We chose Saas-Fee after a long search because it is quite different to our other resorts but something of real gem among European skiing destinations. You are swapping the piste-side location and convenience of our French resorts for a skiing holiday in a wonderful traditional village that is unbelievingly charming and at a cost that represents excellent value for a resort of this quality. View our Saas-Fee Photo-Guide. See how Saas-Fee compares with other Family Ski resorts.
"Saas Fee is one of our favourite places - a sort of miniture Zermatt without the Conspicuous Consumption." Best for families, beginners, snow sure, village charm, dramatic scenery " Where to SKi and Snowboard 2009
Known as the Pearl of the Alps because of its spectacular setting at 1,800m surrounded by its oyster shell of 13 peaks and glaciers over 4,000m, the ancient traditional Swiss village of Saas Fee is a wonderful place for a family skiing holiday. It is a delight to wander its narrow traffic-free streets where ancient Valaisian chalets and black barns are interspersed with smart fashion boutiques and more than 50 restaurants, cafes and bars.
In many ways like nearby Zermatt, Saas Fee is much more welcoming for families skiing with children including some of the best nursery slopes for young beginners in the Alps and plenty of other activiities including a sports centre with 25m swimming pool, toboggan run, ice rink and husky dog sledding. There is plenty to do off the slopes including the Saas Museum, a bakery museum where children can bake bread and the world's largest ice cave hewn out of the Allalin glacier. There is a whole mountain - the Hannig - dedicated to walking, paragliding and tobogganing which offers a fantastic alternative to skiing or boarding.
The Skiing in Saas Fee
Saas Fee is at 1,800m and is snow-sure all year round because the high altitude of its skiing up to 3,600m - almost 12,000ft is among the very highest in the Alps. Skiing is guaranteed the whole year round and national ski racing teams from all over the world flock here in the summer months to train on the high glacier slopes. There is certainly no question of lack of snow at the beginning or end of the season and there is a free lift pass for accompanied children under 9.
It is a pleasant and interesting 5 minute walk through the village from Chalet La Collina to the Alpin Express lift. Most guests leave their skis in a locker next to the lift and enjoy the walk unencumbered by skis and boots. It is 10 minutes to the nursery slopes through the village. However there is a toy train bus which leaves close to the chalet on which we escort children to and from ski school and which they particularly enjoy - an option open to adults as well of course.
Beginners
Saas Fee is a perfect place to learn to ski. The large nursery slope area at the edge of the village is as snow sure as you will find anywhere in the Alps and its wide gentle slopes inspire confidence. It is excellently located close to village restaurants making it easy, for example, to enjoy lunch in any of the many nearby restaurants straight after lessons. Once the basics are mastered you will be ready to progress to a series of gentle blue runs above Morenia reached by the Felskin cable car. The runs back down to the Nursery Slope area offer more of a challenge but this is easily avoided by returning by cable car if you wish.
Intermediates
The skiing is also very good for intermediates who will enjoy the long cruising runs in excellent high altitude snow from the top of the Allalin down to Morenia in one direction and Langfluh in the other. The long vertical drop of 1800m from the top of the mountain to the village makes an excellent long uninterrupted descents and will test your skill and stamina. There are also some challenging runs over in the Plattjen area which is often under-utilised.
Experts
Whilst there is less challenging skiing for mileage- hungry experts than in our other Family Ski resorts there is still plenty to keep even strong skiers occupied for a week. There are some challenging routes on the lower half of the mountain and in the Plattjen area. You can also visit the ski areas of Saas Almagell and Saas Grund down the valley accessed by free bus and offering additional variety and take a day trip to Zermatt. The high altitide means that off-piste conditions are likely to be excellent after fresh snow and the long 1800m vertical drop means long uninterrupted decents. Although the glacier between Felskinn and Langfluh is off limits there are other good opportunites with a guide. The area is an important ski touring centre and Saas Fee is the destination of the extended version of the famous hoch route from Chamonix to Zermatt.
Boarders
Saas Fee has always welcomed boarders and is often chosen by the British team as their training ground. The big snow park above Morenia occupies the free time of many resort staff throughout the season and has a huge variety and number of kickers, rails and boxes and a very scary world class half pipe. Novices are well catered for in the snow skate park near the beginners' slopes.
Click here to see La Collina Chalet Hotel