Saas-Fee · Valais, Switzerland
Châlet Birkhahn offers a rustic chalet-style apartment (2–6 guests) with a private biosauna, plus a two-room studio on the ground floor (2–4 guests). The house stands at 1,900 m above sea level with a wide panoramic view — an oasis of quiet.
The house
On the quiet sun terrace of Hohnegg, 100 vertical metres above the village, an old Valais farmhouse from 1676 has been renovated in an authentic style. Local larch wood, natural stone and sheep's wool insulation carry the warmth and atmosphere of an alpine hut, while a generous kitchen and living space with a soapstone and Swedish stove invite quiet evenings. A private biosauna offers relaxation after a hike or a day of skiing.
Skiers reach the cable-car valley station and the Staffelwald beginner area in about 5 minutes on the groomed ski trail near the house. Ski-in is possible on a narrower ski path to within around 600 m of the house; the last 500 metres or so are on foot. Alternatively, a ski depot can be rented at Cesar Sport near the lifts.
In pictures
The house and its surroundings — interiors are shown with each apartment further down.
Where to stay
From CHF 80 per person / night
110 m² across two floors: two double bedrooms with king-size box-spring beds, pocket-spring mattresses and temperature-balancing sheep's wool duvets. Each room has its own bathroom with rain shower or bath, plus a mezzanine open to the living room under the roof windows for the children.
Photos of this apartment
Full details & all photos →
From CHF 60 per person / night
A 35 m² two-room studio on the ground floor with a pull-out bunk bed for up to four guests. An extra bed as a sofa bed in the living area is possible. Fully equipped modern kitchen, cable TV and Wi-Fi, and a small outdoor seat with a panoramic view by the entrance. (The biosauna and Swedish stove belong to the private Châlet apartment upstairs and are not accessible.)
Photos of this apartment
Full details & all photos →Wellness
The Châlet apartment has its own biosauna and a Swedish stove with an open fire. After a day on skis or a long hike, that is the reason you won't feel like walking down to the village again.
Getting there
At the foot of Switzerland's highest peaks, Saas-Fee offers a glacier ski area open year-round and long valley descents in winter, plus a rope park, toboggan run and minigolf for families, guided mountain tours and wide-open hiking trails in summer. On rainy days, the Aqua Allalin indoor pool and wellness centre wait in the village; day trips reach Zermatt, the Mattertal or the Aletsch region easily.
By car via the Lötschberg car-train, allow around 3 hours from Zürich and about 3½ hours from Basel or Geneva, all via Visp. By train, Swiss Rail (SBB) runs directly to the Saas-Fee bus terminus.
Open SBB timetableSaas-Fee itself is car-free — park in the large garage at the village entrance. The house sits 100 vertical metres above the village on the Hohnegg sunny terrace: roughly 10 minutes by electric taxi, or a scenic 15–20 minute walk via the Hannig valley station. Guests book the taxi themselves. Until 4 pm we welcome you in person at Hohneggweg 47 and help with carrying your luggage over the last 100 metres. After 4 pm there is self check-in with a key box; you receive the code before arrival.
The access path is cleared of snow, but not gritted — after a thaw or freezing rain it can be slippery, so please bring proper winter shoes. The electric taxi always comes to within about 100 metres of the house; from there we help with the luggage using a tracked carrier whenever we can. In high season, book the taxi 2–3 days ahead.
On the day of departure, please leave the apartment broom-clean by 10 am. On request, a later check-out may be possible. For the transfer back we recommend Uber Alps or Taxi Bolero: book it right after your arrival, or at the latest 2–3 days before you leave. In season and at weekends waiting times can be long, as only a few taxis are running.
Main routes into the valley
Electric taxi from the car park — Uber Alps or Taxi Bolero 027 957 70 20. Expect around CHF 45 for the ride through the village and up to the Hohnegg. In high season, book 2–3 days ahead.
As a rule we cannot accept pets. Well-behaved, easy-going animals may be possible by prior arrangement — please ask before booking. Animals are not allowed on the sofas or beds, and the apartment must be left clean and free of hair. If we find soiling attributable to an animal, we charge an additional cleaning fee of CHF 200.
Getting to the slopes
The house isn't directly on the piste, but it's 150 m to the groomed ski route to the Staffelwald beginner ski area and cable-car valley stations — about 5 minutes downhill.
About 150 m on foot to the ski trail into the ski area. Then a 5-minute run down the trail to Staffelwald.
The return route runs from Staffelwald along a narrower ski trail back to the descent path. The last 500 m or so are on foot back to Châlet Birkhahn. This ski route is only reliably open in good snow conditions — if it isn't, we recommend a ski depot at Cesar Sport by the sports ground/ski school.
Tip: The route to the piste is short and reliable; the ski-in route back is only guaranteed in good snow conditions, so expect to walk more of the last stretch after a thaw. If it's unreliable, a ski depot near the sports ground is an easy alternative to carrying skis home.
Around the house
Saas-Fee packs a full winter and a full summer into one valley — glacier skiing above 3,600 m, long valley descents, and hiking paths that start at the door.
Book the activities directly with the provider — but book your stay here: this page gives you 10% off the apartment or the studio. Booking through Saastal Tourismus or a portal costs more.
Snow-sure skiing up to 3,600 m on a year-round glacier, with long runs back down to the valley. Ski school and instructors in the village, and a floodlit toboggan run for the evenings.
Winter in the Saas valleyHundreds of kilometres of marked paths, from gentle alp walks to high mountain tours. Summer skiing continues on the glacier, and mountain guides can be booked in the village.
Summer activitiesGolden larches, clear air and empty trails. There is already snow on the peaks but not in the valley — and it is much quieter than in summer or winter.
Autumn in the Saas valleyA high-ropes forest course, the summer toboggan run, minigolf, a forest playground and an adventure trail — enough to fill several days without a car.
Family offersAqua Allalin in the village combines a public indoor pool with a wellness centre. The local heritage museum and the village restaurants fill the rest of an afternoon.
Pools and wellnessZermatt and the Mattertal, the Aletsch glacier region, and the old towns of Visp and Brig are all under an hour away by road or rail.
Worlds to exploreFrank Bumann will come along as a guide on request — on skis or on foot. Useful above all for knowing where the good snow is right now and which paths are empty.
Mountain guide officesMore ideas for the valley: saas-fee.ch
Guest reviews
Rated 9.3 out of 10 from 39 reviews on Booking.com.
Read the reviews there — but book here: this page is 10 % cheaper than the portal.
Availability
Real-time availability for both apartments, secured directly with your hosts.
10% direct booking discountBooking on this page is always cheaper than any portal — no commission, no middleman.
Frank Bumann, your host, is happy to answer questions about the house, the apartments, or hiking and skiing in Saas-Fee.
sf-birkhahn@bluewin.ch +41 79 344 79 18Hohneggweg 47
3906 Saas-Fee, Switzerland