A full guide to summer in Valais, Switzerland

Whether you’re after an adventure-filled getaway, a cultural escape or want to simply relax in nature, you can find the perfect side of Valais for you this summer with our full guide…

Words: Caroline Bishop

Hit the hiking trails

With over 8,000km of marked hiking trails to choose from, knowing where to start can be difficult. Here are just a selection of some the top hikes in the region.

The Dents du Midi Trail

One of the Alps’ best known multi-day hiking circuits, this trail comprises two-to-four days (depending on your ability) of hiking hut-to-hut through the Region Dents du Midi, part of the vast Franco-Swiss Portes du Soleil area. Highlights on the 52km circular route include the tranquil Lac de Salanfe, waterfalls, ancient forests and several mountain passes. Stay each night in a mountain cabin and recharge with hearty food, a comfy bed and unforgettable starry nights.

Nendaz Trekking

The Nendaz Trekking trip is a three-to-four-day hiking tour around Veysonnaz and neighbouring Nendaz. Walking a different trail each day and staying the night in mountain cabins along the way makes for a truly Swiss experience.

The Aletsch Arena

Hiking alongside the vast Aletsch glacier is a unique experience. Take the cable car to Moosfluh, from where it’s an easy walk along the ridge high above the glacier towards Hohfluh and Riederfurka, the famous Matterhorn among the mountains in view in the distance. The 20km-long river of ice and rock is a jaw-dropping sight in all seasons, but it’s in summer when the glacier’s grey-white contours are most defined. Come back in autumn when the larch forest along its flanks burns golden.

Follow a bisse

Another top hike in the Valais is to follow one of the area’s many bisses, ancient irrigation channels built to transport water to farmland, which are now mainly used as easy, fairly flat hiking routes. Nendaz and Veysonnaz, located in the heart of the 4 Vallées ski area, make the most of their bisses and offer a gastronomic hiking tour called Rando’Miam (loosely translated as Yummy Walk) along the mid-19th century Bisse de Chervé. This now dried up waterway makes for an easy stroll through forest and alpine pastures to Siviez, and both ends of the walk are accessible via cable car. Along the way, hungry hikers can enjoy a starter, main course and dessert at three different restaurants.

Via Stockalper

The name Stockalper is synonymous with the town of Brig. Kaspar Stockalper was a wealthy trader who made his name in the area during the 17th century. Explore the castle he built – the Stockalper Palace in Brig, with its distinctive ‘onion’-topped towers – before heading along the Via Stockalper, a former important trade route to Italy, which he developed. Hike through the Gondo Gorge along parts of the original mule track, before staying the night in the Stockalper Tower in Gondo.

The Gemmi Pass

History buffs will enjoy the Gemmi Pass, a historic hiking route that has existed since the 15th century. On a leisurely hike between the Gemmi and Sunnbüel you will cross the cantonal border and experience a varied hiking trail with a unique panorama. The historic pass crossing from Leukerbad over the Gemmi Pass into the Bernese Oberland is a classic route, and once the ascent from Leukerbad through the rock towers of the Gemmi region is complete, a leisurely, mostly downhill hiking trail to Kandersteg awaits you. Those after a more strenuous option can start in Kandersteg and complete the course from the Bernese Oberland all the way to Valais. The trail from the Gemmi Pass leads along the Daubensee Lake via Schwarenbach to Sunnbüel. From here you can reach Kandersteg by foot or cable car. While the landscape on the Gemmi is rough and barren, colourful flower meadows line the hiking trail further down at Spittelmatte.

Photo Credits: ©Litescape Media; ©Florian Bouvet-Fournier; ©Valais/Wallis Promotion - Pascal Gertschen; ©Valais/Wallis Promotion - David Carlier; © Switzerland Tourism-Jan Geerk; ©MyLeukerbadAG

The Gornergrat Hike

The mountain train from Zermatt to the Gornergrat winds up through forest and scrubland to 3,100m, where views of some of the country’s highest peaks await. Among them, the iconic Matterhorn stands alone, a wisp of cloud often trailing from its distinctive summit. From here, hike down to the Riffelsee, where the Matterhorn is reflected in the water. On the way, look out for Valais blacknose sheep (or cheat and look up their whereabouts on your phone, since the flock is trackable by GPS).

Rosswald Hike

In the small, car-free mountain resort of Rosswald, follow the water trickling along the Bergwasser bisse, which takes you through a forest, far above the Ganter valley and to the Ganter bridge on the road up to the Simplonpass. Near the top of the trail is the isolated village of Stafel, a collection of old wooden houses now mostly used as holiday homes. With no noise except the chirp of crickets in the summer heat, this is a rare pocket of seclusion in a constantly connected world, and a blissful place to switch off.

Thermal canyon walk

This fascinating walk combines a theme trail dedicated to Leukerbad’s famous mineral waters and a a spectacular walkway that leads into the Dala gorge where you can soothe your muscles in the natural hot springs.

Abinen Ladders

First opened in 1781, Abinen Ladders is the oldest Via Ferratta in all of the alps and still delivers thrills today. Climb the dramatic sequence of wooden ladders on the historical trade route between the villages of Albinen and Leukerbad.

Photo credits: ©Shutterstock

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Biking

©Shutterstock

For a thrill

Mont4Zipline in Nendaz Mont-Fort

With a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains, Mont Fort, the top lift station of the 4 Vallées region, is a thrilling experience in itself – but for extra thrills, add in a zipline descent. From the summit at 3,300m, you’ll fly down the 1.4km zipline at speeds of more than 100 km/hour.

