Ayer walks

The Val d'Anniviers ends at the Zinal Glacier and the Moiry Glacier, separated by the Pigne de la Lé and the Garda Bordon. The route of this fourth stage will take you to the Cabane de Moiry, very close to the glacier of the same name. To avoid the long climb to Sorebois, take the cable car to the Weisshorn area. You will switch to the Moiry side and overlook this magnificent lake at an average altitude of 2,500 metres. Upon arrival at the Cabane de Moiry, you will be richly rewarded.

A long stage through two passes however, shortened by the cable car link in Zinal and the coach transfer between Villa Evolène and Arolla. Warning: Taking into account the cable car transport, the positive altitude isn't 2156 m as indicated but only 1380 m.

For this fifth stage, you will leave the Moiry hut and the snow-capped peaks for another hut in a very different world. You will once again follow the Lac de Moiry, but on its other shore. You will cross large grassy expanses to the Alpage de Torrent. From this mountain pasture to the Pas de la Lona, you will follow part of the famous Verbier-Grimentz mountain bike trail. The final climb will take you to the foot of the Becs de Bosson for a night at almost 3,000 metres.

Beautiful hike along a long alpine path, then a steeper trail at the end. At the hut, there is a route equipped with chains, and the one I took, which is less steep. Spectacular view from the hut, very warm welcome, and very comfortable for spending the night. Multiple options for returning to different valleys.

This seventh stage will take you to Vercorin. This small, traditional village is located on the border between the Vallon de Réchy and the Val d'Anniviers. From Grimentz, take the Bendolla cable car and follow the trails through the ski area to reach the Col du Louché. You will then descend into the magnificent Vallon de Réchy. After Lac du Louché, follow the Rèche to the towpath where the peaceful Bisse de Vercorin begins. You will soon reach the pretty little village of Vercorin.

This eleventh stage takes place in the mid-mountains. The Hotel Weisshorn, perched at an altitude of nearly 2,400 metres, is visible from Grimentz. The path descends towards Navisence and then passes through the village of Ayer. Follow the Chemin des Cols Alpins to reach the Hotel Weisshorn. From its terrace, it offers a superb view of the summit that bears its name.

After a night in this historic hotel, the third stage will take you to Zinal, a traditional village in the Val d'Anniviers. You will soon discover the Weisshorn and Bishorn mountains. At the small Bella Vouarda pass, you can admire the so-called imperial crown with five peaks over 4,000 metres high. As you descend towards Zinal, you will follow the end of the famous Sierre-Zinal race, more commonly known as the "Race of the Five 4,000s".

This twelfth stage takes place once again in the high mountains and, depending on the season, may involve crossing snowfields. The trail is shared with the Apenpässe-Weg, marked with green stickers no. 6. From the Hotel Weisshorn, descend to the Combavert barn. The ascent to the Meidpass begins on a good path that passes close to Lake Combavert. The route is pleasant until the junction with Lake Armina. The final climb is over scree. The descent, which is steep at first, becomes gentler as you approach Meidsee. Then scree and pastures alternate until you reach the hamlets of Oberstafel and Mittelstafel. A good path then descends to Meiden/Gruben.The Meidpass is the French/German linguistic border.

The next stage to this mountain hike with a stop at Saint-Luc then a transfer by postbus to Zinal.

Today's stage is divided into three: from Gruben to Jungu by foot, Jungu to Saint-Niklaus by cable car and Saint-Niklaus to Grachen by coach.

This thirteenth stage takes place in the high mountains and, depending on the season, may involve crossing snowfields. The trail is shared with the Apenpässe-Weg, marked with green vignettes No. 6. From the hotel, the trail climbs towards the Augstbordpass, crossing alpine pastures to Grüobu Oberstafel. Then the landscape becomes increasingly rocky until you reach the Augstbordpass. At the pass, you will have earned a well-deserved break. The descent continues through numerous scree slopes and rock fields, but the path is always well marked. From Abiheiji (Twraa Ridge), the route to Jungen is more pleasant and the path is often paved. From Jungen, there is still an 850-metre descent to Sankt Niklaus. (You can take the cable car to avoid this last descent.)

This tenth stage takes place once again in the high mountains and, depending on the season, may involve crossing snowfields. This day is spent in the company of peaks over 4,000 metres high.From La Sage or Villa, there are two passes that allow you to cross from the Val d'Hérens to the Val d'Anniviers: the Col de Torrent and the Col du Tsaté. Closer to the high peaks and glaciers, we will opt for the Col du Tsaté. From La Sage, follow the signs for Moteau and Le Tsaté (an old abandoned hamlet). The trail continues to a cattle farm (Remointse du Tsaté), then to the small Lac du Tsaté. From there, the Col du Tsaté is visible on the Val d'Anniviers side, and the path joins the Lac de Moiry to the dam. At the foot of this structure, a well-marked trail leads to Grimentz.

A long climb to Torrent Pass before reaching Moiry Lake, then Saint-Luc by bus, Tignousa by cable car and finally Bella Tola by foot. Think about correcting the distance indicated by points (5) et (6) : you need to deduct 10 km.

