IN SUMMER: Starting point for excursions in the surrounding area and easy hikes with children
We have been to Leysin several times and have experienced many activities in the village of Leysin, e.g.:
- Gondola ride to the revolving restaurant "Kuklos "at 2000m + hike down with snack in Mayen
- Cheese fondue at the "Fromagerie
- Hike down into the valley to Aigle, back by cogwheel railway
- Hike to Profandaz with Rösti meal
I haven't tried it myself yet, but there are excellent opportunities for mountain biking. The relief and terrain of Leysin offers all variations, such as cross-country, downhill, endurance (enduro) and "dirt". The VTT World Championship ("Vélo tout terrain") has already made two stops here.
Leysin is a stronghold for outdoor climbing. A climbing wall in the ice sports centre, a climbing wall and a climbing block in the swimming sports centre also allow climbing all year round.
Over the years, we have gone down to the valley every now and then to see Lausanne (e.g. Olympic Museum: www.olympic.org/museum) and Montreaux, or to the lido or Aquaparc at Le Boveret (www.aquaparc.ch). Other possible activities:
www.parc-aventure.ch (climbing park) www.chillon.ch (castle on the shore of Lake Geneva) www.mines.ch (salt mine) www.cgn.ch (boat trip Lake Geneva) www.swissvapeur.ch (miniature trains) www.labyrinthe.ch (hedge maze, giant slides, bouncy castles, ...) www.lavaux-panoramic.ch (funicular ride through the vineyards) www.zoo-servion.ch (zoo) www.lac-souterrain.com (largest natural underground lake in Europe) www.lavey-les-bains.ch (thermal baths from 4 years) www.leukerbad-therme.ch (thermal baths; babies and small children have access)
Excursion to Gruyere www.lamaisondugruyere.ch (show dairy) www.hrgigermuseum.com (alien museum; not for children) www.chateau-gruyeres.ch (castle)
In winter, winter sports can be enjoyed in Leysin up to an altitude of 2200m: The "Leysin-Les Mosses" ski pass (see www.teleleysin.ch) gives access to two ski areas with 27 lifts and 100 km of pistes (Leysin: 60 km). There are also cross-country ski trails, freestyle and boarder parks and a "tobogganing" park: you whizz down snow slides sitting in inflated tyre tubes. The individual tracks have different levels of difficulty: steep curves, 360° curves or even a loop (www.leysin.ch/de/tobogganing_park).
Close by (18km) is the ski area "Les Diablerets - Glacier 3000" (www.glacier3000.ch) with another 25 kilometres of slopes. Not as many km as in Leysin, but it goes up to 3000m.