Saas- Fee, Switzerland Pearl of the Alps

Saas- Fee, Switzerland Pearl of the Alps

Background Saas- Fee (1800m) is the main village in the Saastal (Saas Valley) and is a municipality in the district of Visp in the canton of Valais in Central Southern Switzerland. Often over- shadowed (although not by the Swiss) by its more famous cousin Zermatt just 9km away, Saas- Fee is perfectly positioned on a plateau of pasture at 1800m surrounded by an amphitheatre of thirteen stunning snow- capped peaks all over 4000m. The village is small (c.1000 permanent residents), car- free, and utterly Swiss charming. And yet, behind the old wood doors and chalet façades there are over 50 bars and restaurants and numerous clubs offering every winter and summer sport you can imagine.

Historically, Saas- Fee is a relatively young ski resort and, because of its steep topography, has not suffered from excessive development over the last 30 years. As such, it is unspolit and undervalued relative to most other resorts of this charm and altitude. Swiss Real Estate Lex Weber, a Swiss federal law passed in March 2012, now caps the ratio of second homes to 20% in all Swiss Communities. Whilst this has little impact on low- level villages, Alpine resorts reliant upon tourism, where ratios are already far higher (Saas- Fee currently has 57% second homes), are effectively capped from all new second- home building. This structural change will surely make second- home Swiss properties even more desirable as supply (especially of new- build) is reduced. A recent Swiss government study recently identified Saas- Fee and Zermatt as one of three key regions set to experience strong capital growth. Skiing At 1800m, and with most of the skiing between 2,500m and 3,500m, Saas Fee visitors are almost guaranteed snow. 22 lifts, including 3 cable cars, 1 funicular railway (Metro Alpin), 5 gondolas (1 dedicated to walkers), 2 chairlifts, plus surface lifts quickly move skiers around the slopes with little queuing. On the snow, Saas- Fee is perfect for all levels of skier with over 100 km of pistes (30 km beginner, 45 km intermediate, 25 km advanced). These include: a quiet nursery area close to the village for Beginners, an extensive mix of blue and red runs (even at high altitudes) for Intermediaries, and some dramatic off- piste skiing and ski touring for experts. Ski passes can also include a free days skiing in Zermatt in the next valley. Other activities include snowboarding (half- pipe and park), paragliding, hang gliding, and tobogganing. In fact, Saas- Fee s fantastic snow- boarding facilities have made it one of Switzerland s top boarding destinations.

Saas- Fee also features the highest underground funicular railway in the world up to the skiing area and the highest revolving restaurant in the world at 3,600 m (11,500 feet). Looking ahead, the Saas- Fee Cable Car Company has recently merged with neighbouring Saas- Almagell (famously Pirmin Zurbriggen s village). This is part of a wider expansion and merging of the cable car companies in the valley to eventually integrate all 4 Saastal village cable car companies and significantly expand the pisted area offering. In addition, enlargement plans are now fully costed and in- place to extend the Saas- Fee pisted area due South beyond the Allalin rotating restaurant into new high- level glacier fields. This will open up new views (to the Italian Lakes and Matterhorn) and create significantly more Winter and Summer ski areas. It will also pave the way to future link- ups with other ski resorts. Summer Saas- Fee is a true year- round resort with an extensive Glacier skiing area plus all the usual summer facilities including tennis courts and even a small golf course. There are also plenty of hiking trails, a high rope course, a roller coaster style luge and even the glaciers (Dom 4545m and Allalinhorn 4027m) are open for other snow- sports. Location Saas- Fee is located between the international airports of Geneva, Zurich and Milan, in the central Southern part of Switzerland. Schedule flights also operate to Bern and Private planes fly directly to the nearby (ex- military) airport at Sion. We understand, the possibility now exists of commercial flights into Sion also.

From any of these airports, regular train services are available to Visp, followed by a frequent Mountain bus service up to the village. From Geneva and Zurich airports, typical train times to VISP are around 2.5 hours followed by a 45 minutes by bus up the stunning mountain pass to Saas- Fee. By car, the drive time from Geneva airport is currently 2.45 3 hours. The existing motorway system in the valley is, however, currently being upgraded and expanded. Once this is opened, the drive time is expected to reduce to c.2.15hrs. Conclusion Saas- Fee really is the Pearl of the Alps - an unspoilt, car- free Swiss alpine village set in the most stunning scenery. At 1800m, it is also virtually snow- sure and offers a wealth of Winter and Summer activities (including Summer skiing on the glaciers). With the additional restrictions of Lex Weber, plus the planned cable car upgrades, Claremont predicts robust capital growth in real estate values and an improving reputation for the village as a truly world- class ski resort. For more information about Saas- Fee, or indeed our future projects, please contact: Rob Lucy +44 7779 638855 rl@claremontprime.com Charlie Buck +44 7767 302271 cb@claremontprime.com Claremont Prime is registered in England and Wales. Co number 7197515. Alpine Prime GmbH is registered in Switzerland. Co number CH-600.4.014.179-7. Claremont Prime and Alpine Prime take all reasonable care to ensure that the information contained in all of its documentation is accurate. All details provided are for guidance only and any investment models, cost projections, photographs, computer generated images, floor plans, sizes and specification are subject to changes and only give a general indication of the property. Claremont and Alpine cannot warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the information and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omission therein. It is the responsibility of the purchaser / investor to take such legal and financial advice as they think fit bearing in mind the nature of the investment or purchase.