Hiking with raclette from Saas-Fee
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Saas-Fee is known for its snow-sure winter sports area. It is located in the southeastern part of the Valais in the Valais Alps. Here are 18 of the total 48 Swiss four-thousand-meter peaks. The Mattertal with Zermatt is close and the alpine panorama all around inspires every visitor. In summer you can hike or mountain bike on a 350 km network of trails. The glacier attracts with summer ski slopes that still stretch over 20 km.
The destination Saas-Fee includes the Saas Valley and the surrounding mountains of the Upper Valais. You will find here the highest four-thousand-meter mountain peaks in Switzerland. The river Saaser Vispa flows through the valley. Eight communities lie in and around the valley. Saas-Fee is very popular as a high alpine Swiss vacation destination all year round. The snow-sure skiing area stretches from 1800 m above sea level up to an altitude of 3,600 m above sea level.
The Saas Valley borders on Italy in the south. It is located at about the same latitude as Ascona and Locarno and offers a pleasantly mild climate despite its high alpine location. About 300 sunny days are counted here per year.
To conquer the Allalinhorn and thus its first four-thousand-meter peak is the dream of many guests. You are lucky enough to be able to comfortably master the first 3457 meters of this mountain by gondola and metro. Nevertheless, the climb is not to be underestimated. You need to be well prepared for it and without a mountain guide the climb is not recommended. The air is already "thinner" from 3000 m above sea level. It contains less and less oxygen molecules the higher you climb. Breathing becomes more difficult and crevasses between deep snow pose a danger that should not be underestimated.
Sustainability has been the focus in Saas-Fee since 1951. Since then, the glacier village has been traffic-free. You can reach the glacier village from Saas-Grund via an asphalt road and park your car at the entrance to the village. Electric buses and electric cabs take care of necessary trips. Environmental protection and the use of energy-efficient facilities are lived here in a balance with economic and social goals. In this way, the high-alpine destination has become a model for other vacation areas. Throughout the Saas Valley, German is spoken in addition to the local Alemannic dialect.
Summer and winter tourists can reach Saas-Grund and Saas-Fee from Zurich in about 3.5 hours by car. This applies to both routes: via Lucerne as well as via Schwyz. By train you reach Visp via Bern in two hours. From there, the post bus takes another hour. By public transport you can reach your destination even faster. Do you want to climb in the mountains, ski on the glacier or do other activities above 3000 m above sea level? In this case you should plan a few recovery days before and after.
Here in the Saas Valley many customs and traditions were and are preserved. This region was one of the poorer regions for a long time and the work here was very hard. Religion helped people to better endure the harsh life. This can still be seen today in the multitude of churches and chapels all around.
The southern villages are especially well known. The Saas Valley and the mountains around contain these villages in the south:
The Saas-Fee Chapel Trail runs between Saas-Grund and Saas-Fee. It has its origins in the history of the villages. In former times there was only the village "Saas". People moved back and forth between the mountains and the valley according to the seasons. Between the villages, 15 chapel-like wayside shrines were erected. They show the way of life of Jesus. The chapel path leads first along the river Saaser Vispa. After the campsite, the path branches off in the direction of Saas-Fee
The Maria zur Hohen Stiege chapel in Saas-Fee is a chapel of grace. It was built at the end of the 17th century on the site of a wayside shrine. More and more pilgrims came and stillborn children from the region were buried around it. Carl Zuckmayer also walked the chapel path. He raved about the evening glow on the peaks of the Mischabel chain at the end of the Kapellenweg.
Not part of the Kapellenweg, but still worth seeing: The ribbed helmet of the former church tower now adorns the cemetery chapel. It belongs to the protected cultural assets of Saas-Grund
The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Saas-Balen is on the list of Swiss national cultural assets worthy of protection. The round church was built at the beginning of the 19th century on a site where chapels had previously stood. Both chapels had been destroyed by falling rocks. The old chapel was a chapel of grace and was called the "Miracle Chapel". Two cylindrical parts of different size seem to merge into each other today. They are covered with flat conical roofs. A Tuscan vestibule is connected with a laced onion tower. The church is one of the most unusual churches of the late Baroque. Inside you can admire frescoes and magnificent altars.
The hamlet of Bidermatten is part of the municipality of Saas-Balen. It is located in the south at the height of Saas-Grund. Residential houses and farms are preserved in such a condition that they have been declared a national inventory
The destination Saas-Fee stretches from the Mattmark dam in the south for about 30 km to Visperterminen. Excursion destinations can be found primarily in the beautiful mountain and lake landscape. Special attractions such as the glacier cave (ice pavilion) are also included. Popular excursion destinations are also individual mountain peaks and the mountain railroads themselves. In Saas-Fee, there are also historical and cultural assets to marvel at. Entire hamlets or individual parts of them are on the list of Switzerland's special cultural assets.
The northern villages of the Saas Valley include:
The excursion destinations are usually reached quickly and easily by mountain railroads and hikes or by bicycle.
