Spring Fling – Saas Fee - Section 8 Snowsport Institute

Saas Fee, Switzerland

Spring Fling - All Mountain Ski Camp

The Venue

Saas Fee, in the Canton of Valais, is one of Switzerland's great mountain sport centers, well known amongst not only skiers but also mountaineers, rock climbers, ice climbers, mountain bikers and paragliders.

The village sits in a sunny hanging valley above the long, deep valley of Saas Tal, and below the stunning Allalinhorn (plus another ten or so 4000 meter peaks!). Right above the village are huge glaciers, and right below, villages, farms and vineyards basking in a Mediterranean climate.

Around two thirds of the buildings in town are relatively modern, though local building code requires them to be built of at least 40% wood and designed to suit the traditional aesthetic of the settlement, and thus the old, (and sometimes very old) buildings in the village and surrounding fields are still prominent throughout.

Prior to the 1950’s only footpaths reached Saas Fee, and when the road finally did come the inhabitants decided to halt motor vehicles outside the village boundary in an underground car park. To this day, the only motorised vehicles allowed in the village are small buses and taxis, which are all electric.

It’s all too easy to imagine living in Saas Fee... strolling to the bakery in the morning, going for a ski, maybe a beer or two afterwards, and then home in the silence of an alpine evening to sit and listen for the crumps and whumps of the glaciers not that far above.

The Package

- 7 nights accommodation (including spa)
- 7 days breakfasts
- 5 days lift pass
- 5 days coaching
- Welcome dinner on arrival night
- Goodbye dinner on evening prior to departure

We have incorporated a day off into the program, in order to give people a chance to choose their own adventure. Options include a day trip to Zermatt, (with the chance to ski for those who don’t mind an early start), hiking in the valley, hiring a guide for a ski touring day up the Allalinhorn or similar day tour, and many other sporting or cultural exploration options.

This camp is ideal for any intermediate to expert level skier, whether you want to masterfully carve groomers, slay slushy bumps, or train for that next level of instructor qualification.

The Ski Area

The Saas Fee ski area covers a huge vertical drop, from the village at 1800 meters right up to the top of the train at 3500 meters, the site of a revolving restaurant. Some of the ski area is on glaciated terrain and from here the views of surrounding peaks and glaciers are stunning.

The area has been used in film and television extensively, and was the setting for one of James Bond’s best known ski chases, in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”.