by The gorgeous, traffic-free village of Saas-Fee looks a bit like a mini Zermatt with its dark wooden chalets, and is surrounded by stunning glaciers and mountain peaks, including the Dom – the highest mountain located entirely within the Switzerland.
The Saas-Fee ski area is one of the highest in the Alps, popular for summer skiing on the glacier as well as the winter pistes that spread over a larger area. The village is based on an old farming community and retains its charm (and its cows full of wintering cattle) despite significant expansion since the first access road was built in 1951.
Most of the slopes are north-facing and above 2,500m, making powder snow very reliable and light. The whole area is relatively small, with only 100km of tracks that keen skiers and snowboarders are likely to cover within a few days, and are best suited to confident beginners and intermediates.
Stay on track with the essential facts from the resort below, and scroll down for our insider’s guide to a day on the piste, expert ratings 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 resort
Saas-Fee’s narrow streets, lined with attractive old buildings and newer low-rise chalets, are a great location for a stroll. And the surrounding mountains are simply stunning – known as the Pearl of the Alps, the resort has 13 4,000m peaks towering above it.
The village is traffic free, with car parks at the entrance and electric buses, taxis and hotel vehicles to ferry people around. It gets little sun early in the season, so March and April are good months to visit, when temperatures in the resort and on the mountain are warmer – December and January can be cold cold.
After the access gondola to Felskinn, an underground funicular speeds through the mountain to Mitellalin and the resort’s glacier at 3,500m. Be careful – the air is thin up there, it’s a good idea to walk slowly when you go out to get used to it. And to visit the world’s highest revolving restaurant, Allalin – the floor revolves under diners and drinkers, allowing 360 degree views of the surrounding ring of 4,000m peaks.
There is also the Alallin Ice Cave, built deep in the glacier with amazing ice sculptures, as well as explanations of how the ice was formed and how it changes, and a simulation experience of flatness. Entry costs CHF20.
Unusually, Saas-Fee, Hannig, has an entire mountain dedicated to activities other than skiing and snowboarding – snowshoeing, tobogganing, parapenting or walking on cleared paths. Plans are underway to refurbish the Hannig lift with ten seater gondolas for 2023/24. There is also a leisure centre, with a 25m swimming pool, a children’s pool and water slide, a hot tub, various saunas and steam rooms, and a gym, as well as a natural ice rink, and the Feeblitz, a fun rollercoaster-style ride on. rails.
On the slopes
The Saas-Fee ski area is ideal for confident beginners and leisure intermediates who want big snow runs and are happy to cover the same ground several times a week.
The glacier area and most of the upper half of the mountain are suitable for them. Even red-marked runs here are usually very gentle, and would be classed as blue in many resorts.
More adventurous intermediates will want to try the bolder reds found on the lower ranges back to the village and in the Längfluh, Spielboden and Plattjen sectors; but the snow here is rare as well as the beautiful powdery snow that can be found on the higher slopes. And the blues back to the village are mostly narrow tracks – not good for silly skiers or snowboarders, who can catch the lifts back down to avoid them.
There is a powerful lift system, starting with a 30-person gondola that whisks 1,500 people an hour from the village up to Felskinn at 3,000m.
There are few steep pistes to challenge experts, and off-piste is severely limited by the deep crevasses that make going off-piste on the glacier extremely dangerous. However, Saas-Fee is a great starting point for a ski tour and is an extension of the classic Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route. And descending the 1,700m vertical from the bottom to the top of the mountain is a challenge for all abilities.
The area is quite perfect for learners. There is a dedicated beginner area on the edge of the village, which generally has good snow and is covered by a special lift pass for beginners. Ideal progressive slopes are found up on the glacier, where excellent powder snow is almost guaranteed.
The area is very popular with freestylers and snowboarders who enjoy most of the excellent terrain parks. In winter the park is at Morenia, below Felskinn, and has rails, kicks, boxes, tables and lines for all ability levels. In the summer the park moves up to the glacier and is specially designed for advanced and pro freestylers, with many of the world’s best freestyle riders coming here to train. There is also a very popular relaxation area to relax and enjoy the music.
Who should go?
The nursery slopes in Saas Fee, covered by a special lift pass for beginners, are long, smooth, quiet and only a short walk from the main street – as well as the glacier area and most of the top half of the mountain which is also suitable for beginners with easy blue glorious runs up at height. Saas Fee has a friendly atmosphere and is good for families as there is plenty of après-ski entertainment to keep everyone busy.
Know before you go
Essential information
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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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Tourist office: See saas-fee.ch, the website of the Saas Fee Tourist Board, for weather reports, lift status, webcams, traffic data and local event listings. Pick up maps, leaflets and other information from the office on the main roundabout in Taille Saas centre.
The basics
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Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)
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Telephone code: from abroad, dial 00 41, then leave the zero at the beginning of the 10-digit number.
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Time difference: +1 hour