In Visperterminen, too, people lived according to the farming cycle "from the ground to the ridge". Depending on the season and the work to be done, they moved between the valley and the mountain.Visperterminen is also called the "Heida village". Traditions and customs are still maintained by the people today. The Corpus Christi procession, for example, is an annual spectacle that attracts many visitors. The popular alpine "Alex-Berchtold Gedenk Riesenslalom" is also held here every year at the end of the season.
In Visperterminen every hamlet has its own chapel. At each "Sacri Monti" along the paths from the bottom to the ridge, small chapels or sacrificial shrines have been erected. The forest chapel "Maria Heimsuchung" is particularly worth seeing. It is a pilgrimage chapel and has been standing above Visperterminen since the middle of the 16th century. The chapel path in the direction of Hüoterhüsi leads directly to this church. It is about half an hour's walk above the village and passes 10 rosary chapels. This chapel path is one of the most beautiful "Sacri Monti" in Valais.
The Wohnmuseum shows how people lived in the Saas-Fee region. The dwelling on display dates from 1701 and was lived in until 1985. The house is located in the manor of Visperterminen. The kitchen, parlor and chamber bear witness to a tradition in which privacy and intimacy were lived differently than today. The demands and needs were very modest
Due to the seasonal migrations between mountain and valley, several apartments were necessary. They show an economical use of resources. The museum is open in summer from July on Wednesdays 15:00 -17:00. Outside these hours you can arrange a visit with the Visperterminen tourist office by calling 027 946 03 00.
In the wider surroundings there are mills, wine presses and lime kilns in various hamlets of the Heida village, which are now open to the public after restoration
The village of Visperterminen is about twenty kilometers away from Saas-Grund and can be reached from there by post bus line 511 (stop Neubrück)
A suone is a historic irrigation canal typical of the Valais. In this case, water is led down from the mountain in free channels to be used on the Alps for irrigation as well as for drinking and drinking water. Wooden channels were placed in the rock walls for this purpose. Special techniques made it possible to overcome scree slopes and other obstacles. If you listen carefully, you can still hear the hammer blows of the small water wheels. They served to monitor the flow of water and are usually still perceptible over great distances.
A beautiful suonen trail leads from the south from Saas-Allmagell (1671 m above sea level) to Saas-Grund (1560 m above sea level). The easy hiking trail can be done in two hours. On the way you will see the Suone Moosgufer and the old water conduit Heuwete. Starting point is the valley station of the chair lift Saas-Almagell. The path is initially marked "Zum Berg". From the new bridge over the Almagellerbach, the Suonenweg continues below the Moosgufer "Zum Moos". The third part of the trail leads above the valley road past further hamlets and ends in Saas-Grund in the village part "Gasse".
If you take the chapel path from Visperterminen up to the forest chapel, you will also pass the worth seeing suone "Bodmeri-Beitra". It was built in 1915. This suone draws its water from the Riedbach in Mutji at 1680 m.a.s.l. The water is brought down about three hundred meters in altitude to distribute it on the alpine pastures. Throughout the Saas-Fee region you will find suonen again and again. An almost 15 km long Suonen hiking trail leads from Visperterminen along these channels. You can also admire the bridges of the old Suone Niwa. There is even a "suonen keeper" here. His hut is open for visitors.
Kreuzboden lies at 2400 m above sea level above Saas-Grund and is very popular as a starting point for various hikes. It is also called Hohsi-Land. With the cable car you can reach the Kreuzboden from Saas-Grund in a few minutes.
The family-friendly skiing area Hohsaas is located on the mountain slopes of the Weissmiesgruppe. You can get there with the Kreuzboden-Hohsaas gondola. The highest mountain peaks of the Weissmiesgruppe include:
The mountains are easily accessible and are therefore popular with mountaineers.
The Kreuzbodensee as a small reservoir is situated very idyllic. Here you will always find pleasant resting places and hammocks. For a picnic, charcoal grills are available at several places. A water park in high summer and a petting zoo near the mountain station offer variety for the little ones. This is also where the descent begins for a ride on the Monstertrotti, which leads down to Saas-Grund over a distance of eleven kilometers. In winter, this descent is used as a toboggan run. At the Kreuzbodensee you can also fish
Stalden is located in the northern Saas Valley at the point where the Matter Valley meets the Saas Valley. Therefore, there are particularly many bridges in and around Stalden. Worth seeing, for example, is the bridge to Niwu Briggu (Ritibrigga), where a chapel has also been built. Both are included in the list of Swiss cultural assets. The Kin Bridge over the Mattervispa (Chibrigga) and the Merjen Bridge (Merjubrigga) are also included. Other protected cultural assets in Stalden are the Meierhaus, the Embdaturm and the St. Michaelskirche. A circular hike Brückenweg leads from Stalden train station over the Merjubrücke and the Chibrücke and takes 45 minutes.
bridge name | year of construction | length (m) | height (m) |
---|---|---|---|
Chibrigga | 1545 | ||
Ritibrigga | 1599 | ||
Illasbrigga | 1959 | 130 | 120 |
Steibrigga (Acherstäg) | 1915 | ||
Niwbrigga | 1922 | ||
Michaelsbrigga | 1964 | 137 | 50 |
Merjubrigga | 1930 | 108 | 115 |
Stalden is about 15 km away from Saas-Grund and can be reached directly by post bus line 511.
