Media and information-Winter-2021-22-EN

Media and information
English
The Saas Valley in winter
1

Contents
04
10
12
12
14
17
18
20
Welcome to the Saas-Fee/Saas Valley holiday region
Sustainability -> 04
Authentic mountain villages -> 04
Overnight stays, guest nationalities and lengths of stay -> 05
Facts and figures -> 09
Highlights in winter 2021/22
SaastalCard
Winter hiking pass
Events
Cuisine
Familien
Icepavilion
Aqua Allalin
Foxtrail
Icesports
Activities on the mountain
Skiing and snowboarding
Day-trip destinations
Adventure
Winter Via Ferrata
Ice climbing
Gorge Alpine
Zip Lines
Husky experiences
Culture/heritage
Rex Culture Centre
Saas Museum
Exhibition on Father Johann Josef Imseng
How to get here/contact info
2 3

Welcome to the
Saas-Fee/Saas Valley
OVERNIGHT STAYS, GUEST NATIONALITIES AND LENGTHS OF STAY
DEVELOPMENT OF OVERNIGHT STAYS IN SAAS-FEE
2000-2021
holiday region
SUSTAINABILITY
Best Tourism Villages by UNTWO
As part of its ‘Best Tourism Villages’ initiative, the World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has been seeking out
the best tourism villages in the world. As a member
state of the UNWTO, Switzerland was entitled to submit
three candidates, all of whom received awards on
2 December 2021. No other country was as successful
as Switzerland. Saas-Fee received an award, as did
Gruyères and Valposchiavo. Tourism villages where
traditional activities such as agriculture and forestry
are practised, and which also use tourism as a way to
promote and preserve their cultural heritage and use
it for sustainable tourism development were eligible to
apply. Saas-Fee, for instance, impressed with its strong
focus on sustainable development, the agricultural activities
in the area and the local added value generated
by tourism in the Saas-Fee/Saas Valley holiday region.
Sustainability
AUTHENTIC MOUNTAIN VILLAGES
The Saas Valley is made up of four traditional mountain
communities: Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund, Saas-Almagell
and Saas-Balen. Saas-Fee is the biggest and most
tourist-focused of the four communities – yet it has still
managed to keep all of its rustic village charm. In the
Saas Valley, visitors can stroll down cobblestone alleys
between centuries-old barns and charming Valais-style
houses. In these communities, there is a special charm
in everything that is authentic, traditional and rustic.
-> Saas-Fee
Saas-Fee is located at the base of the Dom, the tallest
mountain in Switzerland. Cars are not allowed in
the village, which is one of Switzerland’s more popular
winter destinations. The Saas-Fee glacier is home
to one of Europe’s rare summer ski areas, and the
Mittelallalin features the highest-altitude revolving
restaurant in the world. With its sun-bleached barns,
cobblestone streets and wooden Valais-style houses
framed by the Mischabel mountain range, Saas-
Fee has a special charm that attracts up to 9,000
guests in the high season.
-> Saas-Grund
Saas-Grund enchants visitors with its rustic buildings
and narrow, winding streets. The village is the
starting point for numerous hiking trails, such as the
Almageller and Gsponer mountain trail or the popular
‘18 Four-Thousanders’ circular trail in Hohsaas;
the latter offers the best views of the Mischabel
massif.
-> Saas-Almagell
Nestled between picturesque side valleys, Saas-Almagell
is the southernmost village of the four. It’s
particularly popular with hikers, as Saas-Almagell
is the starting point for many different trails. This is
where the adventure trail from Furggstalden to Almagelleralp
starts, as well as the route to the Monte
Moro Pass and Antrona Pass via the Mattmark Dam.
-> Saas-Balen
The village of Saas-Balen is located at the mouth of
the Saas Valley. Visitors should make time for a detour
to the imposing Fellbach Waterfall. Saas-Balen
is also the starting point for tons of hiking trails,
such as those leading to the hamlet of Matt or to
the Heimischgartu alpine pasture. Architecture fans
shouldn’t miss the late baroque Round Church built
in 1812. It’s the only one of its kind still standing in
Switzerland.
