Saas Almagell Ski Resort Guide
Saas Almagell ski resort, in the Valais region of Switzerland, is a small ski area that is linked to the larger Saas-Fee ski resort. Saas Almagell is a quiet escape from the world-renowned Saas-Fee with some pretty decent terrain of its own. You can ski top to bottom on a combination of red runs to descend over 700m to the base of the resort.
SAAS ALMAGELL FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Getting the local bus to Saas Almagell you are dropped a few minutes walk from the ski resorts base. The area surrounding the lowest lift has lots of hotels and chalets style accommodations. Saas Almagell is a quiet village with everything you need but no fuss or loud bars.
You load the two-man chair near the ticket office which takes you to mid-mountain. This chair is slow and indicative of the lift infrastructure at Saas Almagell. That is ok though as the slow lifts are probably what keep the crowds away. The terrain here is excellent and my first laps had me buzzing to ski more empty groomers throughout the day.
SAAS ALMAGELL SKI AREA
The Saas Almagell ski area is a small one with 14km of pistes. The ski area can be considered considerably bigger when you consider that the local lift pass also allows you to access Saas-Fee and Saas Grund. The Saas Almagell ski area is mainly suited to intermediate skiers and snowboarders with mostly red graded terrain. There is also a decent beginners area which has lots to keep young beginners happy.
BEGINNERS TERRAIN AT SAAS ALMAGELL
At mid-mountain, there is a small beginners area serviced by the Furggstolden button lift. This area has a nice gradient piste for learning to ski and snowboard at Saas Almagell. In addition to the beginner’s piste, there is an Adventureland to keep young learners entertained. The Adventureland has an Iglue, a tubing area and some mini skidoo’s.
INTERMEDIATE TERRAIN AT SAAS ALMAGELL
The whole mountain at Saas Almagell is well suited to intermediate skiers and snowboarders. The top to bottom run is excellent and allows for over 700m descent on red graded terrain. The red runs under Furggstalden chair running to the base can become icy in the afternoon due to being in the shade. There is also a long winding blue to the bottom from just below the mid-mountain however this is far less enjoyable than the reds.
ADVANCED TERRAIN AT SAAS ALMAGELL
There is little in the way of advanced terrain at Saas Almagell, a short black is available but the majority of the terrain is better suited to intermediates. If you are looking for a higher proportion of more advanced terrain then the larger Saas-Fee ski area might be of interest.
FREESTYLE TERRAIN AT SAAS ALMAGELL
There is no freestyle terrain at Saas Almagell. If you are interested in terrain parks then the Saas-Fee glacier is the place to go.
SAAS ALMAGELL PISTE MAP
LIFTS AT RESORT SAAS ALMAGELL
The lift infrastructure at Saas Almagell is sufficient for the terrain that is on offer, however, it cannot be considered modern. There are two main chairlifts at Saas Almagell both two-person chairs that run at fairly modest speeds. The Heidbodme chair takes 9.5 minutes to travel between mid-mountain and the top of the resort at 2400m.
In addition to the chairlifts, a few surface lifts are in operation. The Furggstalden button lift provides access to the beginner’s area. Whereas the Mittelwald button lift is fairly pointless and not entirely pleasant.
SAAS ALMAGELL PROS
Saas Almagell is much quieter than better known Saas-Fee
Saas Almagell has some exceptionally groomed pistes that are fun to bomb
The beginner's area at Saas Almagell is well-suited to young learners
The restaurant at the top of Saas Almagell has some incredible views of the surrounding valley
Transport between Saas-Almagell and neighbouring Saas-Fee and Saas Grund ski resorts is very good.
SAAS ALMAGELL CONS
Saas Almagell is over 1000m lower than Saas Fee and Saas Grund at their highest points. This can mean that snow quality is better in the over Saas valley resorts.
Limited terrain at Saas Almagell could mean you get bored after a few days of skiing there.
TRAVEL TO SAAS ALMAGELL SKI RESORT
Saas Almagell in the canton of Valais in Switzerland is part of the Saas Valley with ski resorts; Saas Fee, Saas Grund and small Saas Balen. Travelling to Saas Almagell by air is most likely going to be via Geneva airport where international flights are possible from London and other major airports.
When in Switzerland it is always worth travelling via train to your end destination. From Geneva, it is possible to travel to Visp by train where regular buses run between Visp and the towns of Saas Grund, Saas Almagell and Saas Fee. The 511 bus will take you to Saas Grund where you may need to change to the 513 to connect to Saas Almagell.
I was road tripping through Switzerland so arrived in the Saas Valley by car. The journey was simple and the roads in great condition despite heavy snowfall. It is essential to carry snow chains, especially if not driving a 4wd car. It is worth noting that although cars are permitted in Saas Grund and Saas Almagell, they are not permitted in Saas-Fee. If staying in Saas-Fee you will need to park in the multi-storey and get to your accommodation either on foot or via electric taxi/hotel shuttle.
SAAS ALMAGELL SNOW RECORD
According to OntheSnow the ski resorts around Saas-Fee receive an average of 5m of snow per winter. Saas Almagell has a much lower base elevation than Saas-Fee and Saas Grund so the quality of snow on the lower mountain can suffer.
SAAS ALMAGELL LIFT PASS PRICES
Saas Almagell is included on the Magic Pass. The Magic Pass makes for an affordable way to ski in Switzerland with 40 ski resorts included for 399CHF. To discover more about the Magic Pass click here
Below is a list of Saas Almagell lift pass prices for the 2021/22 season. For updated prices check this link
SAAS ALMAGELL VIDEOS
SAAS ALMAGELL GALLERY
ACCOMMODATION AT SAAS ALMAGELL
During my stay in the Saas Valley, I stayed at the Montela Apartments in Saas Grund. The apartments were great with a fully functional kitchen, great facilities and a luxury feel. You can find the Montela Apartments here.
SEASON DATES SAAS ALMAGELL
Saas Almagell ski resort is open between mid December and mid April snow dependent. In 2021/2022 season the predicted open and close dates are 18th December - 18th April.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON SAAS ALMAGELL
Saas Almagell is a nice alternative to the larger Saas-Fee. I actually really enjoyed the runs at Saas Almagell with the top to bottom run allowing for over 700m of vertical drop. The groomed terrain was exceptional despite a lack of early-season snow. If you are wanting to visit a Swiss mega-resort then Saas Almagell isn’t it. Saas Almagell has enough terrain to keep most people happy for a day or two but you will want to combine it with other resorts if you are staying for a week or more. Luckily, the bus service from Saas Almagell is brilliant and it is easy to combine your trip with ski days in Saas-Fee and Saas Grund.
