Mittelallalin

• Attraction type: Natural site, Mountain top, By cable car
• Escort: independent (no guide)
• Region: Saas valley (Valais)
• Duration: 1 day or less

What is Mittelallalin?

Mittelallalin is a must see when you visit the Saas valley. It's one of the highest points in Switzerland accessible to tourists: the top station is located at 3457 m, which is similar to the famous Jungfraujoch.

It can be reached by cable car and underground funicular. Route details can be found here.

Mittelallalin means 'mid Allalin', because it's a location on a ridge leading up to the Allalinhorn (Mount Allalin), overlooking glaciers and the highest peaks of the Swiss Alps.

Activities at Mittelallalin

This is what to you can see and do:

• You'll have an impressive view of glaciers and many peaks of the Italian and Swiss Alps.
• The 'Ice Pavilion' is the largest ice grotto in the world. It is accessible via a tunnel from the top station. The entrance fee is not included in the cable car tickets.
• You can have coffee or lunch in the world's highest revolving restaurant, providing a 360°-view over the mountains.
• Skiing and snowboarding slopes are mostly accessible all year round. Many top snow boarders train here.
• Mittelallalin is where many mountaineers start their tours to the summits.

Preparation

Check the weather forecast, as there's no point in going up if the ridge and surroundings are covered in clouds.

Dress in multiple thinner layers so that you can adapt to the different temperatures throughout the day. Take along gloves, sun glasses and a hat. Solid shoes help too, especially in the Ice Pavilion.

Allow at least 2 hours to visit Mittelallalin. Including the trip from Saas-Fee, you should allocate 3 hours to half a day.

Mittelallalin is located at an altitude of 3457 m. Anyone can suffer from (light) altitude sickness from about 2000 m. Usually it helps to take things slow and sit down for a while. Special precautions apply to children under 2 years old, as well as people who are pregnant or in poor health. Before visiting areas over 2500 m, you'd better consult your doctor. In most cases staying at such altitudes for just a few hours is no problem.