1’100’000
1’050’000
1’000’000
950’000
900’000
850’000
800’000
750’000
700’000
650’000
600’000
550’000
500’000
450’000
400’000
350’000
300’000
250’000
200’000
150’000
100’000
50’000
0
-50’000
-100’000
429’957
374’632
Korrekturen
Parahotellerie
Hotellerie & Gruppen
432’786
393’988
425’740
404’012
419’275
411’258
440’322
425’317
417’304
402’994
385’157
397’274
353’744
376’763
307’900
336’259
2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
DEVELOPMENT OF OVERNIGHT STAYS IN SAAS-GRUND,
SAAS-ALMAGELL AND SAAS-BALEN FROM 2005–2021
600’000
550’000
500’000
450’000
400’000
350’000
300’000
250’000
200’000
150’000
100’000
50’000
0
-50’000
200’263
314’693
198’664
297’815
204’713
307’746
238’036
312’393
225’748
320’352
216’774
306’422
199’309
276’624
194’400
242’350
191’374
234’868
178’174
236’639
302’722
313’261
165’559
226’131
178’943
194’234
302’286
310’152
213’626
215’109
283’686
308’346
Korrektur im Folgejahr
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
243’172
227’553
347’296
288’145
239’773
221’978
427’801
330’916
Parahotellerie, Berghütten & Pauschalen
Hotellerie - Hotel & Gruppen
Correction Correction in the following l'année suivante year
Hospitality-adjacent Parahôtellerieindustry
Hotels and Hôtellerie groupset groupes
225’455
177’654
452’234
330’406
246’164
144’021
452’300
313’286
430’426
273’719
463’298
285’720
Correction in the following year
Hospitality-adjacent industry
Hotels and groups
4 5

OVERNIGHT STAYS BY COUNTRY AND SEASON FOR THE 2020/21 FISCAL YEAR
Country
OS
Winter Summer Year
Market share
in %
OS
Market share
in %
OS
Market share
in %
Switzerland/Liechtenstein 357'912 86.68 236'398 57.81 594'310 72.32
Germany 22'514 5.45 49'663 12.15 72'177 8.78
France 9'759 2.36 11'300 2.76 21'059 2.56
Italy 1'850 0.45 6'912 1.69 8'762 1.07
Austria 852 0.21 8'402 2.05 9'254 1.13
Great Britain 2'420 0.59 8'077 1.98 10'497 1.28
Netherlands 2'550 0.62 19'457 4.76 22'007 2.68
Belgium 3'082 0.75 15'020 3.67 18'102 2.20
Luxembourg 1'251 0.30 922 0.23 2'173 0.26
Denmark 467 0.11 555 0.14 1'022 0.12
Sweden 178 0.04 2'095 0.51 2'273 0.28
Norway 25 0.01 3'239 0.79 3'264 0.40
Finland 101 0.02 679 0.17 780 0.09
Spain 797 0.19 2'963 0.72 3'760 0.46
Russia 564 0.14 2'364 0.58 2'928 0.36
Poland 4'005 0.97 2'288 0.56 6'293 0.77
Czech Republic/Slovakia 832 0.20 4'094 1.00 4'926 0.60
Slovenia 259 0.06 1'997 0.49 2'256 0.27
Rest of Europe 1'911 0.46 3'280 0.80 5'191 0.63
USA 364 0.09 11'178 2.73 11'542 1.40
Canada 180 0.04 6'066 1.48 6'246 0.76
Rest of the Americas 230 0.06 174 0.04 404 0.05
Africa 70 0.02 85 0.02 155 0.02
Israel 0 0.00 3'108 0.76 3'108 0.38
Japan 70 0.02 2'778 0.68 2'848 0.35
China/Hong Kong/Taiwan 170 0.04 1'710 0.42 1'880 0.23
Rest of Asia 260 0.06 3'350 0.82 3'610 0.44
Australia, Oceania 239 0.06 759 0.19 998 0.12
Other 10 0.00 0 0.00 10 0.00
Total 412'922 100.00 408'913 100.00 821'835 100.00
OVERNIGHT STAYS BY MONTH FOR THE 2020/21 FISCAL YEAR
Winter Saas-Fee Saas-Grund Saas-Almagell Saas-Balen Total
November 19'232 4'113 877 26 24'248
December 54'191 15'138 7'821 636 77'786
January 38'811 9'176 6'347 280 54'614
February 83'310 30'456 18'311 1'213 133'290
March 57'723 13'196 7'136 119 78'174
April 41'913 7'883 3'252 279 53'327
Total Winter 295'180 79'962 43'744 2'553 421'439
Summer Saas-Fee Saas-Grund Saas-Almagell Saas-Balen Total
May 3'538 2'284 673 80 6'575
June 11'401 9'402 5'531 176 26'510
July 63'942 48'270 17'703 1'454 131'369
August 77'107 46'664 18'905 1'293 143'969
