Saas-Almagell is the last village of the Saas valley, a Valais hamlet of larch chalets and stone roofs at 1,672 m where the road runs out and the Mischabel wall begins. Its own 20 km of pistes on the Heidbodme sector are modest in scale and reliably snow-sure, but the real draw is what surrounds the village: the great ski-touring lines of the Mischabel, the high crossing of the Monte Moro into Italian Macugnaga, and the Saas-valley lift pass that buys you the Saas-Fee glacier and the Hohsaas above Saas-Grund. This is the Valais that has not been rebuilt for marketing.
Saas-Almagell is a ski resort in Switzerland, in the Swiss Alps. The village sits at 1672 m and the lifts top out at 2400 m, with 20 km of pistes and 5 lifts. Its BestSnowHotels snow score is 80/100, and the season usually runs Dec 7 โ Apr 14.
Run counts and piste kilometres are indicative. Green runs only exist in France, Spain, Andorra, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Japan, the United States, Morocco, Algeria, Lesotho, South Africa, Egypt, Canada, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Chile; Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany start at blue. Indicative average snow depth near the top of the resort, in cm.
Where to stay
A handful of well-rated hotels in and around the resort. Pick one, then compare live prices across Booking, Expedia and Hotels.com.
4.6652 reviews
โฌ220
โ Top pick
Walliserhof Grand-Hotel & Spa
Excellent ยท 652 reviews
๐Why we like it
A long-standing favourite in Saas-Almagell, trusted by thousands of guests before you.
Guests rate this hotel as excellent (4.6/5 from 652 reviews). It sits about 4.2 km from the slopes. A upper-scale option for Saas-Almagell, with live nightly rates shown for your exact dates so you always see the best price.
Ratings from Google, prices indicative per night. Live availability and rates via our booking partners.
Ski-in/ski-out
Saas-Almagell is a true village rather than a purpose-built resort, so genuine ski-in, ski-out is rare: the Furggstalden chairlift starts on the edge of the hamlet at 1,672 m, and the closest chalets are a short walk from the lift station. Choose one of the inns along the main street for the easiest morning access, or the high-altitude Berghaus Furggstalden on the mid-station for true ski-from-the-door mornings.
Get to know the resort
The Furggstalden chairlift lifts skiers out of the village to the Heidbodme bowl at 2,400 m, where the 20 km of piste run as four long descents back to the bottom of the valley: gentle blues on the upper slopes, two genuine reds and two short blacks lower down, all north-facing and held in good shape into spring. The lift system is small, the queues nonexistent, and the lift pass for the Saas-Tal opens Saas-Fee's glacier circus and the Hohsaas above Saas-Grund by post bus. The ski tourers, though, are the ones who light up at the mention of Almagell: the village is the standard launching point for the Allalinhorn, the Strahlhorn and the Britanniahรผtte, and the Monte Moro crossing into Italian Macugnaga remains one of the great traverses of the Alps. Down in the village, the Bรคrenstube and the old Hotel Pirmin Zurbriggen, named after the local downhill world champion, anchor an evening of raclette and Heida wine.
Good to know
The terrain is well balanced: 0 green, 8 blue, 8 red and 4 black runs, which suits a mixed group skiing together at different levels.
The base sits at 1672 m and the top reaches 2400 m, a profile that holds snow well across a normal winter (score 80/100).
It is a compact resort, 20 km of piste on 5 lifts, best as a day trip or a relaxed short break rather than a week-long base.
The lifts typically turn for about 18 weeks a season, planning around late January to late February tends to land the most reliable cover.
Hotels in Saas-Almagell
Hotels and apartments around the lifts. Compare prices on Booking, Expedia and Hotels.com.
Saas-Almagell offers 20 km of pistes across 5 lifts, from 1672 m to 2400 m. Whether it suits beginners depends on the dedicated learner zones at the base of the slopes, so check the local ski-school options for green and blue run access.
When is the best time to ski Saas-Almagell?+
The season runs from Dec 7 to Apr 14, with a snow score of 80/100. The best conditions are usually from late January through February, while spring skiing in March and April brings longer days and softer afternoons.
Where should I stay for true ski-in/ski-out?+
Saas-Almagell is a true village rather than a purpose-built resort, so genuine ski-in, ski-out is rare: the Furggstalden chairlift starts on the edge of the hamlet at 1,672 m, and the closest chalets are a short walk from the lift station. Choose one of the inns along the main street for the easiest morning access, or the high-altitude Berghaus Furggstalden on the mid-station for true ski-from-the-door mornings.
How big is the Saas-Almagell ski area?+
Saas-Almagell has 20 km of marked pistes served by 5 lifts, between 1672 m and 2400 m of altitude.
Is Saas-Almagell more for beginners or experts?+
Saas-Almagell counts about 20 marked runs in total. The colour breakdown above shows how they split by difficulty, a good guide to whether the resort fits your level.
Ski resorts near Saas-Almagell
The closest alternatives, an easy switch if dates or hotels are tight.