What Swiss Alpine Club does

The Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), legally Schweizer Alpen-Club SAC, is a private non-profit association founded in 1863 under Swiss civil law (Verein des Privatrechts) and headquartered at Monbijoustrasse 61, Bern. It operates as Switzerland's largest mountain sports community, organized through 110 local sections and delivering services through a network of 151 mountain huts across the Swiss Alps. The SAC serves individual members, families, competitive climbers, youth (ages 6-22), and international reciprocal members, with annual membership dues ranging from CHF 80-180 for individuals and CHF 110-280 for families depending on the chosen section.

The SAC's digital platform ecosystem centers on the SAC-Tourenportal, a database of more than 7,500 professionally authored routes; the SAC-CAS mobile app, which provides offline route access, swisstopo map integration, compass, GPS tracking, and the Skitourenguru avalanche information feature; and Alpsonline.org, a shared online hut reservation system operated in partnership with other Alpine Club associations. Supplementary offerings include the Die Alpen magazine (published 6x yearly since 1864), training courses in rock climbing, ice climbing, ski touring, and alpine hiking, competitive sports programs in sport climbing, ski mountaineering, and ice climbing, and a merchandise and guidebook shop.

The revenue model combines multiple subscription and fee streams: membership dues, hut accommodation revenue (with reservation fees and solidarity contributions approved in 2026), Die Alpen magazine subscriptions (CHF 60/yr domestic, CHF 76/yr worldwide), Tourenportal subscriptions for non-members, training course fees (subsidized for members), and merchandise sales through sac-cas-shop.ch. Distribution is primarily domestic through the website, mobile app, sections, and huts, with international reciprocity agreements enabling member access to huts operated by DAV (Germany), ÖAV (Austria), and AVS (South Tyrol). The 166th Delegate Assembly on June 13, 2026 adopted Strategy 2026-2030 alongside hut-fund stabilization measures, while a digital-only membership card introduced in 2025 signals an ongoing digital modernization effort.

Name

Swiss Alpine Club

Legal name

Schweizer Alpen-Club SAC

Website

https://sac-cas.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1863

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) is a 160-year-old Swiss non-profit mountain sports association that serves individual members, families, and competitive climbers through 110 local sections, 151 mountain huts, and a digital platform combining a 7,500+ route portal, mobile app, and shared hut reservation system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alpine Sports and Mountain Hospitality

NAICS

Skiing Facilities (713920), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Mountain & Alpine Lodges (THAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mountain & Wilderness Lodges (THAAAHAE), Snow & Mountain Unique Stays (Chalets, Ski Cabins) (THAMADAL), Guided Backcountry & Off-Piste Services (Ski Touring, Splitboarding, Heli/Cat Skiing) (THAAAJAD)

Keywords

• Alpine sports association
• Mountain hut accommodations
• Mountaineering training courses
• Alpine route planning
• Outdoor recreation club

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees ranging from CHF 80-180 for individuals and CHF 110-280 for families, collected by sections and central association
2. Hut Accommodations: Overnight stays in 151 SAC mountain huts generate revenue, with recent introduction of reservation fees and solidarity contributions
3. Magazine Subscription (Die Alpen): Print and online subscription to the 'Die Alpen' magazine at CHF 60/year (Switzerland) or CHF 76/year (worldwide)
4. Training Courses: Educational courses on mountaineering, climbing, ski touring, and alpine safety with subsidized pricing for members
5. Tourenportal Subscription: Digital access to route portal and app features, available as subscription for non-members
6. Online Shop: SAC branded merchandise, guidebooks, and publications sold through sac-cas-shop.ch

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) is a non-profit mountain sports association offering individual and family memberships that provide access to a network of 151 mountain huts across the Swiss Alps, a curated digital Tourenportal with more than 7,000 professionally authored routes, professional mountaineering training courses, the Die Alpen magazine, and competitive sports programs in climbing and ski mountaineering. Memberships are administered through 110 local sections, with digital services delivered via the SAC-CAS mobile app, SAC-Portal member account hub, and a partnership-based online hut reservation system.

Product overview

The Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) operates a unified platform-plus-services model centered around its route portal, mobile app, and mountain hut network. The core offering consists of the SAC-Tourenportal (Route Portal) with over 7,500 professional-authored routes, the SAC-CAS mobile app providing offline navigation with swisstopo maps, and access to 151 mountain huts via the online reservation system. Members and subscribers also receive the Die Alpen magazine (6x yearly), can enroll in training courses (rock/ice climbing, ski touring, alpine hiking), and participate in competitive sports programs. The SAC-Portal serves as the member account hub for managing digital membership cards, bookings, and subscriptions. Non-members can purchase a Route Portal subscription or create a free SAC account to access certain features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Die Alpen: The official magazine/publication of the Swiss Alpine Club SAC, published 6 times per year with online access to articles and archive content since 1864
• SAC-CAS App
• SAC-Tourenportal
• Hütten Reality Check

