Klosters

Klosters has always been a Ski Club favourite. The combination of the charming, traditional village and the easy access to some of Switzerland’s finest skiing is hard to beat.

Direct access is available to the biggest of the six ski areas within the valley that Klosters shares with its neighbour Davos, via a two-stage cable car to Gotschnagrat. The Madrisabahn heads up out of the opposite end of town to the Madrisa area – home to a good beginner area and also some underrated steeper terrain. The other areas are a little further away, but a free bus is included with your lift pass and this makes getting around easy.

Compared to Davos, Klosters is a much quieter, much more traditional affair. It is definitely upmarket – this is the favourite resort of the Royal Family after all – but it is also quite understated and relaxed. Chalet-style buildings dominate and the main road skirts around the town centre, making it much quieter than up in Davos.

There’s no better way to explore Klosters than with Ski Club Freshtracks this season. After a six year absence from our roster of resorts we return with three Swiss Singles Peak Experience holidays, ideal for single skiers looking to ski with other like-minded Ski Club members.

As with Davos, there is also a Ski Club Rep stationed in Klosters this season. Five Reps will be in resort for two weeks each between January and March, but just note that no one will be repping during the World Economic Forum between 18th-25th January.

Join our Ski Club Klosters Facebook Group for the very latest and to chat with other members heading out to the resort this season.

What's New for 2019/20?

Davos Klosters has made life easier this season for those who choose to drive to the area. The Gotschnatunnel, part of the Klosters ring road, is undergoing a three-stage renovation, and the second stage has been completed prior to the start of the season.

Further additions for the new season are an igloo village which features a hotel and a bar open every Saturday and Sunday for those who fancy a different après-ski experience. In further après related news, the Chalet Bolgen bar, which has been a temporary structure which was dismantled at the end of every season since 2016, has been turned into a permanent wooden chalet after proving greatly popular in the last few seasons.

Our Klosters Resort Ratings

• Beginner ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Intermediate ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Advanced ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Snow Reliability ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Fast Lifts ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Resort Activities ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Après ★ ★☆ ☆ ☆
• Value ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Klosters Skiing and Snowboarding

Despite the village’s relatively low altitude, more than 80% of the runs are above the snowsure altitude 2000m. Beginners have quick access to sunny nursery slopes up at Madrisa and some gentle blues at the top of the Gotschnagrat cable car, intermediates can explore five mountains in the valley and in Pischa there is an entire mountain dedicated to freeriding. The only real issue is the resort runs and beginners and early intermediates should definitely download – there is no blue route down.

• Total Pistes: 300 km
• Blue: 22%
• Red: 41%
• Black: 17%
• Itineraries: 20%
• Lifts: 55
• Altitude: 810m (resort at 1190m) – 2844m

For Beginners

The best beginner zone is located at the top of the Madrisabahn gondola. If the weather is bad however it might be worth catching the bus or train up to Davos and use the more sheltered nursery slopes at the foot of the Jakobshorn. In all sectors downloading at the end of the day is advised to avoid the busy and steep resort runs.

For Intermediates

The choice is fantastic and there is great cruising on five of the six of the mountains in the valley (Pischa excluded). For the longest runs, including the epic descent to Küblis, head to via Gotschnagrat to Weissfluhjoch and wind your way down over 2000 vertical metres before catching the train back from the bottom. Further up the valley, both Jakobshorn and Rinerhorn have a good variety of cruising terrain, but for the latter you need to be confident on drag lifts as there are no chairs above the access gondola.

For Advanced/Expert & Off Piste

If the snow is good there are some fantastic off piste options and if freeride is your thing then Pischa is dedicated entirely to ungroomed terrain. Some great off piste can also be found on the ski routes off the back of the Jakobshorn – catch the bus back from the bottom. If you’re looking for somewhere nearby, the upper runs at Madrisa, including itinerary 12 and piste 9a also offer some great challenges.

Davos Piste Map

The biggest Parsenn area map can be downloaded here. Head over to the Davos/Klosters website to see the maps for the smaller areas, which are also available in an Interactive 3D format – click here.

Klosters Ski Pass Prices

Each of the six areas have different day and two-day pass prices, after which point the regional pass (covering all zones) takes over. For a full explanation visit the Davos/Klosters website. Note that these prices may change, so check with the resort for the latest or give the Ski Club’s expert info & advice team a call on 020 8410 2009.

The Topcard is available for those looking for a season pass, it covers both summer and winter, and costs 1400 CHF (if bought before 1st May it would be 1100 CHF). It also covers the nearby resorts of Arosa, Lenzerheide and Flims/Laax.

Davos Season Dates

• Parsenn: 21st November 2019 (access from Klosters only from 7th December 2019) – 19th April 2020
• Madrisa: 20th December 2019 – 29th March 2020
• Jakobshorn 6th December 2019 – 19th April 2020
• Pischa: 26th December 2019 – 22nd March 2020
• Rinerhorn: 21st December 2019 – 29th March 2020
• Schatzalp: 21st December 2019 – 29th March 2020

For full details see the resort's website and note that these dates are subject to change. The Ski Club’s expert info & advice team are also on hand to help – call 020 8410 2009.

Klosters Resort

The Klosters Platz railway station at the heart of town forms the hub of the village, from which a collection of upmarket chalet-style hotels dominate the resort centre. It is much smaller than Davos further up the valley and is split by the Landquart River, making for a more picturesque setting. The smaller Klosters Dorf lies at the base of Madrisa gondola, about a mile to the north.

For Families

Klosters makes for a quieter base in the valley than Davos. The smaller hotels and chalets are better suited to families and the lower levels of traffic make it all a bit safer. Staying at Klosters Dorf is recommended to be nearer the beginner ski areas.

For Après

For Ski Club Members, the hub is the Silvretta Park Hotel, located just over the river from the station and where the Ski Club’s social hour is hosted each evening. Away from this, après is generally low key – sipping a glühwein in a cosy bar or grabbing a cold beer at Gaudy’s umbrella bar is very much the Klosters way.

How to get to Klosters

Getting to Klosters is easiest on the train. From Zürich you need to change twice but it takes just over two hours – one of the quickest transfers in Switzerland – and this is by far the best airport to fly to. Basel is an hour further away. Driving is an option if your hotel has parking – Zürich is around two hours away, as are the small German airports of Friedrichshafen and Memmingen.

• Zürich airport: 2 hours (driving), 2 hours (by train)
• Basel airport: 3 hours (driving), 3 hours (by train)
• Friedrichshafen airport: 2 hours (driving)
• Memmingen airport: 2 hours (driving)
• Calais: approximately 11 hours driving (605 miles)

Klosters Contact Details

• Website: www.davos.ch
• Email: info@klosters.ch
• Telephone: +41 81 410 20 20
• Facebook: @davosklosters
• Instagram: @davosklosters
• Twitter: @DavosKlosters