The Mattmark Dam is located at 2200 meters above sea level at the southern end of the Saas Valley near Saas-Almagell. It is the largest earth dam in Europe and fascinates with an impressive glacier view. You can walk around the reservoir on flat paths in 2:15 hrs. They are also very suitable for a bike tour. The west bank is even accessible for baby carriages and wheelchairs. The post bus runs regularly to the dam between mid-June and mid-October. There is also a parking lot. From the restaurant you have a direct view to the Monte Moro Pass.
The Fellbach waterfall is the starting point for hikes to the hamlets of Heimischgartu and Matt. The waterfall falls about forty meters and is one of the most beautiful photo motifs in the Saas Valley
The Fee Glacier consists of two glacier parts, the North Fee Glacier and the South Fee Glacier. In total, it stretches from an altitude of around 4200 m above sea level over a length of six kilometers to about 1900 m above sea level. The northern part is a valley glacier that flows out of the Mischabel group on its steep eastern flank. The southern Feegletscher comes as a mountain glacier from a height of more than 4000 m above sea level from the northern slope of the Allalinhorn. It is also called Allalin glacier and consists of several tongues. All of them feed water into the Feevispa River
The southern Fee glacier is largely developed as a ski area and is quickly reached by mountain railroads in summer. The first and second sections are served by aerial ropeways. The third section is the underground funicular Metro-Alpin. Its top station is located in Mittelallalin at 3456 m above sea level.
This adventurous high-altitude trail leads from Kreuzboden across the Almagellertal valley first to Almagelleralp. Afterwards you cross a 60 m long suspension bridge as well as numerous ladders and stairs. There are also places that are secured with wire ropes. A second suspension bridge (45 m long) is located in the immediate vicinity. The Furggstalden adventure trail is only suitable for those who are free from giddiness and absolutely sure-footed. It can be very windy in the first part of the trail. It is 11 km long in total. From Furggstalden you can take the chairlift to Saas-Almagell and from there the bus to Saas-Grund.
At 4027 m above sea level, the Allalinhorn is rather one of the lower four-thousand-meter peaks in the Mischabel group. The Allalin group, named after the Allalinhorn, also consists in the majority of higher four-thousanders:
The Allalinhorn is one of the relatively easy four-thousand-meter peaks to climb. Mountain guides offer tours. On your own, you should not dare to climb it, because not only crevasses and "thin air" are serious dangers.
The entrance to the ice pavilion is located high above the village of Saas-Fee at 3500 meters above sea level and is accessible from the Mittelallalin mountain station. The grotto is accessible via a seventy meter long channel. The ice inside the glacier is about two thousand years old. Inside, in 2016, Lucerne architect Alexander Galliker designed a new ice world on the themes of fairy tales, legends and mysticism. Inside the glacier, in addition to beautiful ice sculptures, you can also experience the staging of an avalanche with a pressure wave. Light effects support the impressive staging. Musical events with music played entirely on natural instruments take place inside. The lighting is done without exception with energy-efficient LED lights.
Within the destination of Saas-Fee there are some particularly beautiful places. They offer unique natural spectacles or are uniquely beautiful places to photograph. We have researched the following tips for you.
Luminous mountain peaks The white peaks of the Mischabel chain shine especially beautifully in the evening red. Carl Zuckmayer found a special place to view this spectacle at the end of the Kapellenweg in Saas-Fee.
Suonen in Visperterminen Somewhat away from tourism, there are beautiful hiking trails in the "Heida village" of Visperterminen in the northern part of the Saas Valley. Along the way you will find historic chapels and suonen (irrigation systems) everywhere. With the Suone "Bodmeri" on the chapel path you can discover two sights in one excursion. "Sacri Monti" can be found elsewhere in Piedmont and Lombardy.
With the baby carriage at the Mattmark Dam With the baby carriage you can drive along the western shore of the Mattmark Dam. This path is also suitable for wheelchairs. In summer you can reach the dam by post bus or by car. There is a restaurant directly at the dam.
Almagelleralp high trail The high trail Almagelleralp in connection with the adventure trail Furggstalden is a very demanding hiking trail. At the same time it offers wonderful views, especially when crossing the suspension bridges. The four-thousand-meter peaks of the Mischabel group appear close enough to touch.
Night climbing tour The guided (easy) yet spectacular Gorge Alpin climbing tour is also offered at night. It leads through the rugged Feeschlucht gorge from Saas-Fee to Saas-Grund. After a fast Tyrolienne ride you can finish the tour with a fondue party.
