Leukerbad Thermal Baths (Leukerbad Therme, Alpentherme, Therme51)

The Leukerbad Thermal Baths are the core of the largest thermal spa resort in the Alps, a very Swiss mountain village. Leukerbad is a village in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, set on a high terrace at the foot of the Gemmi Pass, with a wall of cliffs rising behind. The hot springs that make it famous emerge from the mountain at temperatures of more than fifty degrees, from dozens of separate sources, and supply a large volume of water every day. The water is rich in minerals, particularly calcium and sulphate, and is cooled to a comfortable temperature for bathing before it flows into the pools. Bathing here is a very old custom. The Romans knew the springs, and in the Middle Ages and later the village became known for its baths, which were used by pilgrims and by travellers crossing the Gemmi.

The village has several bathing complexes, among them the Leukerbad Therme, the large public spa that is the main attraction, and the Alpentherme, an Alpine spa with indoor and outdoor pools, saunas and wellness facilities. A modern spa, Therme51, offers a more refined spa experience with a focus on quiet and design. Between them, the baths include pools at a range of temperatures, some warm and others hot, with jets, whirlpools and massage features, and the outdoor pools allow you to soak in warm water while looking at the cliffs and mountains, even in winter, when snow lies on the slopes and steam rises around you. A sauna landscape with different types of heat and a relaxation area is part of most facilities.

Spa culture is central to life in Leukerbad. Many visitors come for several days, combining baths with hiking, skiing or rehabilitation treatment, and the town has clinics and hotels designed around the thermal waters. The American writer Mark Twain visited in the 1870s and wrote a humorous account of the bathers, in which people stayed in the water for hours and ate and talked there, which is a reminder that the habit of social bathing in Leukerbad is old. Today, you can still soak for a long time, but it is wise to take breaks, drink water and not overdo the heat, particularly if you have heart or blood pressure issues.

Opening times, prices and facilities differ among the baths and change with the season, so check the websites before you go, and book spa treatments in advance. Some areas have rules about clothing, particularly in saunas, so read the signs. Leukerbad is reached by a post bus from the railway station at Leuk in the Rhone valley, and the baths are a few minutes from the village centre.

The baths suit families, couples, hikers and skiers wanting to relax, and anyone seeking a winter day out. Combine a soak with a walk or a ride on the cable car for the best of the village.