Has anyone bought a Magic Pass for winter 2025/26? The pass covers loads of mainly smaller Swiss ski areas plus a few French and Italian ones too.
Spurred on by @denfinella's 2025 Magic Pass adventures, detailed trip reports and photos Mrs MA and I lashed out about CHF440 each (inc. insurance) in April this year on passes for the coming winter.
Our first trip will be to ski the glacier at Saas Fee in early November. Can't wait - not too long now! A trip report will follow.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 4-11-25 20:50; edited 1 time in total
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Do you already have a bucket list?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
There's a number of brilliant ski areas on that pass.
Obviously Grimentz and Zinal. Most beautiful villages of Switzerland, brilliant area.
Just as obvious, Anzère, with their shiny new lifts per next winter.
But also Lauchernalp, with beautiful view and stunning length and height difference of their slopes. They deserve every support after the Blatten landslide.
The other Blatten (I went there in my youth) now also in the pass. With their brilliant tunnel piste.
Melchsee Frutt is on there this year I think - love it there!
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@mountainaddict, yep we have Magic Passes for 25-26. Had them 24-25 too. It’s a great setup. Heading out for 10 days before Xmas, also something Feb/Mar.
Not yet. Though we have previously skied at Saas Fee (glacier only), Zinal, Arolla, St Luc, Chandolin and in the Jura. Planning on checking out snow conditions and taking it from there for trips in Nov (Saas Fee), December and January for starters.
Ta for the tips @Onnem.
See you out there @Inboard?? Where are you headed in December?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Not decided yet. Probably base ourselves in a self catering place near Sion and daytrip to various resorts deciding day by day based on weather/ snow. Want to spend more time St Luc/ Chandolin, and Grimentz-Zinal; but also various other spots to explore. We’ll keep an eye out for you!
After all it is free
After all it is free
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Probably base ourselves in a self catering place near Sion and daytrip to various resorts deciding day by day based on weather/ snow.
That's our plan too @Inboard. If I recall correctly, I think that's what @denfinella did last winter. I must check out where he/she stayed.
Given the strength of the Swiss Franc (parity with sterling seems only a matter of time...), I've seen some jaw dropping prices for accommodation. I found a decent apartment via Airbnb for our November trip, so that may be the way forward. At least Nov, Dec and Jan flights are cheap enough!
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We’ll keep an eye out for you!
And vice versa!
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@mountainaddict, you called?
I stayed in Saint-Maurice (near Martigny) in January, then near Sierre in March.
Sion is in the middle of those two locations so sounds like a good plan for a single base.
This coming season will be our fourth time, we seem to go back every other year. Touring around in our motorhome again, in 23/24 we spent a lot of time up high so I'm hoping we can ride at a lot of the lower areas this time. We might spend 3 or 4 days at each spot that has suitable parking in a two month trip over January and February.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Thanks @denfinella & @Mike Pow.
Fourth Magic Pass @BoardieK! It must be good!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@mountainaddict, I like the huge variety of "resorts" with one pass to rule them all.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
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I like the huge variety of "resorts" with one pass to rule them all.
Great stuff @BoardieK - we just love trying any new areas, big or small.
It might be hard for you to say, but which are your favourite Magic Pass areas in terms of:
- Small (but good) areas with quiet slopes? We really enjoy discovering places skied mainly by locals.
- Bigger areas with more extensive skiing?
Any not to be missed hidden gems?
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@mountainaddict, My favourite spot is Les Mosses, a col near Leysin and Les Diablerets. I love cols; sunny all day, quiet, lots of the sort of pistes I most enjoy and a great place for us to park up for a few nights. When I say quiet take a look at this video if you haven't already seen it: http://youtube.com/v/o1qWyv6XJzw?si=fQz877g3O6vGkOkR
Charmey, in the pre Alps near Gruyere is a small town for weekend locals, not a ski resort as such. I once had the entire ski area to myself for an hour and a half with 25cm of overnight snow on all the pistes. Magic.
Nearby Le Moleson is "different" for a day trip. The top bowl is sort of an itinerary.
Arolla you've been to but I had a great few days up there: http://youtube.com/v/-8NaS1pHXhI?si=IOSKORs-3FhhLXNd
I've never made it to Nax but will do this trip, likewise Lauchenalp.
So many new spots to try these days but will have to see where the snow is. I really hope not to have to spend so much time on the glaciers and in the val d'anniviers this season. I've never seen good enough snow to make it worth stopping in the Jura for instance.
One of my favourite days is Sion Carnival at the end of Feb.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Brilliant @BoardieK! Some great information there
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Hey guys, first post. Bought the magic pass for this year 25/26. Cannot wait. In tow is the (happy) wife and our three kids, aged 12,10 & 8. All been skiing 3-4 weeks a year, so very lucky and pretty good. We're hiring a 6 birth motorhome for two weeks at Christmas and in Feb - it's the only way I could budget this. Can't believe I got it approved!
I've chosen Saas-Fee (because wife name is Faye, Wham filmed lasted Christmas there, the skiing obviously... and because of the p4 motorhome parking. I know it's high and could be cold. Shall we look elsewhere too like Gstaad, or Grimmentz-Zinal. Ideally German speaking this time as daughter has just started it at school!
