The gorgeous little, traffic-free village of Saas-Fee looks a bit like a mini-Zermatt, with its dark wooden chalets, and is entirely surrounded by spectacular glaciers and mountain peaks, including the Dom, Switzerland’s highest mountain.
Saas-Fee’s ski area is one of the highest in the Alps and is popular for skiing on glaciers in summer as well as for its more widely spread winter slopes. The village is based in a former farming community, and although it has expanded significantly since the first access road was built in 1951, it retains its charm (and barns full of wintering cattle).
Most of the slopes face north and are above 2,500 m, providing very reliable light powder snow. The entire area is relatively small, with just 100km of pistes that keen skiers and snowboarders are likely to cover in a few days, and is best suited for confident beginners and intermediate users.
Catch up on the essentials from the resort below and scroll down for our insider guide to a day on the slopes, expert reviews and advice. For more Saas-Fee inspiration, check out our guides to the resort’s best accommodation, restaurants and après-ski.
In this guide:
Inside the facility
Saas-Fee’s narrow streets, lined with attractive old buildings and new low-rise chalets, are a charming setting for a walk. The surrounding mountains are also stunning; Known as the Pearl of the Alps, the facility has 13 peaks with an altitude of 4,000 m and above.
The village is closed to traffic, with parking lots at the entrance and electric buses, taxis and hotel cars taking people around. It gets very little sun in the early season, so March and April are good months to visit; temperatures are warmer at the resort and in the mountains; December and January can be very cold.
Following the access gondola to Felskinn, an underground funicular accelerates through the mountain towards Mitelllalin and the resort’s glacier at 3,500m. Be careful; The weather is poor there, so it’s a good idea to walk slowly when going out to acclimate. And to visit Allalin, the world’s highest rotating restaurant, the floor rotates beneath diners and drinkers, offering 360-degree views of the surrounding ring of 4,000m peaks.
There’s also the Ice Cave Alallin, built deep into the glacier, offering stunning ice sculptures as well as explanations of how ice forms and changes, and an avalanche simulation experience. Entrance fee is 20 CHF.
Unusually, Saas-Fee has a mountain called Hannig, which is dedicated to activities other than skiing and snowboarding, such as snowshoeing, sledding, skydiving or walking on clear paths. Plans are being made to renew the Hannig cable car with ten-passenger gondolas for 2023/24. There is also a leisure center with a 25m pool, children’s pool and waterslide, hot tub, various saunas and steam rooms, gym, natural ice rink and Feeblitz, a roller coaster-style fun ride. rails.
on the slopes
Saas-Fee’s ski area is ideal for confident beginners and relaxed intermediates who want to run on great snow and are happy to cover the same ground several times a week.
The glacier zone and much of the upper half of the mountain are ideal for them. Even the runs marked here in red are generally very gentle and are classified as blue in many resorts.
More adventurous intermediates will want to try the steeper reds found on the lower roads into the village and in the Längfluh, Spielboden and Plattjen sectors; but the snow here is not as good as the nice, powdery snow found on the higher slopes. And the blue roads to the village are largely narrow tracks; not so good for shy skiers or snowboarders who want to catch and avoid the lifts.
There is a powerful lifting system, starting with a 30-passenger gondola that carries 1,500 people per hour from the village to Felskinn at 3,000 meters.
There are few steep pistes to challenge experts, and the off-piste is severely limited by deep crevasses, making it extremely dangerous to venture away from the pistes on the glacier. But Saas-Fee is an excellent starting point for ski touring, forming an extension of the classic Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route. Descending the 1,700m vertical route from the top of the mountain to the bottom is a challenge for all abilities.
The area is excellent for students. There is a special area for beginners on the edge of the village, which usually has good snowfall and is covered by a special beginner lift. Ideal advance slopes are found on the glacier and the highest quality snow powder is almost guaranteed here.
The area is popular with freestylers and snowboarders who make the most of the world-class terrain parks. In winter the park is in Morenia below Felskinn and has rails, kickers, boxes, tables and ropes to suit all ability levels. In summer the park moves towards the glaciers and is set up specifically for advanced and professional freestylers; Many of the world’s best freestyle riders come here to train. There is also a popular lounge area to just relax and enjoy the music.
Who should go?
Covered by a special beginner cable car pass, the nursery slopes in Saas Fee are long, gentle, quiet and just a short walk from the main street; The glacier area and much of the upper half of the mountain are also ideal for skiing. With the magnificent easy blue, beginners rush towards the height. Saas Fee has a friendly atmosphere and is ideal for families as there is plenty of après-ski entertainment to keep everyone busy.
Know before you go
Basic knowledge
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British Embassy/Consulate: 00 31 359 77 00
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Ambulance: Dial 144
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Police: Dial 117
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Fire: Dial 118
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Tourism Office: Check the Saas Fee Tourist Board’s website, saas-fee.ch, for weather reports, lift availability, webcams, traffic details and local event listings. Pick up maps, brochures and other information at the office at the main intersection in the center of Saas Fee.
Fundamentals
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Currency unit: Swiss franc (CHF)
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Phone code: From abroad, dial 00 41 and leave out the zero at the beginning of the 10-digit number.
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Time difference: +1 hour