Absolutely natural. Summer 2006 SAAS-FEE SAAS-GRUND SAAS-ALMAGELL SAAS-BALEN Absolutely Saas-Fee. Finally a holiday … … and we are looking forward to it just as much as you are. A holiday al- ready begins with planning and anticipating the well-earned break. This information booklet about Saas-Fee and the Saas Valley aims to help you prepare for your next holiday in the best possible way. Choosing your holiday destination is no doubt the key task as far as holiday plans are concerned. Don't leave anything to chance and take your time be- fore making a decision. This booklet offers you an opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of this region and discover the diversity and natural beauty of the Saas Valley. However, a successful holiday also depends on your own input: leave the daily grind and work behind and relax. Recharge in this magical mountain landscape which is bursting with energy. Allow the giant mountains and their glaciers, the sun and crystal-clear water, fragrant woods, mountain herbs and fauna to take effect on your body. Some of the powerful larches were in this beautiful valley long before tourists first set foot in it. Encounters with the locals of the Saas Valley, their brown, sun-worn houses and barns make this a memorable holiday. Enjoy with an ease you've never experienced be- fore. This is how good a holiday can be. This summer past saw the «Saastal» being awarded with the stamp of quali- ty slogan «families welcome». Family oriented locations holding this title offer everything that a family-based holiday could wish for. The offer is designed to ensure participants enjoy a carefree and unforgettable holiday experien- ce. Your children are well taken care of here and can run around and play freely in the open air surroundings. Allow yourself to be captivated by the fairy magic of the Saas Valley. Be- cause here not only an incomparable natural paradise but also friendly people are waiting for you. Allow us to be your next hosts because we will share in your enjoyment of this long-awaited holiday. Director Saas-Fee Tourism Director Saastal Tourism Simon Bumann Daniel Scardino Information – Planning your journey in comfort Getting there Exciting holidays A lasting memory Information – Planning your journey Description of the four communities . 4 Sustainability in Saas-Fee . 5–6 Accommodation and direct reservations . 6 Saas-Fee summer packages . 7 Saas Valley summer packages . 8 Visitor’s cards, visitor’s tax and reductions . 9 Getting there in comfort How to reach your destination . 10 Travelling by public transport . 11 Travelling by private transports . 12 Electro-taxis and transfers to accommodation in Saas-Fee . 13 Opening times of the tourist offices . 13 Currency exchange and bank opening times . 14 Exciting holidays Where to obtain up to date information . 15 Summer highlights 2006 . 16 Suggestion for hikes in the region . 17–18 Hiking pass . 20 Panoramic map . 22–25 Time tables . 26 Fares . 27 Summer snow sport . 28 Destinations for day-trips and outings . 29–31 Alpinism and adventure . 32–33 The Bielen leisure centre . 34 Summer sports . 34–36 Activities for children and families . 37–38 A cultural experience . 39–41 Discover the neighbouring regions of the Saas Valley . 42 Seminars, Meetings and Incentives within the mountain region . 43 Important addresses and telephone numbers . 44 Saas Valley: A lasting memory Advantages enjoyed by regular guests . 45 Preview of winter highlights in Saas Valley . 45 Subscription for the local guest magazine «Gletscherpost» . 45 All prices subject to small variations. € prices are the retail recommended prices. The management reserves the right to implement appropriate changes. Description of the four Communities Saas-Fee The world-famous glacier village of Saas-Fee is situated on a high altitude plateau at a height of 1800 m at the foot of the highest Swiss mountain range, the Mischabel group. The village offers an extensive recreational in- frastructure and provides accommodation for some 7700 guests. The Allalin peak, with the world’s highest revolving restaurant and the world’s largest ice pavilion, is a unique destination for a day’s outing. Saas-Fee is the destina- tion for an international range of guests and sporting enthusiasts. Its unique freedom from traffic has enabled it to retain its romantic village atmosphere Information – Planning your journey and the lively main street is an invitation for a leisurely evening stroll or shop- ping excursions. Saas-Fee is an invigorating and beneficial place to unwind from the stresses of everyday life. Saas-Grund Saas-Grund lies at the heart of the Saas Valley and with its 4000 guest beds is the largest resort in the valley. Saas-Grund is the ideal starting point for the legendary Saas mountain paths. The modern eight-seater gondola cable- cars take passengers to one of the finest walking paradises in Switzerland. Enjoy the magnificent view of the majestic Mischabel range from the moun- tain station at Kreuzboden. This is the starting point for the well-signposted alpine flowers walk, the Almagell and the popular Gspon mountain path, and the new «Weissmies/Jägihorn» climb. At Hohsaas, 3000 m above sea level, there is a breathtaking panorama of 18 mountain peaks over 4000 m high. Alpinists find perfect opportunities for mountain walking and climbing in this fascinating mountain landscape, which includes the trio of Fletschhorn, Lag- gin and Weissmies. Saas-Almagell Saas-Almagell is the most southerly village in the Saas Valley and offers ac- commodation, rest and recuperation for approx. 