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Altesch Glacier Trip

Get closer to the longest glacier in the Alps by taking a guided hike on the Aletsch. Starting from Fiesch, this day-long tour takes you right onto the glacier itself to see this glorious 20k river of rock and ice up close – a privilege you won’t forget in a hurry.

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Paraglide at Fiescheralp

Experience the Aletsch glacier from above on a tandem paragliding flight from Fiescheralp, which is well known for the sport. The view of the mighty glacier from the air, with the Jungfrau and Matterhorn mountains in the distance, is hard to beat.

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Saas-Fee/Saastal: Gorge Alpine

Connecting the villages of Saas-Fee and Saas-Grund is the Fee Gorge, a rugged river valley of canyons, caves and waterfalls. Conquer this natural obstacle course with the help of zip lines, ladders, suspension bridges, pendulum swings and a final abseil – and much encouragement from your guide

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Climb Allalin, Saas-Fee

Climbing a 4,000m peak may seem the stuff of dreams, but Saas-Fee can make it a reality. The summit of the Allalin (4'027 m a.s.l.) is accessible to most reasonably fit people on a guided tour from the Mittelallalin funicular station. The top offers glorious views of the other four-thousanders surrounding the Saas Valley.

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Glacier Trail in Saas-Fee/Saastal

An adventurous foray into the high alpine landscape, this 16km trail starts at the Felskinn gondola station and leads to the Britannia hut before crossing two glaciers and then descending to the Mattmark reservoir. Walking on a glacier may sound daunting, but the trail across the Hohlaub and Allalin glaciers is safe and well-marked. Stick to the path and revel in the unique experience of crossing this otherworldly landscape. The views to the reservoir and across the valley into Italy are pretty special, too.

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Relax in nature

Relax on a yoga path

Commune with nature on this yoga path through the Magrappé forest near Veysonnaz. Seven panels along the trail describe yoga poses that combine strength training, relaxation and concentration. Breathe deeply and take in the sounds of the forest: birdsong, the wind through the trees and the water trickling along the bisse.

Follow the Ibex Trail in Saas-Fee

Head to the southern Valais village of Saas-Fee where ibex can be seen along the Ibex Trail, a high alpine hiking route starting at the top of the Hannig cable car. Finding one of these shy mountain goats among the rocky scrub or larch forest is reward enough for your exertions on the four-hour walk, even without the view of the glaciers and high peaks of the Mischabel massif from the hike’s highest point, the Mällig at 2,700m.

Meet the Sheep on the Gornergrat

Easier to spot are Valais’ blacknose sheep, since they’re fitted with GPS trackers. Take the Gornergrat Bahn from Zermatt up to the Gornergrat and use your mobile phone to track down these native Valais sheep, with their shaggy cream fleeces and black faces, who are usually perfectly posed for photos in view of the Matterhorn.

Search for wild herbs

In the Region Dents du Midi, a collection of six villages in the Val d’Illiez, join a local herbalist and mountain guide for a hike or e-bike tour of the slopes above Champéry. Along the way you’ll stop to pick cumin seeds, wild rhubarb and nettles, which can be used to create a truly organic picnic – listen out for marmots trilling in the background as you tuck in.

Take a dip in a thermal bath

With ten relaxing baths, slides for families and a modern sauna area with a wide range of wellness and natural healing options, the Leukerbad Therme is the largest thermal bath in the entire Alpine region. As well as a warm soak, visitors of all ages will receive a warm welcome here.

Get out on the water

Besides its myriad hiking and biking trails, the Aletsch Arena offers plenty of less energetic activities, too. A few minutes’ walk from the car-free village of Bettmeralp is the Bettmersee, a pretty swatch of water where you can swim, fish, hire a pedalo or just lounge about on shore with a picnic.

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©Veysonnaz Tourisme - Linda photo)

©Saastal Tourismus AG

©Shutterstock

©Niels Ebel

©Shutterstock

Get a culture fix

The Stockalper Palace

The appeal of the Valais doesn’t only lie in its natural attributes; the region is packed with cultural and gastronomic attractions, too. In the lively town of Brig for example – whose cobbled Old Town thrives with restaurants and bars – is the Stockalper Palace, its ‘onion’- topped towers visible throughout the town. Built by Kaspar Stockalper, a wealthy 17th century entrepreneur and merchant, the castle museum and gardens are worth a visit, while the courtyard hosts open-air cinemas in summer.

Villa Cassel

Built in 1902 by German-born British financier Ernest Cassel, this mansion house perches on a ridge overlooking the Aletsch glacier. Once frequented by Cassel’s guests including Winston Churchill, it’s now a hotel and the seat of conservation organisation Pro Natura. In the basement, an exhibition shows how the glacier has been monitored over the years – the evidence of its dramatic shrinkage is all too clear.

Gondo gold panning

Known for its gold since the Middle Ages, the town of Gondo saw its gold mines developed by local entrepreneur Kaspar Stockalper in the 17th century. Follow in the footsteps of all those who rushed here to seek their fortunes by booking a gold panning experience in the Zwischbergental, where a guide will teach you the traditional technique.

Mattmark dam

Created to produce hydroelectricity, the Mattmark is the largest dam in Europe built with soil and rock. Hike around the reservoir to take in its full scale – it holds a staggering 100 million cubic metres of water. The exhibition in the restaurant recalls the tragedy that befell workers during the dam’s construction, when a huge section of the Allalin glacier broke off and engulfed the site, killing many.

Barryland

Named after a famous 19th century St Bernard mountain rescue dog, Barryland is a breeding centre for the Swiss national dog. Explore a museum about the history of the breed, spend time with the dogs and even take one out for a hike up on the Great St Bernard Pass. Time your visit well and you might catch a glimpse of the latest litter of puppies – around 20 baby ‘Barrys’ are born at the centre each year.