Leukerbad: mountain sports & thermal springs

Largest thermal baths in the Alps

The informal oasis indulges with a total of ten different thermal spring pools. They also offer a thermal children’s pool, slides, underwater massages, jacuzzis, a sauna facility, a Kneipp therapy path for the feet, a sports pool, and various massage and beauty offerings.

Opening times

Daily, 08.00–20.00

Leukerbad Therme

The Alpine thermal spring and feel-good paradise in Leukerbad

IIn the Walliser Alpentherme & Spa, an indoor and outdoor thermal pool, a Valais sauna area and a Roman-Irish spa are appealing places to enjoy a little relaxed spa culture.

Opening times

• Thermal baths: daily, 09.00–20.00
• Valais sauna area: daily, 15.00–20.00 (last entry 19.00)
• Roman-Irish spa: Sat–Sun, 10.00–18.00 (reservation obligation)

Walliser Alpentherme & Spa

The small wellness oasis

The Therme 51° Hotel, Physio & Spa offers thermal baths with pure thermal water at between 36° and 42° Celsius, various saunas and a Alpine herb steam bath. Outside you can enjoy a hot pot, whirlpool, Kneipp pool and a bare-foot path. Various massages and cosmetic treatments round off the pleasing offerings.

Opening times

Daily, 07.30–19.30 (reservation required)

Therme 51° Physio & Spa

Within touching distance of thermal water

Just four metres above the stream bed, a footbridge leads into the Dala Gorge and to the very origin of the springs in Leukerbad. The thermal springs footbridge is an imposing steel structure that takes you through the Dala Gorge for around 600 metres. A view of the thermal spring is revealed, bubbling out into the stream bed on the left-hand bank. The 35-metre waterfall gives you a close-up sense of the power of the water. A genuine refreshment in summer. Not far from the waterfall, a suspension bridge crosses the gorge. From here you can enjoy a clear view of the thundering natural spectacle.

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Hiking on historic paths

The ancient mule track leads from Leukerbad via the Gemmi Pass and along the idyllic Daubensee lake to Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland. The discovery of coins from Roman times is evidence that the path leading over the pass has been in use for centuries. It gained widespread recognition long ago for economic and political reasons, and its fame was ensured by illustrious individuals who tackled the arduous route across the pass. In the Middle Ages, the route was heavily used for the passage of goods and people, with travellers on a health cure in Leuk or Leukerbad being transported particularly frequently. Feudal lords had themselves carried over the mountain in sedan chairs and later on horseback if they didn’t fancy the rather arduous walk.

The hike begins in Leukerbad. From the bus station, follow the signs in the direction of the Gemmi Pass. The climb up to the pass is steep and long. Once you have arrived, it’s worth visiting the viewing platform at the Berghotel Wildstrubel. A well-developed high-altitude path then leads along the Daubensee lake, down to the Hotel Schwarenbach and splendid Alpine pastures and on to Spittelmatte. A short ascent takes you to the Sunnbüel mountain station. From here, you descend by cable railway and bus to Kandersteg train station.

For those who suffer from vertigo and who want to avoid the steep climb up to the Gemmi Pass, the altitude of the pass can be reached in 6 minutes using the Gemmibahn.

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The ideal hike for the entire family

The route is more or less level and can be conquered without any great effort. The path starts behind the sports arena and takes you to the hamlet of Birchen in around 30 minutes. Here you have an early opportunity to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger. Visit St Antonius chapel, which is over 300 years old, and then continue in the direction of Bodmen. Here you can treat yourself to culinary delicacies in Bodmenstübli.

The return journey takes about 50 minutes again.

