Top Alpine Spa Leukerbad, Wallis, Switzerland

Europe's Biggest Alpine Thermal Bath, Wellness Center and Spa

Mar 23, 2009

Leukerbad is the largest thermal spa resort in the Alps in Southwest Switzerland. Relaxing in outdoor thermal pools, guests have a fantastic view of the mountains.

Leukerbad is one of Europe's highest and largest spa resorts at an altitude of 1,400 m. The town of 1,500 sits at the end of the road in the Dala Valley surrounded by steep mountains. In the 18th century Austrians built a trading route over the Gemmi pass connecting the cantons of Berne and Valais (Wallis). When Mark Twain hiked the Gemmi Pass trail in 1878 and stayed in Leukerbad, he remarked on the thermal baths in his travel journal: "Those baths remove fat, and also skin-diseases. The patients remain in the great tanks hours at a time."

Thermal Baths Abound in Leukerbad, Valais, Switzerland

The therapeutic properties of Leukerbad's hot springs, rich in calcium, sulfur and gypsum, have been known since the 14th century. Every day an impressive 3.9 million liters of thermal water gushes from the springs at a temperature of 51 degrees Celsius. The thermal water sinks down to 2,500 m underneath the Torrent mountain massif before it emerges at the surface in Leukerbad.

Burgerbad Therme and Lindner Alpentherme

Lindner Alpentherme is a large public medical and thermal spa with indoor and outdoor pools, a Roman-Irish bath and private rooms for wellness and beauty treatments. Lindner Alpentherme has its own sauna village. It is modeled after a traditional Valais mountain village including a mill, a farmhouse, a chalet and a barn built of slate and wood. During special sauna sessions guests are entertained by local actors performing scary Valisian stories. Swiss specialties and drinks are served in an inn.

The biggest spa in town is Burgerbad Therme with all the features of a water park. All ages will have fun here with water slides, special pools for children and babies. Burgerbad Therme's newest attraction is a 15-meter tall tower from which an inner-tube slide runs with many twists and turns into a landing pool. All outdoor pools offer magnificent panoramic views of Leukerbad and the surrounding snow-capped peaks.

Private Hotel Pools

Summer Hiking and Winter Sports

With its stunning surroundings and mild climate Leukerbad is the ideal getaway for the health conscious. Visitors combine the spa and wellness experience with outdoor activities. Two ski lifts leave from the village and cable cars go up to the Gemmi Pass (cross country skiing) and the Torrent skiing area. Torrent is excellent for intermediate skiers and snowboarders with 50 km of runs and a snowboard park.

The resort has more than 200 km of hiking trails, including a number of well-groomed winter hiking. The classic hike over the historic Gemmi Pass leads past the idyllic Lake Dauben to Kandersteg and the Bernese Oberland.

Leukerbad is accessible by public transportation from the town Leuk. From any Swiss airport take the SBB train to Leuk-Susten and get on the LLB bus to Leukerbad.

The copyright of the article Top Alpine Spa Leukerbad, Wallis, Switzerland in Switzerland Travel is owned by Christine Welter. Permission to republish Top Alpine Spa Leukerbad, Wallis, Switzerland in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.