This sixth stage will take you to Grimentz, a beautiful village typical of the Val d'Anniviers. From the Col des Becs de Bosson, the route is all downhill. For the more experienced, it is possible to climb the Petit Bec de Bosson. For this climb: at the pass, the route is marked by a white-blue-white sign. The final section is rated T4 to T5. Not for inexperienced climbers.

Far from the hustle and bustle of Zermatt and away from the tourists, this flat walk allows you to discover the village and its recreational lake. Numerous granaries can be seen along this loop

This second stage will take you to the Hotel Weisshorn, but not via the shortest route. Along the way, you will pass peaks such as the Rothorn, Bella Tola and the Aiguilles du Meiden. After Lake Armina, you will join Trail No. 6 (Chemin des Cols Alpins) at the foot of the Meidpass. After the descent to the Combavert mountain pasture, you will need to make one last effort to discover the Hotel Weisshorn, the pearl of the Val d'Anniviers.

A new balcony stage at the foot of high summits separating the Zermatt and Saas Fee valleys.

Due to the closure of the large Himalayan footbridge over the Grabengufer scree, it is necessary to take the emergency path down to Tasch and then undertake a remarkable climb to the alpine hamlet of Täschalp, where the Europaweghütte lodge is located.

First phase in the Saint-Luc skiing area before heading along the Tour de Cervin trail and completing the stage at Gruben.

This fourteenth and final stage is the longest, but does not present any difficulties. The route from Sankt Niklaus to Zermatt is obvious. It follows the Matter Vispa, the river that flows down from Zermatt, and the rack railway line, which terminates in Zermatt. All the ingredients for a picture-postcard Swiss scene are there: the Matterhorn, glaciers, the torrent, churches with bulbous steeples, the little rack railway and the magnificent car-free village of Zermatt.

Beautiful mountain stage going through a pass by the name of Augstbordpass.

An easy climb reaching part of Zermatt ski slopes, extending to an uphill-downhill balcony trail leading to the famous Europahutte (Hut). Watch out: The Himalayan footbridge just before Europahutte is currently out of service. You'll need to head down to Randa valley along the second blue marked trail on the map before heading back up to the hut (allow for 2 extra hours).

Due to the closure of the Europaweg trail between Täschalp and Zermatt, we had to modify the original route. Return to Täsch via another trail and, given the long distance to cover, take the shuttle to Zermatt. Short break in this unique town at the foot of the Matterhorn, cable car to Trockener Steg and then walk to the Théodule refuge.

After a winding toll road, park at Täschalp. Then, continue climbing to the Täschhütte refuge located at the top of a rocky outcrop. Return via a slightly different route, after enjoying a delicious homemade soup at the refuge.

A variation on the Five Lakes Circuit, this route takes you along a vertiginous ridge offering spectacular views of the Findelgletscher glacier, the Schwarzberghorn (3,610 m) and the Cima di Jazzi (3,793 m). The lakes are all different and offer breathtaking views of the Matterhorn.

In breathtaking surroundings, you will follow a route leading to five lakes below the Matterhorn (Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Mosjesee and Leisee). In fine weather during the summer, you can swim in the Grünsee and Leisee lakes.

This eight-day itinerary will take you through the Val d'Anniviers, which boasts many traditional villages such as Chandolin, Saint-Luc, Zinal and Grimentz. You will stay at the Hotel Weisshorn, built in 1882 on a panoramic site at an altitude of over 2,300 metres. On the way to Zinal and then to the Cabane de Moiry, you will have the opportunity to admire the Couronne Impériale, a circle of five 4,000-metre peaks. You will also enjoy a detour into the Réchy valley, which will take you to the village of Vercorin.

For this first stage in the Val d'Anniviers, starting from Les Pontis, the trail climbs along steep, wooded slopes to reach the pretty village of Chandolin. The second part of the route takes you to Saint-Luc, a traditional village and winter sports resort. Saint-Luc also has an astronomical observatory and a planetarium housed in a former 19th-century barn.

This ninth stage is more relaxing than the previous ones. Many hikers skip this section by taking a bus transfer from Arolla to La Sage or Villa. Although short and easy, this stage really has its place in the route. The trail passes by Lac Bleu and crosses the beautiful hamlet of La Gouille, typical of the Val d'Hérens, then the villages of Les Haudères and La Sage. From La Gouille to Les Haudères, the trail follows the "La Borgne d'Arolla" torrent. In the centre of Les Haudères, a sign indicates the path that climbs up to the village of La Sage.

A high mountain stage which requires hiking boots with crampons to cross the Arolla glacier. You should get an early start for this long stage of the hike.

This sixth and final stage arrives in Grimentz, a beautiful village in the Val d'Anniviers. During this day, you will walk along two more bisses. First, the Bisse des Sarrasins, marked with information panels. This bisse is not in water. The route partially follows the old bisse trail. Finally, the Bisse de Saint Jean or Grand Bisse. It was abandoned for a long time and completely restored in 2012. As you approach Grimentz, you will enjoy the snow-capped peaks at over 4,000 metres

This last stage will take you back to the Rhône Valley, to the Chalais-Vercorin cable car car park. On this downhill route, you will rejoin the Rèche. After a pretty waterfall, you will walk along the Bisse de Ricard, then cross vineyards irrigated by this canalised bisse. Back in the forest, you will once again follow this peaceful canal.