Aletsch Arena, Switzerland

* Fantastic snowfall record...

* Charming car-free villages...

* Wonderfully scenic, open terrain...

The remote but spectacularly beautiful 'Aletsch Arena' is one of Switzerland's best kept skiing secrets, named after the 23km long Aletsch glacier - a UNESCO World Heritage site and longest glacier in the Alps - visible from the top of the ski area.

Perched high above the Rhône valley, the Aletsch Arena comprises the three idyllic car-free and ski-in ski-out villages of Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp. These combine to offer 104km of wonderfully snow-sure and varied slopes, best suited to intermediates, with panoramic views towards the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc beyond.

A veritable winter wonderland, the resort is also great for non-skiers with pedestrian-friendly lifts and mile upon mile of impossibly scenic winter walking.

The Aletsch Arena at a glance...

Resort height:	1925m - Riederalp
	1970m - Bettmeralp
Slopes:	1050-2870m
Pistes:	104km
Snow rating:	☆☆☆☆☆

Suitability		Skiing
Beginners	☆☆☆☆☆	Blue runs	●	39%
Intermediate	☆☆☆☆☆	Red runs	●	50%
Advanced	☆☆☆☆☆	Black runs	●	11%

Resort		Transfer time
Charm	☆☆☆☆☆	Geneva	3hr30
Convenience	☆☆☆☆☆	Zurich	3hr15
Après-ski	☆☆☆☆☆
Family	☆☆☆☆☆
Non-skiers	☆☆☆☆☆

Snow reliability

General snow cover	4.5/5
Snow quality – upper	4.5/5
Snow quality – lower	4/5
Resort level snow	5/5
Powder potential	3.5/5

The skiiing

The ski area of the Aletsch Arena stretches from Riederalp in the west to Fiescheralp in the east, with Bettmeralp in the middle. It sits almost entirely above the tree-line, with dramatic high mountain scenery in all directions.

While the ski area is best suited to leisurely intermediates, it is not without challenge, most of which can be found on the Eggishorn above Fiescheralp. Novices are also well catered for, with dedicated nursery slopes in all three villages.

The resort

Our accommodation is located in two of the villages that make up the Aletsch Arena, Bettmeralp and Riederalp, both of which are car-free and offer direct access to the slopes.

Bettmeralp is the larger and livelier of the two villages, with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants. Riederalp is equally captivating but much quieter, with just a couple of shops and a scattering of hotels and restaurants.

Pedestrians can walk between the two villages along a scenic car-free winter walking path, which takes approximately 30 minutes in each direction.