Travel Eye on Saas Fee (Switzerland)

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Overview:

Saas-Fee has some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere, from 4000m peaks to a range of stunning glaciers. Much of this territory is shared by its illustrious neighbour, Zermatt. Saas-Fee sits at 1800m, so snow is all but guaranteed. The skiing is not as challenging as Zermatt's, with most of the runs favouring intermediates and beginners. Snowboarders will like Saas-Fee with its excellent school, although it isn't great for middle-ability boarders.

At 1¼ mls long and just over ½ ml wide, Saas-Fee retains a village feel, the narrow winding streets and traditional chalet-style architecture helping to maintain its original charm as a Valaisian farming community. It calls itself the "pearl of the Alps", and it certainly is something of a gem, with exceptional mountain vistas, a wide range of activities year-round, a mellow ambience and high-standard facilities.

Skiing for all grades; it also provides some of the highest glacier skiing in Europe. Popular too with nonskiers, as the Hannig lift is reserved for walkers and tobogganers, giving access to woodland paths. It's an expensive place, and the quality of accommodation is high. Popular with families, it has a good choice of facilities for children of all ages.

A mix of high-quality, expensive traditional hotels and apartments spread throughout the resort, but all close to the centre, car park and lifts.

Locality:

Saas Fee is located in S Switzerland with its neighbour Zermatt just 30 mls SW (by road). Saas Fee is 145 mls E of Geneva and its international airport and 139 mls SE of Berne and its international airport. It is set towards the end of a valley, against a dramatic, scenic backdrop of peaks and glaciers.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

There are 3 main ski-areas, Felskinn, Langfluh and Plattjen, 2 areas are interlinked. Care must be taken to keep to marked pistes, owing to hidden crevasses in the glaciers.

There are a total of 21 lifts comprising 6 gondolas, 2 chair-lifts and 13 drag-lifts. The main lift is the Alpin Express high-capacity gondola system, which connects to numerous drag-lifts. The nursery slopes are close to the village centre. There is one ski-school, located in the centre of town; English-speaking instructors available. Beginners' classes start on Mondays; no group tuition at weekends.

Skiing - Night skiing and Heli skiing:

Snowboarding - Snowparks: 1, Halfpipes: 1, Quarter pipes: 1

Other Snow Sports - Cross country: 8km, Snow shoeing (Snow shoes available), Telemark,

Many cafes and simple restaurants specialising in traditional fare, such as fondue and raclette. Pizzerias are popular. Most upmarket restaurants tend to be in the 4-star hotels. Possibly the world's highest revolving restaurant (11,510 ft), reached by way of a cable car and the world's highest underground railway.

Daytimes the obvious, skiing and snowboarding. Hiking; dog-sledding, cross-country skiing, ice climbing, tubing, skating, curling, paragliding, hang-gliding, and tobogganing. Ice cave. Arguably the world's largest ice pavilion. Well-equipped fitness/sports centre, offering tennis, swimming, solarium, sauna and whirlpool. The village has its own history museum.

Nightlife gives low-key apres-ski, roughly 10 bars/pubs, and 4 (fairly small) discos.