Diemtigtal
The Diemtigtal is the quietest valley of the Bernese Oberland, a protected nature park that branches off the main Spiez-to-Adelboden road and almost no one outside Bern has heard of. Three tiny ski areas, Grimmialp, Wiriehorn and Springenboden, share the valley between them, totalling 15 km of piste across five lifts and topping out at 2,030 m. The skiing is unhurried, the farmhouses are the chocolate-box Bernese kind, and the Diemtigtal Naturpark designation keeps the whole valley free of the apartment blocks that have reshaped much of the Bernese Oberland. Less than an hour from Spiez by car.
Pistes and lifts
Run counts and piste kilometres are indicative. Green runs only exist in France, Spain, Andorra, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Japan, the United States, Morocco, Algeria, Lesotho, South Africa, Egypt, Canada, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand; Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany start at blue. Indicative average snow depth near the top of the resort, in cm.
The Diemtigtal is not a built ski resort but a working agricultural valley with three small ski areas, so true ski-in, ski-out is rare. The Berghaus Grimmialp at the head of the valley sits directly on the lower lifts of the Grimmialp sector for a genuine ski-from-the-door morning. Elsewhere, the choice is among classic Bernese farmhouse guesthouses in the valley floor, with a short drive or shuttle to the Wiriehorn and Springenboden lifts.
Get to know the resort
The three Diemtigtal ski areas each have their own character. Grimmialp, at the head of the valley, is the smallest and the most family-focused, with two short lifts and a tea-room run by the same family for thirty years. Wiriehorn, halfway down, is the most varied, with a chairlift that climbs to 2,030 m and pitches that include the only genuine black in the valley, a steep north-facing run skied by the Bernese ski-club racers since the 1960s. Springenboden is the quietest, a single double chair into mid-elevation meadows that is happiest when the snow lies low. The lift pass moves between the three sectors without question, but the parking lots and the breakfast farmhouses are firmly in the valley, an experience built around Bernese hospitality rather than resort polish. Lunchtime means Berner Rösti and a slab of meringue with Diemtig cream at the Berghaus Grimmialp, a stone-and-larch inn that has been baking it since the 1930s.
Hotels in Diemtigtal
Hotels and apartments around the lifts. Compare prices on Booking, Expedia and Hotels.com.
Plan your trip
Frequently asked questions
Is Diemtigtal good for beginners?+
Diemtigtal offers 15 km of pistes across 5 lifts, from 1,000 m to 2,030 m. Whether it suits beginners depends on the dedicated learner zones at the base of the slopes, so check the local ski-school options for green and blue run access.
When is the best time to ski Diemtigtal?+
The season runs from Dec 14 to Apr 7, with a snow score of 70/100. The best conditions are usually from late January through February, while spring skiing in March and April brings longer days and softer afternoons.
Where should I stay for true ski-in/ski-out?+
The Diemtigtal is not a built ski resort but a working agricultural valley with three small ski areas, so true ski-in, ski-out is rare. The Berghaus Grimmialp at the head of the valley sits directly on the lower lifts of the Grimmialp sector for a genuine ski-from-the-door morning. Elsewhere, the choice is among classic Bernese farmhouse guesthouses in the valley floor, with a short drive or shuttle to the Wiriehorn and Springenboden lifts.
How big is the Diemtigtal ski area?+
Diemtigtal has 15 km of marked pistes served by 5 lifts, between 1,000 m and 2,030 m of altitude.
Is Diemtigtal more for beginners or experts?+
Diemtigtal counts about 15 marked runs in total. The colour breakdown above shows how they split by difficulty, a good guide to whether the resort fits your level.
Other ski destinations
Similar style, different mountain.
Zermatt
Swiss Alps
Verbier
Swiss Alps
St. Moritz
Swiss Alps
Crans-Montana
Swiss Alps