An outdoor adventure!
Have you ever thought about booking a holiday to the Valais region in Switzerland? If not, now is the time. There is plenty to do all year round; from skiing and hiking to swimming and delicious food.
Nendaz & Veysonnaz
The region around the towns of Nendaz and Veysonnaz is located in the heart of the largest ski area in Switzerland. A great place for winter, but the mountain experience is also great in summer.
View from the top
The new viewing platform at the top of Mont-Fort is a must-see in summer and winter. The 360° view at this height is amazing: from the mountain peaks of the Matterhorn and the Grand Combin to Mont-Blanc. And from Siviez you can get there in no time with the chairlift and the cable car.
E-biking for the forest
If you fancy an active day in nature, we recommend the guided tour by e-bike. In the morning you take the cable car up and then cycle along the most beautiful green paths through the forest. A delicious three-course menu awaits at the end of the tour.
Hiking along wild mountain streams
You can take beautiful walks along the old irrigation canals that have served for centuries to bring water from the mountains to villages and fields. Along the way you will pass the most beautiful places with fantastic views. And you might not expect it, but hiking along the so-called ‘bisses’ is easy to do.
More information about the Nendaz and Veysonnaz region can be found at nendaz.ch and veysonnaz.ch
Gornergrat
Driving through the Valais Alps with Gornergrat Railway is an awesome experience. We recommend the most beautiful places and best activities along the way.
Nostalchic class tour
Speed over the Gornergrat ridge in an authentic train wagon from 1961 and enjoy the most beautiful views along the way. Before you board in Zermatt, you take a guided tour through the old town and then the train takes you to the Riffelalp Resort restaurant at 2,222 meters. Here you get a four-course menu with delicious matching wines. You can book tickets here.
A date with the black-nose sheep
These cute black-nose sheep are of a special breed from the Valais region. They can be recognized by their spiral horns, black faces and ears and ultra woolly coat. It is best to buy a train ticket from Zermatt to the Gornergrat, get off there and continue walking – the sheep wear a collar with GPS so you can easily find them.
By train along the Matterhorn
Gornergrat Railway has been running since 1898 from Zermatt via Riffelalp and Riffelberg to the top of the Gornergrat at 3098 meters. Along the way you will have views of the Matterhorn and mountains and glaciers as far as the eye can see.
More information about Gornergrat Railway can be found at gornergrat.ch/en
Aletsch Arena
You may already know Aletsch Arena as a ski resort, but did you know that you can also enjoy a fantastic holiday there in the summer? In the area in the Swiss Alps you will find the most beautiful nature and the largest glacier in the Alps.
Have lunch at Bättmerhitta
Hiking will make you hungry, but if you time it right you will pass Bättmerhitta around lunchtime. You can eat local specialties here, such as homemade spaetzle, in an authentic mountain hut atmosphere. Tip: drink a glass of local wine, preferably on the terrace. Can be booked via the Aletsch Arena website.
Discover the Aletsch Glacier
The largest glacier in the Alps is the epitome of beauty. You can view it from one of the viewpoints, but a tour with a mountain guide is really special. Fascinating to see how the enormous river of ice stretches for miles. And thanks to the glacier, there are also beautiful lakes in the area, such as Blausee, where you can take a refreshing dip.
Yoga in the fresh air
If you like yoga, then this retreat is for you. For two days you will be immersed in the art of Vini yoga. You start with a mindfulness walk and a mountain picnic and then it’s time for the real work. Pro Natura is organizing another one in September. To book, visit the Aletsch Arena website.
More information about the Aletsch Arena region can be found on the Aletsch Arena website
Martigny
The city of Martigny is located in a valley between the mountains and has beautiful museums and a lot of history. So there is plenty to see in and around the cultural capital of the Swiss region of Valais.
Lunch at Plan-Cerisier
In addition to orchards, the region around Martigny also has vineyards, and the Plan-Cerisier restaurant is in the middle of them. It has a fantastic terrace with views over the city and the Rhone Valley and the food and wine are good. Tip: in the spring they have asparagus from the area and in the summer they have strawberries and raspberries.
Tasting tour at Maison Morand
The famous Poire Williams is one of the largest export products of the Valais region and there are many pear orchards around Martigny. At Maison Morand they have been making delicious drinks for 130 years: eau de vie, liqueur, gin. Samples? Guided tours and tastings are given in French every Saturday. Or book a private tour in English.
Afternoon art & culture
If you are ready for some culture after all the outdoor activities, take a look at the Fondation Pierre Gianadda museum. Surrounding the modern building is an impressive sculpture garden with work by all the great sculptors of the 20th century – Brancusi, Rodin, Niki de Saint Phalle, etc. And until the end of June there is a major exhibition by the Swiss painter Albert Anker.
More information about the region around Martigny can be found at martigny.com
Brig Simplon
Hiking, swimming, nature or discovering yourself: you’re in the right place in the Brig Simplon region. Thanks to the train station you can get everywhere in no time and with these tips every day is an experience.
