Saas Fee, Switzerland

Saas-Fee is an old charming village situated in the region of Wallis, just round the corner from Zermatt. On walking into the village you really see why its known as 'the Pearl of the Alps.' Saas-Fee is a car free village with cobbled streets and amazing views to be seen from every angle of the village. Resort height of 1800m and skiing until 3600m.

The resort attracts all sorts of tourists; from holiday skiers and snowboarders in the winter to the national level teams training during the summer. Known for its guaranteed snow conditions this makes it the perfect early or late season snow destination.

During the summer hill walking, glacier trekking and climbing are amongst the activities. A new down-hill mountain biking track in also coming next year.

Saas-Fee became a tourist destination around the turn of the twentieth century with access to the village on mule back, only for the rich! The first road was put in, in 1953 and this is when the resort was able to evolve into the winter and summer destination it is today.

Generally the pistes during winter are quite quiet - normally no big lift queues. Beginner skiing and riding is well catered for up by the Langfluh area and down on the village lifts. For the more serious skiers/riders the plattjen side of the mountain has some fantastic tree runs. Saas has a total of six black runs, some really are not for the faint hearted! There is a free-style park above the morenia restaurant which has a world cup half-pipe, kickers and plenty of sliders, boxes etc.

The lift system in place are quite dated, they are designed to accommodate the moving glacier. Loads of T-bars. For a quick way up, use the Felskin lift.