Products and services

• SAC-Tourenportal (SAC Route Portal) Online portal featuring more than 7,500 routes authored by professional writers, with map integration and filtering capabilities for planning mountain tours; available as a subscription to non-members.
• SAC-CAS Mobile App Digital companion mobile app for mountain tours providing offline route access, swisstopo map layers, compass, GPS location tracking, and Skitourenguru avalanche information; available on iOS and Android with digital membership card functionality.
• SAC-Portal / SAC-Konto (Member Account) Member account portal for managing SAC membership, accessing digital membership cards, downloading the Die Alpen magazine, booking training courses, and accessing the online hut reservation system.
• SAC Mountain Huts (151 Huts) Network of 151 mountain huts operated by the SAC across the Swiss Alps, offering accommodation for hikers and climbers including both staffed and self-service facilities.
• Online Hut Reservation System (Alpsonline.org) Online booking system for mountain hut reservations, operated in partnership with other Alpine Club associations (CAA) across the Alps.
• SAC Training Courses Alpine training programs including rock climbing, ice climbing, ski touring, and alpine hiking courses delivered by professional mountain guides, with subsidized pricing for section members.
• Die Alpen Magazine Longest-running alpine magazine in the world, published six times per year since 1864, with print and online subscription options covering alpine topics, tour tips, and climbing route information.
• SAC Competitive Sports Program High-performance sports programs including sport climbing, ski mountaineering (Skimo), and ice climbing, with national championships and international competition pathways.
• SAC Online Shop Online store selling SAC merchandise, guidebooks, maps, and Die Alpen magazine subscriptions.
• SAC Membership Individual and family annual memberships with pricing between CHF 80-180 for individuals and CHF 110-280 for families, providing digital membership cards, hut discounts, Tourenportal access, course discounts, and reciprocal international alpine club access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 160+ years of continuous operation since founding

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DAV (Deutscher Alpenverein)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Joint 'Hütten Reality Check' campaign with German Alpine Club to promote conscious behavior on mountain huts. Includes shared marketing materials and awareness initiatives.
• ÖAV (Österreichischer Alpenverein)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Joint 'Hütten Reality Check' campaign with Austrian Alpine Club to promote conscious behavior on mountain huts.
• AVS (Alpenverein Südtirol)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Joint 'Hütten Reality Check' campaign with South Tyrol Alpine Club to promote conscious behavior on mountain huts.
• CornercardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPayment solutions partner for the SAC, enabling convenient payment options at huts and through online channels. Listed as a sponsor with logo placement on the SAC website.
• CSS (Die Gesundheitspartnerin des SAC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth insurance company as official health partner of SAC, providing special offers for members. Listed with logo on website footer.
• die MobiliarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss insurance company as main partner and national sports promoter. Provides sustainability engagement for alpine club activities.
• Swiss Sport IntegrityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for sports integrity and anti-doping initiatives within the Swiss sporting ecosystem.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Komoot: Digital route planning platform serving hiking and alpine communities in Europe. Competes with the SAC Tourenportal on route discovery and navigation, though lacks the hut infrastructure and community layer.
• American Alpine Club: US alpine club with hut network (Hut-to-Hut system), membership model, and climbing publications. Similar operational model but smaller footprint and younger brand.
• British Mountaineering Council (BMC): UK membership organization representing climbers, hill walkers, and mountaineers. Broader remit than SAC but overlapping target audience and training/safety services; lacks hut network.

Direct peers

• Club Alpino Italiano (CAI): Italy's national alpine club operating mountain huts, refuges, and sections with similar membership and training models. Covers Italian Alpine territory that intersects with SAC's cross-border routes.
• Alpine Club (UK): Historic UK mountaineering club with hut network, mountaineering instruction, and reciprocal access agreements. Similar membership nonprofit structure though with smaller hut footprint.
• Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV): Austrian Alpine Club with comparable structure: 200+ huts, section-based governance, training courses, and hut reservation reciprocity. Joint 'Hütten Reality Check' campaign partner with SAC.
• Deutscher Alpenverein (DAV): Germany's largest alpine club and the most direct peer, with a similar hut network, route portal, training courses, and reciprocal hut access agreement with the SAC. Operates as a membership-based nonprofit association founded in 1869.
• Alpenverein Südtirol (AVS): South Tyrol Alpine Club with mountain huts and reciprocal access agreement with SAC. Smaller scale than DAV/ÖAV but shares the alpine club operating model.
• Club Alpin Français (CAF): French Alpine Club with section-based membership, hut network, and training courses. Comparable product offering with similar GTM motion across France's alpine regions.

Others

• UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation): International federation overseeing alpine clubs globally; SAC is a member. Provides umbrella governance, safety standards, and competition sanctioning that align with SAC's competitive sports and training programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/swissalpineclub
• Facebookfacebook.com/SchweizerAlpenClub
• Instagraminstagram.com/schweizeralpenclub
• Xx.com/alpenclubsac
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schweizer-alpen-club-sac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Swiss Alpine Club