September 49'134 21'476 9'576 704 80'890
October 46'557 14'413 5'139 331 66'440
Total Summer 251'679 142'509 57'527 4'038 455'753
Total: Year
(excluding all-inclusive)
546'859 222'471 101'271 6'591 877'192
All-inclusive 202'159 35'799 17'289 6'765 262'012
Total: 2020/21 year 749'018 258'270 118'560 13'356 1'139'204
Winter | Summer 54% 46% 36% 64% 43% 57% 39% 61% 48% 52%
Mountain huts 3'093 21'763 24'856
Shared house 5'424 25'077 30'501
All-inclusive 129'169 132'843 262'012
Total Destination 550'608 588'596 1'139'204
6 7

FACTS AND FIGURES
-> The Saas-Fee/Saas Valley holiday region is surrounded
by 18 four-thousand-metre peaks. The
ones in brackets are those not that are not visible
from the location: Allalin, Alphubel, Täschhorn, Dom,
Lenzspitz, (Nadelhorn), (Stecknadelhorn), (Hohberghorn),
(Dürrenhorn), (Strahlhorn), (Rimpfischhorn),
Weissmies, Lagginhorn.
-> From Hohsaas, 18 four-thousand-metre peaks can
be seen (‘18 Four-Thousanders’ circular theme trail
on Hohsaas).
-> The road to Saas-Fee was first built in 1951. They
decided to stay car-free. Saas-Fee has remained
that way ever since.
-> There are 300 electric vehicles in Saas-Fee (private
individuals cannot apply for an electric vehicle. Only
hotels, businesses, craftsmen and landlords with
over 20 beds).
-> The first tourists were from England. That’s why
there is an Anglican church in Saas-Fee (today the
Evangelical church). The Britannia hut was also built
by Englishmen in 1912 (hence the name Britannia).
-> Initially, there was only summer tourism (mountaineers,
researchers, botanists); winter tourism began
in 1951.
-> Johann Josef Imseng (statue in front of the church)
was a tourism pioneer and pastor. He built the first
hotel in the Saas Valley (in Saas-Grund) in the middle
of the 19th century. Johann Josef Imseng was the
first Swiss skier. He laid the foundation for the development
of skiing. In 1849, he mastered a downhill
run to Saas-Grund on self-built skis.
-> The only Alpine World Cup to take place in Saas-
Fee was held in 1988. Adelboden had too little snow,
so the giant slalom was moved from Adelboden to
Saas-Fee to the Plattjen ski area’s black piste. Alberto
Tomba (Tomba la bomba) won. An investment
of three million francs would be needed to make the
piste able to host the World Cup – an unrealistic
sum.
-> In 1984, Wham shot their famous video for ‘Last
Christmas’ in Saas-Fee. They actually wanted to
film in Gstaad, but there wasn’t enough snow. Here
is the tour itinerary for the ‘Last Christmas’ video
shoot: Felskinn valley station, Hotel FerienART (now
known as Walliserhof), Steinmatten cultural centre
(indoor shots were filmed there) + chalet in the hamlet
of ‘Schliechte’: the famous Last Christmas chalet
...
-> Saas-Fee is only 120 kilometres from Milan as the
crow flies. In clear weather, you can see the lights
of Milan from the revolving restaurant. And vice versa:
from the Torre Branca lookout tower in Milan, you
can see the Mischabel massif of Saas-Fee.
-> The Monte Moro Pass and the Antrona Pass were
once important crossings to the south, also known
as smuggling routes.
-> The Counterfeiters (1925), the most famous work
of the Nobel Prize in Literature winner André Gide
(1869–1951), is set in Saas-Fee (and Paris).
-> Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902)
spent two weeks in Saas-Fee in 1896. There is a
bust in front of the Saas Museum + plaque at the
Hotel Metropol, the successor of the building he
originally stayed in.
