using 'fish scale' skis, are designed as a continuation from our Introductory holidays, such as our Italian Ski Breaks. Expect to ski on a mixture of flat and undulating terrain on prepared trails. Our ski teachers are all qualified BASI Nordic Instructors who will ensure you get the most out of your week on skis. Each day they will offer tuition and advice, then they will take you on a journey along the valley to allow you to put it all into practice. Further details on our trip grades can be found on our Cross Country Ski Grades page. Day 1 Arrival The Obergoms is a beautiful broad open valley situated at the source of the Rhône river, where ez Publish PDF export 1 of 5

2 the language is Swiss German. We meet you at your hotel in the ancient village of Oberwald to brief you on the days ahead and answer any questions. Day 2 The Upper Goms Valley After collecting our skis we spend time warming up our 'ski-legs' revisiting the main cross country ski travelling techniques.the aim of your Instructor is always to make sure you get the most out of your week whether that be small improvements, or major changes in your skiing. We like to think that by the end of your holiday we will have helped you with any goals you have chosen to set yourself. On the other hand you can just enjoy the skiing, eat cake, drink coffee and visit the sauna - it's not a boot camp! Today we will aim to ski the peaceful and scenic river trails which offer an excellent and easy introduction to the valley. Each village has it's own picturesque landscape and maintains it's mountain traditions. The ski pistes which are always tracked and groomed have many detours where we can lengthen or shorten our day. Day 3 Movies and M ünster As part of this week your Instructor will film your ski technique and offer advice and suggestions for any improvements. This is, of course, optional but film is one of the best ways to provide feedback and for you to understand how you ski. Often viewing your ski techniaque is the best way to 'get it', and understand your challenges and how to achieve your goals. After doing some exercises to consolidate yesterdays lesson we will make our way along the valley to the wonderful old village of Münster. Usually we stop for coffee along the way, and take time to enjoy the views and the photo opportunities. Once we reach Münster you can choose to either get the train back or to ski back making a day of 26km. If you choose the train you might like to know your train ticket is included in your ski pass and you can just jump on whenever you feel you have had enough and head back for a sauna! Day 4 The Lower Goms The ski tracks wind along the entire Obergoms valley and today we start our day by taking the local train to the village of Münster where we finished yesterday. From here we begin our ski journey down the valley towards Neiderwald. The villages in this valley are truly wonderful, made up of old traditional houses of dark brown or black weathered wood with a topping of snow, and red window shutters. The route takes us through woodland, over rivers, and past old settlements, and provides plenty of options for loops and variations on the route. A morning stop at Reckingen where the farmer and his wife serve excellent coffee and cake is a must. We then continue to Neidderwald where lunch is often in the wonderful old cafe of "Drei Tannen", again a feeling of having stepped back in time. Then its back to letting the train take the strain as we return to Ulrichen where we hop off and ski the last 4.6 km back to our hotel. You can, of course, choose to stay on the train and travel all the way back to Oberwald. The choice is yours! ez Publish PDF export 2 of 5

3 Day 5 The Famous Furka Today we take a trip to the other side! In the winter months the road ends at Oberwald as the heavy snows make the famous Furka Pass impassable, however the train keeps running and takes a route hewn straight through the mountain under the Furka Pass. Today we take train and after about 25 mins we emerge in the next Swiss canton of Uri at the tiny community of Realp. At this point we hop off the train, and buy our ski pass for the 10 km ski down the valley to the famous alpine town of Andermatt. We do, of course, have the option of morning coffee along the way at the tiny hamlet of Zum Dorf. Lunch is in Andermatt, and then you can choose to take the train back to Oberwald or to ski part of the way back along the valley to Realp before letting the train take the strain! Day 6 The "Loipe Goms" Challenge Our final days skiing is back in the Obergoms valley where it's time to set your own challenge! The route known as the "Loipe Goms" runs a total of 26 km between Niederwald, at 1251m, and Oberwald at 1368m. En route we pass all the lovely old villages which line the valley with their ancient farms and barns where the farming traditions of the area are actively preserved. These wonderful old buildings are made of wood which has been weathered to a dark brown colour or in some cases black, with the passage of time. There is certainly plenty to look at as we make our way along by the river, and indeed plenty of cafes and restaurants to pause for a rest and a 'refuel'. If at any point you feel you want to have a more relaxded approach to this day you can simply hop on the train at one of the many stops. Day 7 Departure Day The package finishes after breakfast. Price Included: We base this trip in the Swiss Obergoms valley. Single rooms may be available on request for a supplementary payment. However, these are limited in number and we recommend that you book early if you wish to be sure of a single room. Please contact us for details. We include half board accommodation, based on twins/double rooms in a 2* hotel or similar. 5 days of ski instruction with optional video analysis by a fully qualified BASI Nordic Instructor and the instructors expenses. Not included: Insurance, flights & transfers, lunch & drinks, ski hire (approximately 100CHF for 5 days), ski passes (approximately 14 CHF per day) and train ticket to Realp for our ski to Andermatt (from 30 CHF return). ez Publish PDF export 3 of 5

4 Minimum Numbers This trip requires a minimum of 4 clients to run. We will take a maximum of 8 clients. Insurance Please ensure that you must have the appropriate insurance for your chosen activity. You must be covered for helicopter rescue, repatriation and medical costs. With regard to this please be sure you have read the Insurance section in our Terms and Conditions. Further Information Please note that this itinerary is dependent on the weather and snow conditions at the time. Therefore changes to the itinerary may occur. A few days of basic cross country ski experience or downhill experience is required for this trip. Upon booking a full list of the necessary suitable clothing will be provided. The small towns and villages along the valley offer all the facilities that you may require including: cash machines, supermarkets, bakeries, equipment and ski rental. Oberwald is easily reached from other European and Worldwide destinations by road, rail, coach or plane. Within Switzerland the trains are by the far the easiest and most efficient way to travel. Visitors can obtain a holiday/ visitors card from SBB which enables you reduced rate rail from/to airports to your holiday destination and throughout your stay in Switzerland. Times and prices vary depending on the length of your stay. For further details please refer to the Swiss Railway website. The closest airports are Sion & Bern (2.5hrs), then Zurich to Oberwald (3.5/4hrs), or Geneva is a little bit further away (4hrs) - all times are by train. By road the Obergoms is 2.5hrs from Chamonix, 1.5hrs from Martigny. To find out more about the region then please visit: Obergoms and Andermatt Gotthard Tourismus For further suggested travel links please refer to our Booking and Information pages. <iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src=" cd74bf42b18e9abf4&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll= , &spn= , &z=7&output=embed"></iframe>< ez Publish PDF export 4 of 5

5 br/> No Pressed tracks of the Obergoms ez Publish PDF export 5 of 5