Alpine Passes Trail

Saas-Fee, also known as the Pearl of the Alps, is a car-free holiday village in Valais. During the high season, Saas-Fee becomes a small town with more than 12,000 people. The long, narrow village is surrounded by thirteen 4,000-metre peaks and a glacier landscape is still in existence. From Saas-Fee you can also see the Dom which, at 4,545 metres, is the highest mountain located entirely in Switzerland.

This long and challenging stage is also part of the well-known Swiss Tour Monte Rosa, which then continues into the Matter Valley and on to Zermatt.

After leaving the village, the trail which started off wide now narrows right down. Mostly protected by the shade of the trees, you pass through Senggboden on the hike to Balmiboden. According to a Valais legend, a boisterous dance was performed in this remote place for three days and nights. The dance floor was cursed after that, and since then neither plants nor grass could grow and no living creature could find rest at night.

Once you have left the tree line behind you, there is a superb view of the opposite side of the valley with the Weissmies, the Trift Glacier and the Fletschhorn. The hike continues through rough and sometimes stony terrain. You cross under the Biderbach through a duct that was built because the path was sometimes impassable due to landslides and glacier break-offs.

Constant ups and downs take you in the direction of the Rhone Valley. The impressive summit of the Bietschhorn on the opposite side of the valley can be seen from afar. The path is partially exposed and you have to be sure-footed. Tricky passages are secured with ropes.

The beautiful view of the glacier below Balfrin inspires you to take a break. After about 4 hours you reach Rote Biel. Continuing past the Stock and Wannenhorn, you leave the Saas Valley here and enter the Matter Valley. You reach the Hannigalp mountain station via a forested area. The first thing to catch your eye in the Matter Valley view is the imposing and beautiful summit of the Weisshorn, followed by the Matterhorn, which is probably the most photographed mountain in the world.

Now follows the last hour of hiking with a descent of 500 metres down to Grächen. The family holiday village at an altitude of 1,600 metres is in a sunny location surrounded by majestic mountain peaks.