-> Carl Zuckmayer (1896–1977), one of the most-performed
playwrights in the German-speaking world
in the second half of the 20th century, lived in Saas-
Fee from 1957–1977 (in Haus Vogelweid). There is a
Carl Zuckmayer trail with quote stones.
‘A day not spent here in Saas-Fee is like half a day
for me.’ (Carl Zuckmayer)
-> Visitors to the Saas Fee/Saas Valley destination
can benefit from numerous discounts thanks to the
SaastalCard. All patrons of our partner organisations
receive our SaastalCard visitor ticket and can thus
take advantage of countless attractions in the area,
such as unlimited usage of the PostBus throughout
the entire Saas Valley. In summer, visitors with the
SaastalCard can use all mountain lifts (except for
the Metro Alpin) in the Saas Valley for free, starting
from a stay of one night.
8 9

Highlights in winter
2021/2022
SAASTALCARD IN WINTER
Starting from the first night of your stay, all PostBus
rides in the Saas Valley are included with the Saastal-
Card (not valid for arrival and departure with PostBus).
Guests with the SaastalCard also benefit from discounts
of up to 30 per cent on a total of 30 offers.
SaastalCard
WINTER HIKING PASS
With the SaastalCard, guests receive a discount on the
Winter Hiking Pass. The Winter Hiking Pass allows you
to use all the cable cars in the Saas Valley, making winter
hiking more enjoyable.
Winter hiking pass
ICE CLIMBING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ice Climbing World
Championships had to be postponed for a year. The Ice
Climbing World Championships will now take place in
the Saas-Fee multistorey car park from 27–29 January
2022. The event will kick off on 26 January with the
opening ceremony at the Kalbermatten sports ground.
Although ice climbing as a competitive sport is still a relatively
new trend, Saas-Fee has already hosted many
successful events. Saas-Fee has been a World Cup venue
since 1999. The annual World Cup is now well established
among the athletes and their many fans.
ICE CLIMBIMG WC
ALLALIN RACES
It’s the taking part that counts: at least, that’s sure to be
the mantra of many amateur racers who will tackle this
spectacular race course at the foot of the Allalinhorn on 1
and 2 April 2022. The glacier races set against a unique
backdrop are a unique skiing experience for both participants
and spectators.
The first Allalin Races took place in 1946. Back then, nine
young skiers took off from the summit of the 4,027-metre-high
Allalinhorn and dashed down to Saas-Fee, 2,227
metres below. Only five riders managed to make it to the
end of the unprepared course. Today, the race starts in
the ski resort and the course is well prepared before the
race.
However, with the course covering 9 km and 1,800
height difference, the course remains a challenge. The
fastest skiers will reach speeds of around 140 kilometres
per hour.
MENTELITY GAMES
The Mentelity Games is a four-day skiing and snowboarding
event for people with a physical disability. The
Games will be held from 5–8 April 2022 in Saas-Grund
and will be financed by donations collected during the
12-hour race.
The four-day skiing and snowboarding event will offer a
range of courses with coaches, trainers and Paralympic
athletes from all snow disciplines for all levels of ability.
Hohsaas 12 Hours
A 12-hour knockout race will be held on 2 April 2022 to
collect donations for the Mentelity Games. Anyone can
enter. The race starts at midnight and ends at midday.
Afterwards, there is a closing party.
Mentelity Games
MOON LIGHT FIGHT
17 April 2022
The Moon Light Fight will be back on Easter Sunday,
17 April 2022 after a two-year break from competition.
The parallel event promises excitement for everyone.
Full moon and floodlights create a unique atmosphere
on the Jowang slope.
Moonlight Fight
WINTER BUCKET LIST
Winter season 2021/2022
The Bucket List is the perfect way to discover the 300
days of sunshine per year, 150 kilometres of pistes,
60 km of winter hiking trails, 54 km of snowshoe hiking
trails and the 18 four-thousand-metre peaks in the
Saas Valley.
Bucket List
Moonlight Fight
Allalin Rennen
Allalin races
10 11

Families
Families always feel particularly welcome in the Saas-
Fee/Saas Valley holiday region! The destination is affiliated
with the ‘Families Welcome’ seal of approval from
Switzerland Tourism.