11 km with the Monstertrotti Some of the alpine hikes or via ferrata tours end in Kreuzboden. A cool combination is to ride the eleven kilometers down from Kreuzboden on a Monstertrotti. You rest after the exertions and can enjoy a great view at the same time.
Should you wonder in the midst of nature about small hammer blows that reach your ear: These are the small water wheels of the Suonen, which can often be heard from far away.
Saas-Fee is very suitable for activities all year round. Due to the rather mild climate for high alpine conditions, the sun shines almost every day even in winter. Whether hiking, skiing or biking: You are spoiled for choice with your family. There are more than 150 km of winter slopes and 350 km of hiking trails, some of which are also super suitable for mountain biking. The southern Feegletscher is well developed and allows winter sports even in the summer months
The most popular activities in Saas-Fee include:
Length (km) | Activity | Location/Region |
---|---|---|
+100 km | Skiing and snowboarding | Saas-Fee |
60 km | Prepared winter hiking trails | Saas Valley |
32 km | Cross-country ski runs | Saas Valley |
8 km | Prepared skating slopes | Saas Valley |
11 km | Sledding / Night sledding | Kreuzboden - Saas-Grund |
6 km | Sledding / Night sledding | Hannig - Saas-Fee |
0.11 km | Snowtubing | Saas - Almagell |
Length (km) | Activity | Location/Region |
---|---|---|
350 km | Hiking and theme trails | Region Saas Fee / Saas Valley |
150 km | Mountain Bike Trails | Saas Valley |
70 km | Marked mountain bike network | Saas Valley |
20 km | Glacier ski slopes (summer) | Saas-Fee |
11 km | Monstertrotti track | Kreuzboden - Saas-Grund |
5 km | Trotinett track | Hannig - Saas-Fee |
0.9 km | toboggan run | Feeblitz in Saas-Fee |
In Saas-Fee itself, in particular, you will find a snow-sure ski area with a wide range of activities for beginners, advanced skiers and pros.
For winter sports enthusiasts with patience, there is the Adrenalin Cup: The 125-Day Race. Ten disciplines in the categories Alpine, Adrenalin and Endorphin are part of this Cup. You have a whole four months to improve your performance. The disciplines include ski jumping, slalom and downhill speed, winter hiking or a visit to the glacier cave. You can see your progress at any time on screens in the ski area. Measurement is fully automatic and photos are also available. The Adrenalin Pass is available for a small surcharge on the ski pass.
The skiing area Saas-Fee consists of two skiing areas. The winter sports area is located at 1789 to 3563 m.a.s.l. For skiing and snowboarding there are 100 km of slopes and 5 km of ski routes. 23 lifts transport the guests. The summer ski area is smaller and is located on the glacier. From July you can use up to 20 km of slopes here. The Alpin Express gondola and the Metro Alpin take you to the glacier. At the top station on the Mittelallalin, three surface lifts are in operation.
In the winter sports area, the slopes are divided into 60 km of red (medium difficulty) and 20 km each of blue (easy) and black (difficult) slopes. For ski tours there are an additional 5 km of slopes.
The freestyle park on the Allalin glacier can be reached from the Mittel Allalin mountain station and is constantly prepared in summer. It is a paradise for snowboarders and freeskiers. Because of the good snow conditions it invites to jibbing and shredding In winter, a snow park is set up above Morenia.
The ski area Hohsaas - Saas-Grund is situated at 1672 - 2400 m.a.s.l. It has 12 km of blue and 21.3 km of red slopes. In addition there are 5 km for ski tourers. Two gondola lifts, 2 lifts and 2 baby lifts are at your disposal. For children there is a 138 m long magic carpet in the Kinderparadies Hohsiland. It leads along totem poles of the Sioux Indians. Hohsi and Indian figures accompany the children on their first attempts at snow.
In the cozy skiing area Heidbodme - Saas-Almagell you will find 4 km of blue and 8 km of red ski runs. Seven lifts transport winter sports enthusiasts, including two consecutive chairlifts from Saas-Almagell. Here you will also find Kian's Adventure Land for children. On 40'000 m2 are offered: Cinema igloo, children's skidoos, a snow tubing track, parcours, magic carpet, Pinocchio beginner's lift and snow carousel
The tiny ski resort of Saas-Balen consists of 0.5 km of blue piste and a drag lift
Saas-Fee has three longer toboggan runs. They are three, six and eleven kilometers long and offer beautiful views. In addition, there are small facilities in the hamlet of Unter dem Berg (Saas-Grund) and in the village of Saas-Balen. All toboggan runs are also open in the evening on certain days for night sledging and are partly illuminated.
11 km, 846 hm. The descent contains no dangerous passages (suitable for families). It offers a particularly beautiful view of the Mischabel group. Attention: in the first part you drive over a ski slope. You can bypass this and start the toboggan run in Trift. Up to the middle station Trift the slope is illuminated on Wednesday evenings. Sledges and headlamps are available at all three stations of the Hohsaas Bergbahnen AG. They can also be returned here.
