Meteorological spring is here, but if you think skiing in Switzerland in March is no longer worth it, the Aletsch Arena will convince you otherwise! Thanks to its high-altitude location, there is plenty of snow, and you can ski here until Easter. The Aletsch Arena connects three picturesque car-free villages – Riederalp, Bettmeralp, and Fiescheralp – and thanks to a network of cable cars and lifts, the whole area is well connected. Wide and long slopes for all levels of skiers await you. So if you’re looking for the perfect destination for spring skiing in Switzerland, Aletsch Arena is a great choice.
Where is Aletsch Arena, and how to get here
Aletsch Arena is located in the canton of Valais (Wallis) in southern Switzerland and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jungfrau-Aletsch. It lies above the Rhone Valley, directly above Mörel, Betten, and Fiesch, from where cable cars lead to the main resorts of Riederalp, Bettmeralp, and Fiescheralp.
By train: You reach the Mörel station, which is about a 2-minute walk to the Riederalp cable car station. From Bern, it takes about an hour and a half by train (with a change in Visp), and from Zurich and Lucerne about 2.5 hours.
By car: if you’re coming from Bern, take the Autoverlad Lötschberg to Mörel, if you’re coming from Zurich or Lucerne, either cross the Furka Pass or use the Furka Tunnel car service. You can use the station car park or the nearby Parking Aletsch for parking.
Prices of ski passes
Aletsch Arena offers dynamic ski pass prices, i.e., the earlier you buy a ski pass online, the cheaper it will be. I paid 84 CHF for a day pass bought on the spot.
Caution! The ski pass does not include the lift from the valley to the villages on the plateau. So if you don’t have a Saver Day Pass or GA Abo, you pay 20.40 CHF for a return ticket (10.20 CHF with Half-fare Card).
Children and young people up to 16 can ski for free every Saturday in the Aletsch Arena. Ski passes can only be purchased with Swiss pass.
Aletsch Arena was the first place where I was asked if I wanted insurance with my ski pass. They offer the option of “SkiCare” and “PassProtect” insurance. “SkiCare” (extra CHF 5/day) covers the cost of ski passes, ski hire, and ski lessons in case of injury, illness, or adverse weather conditions (less than five lifts in operation), as well as rescue, transport, and treatment in case of a ski accident. “PassProtect” (extra CHF 3/day) covers the cost of ski passes, ski hire, and ski lessons in the event of accident, illness, or adverse weather conditions (less than five lifts in operation).
If you have any luggage, you can leave it in the lockers at the lift stations. It costs CHF 3 and you have your change ready.
Map of the area / slopes
As you can see on the map, the ski area is large, but thanks to the network of lifts and cable cars from Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp, the whole area is well connected.
The slopes are designed to follow the landscape harmoniously, so there are also flatter sections.
Skiing for the little ones
The Aletsch Arena is great for families, especially those with small children, as there are children’s “ski parks” right next to the hotels or apartments. For more advanced little skiers, there is also the Gletschi Family Funslope (near the Blausee lift).
Special runs
For lovers of speed skiing and adrenaline experiences, there are also race tracks for timed slalom or downhill with the possibility of taking a photo and a Snowpark/Funpark with jumps and obstacles for skilled skiers. Freestyle skiing is also a great option for off-piste enthusiasts.
Refreshments on the slopes
In all three villages, you will find nice places to enjoy a good meal during the day or after skiing. We tried Restaurant Chüestall Blausee, but next time, I would probably head to Panorama-Restaurant Bettmerhorn, where I saw a daily menu at a very pleasant price.
Non-skiing activities
Even lovers of non-skiing activities will find something to do here. As you know from my recent article, I went on a beautiful winter hike from Moosfluh to Bettmeralp. There are also toboggan runs here.
Interesting point – Villa Cassel
When skiing in the Riederalp area, you won’t want to miss an interesting historical building. It is Villa Cassel, which was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the British banker Sir Ernest Cassel as his luxurious summer residence. Today it serves as a visitor centre for the Pro Natura organisation and houses a museum dedicated to nature conservation and the Aletsch Glacier. It is only open in the summer season. So all the more reason to come here in summer!
Summary
- The ski area is so big that we didn’t manage to ski the whole area in one day (so ski slopes to Fiescheralp next time)
- Proof of how popular this resort is is that many of my Swiss friends have been coming here regularly for years for the “Sportferien Woche” (Skiweek School Holiday).
- Be sure to check out the viewpoint of the Great Aletsch Glacier while skiing.