2000 guests. The attractive holiday resort was made widely renowned by the famous skiers Heidi, Silvan and Pirmin Zurbriggen. The idyllic resort is ideal for families with children. Thanks to its spectacular side valleys, Saas-Almagell offers its guests an ex- tensive and varied network of walking paths. The path round the Mattmark dam is practically flat and is a popular destination for those seeking less strenuous walking. Those who want to follow in the footsteps of the former Walser people take the narrow path up to the Monte-Moro pass after Distel- alp, the most southerly point of the Mattmark reservoir. Saas-Balen The vacation resort of Saas-Balen with accommodation for some 600 guests has largely preserved its character as a rural village. Saas-Balen is ideal for nature lovers, who prefer a little more peace and quiet and wish to spend their holidays far from noise and stress. Easy walks along the Saas Vispa past Valaisan barns burnt brown by the sun offer relaxation and pure enjoyment of nature for every guest. An excursion to Heimischgartu at 2100 m altitude or to the idyllic Grüebe mountain lake past a wide diversity of alpine flora make particularly delightful interludes. You can also admire the late baroque church, the form of which is unique in Switzerland. 4 Information – Planning your journey Sustainability in Saas-Fee We take care of our «Pearl of the Alps» by actively protecting the environment. The foundation for creating a resort conscious of the environment and of quality was laid in 1951, when the community made the decision to keep the village car-free. Today we are always guided by the latest developments concerning the protection of the environment. Our model for sustainable or «gentle» tourism is the principle of «sustainable development». This means that all actions taken by the present generation which effect future economic, social and environ- mental development must not cause future generations to be restricted in their possibilities for development. Unspoilt nature and habitat are and will remain the prerequisite and basis for tourism. To achieve these aims, strategies for protecting resources are necessary to guarantee that tourism does not harm the environment. Saas-Fee has time and again played a leading role in ecological and sustainable development with various concepts and projects over the last few years: Alliance in the Alps 1996 Saas-Fee committed itself to the «Alliance in the Alps» project as a pilot community in 1996. This network of communities is an amalgamation of almost 150 communities in the entire region of the Alps. The member communities have joined forces to realise the goals of the Alpine Convention for sustainable development in the Alps in a concrete way. The Alpine Convention is an international agreement for the protection of the natu- ral habitat and for the promotion of sustainable development in the Alps. The members work in close contact with local residents to improve the ecological, social and economic situation in their community and exchange their experiences and knowledge with the other members of the network. Club The Q-Club The «Quality-Club» label is awarded to businesses, hotels, holiday apartments, restaurants and many other businesses which come into contact with visitors in Saas-Fee which place great value on quality services. Note the quality sign in our list of hotels and apartments: «Quality-Club» – your guarantee of quality! All «Quality- Club» members also hold the grade I or II quality label for Swiss Tourism. The Saas Valley was the first resort in Switzerland to devote itself to quality in tourism and create a quality label carrying certain obligations. We offer our guests a guarantee of quality in their accommodation. If your accommodation does not correspond to the description given in the brochure, you can request a change of accommodation free of charge at the various tourist offices. A reservation in an excellent hotel or apartment encourages better quality and confidence and doesn't cost any more. The tourist offices are always pleased to receive your suggestions. A GAST resort: Your car can have a holiday too. The lack of cars in Saas-Fee contributes considerably to the relaxed holiday atmosphere and romantic charac- ter of the village where there is no stress from traffic.