The ticket prices do not include the SaastalCard. The price includes several rides on the cable car from Saas-Grund to Kreuzboden.
6 km, about 520 hm downhill The partly very fast downhill is less suitable for children. The route runs over the so-called Sonnenberg and away from any skiing activity. Sledges and headlamps can be rented at the Saastal Bergbahnen AG stations in Hannig or Saas-Fee.
The ticket prices shown are without Saastal Card. Holders of ski pass or Magic Pass travel free of charge....
3 km, 222 hm descent. The pleasant toboggan run for the whole family starts at a sunny plateau and leads through the forest and past hamlets. You can rent sledges and headlamps in Saas-Almagell.
Winter hiking is particularly fun in the region. There is enough snow to trudge through the winter landscape and enjoy the special charm of a snow-covered mountain landscape. Saas-Fee has 60 km of hiking trails and plenty of off-trail space for snowshoeing. In addition, there are 32 km of cross-country skiing trails in the Saas Valley. In addition, eight to twelve kilometers of skating slopes are prepared in the Saas Valley. Below are some selected routes
This circular trail starts and ends at Haus Vogelweide in Saas-Fee (1831 m above sea level) and is groomed. You walk via Bärufalla, Mälchbodu and Cafe Alpenblick, then descend from Sonnenberg Hannig via the Zick Zack trail.
These snowshoe hikes are easy hikes and can be completed by the whole family. Only the Längfluh circuit has dangers because it crosses the ski slope below a drag lift.
The cross-country trails are usually kept short and often run along winter hiking trails. Especially popular in Saas-Fee are a 6 km long high-altitude trail and the 26 km long Saas Valley trail. It runs from Saas-Balen via Saas-Almagell to Eiu Alp and is quite narrow in places. It runs directly under the imposing dam wall
A very demanding guided four-day tour with snowshoes on two four-thousand-meter peaks starts in Saas-Fee. Besides the Allalinhorn (4027 m above sea level) you can also experience the Alphubel (4206 m above sea level). The trail takes you through the Mischabel ridge between the Saas Valley and the Matter Valley. It is run by the Mammut Alpine School for 3 to 6 people.
In total you will find a hiking network of 350 km in the destination
Highlights:
Some of the most spectacular and beautiful tours are described below.
The mountain hikes are mostly suitable for the whole family. Proper shoes and clothing are important, as well as mountain sticks.
Hikes in the Saas Valley and near the Mattmark reservoir reward you with wonderful views of the Valais Alps. The post bus runs to the dam from mid-June to mid-October. A parking lot and a restaurant with terrace are also available.
With 6 mountain tours and 21 alpine tours, the destination Saas-Fee offers a wide field for alpine mountaineers.
The actual mountain tour begins after an overnight stay at the Weissmieshütte at 2700 m.a.s.l.. The way to the summit leads over glaciers, snowfields and rocks.
This tour also requires a previous overnight stay at the Weissmieshütte. The path goes over snow and ice.
After spending the night at the Britannia Hut at 3030 m above sea level, the route leads over the ascending Hohlaub Glacier. Via an impressive snow ridge and a climbing section you reach the east ridge.
A glacier hike is carried out with a mountain guide. In summer, crampons are required. Your equipment: ankle-high shoes, warm clothing, hat, gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen. Safety equipment is provided by the mountain guide.
This hike leaves unforgettable impressions. It starts at the Längfluh mountain station and leads to the Panoramaplatz. On the rope of a mountain guide you walk along crevasses and monumental ice jags down to the Spielboden station.
You will need crampons, snowshoes, ski poles and climbing harness.
This short hike starts on the Hohsaas and leads through magnificent ice formations.
You will need snowshoes and a harness.
Within the destination of Saas-Fee you will find several via ferratas of varying degrees of difficulty. They all have one thing in common: an incredible view of the backdrop of the eighteen four-thousand-meter peaks surrounding the Saas Valley. Most of the via ferratas are only accessible in summer and in the beginning of autumn. In any case, good sure-footed shoes and taking a via ferrata set with you are a must!
These via ferratas are classified in the degree of difficulty medium to difficult:
You can rent equipment and via ferrata sets in the sports stores in Saas Fee, Saas Grund or Saas Almagell.
For non-guided tours you should definitely follow some safety rules:
This via ferrata is the youngest in the region and can only be climbed in safe weather conditions and with good shoes. The entrance is about 250 meters below the Britannia hut at 2970 m.a.s.l. It leads up to the Mittel Allalin ridge.
The via ferrata Jägihorn is the highest climb in the Western Alps. It is reached from the Weissmieshütte (2726 m.a.s.l.) in about 35 min. On the way you cross the lateral moraine of the Tällig glacier. From the cable car station Kreuzboden (2400 m.a.s.l.) you need about 70 min. At the beginning of summer there are often still snow fields on the way down.
From the summit of the Jägihorn you can enjoy the special view of the Allalinhorn and the Mischabel group as well as of Weissmies. Guided ascents are carried out from the end of June to mid-October.
