SWITZERLAND • 2-DAY HIKE • ALPINE PASSES TRAIL
Simplon Pass to Saas Fee
Two days on the high traverse above the Visp valley. Stages 18 and 19 of Switzerland's Alpine Passes Trail, ending in Saas Fee with the high glaciers right there.
Tested by Paulius Pikelis · 140 countries
Trip details
Duration
2 days
Effort
~11 h walking · ~1,400 m ascent
Altitude
~2,200 m highest point
Access
Train + bus, or car
Highlight
Glaciers at eye level into Saas Fee
Location
- Starting pointSimplon Pass
- DestinationSimplon Pass to Saas Fee
- FinishSimplon Pass
- Two stages of the Alpine Passes Trail in a single weekend
- Glaciers at eye level on the descent into Saas Fee
- Genuine remote feel without leaving Switzerland's transport network
- Quiet alpine hamlet of Gspon as the overnight
- Comfortable with a 6-hour Day 1 followed by a 5-hour Day 2
- Want a real 2-day mountain plan with the logistics solved
- Prefer self-guided independent travel
- Based in Switzerland or Europe with public-transport access
- If you lack basic alpine fitness
- If forecast is unstable for both days — don't push through
- Day 1 timeline with arrival logistics from Zurich, Bern, Basel, and Geneva
- Overnight plan for Hotel Alpenblick Gspon, with the Stalden cable-car backup
- Day 2 timeline with return bus and train connections
- Full route map with numbered waypoints and elevation profiles
- Pack list, full cost breakdown, and reservations checklist
Simplon Pass to Saas Fee
Weekend in the mountains. Back on the Alpine Passes Trail.
Early morning train from Zurich. Always the same feeling. Coffee in hand, watching the city disappear and knowing that in a few hours you will be somewhere completely different. Quick stop at Simplon Pass for a late breakfast and then straight on the trail.
The section toward Gspon is easy to follow and surprisingly scenic from the start. Wide views, open terrain and proper summer conditions. Blue sky, strong sun, snow still sitting on the peaks in the distance. It felt like one of those days where everything just works.
Lunch by a stream turned into a longer break than planned. Slipped on a wet rock, small hand bruise, nothing serious. More annoying was the heat. We started running low on water and there was not much shade. Good reminder that even simple routes can become demanding when the sun is strong.
As we got closer to Gspon, sheep started appearing along the trail and the landscape softened a bit. Reached the village just before 18:00. Perfect timing. Or so we thought. Everything was fully booked! For a moment it felt like the trip might end right there - "what do we do now?". Quick decision. The gondola was still running. We went down to Stalden, found a random hotel and saved the weekend!
Continues in the full guide
The PDF includes the day-by-day plan, transport timings, booking links, and weather rules. Instant download after purchase.
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