SAAS-FEE
There is a children’s park at the ski school meeting point
in the car-free glacier village. With a conveyor belt, children’s
ski lift, carousel and fun learning equipment, little
ones can quickly get to grips with snow sports. As well
as visiting one of the largest ice pavilions in the world
on Mittelallalin, we also recommend taking a ride on the
Feeblitz toboggan run. If the weather is bad, try the Aqua
Allalin swimming pool featuring a slide.
SAAS-GRUND
While the grown-ups enjoy a sunny skiing and snowboarding
area on Hohsaas, children can discover the
joy of winter sports in a separate piste area on Kreuzboden
above Saas-Grund. This features a magic carpet,
a race course, see-saws, obstacles and much more.
The fun slope offers even more fun for all guests, with
a wide variety of elements. For younger guests, there is
Cuisine
Here, you’ll find everything from traditional Valais specialities
to international gourmet cuisine. The culinary
offerings of the more than 100 restaurants in the Saas-
Fee/Saas Valley holiday region are vast and diverse.
These include several mountain restaurants and huts,
which offer a fine Valais platter, home-made delicacies
and a glass of good Valais wine. There’s also a range of
après-ski options with countless cafés, bars and pizzerias.
Cuisine
Après-Ski
You can learn more from our ‘Cuisine in the Saas Valley’
brochure:
Brochure
a ‘Kidsweek’ at Kreuzboden for three weeks in winter.
Ski equipment hire, ski pass, ski lessons and lunch are
included in the weekly price.
SAAS-ALMAGELL
The Furggstalden ski resort above Saas-Almagell is
home to Dragon Kian’s Adventure Land. Here, children
can enjoy a tepee with a ball pool and an igloo where
kid’s films are shown. On the snow-tubing track, the
whole family can whizz down the slope in giant rubber
tyres, for free. There are also children’s skidoos and a
carousel with a playground for little ones.
SAAS-BALEN
The Saas-Balen ski area in the Saas-Fee/Saas Valley resort
region is perfect for nature lovers looking for peace
and quiet and for beginner skiers. The beginners’ lift is
located on the outskirts of Saas-Balen and is ideal for
children and families.
ICE PAVILION
High above Saas-Fee, at 3,500 metres above sea level,
visitors will find the gateway to the interior of the Fee
Glacier. The Ice Pavilion, which measures 5,500 cubic
metres, was completely refurbished in the spring of
2016. Now the history of this 2,000-year-old ice formation
is being retold for a new generation. Mythology,
fairy tales and legends. The Ice Pavilion in Saas-Fee offers
new insights into the fascinating world of ice and
invites visitors to marvel and dream. This also includes
an avalanche simulation with lighting effects and an
impressive pressure wave that can be felt all over the
body.
Ice pavilion
AQUA ALLALIN
Anyone who visits the Aqua Allalin can be sure to embark
on a very special alpine journey of well-being –
the spectacular mountain panorama that’s visible here,
even from the whirlpool, is simply breathtaking. Various
saunas and pools, massage showers, relaxation rooms,
a 25-metre swimming pool, children’s pool and adventure
slide take care of relaxation in Saas-Fee/Saas Valley.
The Bio-Soft sauna is particularly suitable for beginners,
older people and anyone with cardiovascular
problems, as its lower temperature (between 55 and
60 degrees) means it’s gentler for visitors with health
issues. The entire facility is accessible for those with
disabilities.
Aqua Allalin
FOX TRAIL
Foxtrail, a well-known scavenger hunt for families,
friends or companies, provides a playful way to explore
several regions of Switzerland. The fox has left its
tracks in Saas Valley, too. On the ‘Allalin’ Foxtrail, teams
in Saas-Fee and Saas-Grund follow in the footsteps of
the legendary Father Johann Josef Imseng. To uncover
all his secrets, they must search his historic home for
clues, coax important information from marmots, and
climb way, way up. An exclusive ride in an electric vehicle
will keep participants on their toes and provide an unforgettable
experience. The Allalin Foxtrail takes about
2.5 hours in winter and 3.5 hours in summer. In summer,
there’s also a shorter route of approx. 2.5 hours.