Since 2016, a new variant can be climbed: it is classified as K4 and requires the entire day. The rope bridge with boards is 120 m long and it is followed by a challenging climb.
This via ferrata is also easy to conquer for beginners. The entry starts after about 1.5 hours walking time from the cable car station Morenia (2550 m.a.s.l.) at about 2800 m.a.s.l..
The tour, classified as easy to medium, is nevertheless not to be underestimated in terms of its length and can easily take up the whole day.
The mini via ferrata is very suitable for beginners. You can learn techniques or practice your skills
It starts already five minutes from the valley station Kreuzboden/Hohsaas (1560 m.a.s.l.). For the entrance you need a ladder, which is secured with a lock. You can get this at Intersport Zurbriggen in Saasstrasse 241 or at Hotel Alpha.
On guided tours the descent is by abseiling.
From the mountain station Heidbodme you reach the viewpoint at "Wanne" after about an hour. Via the alpine high trail and some rock bands you walk to the Antrona pass. The actual via ferrata is only a short stretch, leading to point 3042 via the northeast ridge. The rest of the way is again an alpine hiking trail, but partly secured with ropes. You also have to cross scree fields. This way you reach the summit (3327 m.a.s.l.) and get a unique view of the Mattmarksee, the Furggtälli and the Mischabel chain.
The Alpine Hunter's Trail may only be walked with mountain guides, but it is not very difficult. It starts at the village square Saas-Balen (1483 m a.s.l.)
This tour starts in the village of Saas-Fee (1593 m a.s.l.) and may only be done with mountain guides. The start is at the canyon bridge or at the hotel La Gorge. Afterwards, the Feeschlucht is walked through from Saas-Fee to Saas-Grund. The gorge is wildly rugged. The path leads over ladders, steel cables and suspension bridges. The highlight is a rapid tyrolienne and a pendulum walk. You may pass frozen waterfalls along the way. As a special feature, this tour is offered at night and supplemented with fondue or raclette.
This Via Ferrata is a tour over two days that leads to Italy in the Antrona Valley. It starts in Gondo / Zwischbergen and on the second day at the Andolla hut CAI
The first day starts with a four-hour tour from Zwischbergen via Chäller to Passo Andolla (2418 m a.s.l.). The subsequent descent to the Andolla hut takes about 40 minutes.
On the second day you walk about 2.5 hours to the entrance. From there to the Sonnigpass you need two hours. The descent to the Almageller hut takes another two hours. A snowfield or in late summer an easy glacier have to be crossed
Climbing gardens are perfect for getting to know mountain climbing for the first time. You learn the most important rules and moves almost playfully. This way you will quickly find out if climbing is the right thing for you.
The destination Saas-Fee has several climbing gardens:
For practicing, the newly renovated climbing garden is suitable for adult beginners as well as for children. It is located at Furggstalden in a not too steep terrain. Besides climbing moves you can also learn and practice abseiling here.
Climbing without a harness on boulders and rock faces is also an increasingly popular sport in the destination of Saas-Fee. You usually climb to a jumping height from which you can still jump off without any major risk of injury. More than three popular boulder places can be found here. For the winter months there is a bouldering cellar.
The sector can be reached via the parking garage, floor -6. At the end of a camper parking area it starts directly behind the parking garage.
The sector can be reached directly at the entrance of Saas-Almagell.
The sector can be reached from the parking lot of the Hohsaas cable cars. The rocks have a good climbing quality.
The boulder cellar, which is open all year round, has 120 square meters of usable climbing space. It was built by active climbers of the region. Contact via Hotel Alpha, Beim Dorfplatz, 3910 Saas-Grund.
daily 8:00 - 23:00 | age | costs |
---|---|---|
adults | 16 years and older | 6 |
adolescents | 10-16 years | 4 |
Children | up to 10 years | free when accompanied by an adult |
In the entire Saas-Fee and Saas Valley area there are more than 150 km of good biking trails, which often lead along old paths used by smugglers and muleteers. More than 70 km are officially well marked as bike trails. Some lead on single trails along the rocks, others directly through the Saas Valley.
To introduce some interesting trails, you can see a selection of bike trails here. Most of them are well passable from July to October. A few winter trails are also available.
You can rent e-bikes in Saas Fee and in Saas Almagell.
**All cable cars of Saastal Bergbahnen AG and Bergbahnen Hohsaas AG as well as the post bus transport your bike
In order not to suddenly find an empty battery, you can charge your e-bike at these huts and restaurants. However, you should have an adapter and charger with you.
