First steps into Switzerland's hidden paradise

In Switzerland, Ramble Worldwide leader Jane uncovers the walking destination that walking enthusiasts dream of

There's something magical about those first moments when you step off the beaten path and into a landscape that feels untouched by time. As I write this, I'm still buzzing from our week in the Saas Valley, that remarkable corner of Switzerland that somehow remains hidden from the crowds that flock to its more famous neighbours.

Leading groups through mountains has been my life for years, but the Saas Valley? It caught me completely off guard.

Our first proper walk took us up on the Kreuzboden lift from Saas Grund, and I'll be honest, nothing could have prepared me for what happened next. As the cable car doors opened, the entire group fell silent.

There, across the valley, the Saas Fee bowl revealed itself in all its glory. Not just one or two peaks, but an entire amphitheatre of 4000-metre giants. Allalinhorn, Strahlhorn, Rimpfischhorn, Alphubel, Taschhorn, Dom, Nadelhorn, Lenzspitze. I found myself reciting their names like a prayer, these snow-covered sentinels reaching up to meet a sky so blue it seemed almost unreal.

The high-level walk from Kreuzboden back to Saas Almagell has to be one of my favourite walks of all time. It's a constant battle between watching where you place your boots and losing yourself in the panorama. Every turn reveals a new angle, a fresh perspective on these peaks that have stood sentinel over the valley for millennia.

That moment set the tone for everything that followed. This wasn't going to be just another walking holiday. We were stepping into something special.

While other tour companies might choose the busier resorts, sometimes the soul of a place matters more than convenience. Saas Almagell gave us something precious: a sense of belonging in this mountain community, away from the duty-free crowds and designer boutiques that many associate with Swiss mountain towns.

Each morning, we'd step out into crisp mountain air, the peaks surrounding us like ancient guardians. The anticipation was palpable. Where would today's adventure take us? The efficiency of the Swiss transport system meant we could reach incredible starting points within minutes, yet return each evening to the peace of our quiet valley base.

As I tucked into my bed that first night in Saas Almagell, listening to the distant rumble of avalanches high on the peaks, I couldn't help but smile. The group had no idea what awaited them. The ancient villages frozen in time. The churches that would move even the least religious among us. The mountain huts where simple food would taste like feast food.

That first view from Kreuzboden was just the beginning. The Saas Valley had so much more to show us.