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Maximum biking fun: the extended Torrent Trail

The Torrentbahn cable car takes you and your bike up to the Rinderhütte mountain station, where the tour begins. On a single trail with a splendid view of the Rhone Valley and the four-thousand-metre peaks of Valais, you will reach Oberu and Bachalp. From here, short ascents and descents alternate, often along the edge of the forest, on the route to “Undri Fäsilalpu”, across Brentschen and through pine forests to Feschel. At Guttet, an idyllic lake with a rest area, is an appealing place to break. The penultimate stage takes you past the satellite ground station to Leuk. Finally, it’s worth one last stop in one of the restaurants in Leuk’s old town. From there it’s an easy journey to Susten train station on Veloland route no. 72 “Chemin du Vignoble”.

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The perfect adventure tour for beginners

The route starts at Leukerbad bus station and takes you through the village to the sports arena. On the right-hand side of the Dala, the route leads predominantly along broad and clear single trails, with sections on meadow paths, until you reach Inden. It then continues in the direction of Varen. Once you reach the impressive rock face of the Schattuflüe, the next step is to conquer it. The steep but short ascent (around 250 metres) to the uppermost limit of the rock is best tackled on foot, despite the broadness of the path. The route then continues through the Varnerwald forest and on via Stadilacher and Priische down into the wine-growing village of Varen. From Varen, the trail leads back to Leuk and Susten.

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The all-mountain tour in the midst of the rocky Leukerbad landscape

The route leads from Leukerbad, passing by the sports arena, on to Birchen on single trails and meadow paths. From there, follow the pleasant climb of the forest track up to the Larschi alpine pasture and then take the meadow path to the Chällerflüe rock face. Continue on foot, pushing your bike, across a traverse and a short ascent to Pfarschong. A varied, medium-hard, single-trail descent then leads on to Varen. Just before “Taschonieru” things get technically somewhat more demanding. The route takes you gently over loose stones and short rocky passages. From Varen you head to Leuk and on to Susten railway station.

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The longest via ferrata in Switzerland

To reach the starting point, follow the path through the Gemmiwand for around 20 minutes. At Untere Schmitte a sign indicates the way to the via ferrata. Cross the Gemmiwand until you reach the intermediate exit at Obere Gemsfreiheit at 2,300 metres. Beyond, the via ferrata continues on a ladder through a 100-metre-high chimney, which offers two different variants: the normal route leads through the waterfall, while on the difficult version you leave the chimney through a large gap. Via further vertical and, in some cases, overhanging ladders you finally reach the summit of the Daubenhorn at almost 3,000 metres. The descent takes you via the small Daubenhorn Glacier to Lämmerenboden, from where the path leads along the stream and then via a final short ascent to the Gemmibahn.

Graded ED (extremely difficult), this is an adventure suitable for experienced and well-conditioned mountaineers.

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The oldest via ferrata in the Alps since 1781

The path leads through the Lochwald forest to the adventurous stretch via the Albinen ladders. The ladders used to be the only link between Leukerbad and Albinen. Agricultural goods in particular were transported via the preserved ladders. After overcoming eight ladders, you will reach Flaschen and the valley station of the gondola, which leads up to the Rinderhütte refuge on Torrent. From here, follow the path above the asphalt road to Albinen. After a well-deserved refreshment stop, those who fancy it can continue their walk via Höhenwald forest in the direction of Guttet-Feschel or commence the return route via Torrentalp to Leukerbad. Alternatively, you can take the bus back to Leukerbad or Leuk.

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At the end of June, enjoy readings from national and international authors at wide-ranging sites. Mountains, water and words: three features of the Leukerbad literature festival.

IInternational literature festival

The Swiss Enduro Series (SES) is a professional mountain bike racing series in the disciplines of Enduro and E-Enduro for the whole of Switzerland.

Training sessions and races take place in the Enduro discipline each year in the Pfyn-Finges bike region. The 2025 World Championships will be held in Leukerbad. In the event hub at the valley station of the Wiler-Lötschental cable railway, you can follow the race live.

Swiss Enduro Series

At the end of September, Leukerbad is home to the Ländler folk dance meet. In the midst of an imposing rocky backdrop, numerous groups from across Switzerland play and fill the streets and restaurants with atmospheric music and lots of good cheer.

Ländler folk dance meet