Saas-Grund:
Saas-Fee:
Since July 2021 there is a new Bike Skill Park in Kreuzboden. It is suitable for children and adults. Three short trails promise fun and practice at the same time. You will be transported to the starting point via conveyor belts.
| length |height difference | |-------------|---------|:-----:| |Skills Trail blue | 393 | 32 | |Skills Trail green | 485 | 32 | |Uphill (uphill) Trail green | 168 | 8 | |Skills Trail red | 431 | 32 |
Demanding and difficult bike tours are not always very long trails. They usually lead through alpine terrain and overcome very many meters of altitude up and / or down. To compensate, there are usually wonderful views of the mountain world
Four ice rinks within the destination of Saas-Fee invite you to go ice skating, curling or curling. At the sports field Kalbermatten in Saas-Fee curling is played on a natural ice rink from mid-December to early February. In Saas-Grund you can take part (guided) in curling on Mondays to Wednesdays. This is organized by the Saastal Tourismus AG. You can skate on all ice rinks in the four villages. Skates can be rented from the local sports stores. Ice skating lessons are available at all rinks. Figure skating in Saas-Grund on Tuesdays 17:15 - 18:15.
Other sport possibilities:
Paragliding is possible from Hannig (2350 m above sea level) to Saas-Fee (1847 m above sea level), but only to a very limited extent. The low jumping altitude rarely attracts paragliders here. Tandem flights are not offered in Saas-Fee, but in the neighboring destination Zermatt. Nevertheless, you can watch paragliding flights from time to time. Long flights launched in Fiesch like to use the Mattmark dam as a turning point.
In the destination Saas-Fee you will find interesting events all year round. Mass starts, carnival parades and traditional events, there is something for everyone Every Thursday, for example, you can listen to interesting legends by candlelight in the Saaserstübli.
The food in Saas-Fee has been characterized by the seasonal offerings for centuries. Especially the many restaurants and cafes that you find on the way while hiking, skiing or biking have preserved this to a large extent. this is exactly why the dishes are so popular. The famous mountain cheese, rye bread and dried meat from the region are special delicacies.
By the way, you have the possibility to visit a show cheese dairy in the mountains above Saas-Grund: Schaukäserei Triftalp Saas-Grund
Nevertheless, there is now also culinary cuisine that is internationally oriented in addition to local dishes.
Almost one hundred restaurants can be found in the four Saas villages. In addition, there are 16 mountain restaurants in Saas-Fee.
At 3500 m.a.s.l. you can dine in the highest revolving restaurant in the world and enjoy the unique mountain world. 200 indoor seats and 200 terrace seats are available near the Mittelallalin mountain station. Here you can enjoy Valais specialties. It is open between July and April during the operating hours of the Saas-Fee - Mittelallalin mountain railroad.
In Saas-Grund, the restaurant attached to two hotels and a camping site on Saastalstrasse offers good cuisine all day. In addition to gourmet dishes, you can enjoy regional dishes. Hot stone, raclette fun and wood oven pizza are some specialties.
In Saas-Fee there are 58 hotels alone. In addition, there are far more than 388 vacation apartments. You can also choose mountain huts and even camping
You will find small boutique hotels as well as large luxury hotels or hotels with apartment complexes
In Saas-Almagell stands the three-star hotel. It does not have its own wellness area, but guests can use the one of the neighboring hotel. The rustic restaurant has a large sun terrace. Animation programs A special feature are the guided hikes and the hotelier's animation program.
The three-star Hotel Alphubel is located in Saas-Fee on the Hügelweg, close to the parking lot and not far from the village center. The big wellness center of Saas-Fee "Aqua Allalin" is reachable in three minutes. The Sonnenbahn Hannig can be reached in four minutes. The hotel has been awarded as a family hotel.
Already the journey to the village is a highlight in itself, the mountain giants around the Saas Valley are very impressive. In between you will see again and again the typical old wooden houses of the Valais. Especially Saas-Grund and Saas-Almagell still show the original character of their villages.
Saas-Fee is located in the southern part of Ticino, just before the border with Italy. The Saas Valley is framed by several four-thousand-meter peaks of the Valais Alps. In the south, the valley ends at the Mattmark reservoir. Saas-Fee and the entire Saas Valley can only be reached from the north via Visp.
The nearest towns within a radius of about forty kilometers are Visp (approx. 7000 inhabitants), Raron (2,000 inhabitants) and Brig-Glis (13,000 inhabitants).
The fastest connection from Zurich is from the main train station via Bern to Visp. There you change to the Postbus 511 to Saas-Grund or one of the other towns. The trip takes a total of just under three hours and costs CHF 66 - 116 without discounts. The journey is cheaper by bus from Zurich to Bern and from there by train to Visp. The cost is 58 - 114 CHF.
The bus 511 of the post bus takes about an hour from Visp. The bus leaves every 30 min.
By car you need about 2.5 hours from Bern (with Lötschberg car transport), from Zurich via Schwyz and Airolo/Bedretto about 3.5 hours. At Visp you turn south into the Saas Valley.
From the north you can reach the Saas Valley by car via Bern through the Lötschberg car transport. The tourist offices in the Saas Valley give out discounted tickets for the Lötschberg car transport.
From the east, the pass road of the Furka pass is closed in winter. The route therefore leads via the Furka car transport.