Hiking tour
You can take fantastic walks near Brig, and there are also great challenges for real hikers. How about a hiking tour of 4 or 7 days, past forests, mountain streams and flowering alpine meadows? Your luggage will be transported from accommodation to accommodation, and lunch and snacks are included.
Sleep at Hotel de Londres
This nice boutique hotel in the heart of Brig was beautifully renovated last year. The interior is a mix of cute wallpaper, solid colors and wooden furniture. And at Wohnstuba you immediately feel at home, because they work according to the honesty bar principle. You make your own latte and grab a homemade saffron bun: just write it down and pay when you check out.
To the market in the old center
There is a market every Saturday morning in the historic center of Brig. Producers from the region sell fresh vegetables, fruit, cheese and bread that has just come out of the oven. Especially nice in the summer months, because then you can drink a delicious coffee on the large terraces in the Alpine town after shopping.
More information about the Brig Simplon region can be found at brig-simplon.ch/en
Saas-Fee/Saastal
Saas-Fee/Saastal is located at the foot of the Cathedral, Switzerland’s highest mountain at 4,545 metres. Mainly known as a winter sports area, but in summer and autumn you can enjoy hiking, biking and alpine adventures.
Hiking through the Alps
Whether you fancy a relaxing hike or an alpine tour at high altitude, it’s all possible in Saas-Fee/Saastal. 350 kilometers of hiking trail take you past fantastic views of 18 mountain peaks of 4000 meters. And if you want, you can even climb them with a professional guide. Tip: do the hike to the Monte Moro pass and enjoy the beautiful view of Monte Rosa.
SaasFestival: Music in the mountains
With a drink in your hand and the mountains in the background, listen to nice bands and meet locals. From July 6 to August 9, the Saas Valley will be transformed into a large open-air stage for the third time. The program includes singer-songwriter Bastian Baker, Zian and the band Port Polar. And all concerts are free.
Lunch in the ‘sheep stable’
After a long walk uphill you arrive at the idyllically located Schäferstube. The atmosphere inside and outside is authentic and exactly what you expect from a Swiss restaurant in the mountains. The food is divine and depending on the season there is always something new on the menu.
More information about the Saas-Fee/Saastal region can be found at saas-fee.ch
Thyon / Grande-Dixence
Grande Dixence is the highest dam in the world, supplying 500,000 homes with electricity. There is plenty to see and do on and around the dam.
Discovering the dam
Meltwater from glaciers, rivers and valleys flows through a system of more than a hundred kilometers of tunnels into the Lac des Dix, the reservoir near the enormous dam. The lake is completely full at the end of September, after which it slowly empties again during the winter. With a guided ‘sound and light’ tour through the tunnels you can see how it all works. Check shop.grande-dixence.ch for availability and bookings.
Thyon-Dixence trail run
Fancy running 16 kilometers through one of the most beautiful valleys of the Valais Alps, along steep rocks and mountain trails? On August 4 you can participate in the Thyon-Dixence run. The spectacular finish is located in the middle of the enormous sheet pile wall.
Screaming down
The zip line at Grande Dixence is good for an exciting outing. It is 700 meters long and runs right next to the dam, at an altitude of 2400 meters. After jumping into the void, you skim close to the concrete colossus with butterflies in your stomach.
More information about the area around Grande-Dixence can be found at visit-grande-dixence.ch
Celliers de Sion
Les Celliers de Sion was founded by two families with a passion for wine and the Valais grape. The diversity in Valais wines is enormous, and at Oenoparc Les Celliers de Sion they lovingly take you through the entire process.
Discovery tour
A guided tour of Celliers de Sion starts with a short film about the vineyards and the grapes. Then you visit the cellar where the Cuvées 1858 and Stricto Sensu are maturing in peace, and then it is time for a tasting of five characteristic wines from Maison Bonvin and Maison Varone. Delicious!
Cycling through the vineyards
If you want to see where the grapes for the wine come from, book the e-bike tour through the vineyards. This includes a picnic basket for the road, of course with a nice bottle of wine, or a hot meal at one of the restaurants on the domain.
With a boat underground
Quite different from all the other things you can do and see in the Valais region is Lac Souterrain de Saint-Léonard: the largest underground lake in Europe. During a guided tour you sail in a rowing boat over the blue water between the rocks. Then you paddle on to the Celliers de Sion for a wine tasting and finish with a typical regional meal at one of the two restaurants on the domain.
More information about Les Celliers de Sion wine park can be found at celliers.ch
Image: CHRISTIAN PFAMMATTER, WEBEVOLUTION, MAURANE ALLEMANN, GORNERGRAT BAHN, MARCO SCHNYDER, OLIVIER LOVEY, FONDATION PIERRE GIANADDA, ©BRIG SIMPLON / PASCAL GERTSCHEN, VALAIS_WALLIS PROMOTION / ALBAN MATHIEU, ETIENNE BORNET, © CELLIERS DE SION, OLIVIER MAIRE
