There’s a hidden Swiss treasure barely two hours from Zurich by train, and a world away from the Switzerland you thought you knew. It’s a region that’ll get your blood pumping with countless outdoor adventures, before inviting you to recover in exquisite mountain luxury or explore its lauded food scene.
Laax, located in Switerland’s eastern canton of Grisons (or Graubünden in Swiss German), is a small town with a big reputation. A vacation here is all about amplifying freestyle, lifestyle, and ‘greenstyle’ to maximize luxury and wellness while bringing out your wild side.
Check out our featured Laax itineraries:
Find Your Freestyle Footing
If you’ve ever watched freestyle skiers, snowboarders or parkour runners show off their skills, you’re a step closer to understanding what makes Laax stand out among Switzerland’s many picturesque mountain towns. With a population of just 2000, Laax is the spiritual home of freestyle snowboarding and skiing. It’s been featured in a variety of popular media including the Amped snowboarding video game series, and hosts the annual Freeski and Snowboard World Cup, where the world’s best thrill the crowd with their acrobatic stunts.
If you’re not quite ready (or built) for extreme sports, don’t worry. Laax offers ski slopes to suit all skill levels, from ‘bunny hills’ to challenging ruins for experienced skiers. If the slopes don’t beckon, spend a day or more exploring rocksresort Park. This amazing complex offers a little of everything that defines Laax, from skate courses like Snake Run, to the state-of-the-art Freestyle Academy, where visitors of all ages and skill levels can learn from veteran freestylers and test their limits in a safe and fun environment that includes trampolines, skate ramps, parkour courses and more. The nearby KIDS Freestyle Academy offers younger thrill seekers a chance to find their footing and build their skills in a dedicated, kid-friendly environment.
A connection with nature (or ‘greenstyle’) is just as vital to Laax’s identity. To that end, you can take the world’s longest treetop path walk, the Senda dil Dragun, breaking off to enjoy marble runs, adventure spots, or a slide along the way. You can also zipline through the lush alpine forest. To reach some of Laax’s more spectacular views, ride the FlemXpress from Films or board the LAAX cable car, which takes you to the peak of Crap Sogn Gion (Saint John’s stone) and back. Hiking and biking are popular here too, and if you’re unsure of your mountain biking skills, group or private classes are available for both kids and adults.
Indulging the Laax Lifestyle
Sustainable luxury defines many accommodations in Laax. With options located in the heart of the valley or on the serene mountain slopes, it’s easy to find comfortable lodgings suited for couples, solo travellers, families or groups. You’ll find hotels dedicated to wellness or innovative design, or contemporary apartments ideal for families and groups. Boutique lodgings and luxury chalets dot the valley and mountainside. Sustainability (or greenstyle) is key to the Laax way of living, so you can expect most accommodations to take an eco-friendly approach. Wellness centres are ubiquitous, with a wide variety of treatments designed to ease tired muscles after a full day of breaking through those physical and mental barriers.
A Taste for Adrenaline: Laax for Foodies
Worked up an appetite? If you’re treating yourself to a bit of Laaxury (sorry!), there’s no reason your tastebuds should be left out. Just as Switzerland is a great crossroads of Europe’s cultures, its food scene is endlessly diverse, drawing influence from Italian, French, German, Asian and of course, traditional Swiss and Alpine cuisines. In Laax, you’ll find everything from simple yet delicious burgers (including vegan options), chic wine and coffee bars, classic restaurants featuring seasonal produce used in cuisines from across the world, plus vegetarian and vegan restaurants showcasing the region’s best, boldest and most sustainable flavours. For lunch with a view, book a table at one of the mountainside restaurants, enjoying cozy Swiss delicacies surrounded by a serene blanket of snow in winter, or the verdant slopes of summer. Some are only open during the ski season, but you’ll still find plenty of restaurants and cafes serving seasonal dishes year-round.
Whether you’re seeking an action-packed Switzerland vacation to test your physical limits and learn new skills, or looking for a luxurious mountain getaway with a chance to do something different, there’s a ski run, skate park, treetop walk, luxury chalet, restaurant, lookout, or wellness treatment to transform your lifestyle in freestyle-loving Laax.
Christian’s first globetrotting adventure saw him get lost exploring the streets of Saigon. Following his nose to Asia’s best coffee, two lifelong addictions were born. A freelance writer and novelist, Christian’s travels have since taken him around his native Australia, Asia, Europe, and much of North America. His favourite trips have been through Japan, Spain, and Brazil, though with a love of off-beat, artsy cities, he’ll seize any opportunity to return to Paris, New York, or Berlin.
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