From the south you reach the Saas valley via Simplon pass or Simplon car transport and from the west you come via Lausanne. You drive along the Rhone valley to Visp and from there towards Saas-Grund. All valley stations of the mountain railroads have a sufficient number of parking spaces. You will find 500 parking spaces at the valley station in Saas-Grund. There is also a large parking garage at the entrance to the car-free village of Saas-Fee. A free ski bus runs between Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund and Saas-Almagell to the individual mountain railroads.
Swiss Activities offer:
38 lifts and cable cars, 3 conveyor belts and two magic carpets open up the area of the destination Saas-Fee (Free Holiday Region Saas-Fee). These include 1 funicular, 2 aerial tramways, 8 gondola lifts and 4 chairlifts.
Some of the cable cars and chair lifts also operate in summer.
There is 1 funicular, 2 aerial tramways, 6 gondola lifts and 2 chairlifts in the Saas-Fee ski area.
Mountain railroads and chairlifts in the Saas-Fee ski area
name bottom station | altitude bottom station (m a.s.l.) | name top station | altitude top station (m a.s.l.) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Metro Alpin funicular | Felskinn | 2980 | Mittel Allalin | 3445 |
90-seater aerial tramway Felskinn | Saas-Fee | 1843 | Felskinn | 2989 |
60-seater aerial tramway Längfluh | Spielboden | 2455 | Längfluh | 2866 |
30 -er gondola lift (GB) Alpin Express 2 | Morenia | 2590 | Felskinn | 2980 |
30 -er GB Alpin Express 1 | Saas-Fee village | 1782 | Morenia | 2590 |
10-person GB Bifig - Spielboden | Bifig | 1842 | Spielboden | 2449 |
10-er GB Kalbermatten - Bifig | Kalbermatten | 1798 | Bifig | 1842 |
6-er GB Plattjen | Saas-Fee | 1805 | Plattjen | 2571 |
4-seater GB Hannig | Saas-Fee | 1810 | Hannigalp | 2330 |
6-seater chairlift Morenia | Morenja below mountain restaurant | 2420 | Glacier slopes | 2860 |
4-seater chairlift Längfluh | ski area below Längfluh | 2632 | glacier pistes | 2919 |
There are 2 gondola lifts in the Hohsaas - Saas-Grund area. In addition, there are 2 T-bar lifts, 2 baby lifts and a magic carpet.
Gondola lifts in the ski area Hohsaas - Saas-Grund
name valley station | altitude valley station (m a.s.l.) | name mountain station | altitude mountain station (m a.s.l.) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
8-person GB Icecab | Kreuzboden | 2405 | Hohsaas | 3146 |
8-person GB Saas-Grund - Trift - Kreuzboden | Saas-Grund | 1559 | Kreuzboden | 2400 |
There are 2 chairlifts in the Heidbodme - Saas-Allmagell area. In addition, there are 5 surface lifts.
lift | name bottom station | altitude bottom station (m a.s.l.) | name top station | altitude top station (m a.s.l.) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2-seater chair lift Furggstalden - Heidbodme | Furggstalden | 1833 | Heidbodme | 2347 |
2-seater chairlift Saas-Almagell Furggstalden | Saas-Almagell | 1684 | Furggstalden | 1906 |
The small ski resort of Saas-Balen has no mountain railroads or chairlift facilities. There is only one T-bar lift here.
The Erlebniscard Wallis is valid throughout the Saas Valley. You can use it for trips with the Saas Valley mountain railroads as well as with the Hohsaas mountain railroads.
With the ErlebnisCard, you can travel flexibly on 2, 3 or 5 freely selectable days of a month. It allows you to travel not only through the Upper Valais, but also through the vacation regions of Andermatt and the Bernese Oberland as far as Disentis-Sedrun.
The destination Saas-Fee borders directly on Italy in the south. Thus, the area lies on the same latitude as Ascona and Locarno. It therefore offers a surprisingly mild climate in the high alpine locations. 300 sunny days are counted annually.
Nevertheless, it is cold in the region all year round. An annual average of -3.7 °C is measured. In summer, the temperature in Saas-Fee hardly exceeds 10 °C, despite eight hours of sunshine a day. Therefore, the tundra climate prevails in the destination Saas-Fee
The summer months are also the months with the highest precipitation. From May to November, more than 200 mm of precipitation per square meter fall every month (about 2240 mm per year). This in turn leads to high humidity (80% on average in May). In the winter months of December, January and February, the humidity is between 67 and 69%.
From 3000 m above sea level, the air you breathe already has much less oxygen and may make breathing much more difficult than you expect. If you want to do longer altitude tours, you are well advised to prepare yourself gradually for these heights. A local mountain guide will lead you well through the alpine world. The weather in the high Alps is absolutely unpredictable and can change very quickly
Mountain sickness is also not to be underestimated. It is already suffered by 20% of mountain hikers who reach an altitude of 1,900 meters above sea level. Headaches, loss of appetite and sleep disturbances are the first signs.
**To prevent mountain sickness, there is only one thing you can do: slowly gain altitude and divide higher mountain tours over several days