Foxtrail
ICE SPORTS
With four ice rinks in the four villages of the Saas-
Fee/Saas Valley region, you are spoilt for choice
for your favourite ice sports. Ice skating, ice hockey,
curling or ice stock sport: there’s something
for everybody here.
Ice skating
Spending a couple of hours on the bare ice is one
of the oldest winter pastimes, and is especially popular
with groups. Private, family and group skating
lessons are offered at all ice rinks in the Saas
Valley.
Curling
Curling, a winter sport played on ice, offers a great
change of pace. Two teams of four players try
to slide their curling stones towards the centre of
the target circle and then sweep the ice in front of
them. This team game is suitable for beginners and
can be played on the natural ice rink in Saas-Fee.
Ice stock sport
Ice stock sport, or Bavarian curling, is another great
alternative. This ice sport is played with a round
ice stock and a daube, a rubber disc. The daubes
are placed at a distance of 15 to 20 metres away on
the ice. The aim of the game is to get the ice stocks
as close to the daube as possible. It is especially
enjoyed by groups and families. Ice stock sport
can be played in Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund and Saas-
Almagell. Ice stock sport guidance is offered in the
last two locations.
Ice sports
12 13

Activities on the
mountain
SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING
With 150 kilometres of pistes and many sunny days,
the Saas Valley has something for every level. The fun
starts right on the doorstep and continues up to 3,600
metres above sea level. Natural snow is not a luxury
here, it is guaranteed throughout the season. The high
alpine location also offers a unique panorama and runs
of up to 1,800 metres altitude.
Skiing and snowboarding
Lots of sun, lots of fresh snow
The high Alpine location of Saas-Fee/Saas Valley has
advantages for all snow sports enthusiasts. The official
winter season starts here as early as the end of October.
That’s six weeks earlier than most other snow sport
resorts. Even when there’s thick fog in the lowlands, the
sun still shines brightly up here. The Magic Pass is also
valid for skiing in Saas-Fee from as early as 30 October
2021. There’s plenty for fans of powder too: reliable as
Swiss clockwork, powerful low-pressure systems push
moist air from the Gulf of Genoa towards the two mountain
ranges of Mischabel and Monte-Rosa.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
Cross-country skiing on perfectly maintained trails
through snow-covered larch forests and along the
frozen Vispa river. The cross-country ski trails in the
Saas Valley are open from mid-December to the end of
March (depending on temperatures and snow conditions).
With enough snow, there are 26 km of classic and
skating routes.
Cross-country skiing
TOBOGGANING
The Saas Valley offers three fantastic toboggan runs.
In Saas-Grund you can slide from Kreuzboden over an
incredible 11 km into the village and enjoy a spectacular
view of the Mischabel range and the Mattmark region.
The 6 km long route starts in Saas-Fee from the Hannigbahn
mountain station and runs over Sonnenberg
(Sun Mountain) to the glacier village. The Saas-Almagell
toboggan run stretches 3 km from Furggstalden
into the village. Toboggans can be rented from the cableway
stations in all three locations.
WINTER HIKING
A 60 km long winter hiking network offers multiple winter
hiking options. Among the highlights is the Winter
Mattmark Tour. The relaxing winter hike far away from
any skiing, leads along the cross-country ski trail to
Ejiu Sand and then over snowy hills to the Mattmark
dam. The Hannig Sun Trail heads south from the Hannig
mountain station. In Saas-Grund you will find the
Kreuzboden trail, which leads through the hamlet of
Brunne and then heads up the Triftalp to Kreuzboden.
This tour offers a fantastic view of the Saas mountains.
The winter hiking trail to the Britannia Hut leads you
through the midst of a magnificent glacial world.
Winter hiking
SNOWSHOE HIKING
White landscapes as far as the eye can see and complete
silence – that’s what you can expect on snowshoe
hikes in the holiday region of Saas-Fee/Saas Valley.
There’s something for everyone amongst the various
trails surrounded by Switzerland’s highest mountains.
One of the highlights is the Sunset@Lagginjoch experience.
While the ski slopes on Hohsaas are gradually
emptying, it’s time to scale the Lagginjoch. A mountain
guide accompanies the snowshoe hikers in their thirst
for action as they climb 500 altitude metres of easy terrain
over the Hohlaub Glacier to the Lagginjoch. As the
last rays of the sun descend, you can enjoy a tremendous
view of the surrounding 4,000-metre peaks and
down at the Laggintal valley.
