Hiking in Saas-Fee/Saastal

Find Your Hiking Trail in Saas-Fee/Saastal

Saas-Fee is a car-freevillage situated at an altitude of 1,800 metres in the Swiss canton of Valais, making it the perfect basecamp for hiking in the area. In addition to Saas-Fee, the other charming villages in the Saas Valley – Saas-Grund, Saas-Almagell and Saas-Balen – invite visitors to expolore the breathtaking mountain scenery and wide range of outdoor activities the region has to offer. Surrounded by 18 peaks over 4,000 meters, the region has more than 350 kilometers of hiking trails for all types of adventures. You can try everything from gentle walks to challenging high-altitude treks when you’re there. The area prides itself in its well-marked paths, which will guide you through the region’s forests, alpine meadows, and past glaciers as you stare in awe at the giant peaks surrounding you.

From the first overnight stay in the area, you receive the SaastalCard and you can travel free of charge with the cable cars (except Metro Alpin) and post bus in summer and autumn. And even Saas-Fee is car-free. You’ll be able to enjoy the natural surroundings without disturbance. The valley is accessible by train and bus from major Swiss cities like Geneva or Zurich to Visp, from where you’ll take the postauto to Saas-Fee.

Hiking Trails in Saas-Fee/Saastal

You’ll find a great variety of hikes in the Saas Valley. One of these is the Glacier Trail. The trail is a high-level, difficult day hike that goes from the Morenia Station over the Egginerjoch to the Britannia Hut, where you’ll then descend to hike over the Hohlaub Glacier and Allalin Glacier. The trail is mostly on paths and glacial tracks and is the only hike in the Saas-Fee area that goes over two glaciers. You’ll find that it’s best reserved for experienced hikers because of its length and how much you’ll climb and descend in just one day.

One of the great hikes in the area is the Gspon High-Altitude Trail, a 14-kilometer (8.7 mi.) day hike, that leads from the mountain village of Gspon past Siwibode to Kreuzboden in Saas-Grund. The trail will delight you with panoramic views of the 4000-meter peaks of the Valais Alps.

Another great day hike is the Almageller High-Altitude Trail, a trail from Kreuzbodensee via the  Almagelleralp on to Saas-Almagell. This path has views of the surrounding peaks and valleys the whole way. It’s a moderate hike suitable for you if you’re looking to experience the alpine environment without the challenges of higher-altitude treks. Almost at the end of the hike, you have the choice of taking the easy path down to the village or choosing the adventure trail, which involves a bit of climbing and crossing two suspension bridges.

Accommodation

The holiday region has lots of accommodation options depending on what you’re looking for. If you’re hoping for a relaxing vacation with a few day hikes, then you may enjoy the hotels or guesthouses – some of which can be quite luxurious. Other options include group houses, holiday apartments, or even campsites and mountain huts if you’re looking to immerse yourself in the outdoors a little more.

Transportation and Accessibility

A car-free village sounds like it could be tricky, but getting around Saas-Fee and the surrounding Saas Valley is very easy with its public transportation. The SaastalCard, which is provided to guests staying in the area, will give you free use of the cable cars and buses throughout the valley (excluding Metro Alpin) starting from the first night of your stay in summer and autumn. The pass makes it easy to access trailheads and explore different parts of the region without additional transport costs. So you won’t need to worry about leaving your car at home!

The car-free policy in Saas-Fee serves to enhance the village’s charm. Electric taxis are available within the town, in the case that you need them, but personal vehicles are not allowed.