The Alps in January | Horse-drawn sleigh ride

Posted by Adrienne (Indianapolis, USA) on 07/25/23 07:31 PM

Hi Everyone,

I will be celebrating a milestone birthday in January 2024 and I want to spend it where there's plenty of snow! I absolutely love snow and seems we get less and less each year in Indiana. One of my bucket list items is to take a horse-drawn sleigh ride in a mountainous area with lots of snow! My husband and I have been to Switzerland a handful of times, but never during the winter, so we're in need of suggestions for great winter towns.

Has anyone ever taken a horse-drawn sleigh through the snow in Switzerland (or anywhere in the Alps) that you would recommend (or not recommend)? Also, I should mention that we are not skiers, so being in a ski town isn't a must for us, but we're not opposed to it either.

TIA for any comments, feedback and suggestions you may have.

Posted by Lola

Seattle, WA

07/25/23 08:08 PM

16278 posts

Sounds like fun. I found this one at Rigi, the mountain near Luzern.

https://www.weggis-vitznau.ch/en/see-do/winter/winter-activities/rigi-horse-drawn-sleigh-rides/

Since it is a milestone birthday, you might treat yourself to a couple if nights at the spa hotel,at Rigi KLtbad:

https://en.hotelrigikaltbad.ch/wellness-spa

Scroll through the images to see the outdoor pool in winter.

Rates for a double room next January are around 300 CHF a night, not bad for Switzerland.

There is some skiing on Rigi, but there are other activities on offer, including winter walking paths. Or just sit and enjoy the view over the lake.

https://www.rigi.ch/en/experience/winter-activities

Posted by Nickelini

Vancouver, BC

07/26/23 11:16 PM

367 posts

My daughter did a horse-drawn sleigh ride for her December 31st birthday in Engelberg. It looked terrifically romantic

Posted by Pam

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA

07/27/23 12:17 AM

13943 posts

I understand you want Switzerland but in case this doesn't work out for you there are horse drawn sleigh rides thru the National Elk Refuge in Jackson WY. There are thousands of elk on the feeding grounds in winter. While it is a ski town in winter there are also other things to do.

Posted by balso

Paris

07/27/23 05:25 PM

6900 posts

I've never taken a horse-drawn sleigh ride but I greatly enjoyed a non-skiing trip to Klosters and Pontresina in January 2020.
The Pontresina area (Engadin valley) is particularly dreamy in winter, with frozen lakes and all. The Roseg valley has sleigh rides.
I also enjoyed Klosters but it was perhaps a hair less 'special'.
In Pontresina, I stayed at the Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl. Perched at 2,500 m elevation and reached only by funicular railway (you can toboggan down if you want), it is not for everyone (isolated), but it made for an unforgettable stay with great food and great views.

A word of caution though, snowfall is increasingly erratic in Europe as well. Early January barely had snow this year.

Posted by Adrienne OP

Indianapolis, USA

08/01/23 08:58 PM

11 posts

Thank you for the feedback, fellow travelers! This gives me some good sites and ideas to explore. I completely agree about the snow fall in January - hopefully it will be snow-covered, but if not, Switzerland is ALWAYS beautiful no matter the time of year.