Snowshoe hiking
GLACIER ADVENTURE
This breathtaking tour over the Fee Glacier starts at the
Längfluh mountain station. Kitted out with snowshoes,
ski poles and a climbing harness, you will climb up
the Fee Glacier secured to the mountain guide’s rope.
Crossing monumental ice peaks and crevasses, you
will reach the highest point on the glacier plateau, the
Panoramaplatz. Then a flat descent leads to the Spielboden
station.
Glacier adventure
SKI TOURS
Another popular activity in the Saas Valley is ski touring.
If you enjoy high Alpine activities, you’ll be in paradise
here. Our Saas mountain guide offices will be happy to
help you plan and organise a tour.
Ski tours
DAY-TRIP DESTINATIONS
Mattmark Dam – Power Spot
Visitors will find the biggest earthwork dam in Europe:
the Mattmark Dam in the south of the Saas Valley. It’s a
popular day-trip destination, not only for to its fascinating
technical aspects but also because of its wild and
romantic setting. The dammed crest of Lake Mattmark
(2,200 metres) is only accessible on foot in winter.
From up here you can enjoy an unobstructed view of
the reservoir lake and a spectacular panorama of the
Monte Moro Pass. In winter, the dam can be accessed
by taking a winter hike, snowshoe tour or ski tour.
Hannig – Sunny Mountain
The Hannig - Sunny Mountain (2,336 m above sea level)
is a popular destination in both winter and summer. At
the top of the mountain station, you can enjoy the view
of the Saas mountains from the terrace of the Hannig
mountain restaurant. After soaking up the sun, there’s
plenty to experience on the mountain. Whizz through
the wintry landscape on a toboggan or enjoy relaxing
winter hikes with breathtaking views.
Längfluh – Glacier World
Längfluh takes visitors much closer to the glaciers than
most paths. If you want to go even further, it’s best to
connect with a mountain guide for a tour on the Fee
Glacier.
Mittelallain – Absolute Highlight
The Mittelallalin (3,500 metres above sea level) lies
above Saas-Fee and is surrounded by four-thousandmetre
peaks. The highest revolving restaurant and the
largest ice grotto in the world can be found right at the
foot of the Allalinhorn (4,027 m above sea level). These
highlights can be reached by the highest underground
train in the world, the Metro Alpin. Ski down the slopes
from 3,600 to 1,800 m above sea level, climb your first
four-thousand-metre peak or just enjoy the view.
Kreuzboden – Family Mountain
Kreuzboden is a popular destination for families both
in summer and winter. The fun slope offers even more
fun for all guests, with a wide variety of elements. You
can enjoy great views of the Mischabel Group from the
ski slopes, as well as during activities such as winter
hiking, snowshoe hiking and tobogganing.
Day-trip destinations
Tobogganing
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Adventure
WINTER VIA FERRATA
A very special trip awaits you on the winter via ferrata
in Saas-Grund. It starts right at the edge of the village,
then it’s a steep climb upwards. The approx. 150 metres
of altitude gain are easily manageable if you are fit and
have a head for heights. The tour is led by a mountain
guide and culminates in a spectacular abseil of about
40 metres. The whole experience lasts about two hours
and is perfect for families, companies, clubs or other
groups.
Winter Via Ferrata
ICE CLIMBING – CLIMBING DOME
In previous years, ice climbing has been offered exclusively
for the pros at the Ice Climbing World Cup, but
it is now open to all interested climbers. In winter, the
Saas-Fee car park is home to climbing routes with varying
degrees of difficulty.
Ice climbing
Anyone with some climbing experience who wants to
have a go on the ice can do so during the Ice Climbing
World Cup at the Kalbermatten sports ground. You will
be supported by trained staff.
GORGE ALPINE / ALPINE CANYON
Led by a mountain guide, you will climb through
the wild Feeschlucht gorge, which leads down
from Saas-Fee to Saas-Grund. The spectacular
tour passes frozen waterfalls and crosses suspension
bridges, ladders and steel cables. Highlights
of the crossing are a fast zip line and cable pulleys.
The tour is not suitable for people who are afraid of
heights and is not permitted for children under 12
years of age. All visitors must be accompanied by
a mountain guide.