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@BoardieK, have you a trip report on here with motorhome friendly sites at all? Get a magic pass on visit in the motorhome is on my list of things to do once retired!
Hey guys, first post. We're hiring a 6 birth motorhome for two weeks at Christmas and in Feb
Welcome to Snowheads!
I hope there's enough room in the motorhome for the new sextuplets on your trip!
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
(Apologies for the slight thread derail, @mountainaddict, but hopefully some of what I post at the bottom might be of interest / help to you and @Inboard too)
@ErikC - Welcome to Snowheads and congratulations on your Magic Pass(es) purchase. I bought one for the first time last season and got INCREDIBLE value out of it.
Others have already made reference to @denfinella's excellent Trip Reports for last season, but here are the links to them:
I visited a lot of the places they did, but also based myself in Vercorin for two extended stays at Swisspeak Resorts accommodation there.
I'm only mentioning it as I got an absolute steal of a deal on my stays there last Black Friday. Was between 40 - 50% off the full rate for the times I went, and the UK half-term periods were included in this. Although obviously the starting price for then was a lot more than when I was going to stay in January and March.
That company also has accommodation in Zinal but being a bigger ski area, it was a lot more expensive and I don't think as many weeks were available on the Black Friday deal.
One limitation for me was that outside of peak periods, and without my own transport, the only was to get from Vercorin to Grimentz-Zinal and St Luc-Chandolin was via the free bus service which only ran at weekends.
However, during the Swiss school holiday periods, those buses ran every day. It required a change in Vissoie and the bus to there stopped right outside the hotel at 08:50 and returned from Vissoie at 16:15.
You can find the information about the buses from last year still here.
Just throwing that out there in case you still want to investigate alternatives to the motorhome idea.
Having stayed the first night via AirBnB, I then paid for subsequent nights for quite a bit less. Shared bathroom and (separate) toilet, but with access to kitchen and living room.
Was perfect for me for a few nights, but might not suit you. Can put you in touch direct via Whatsapp if you were interested.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@kitenski, @ErikC, I'm just trying to find previous threads, trouble is that the pass area is expanding so quickly that a four year old thread doesn't seem very comprehensive.
Seems more and more Snowheads are getting the Magic Pass!
Thanks to all so far for the hints, tips and recommendations. Let's keep them coming!
- Six weeks today until the pass goes live.
- A bit of snow forecast above 2,200m over the next few days.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
It's snowing in Saas Fee and area today! Early days of course, but it's beginning to look a lot like...winter!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I have just come in from a visit up the Meiringen area. Top station at. 2250 m was well into the snowline.
The view to south and east takes in the vast area between Grimsel pass and Sustenpass, unfortunately the cloud wouldn't open up sufficiently to get a good look at the high ground.
Quite possible that some of the high peaks have had 30 - 40cms by now. Rain and miserable in Interlaken this afternoon at about 11°c
I
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Good stuff @Rogerdodger
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
A bit more snow (& lovely weather) at Saas Fee Must already be quite decent skiing on the glacier.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
The good news: Only two weeks today until our first Magic Pass ski trip We're staying in Saas Fee and skiing from 4-7 November.
The bad news: We had planned to ski at Glacier 3000 on day 1, on the way to Saas Fee - but just spotted this disappointing update
Wonder why they didn't start the maintenance a week earlier and open for skiing on 1 November? (ie the first day that the Magic Pass is valid... )
Do any Magic Pass regulars know what (if any) ski areas other than the glaciers are scheduled to be open if we were to ski from 11-13 December?
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@mountainaddict, Zinal is scheduled be open for all of those dates but Grimentz only at the weekend, and I don't know how complete openings those are meant to be
It's horrific to see the pound almost at parity with the CH Franc, though. An already expensive country becoming.... more expensive .
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Quote:
It's horrific to see the pound almost at parity with the CH Franc, though. An already expensive country becoming....more expensive
It is indeed. Especially for those of us who remember over 2 CHF to the £, which actually doesn't seem all that long ago.
Still, we're finding reasonably priced Airbnb accommodation and flight prices - and the Magic Pass was an absolute bargain
And as some decent-looking French areas (eg Grand Bornand and Praz de Lys) are included on the pass this season, we might yet end up in a €35 a night F1 Hotel in France
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
"Could it be Magic?"
After all it is free
After all it is free
The Magic Pass season starts tomorrow, with the opening of Saas Fee's winter season
Not much open on the glacier at the moment. Wondering if more terrain will be open from tomorrow, ahead of our first turns of the season next Tuesday
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
I have the Magic Pass for 25/26 yes, I'm counting the days!! I had the same for last year too, where I spent 7 weeks in my campervan, touring (in rough order of preference);
Grimentz
Zinal
Glacier 3000
SaasFee
Les Diablerets-Villars-Gryon
Leukerbad
Leysin
Vercorin
Thank you for referencing Lauchernalp and Anzère, neither I've been to, they're at the top of my list for new resorts this winter.
Anyone been to the net-new slopes for the first time on the Magic Pass this season? I'm curious about past experience of those.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
Mrs MA and I lashed out about CHF440 each (inc. insurance) in April this year on passes for the coming winter.
A trip report will follow.
)
.
