In winter, it’s all about the stunning snow. With 20 kilometres of peaceful pistes and guaranteed snow, the Ginals-Unterbäch ski resort is a hidden gem for those in the know. Here, there’s no jostling at the lifts, and there’s space for all styles of skiing on the wide slopes. In the cosy mountain huts, winter sports enthusiasts are sure to snag a sunny seat with a panoramic view. With mostly blue and red slopes, the ski resort is particularly suitable for families with children.

But Unterbäch is about more than just skiing: probably the most extraordinary experience is a ride on the ‘Brandalp-Blitz’ – a sleek, fun piece of sports equipment that vaguely resembles a milking stool. Once you’ve taken a seat on the Brandalp-Blitz, you can zip back down from Brandalp to the village – or take it a little easier. Less adventurous types can also cover the approximately 5 km long route on a sledge. Outdoor enthusiasts can also discover 14 km of signposted winter hiking and snowshoe trails surrounding the village.

The traditional Valais village is surrounded by biking and hiking trails of all difficulty levels, many of them along the region’s typical historic waterways, irrigation channels known as Suons. Touring through cool spruce and larch forests, over fragrant Alpine meadows and barren rocky ridges, with a bit of luck, you might meet marmots, chamois or ibex. Unterbäch also has a lot to offer families: in the summer months, the vast ‘Suonen- and Sudelpark’ is the perfect spot for kids to mess about and splash around, and the children’s train ‘Ginals-Express’ makes its rounds on the church square. If you prefer a little more action, grab a scooter and whizz down a winding downhill run to the village from Brandalp, which can be reached by chairlift.