Gorge Alpine
ZIP LINES
The zip lines in the rope course are also open in
winter. After a short introduction, you will be ready
to practise on the training course in the trees.
Once you’re ready, you can move on to the big zip
lines across the gorge.
Zip lines
HUSKY EXPERIENCES
During the winter months, huskies come to the
Saas Valley. They offer a great experience for
young and old alike. You will be pulled through
snowy landscapes by the huskies and get up close
with these furry friends.
Husky experiences
Gorge Alpin, Saas-Fee
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Culture and heritage
Allalinhorn, Saas-Fee
REX CULTURE CENTRE
Saas-Fee gained a new treasure in December 2019: the
new culture centre ‘Rex’ now offers a colourful theatre,
music and film programme in the glacier village. Two
minutes on foot from the bus station, the former Rex
cinema has been transformed into a multifunctional
venue for events. The German actor, writer, director and
theatre producer Michael Klemm and his wife Nadja are
responsible for the project. Klemm, who has written
numerous plays and novels, is known for his long acting
career. He has worked as a director and actor at the
Residenztheater in Munich, among other places, and
has appeared in several film and television productions.
We look forward to experiencing a varied spectrum of
cultural events at Rex.
SAAS MUSEUM
When you visit the four-storey Saas Museum, you’ll go
on a journey back in time in the Saas-Fee/Saas Valley
holiday region. Some exhibits of the museum include a
Saas flat from the turn of the century, folkloric objects,
beautiful and traditional historic costumes, sacred art
and – a special highlight – the study of the famous
writer Carl Zuckmayer, who lived in Saas-Fee for twenty
years. The building housing today’s Saas Museum is the
former parsonage of Saas-Fee, which was built in 1732.
Another storey was added in 1855. In 1983, this old traditional
Saas-style house was reimagined as a museum
thanks to the initiative of local historian Werner Imseng.
EXHIBITION
FATHER JOHANN JOSEF IMSENG
To this day, the work of the pastor and tourism pioneer
Johann Josef Imseng (1806–1869) is of great importance
in this region. He also went down in history as the
first person to ski in the Alps, on 20 December 1849.
On that day, the Saas Valley lay under a thick blanket
of snow. A distress call reached the ears of the valley’s
Father Johann Josef Imseng, who was staying in Saas-
Fee. He had been called to the bedside of a dying man
in Saas-Grund. In an act that marked a pivotal moment
in history, he tied homemade wooden boards to his hiking
boots and set off, completing the first-ever downhill
ski run in Switzerland. Johann Josef Imseng was not just
an excellent pastor. He also actively promoted tourism
in the Saas Valley with the aim of fighting poverty. He
opened his doors to guests, worked as a mountain
guide, and told his guests all about the history and customs
of the Saas Valley. The visionary pastor even arranged
for hotels to be built. It was thanks to his intervention
that people felt comfortable visiting this place.
He was himself a man of the mountains and took part in
many of the early mountain climbs. The memorial exhibition
in honour of this pioneer of Saas tourism can be
visited in the old parsonage of Saas-Grund during the
summer months.
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Getting to the
Hannigalp, Saas-Fee
Saas Valley
Whether you’re travelling by car or by public transport:
the Saas-Fee/Saas Valley holiday region is easy
to reach from anywhere in Switzerland. There are direct
train connections from all major Swiss cities to
Visp; from there, you can reach the Saas Valley in just
50 minutes by taking Bus 511. We may be practically at
the southernmost tip of Switzerland, but your journey
couldn’t be easier: you only need to change trains once,
and the unique scenery is included free of charge! The
journey takes three hours from Zurich, Geneva and
Basle and just two from Berne. If you’re arriving by car,
you’ll find plenty of parking spaces for car-free Saas-
Fee in the large multistorey car park right at the entrance
to the village.
CONTACT US!
Saastal Tourismus AG
Obere Dorfstrasse 2
CH-3906 Saas-Fee
Email: media@saas-fee.ch
Tel. +41 27 958 18 58
Media databse
Saastal Tourismus AG
Obere Dorfstrasse 2
CH-3906 Saas-Fee
Email: sales@saas-fee.ch
Tel. +41 27 958 18 75
Tour operator
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