Aletsch Arena

Aletsch Arena spreads across a broad, sun-facing plateau on the northern flank of the Rhône valley in the Valais, above the immense Great Aletsch Glacier. Three car-free villages, Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp, sit at altitude and are reached only by cable car, giving the whole area an unusually peaceful, traffic-free atmosphere. The pistes link these villages across open, sunny terrain, while the ridgeline viewpoints of the Eggishorn and Bettmerhorn deliver jaw-dropping vistas over the largest glacier in the Alps. The skiing is largely genial and intermediate, wrapped in scenery of genuinely world-class stature. It is a place as memorable for its views as for its slopes.

Go for the extraordinary glacier scenery combined with quiet, car-free villages and gentle, sunny skiing. It is ideal for families and intermediates who want relaxed cruising in a serene, high-altitude setting, and for anyone drawn to the once-seen-never-forgotten sight of the Great Aletsch Glacier winding away below the peaks. The absence of traffic and the abundance of sunshine give it a restorative, wholesome character.

The area sits high above the Rhône valley and enjoys the reputation of a sunny plateau, so bright, clear days are common and the slopes take on a soft, spring feel later in the season. Midwinter brings the coldest, most consistent snow across the higher sectors, while the elevation of the villages and pistes keeps cover generally dependable. The upper viewpoints and shadier north-tending aspects hold their surface best after fresh falls.