Gemmibahn walks

A magnificent ascent along a historic trail linking the cantons of Valais and Bern. From Leukerbad, it is difficult to guess the route that crosses this imposing wall. You will climb the Gemmipass at your own pace (900 m in 3 km) and in complete safety. At the pass and at the Gemmi Lodge, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the Valais Dom, Weisshorn, Matterhorn and Dent Blanche, all over 4,000 metres high. In the evening, you will sleep in a mountain hotel that once welcomed famous personalities such as Jules Verne, Guy de Maupassant, Pablo Picasso and even Lenin.

A superb route starting from the spa resort of Leukerbad (canton of Valais) and ending in Lenk (canton of Bern). You will take the historic Gemmi mule track that connects these two cantons. From Schwarenbach, a former customs post that once welcomed famous personalities, you will gradually descend into the canton of Bern. You will also stop at Alpe d'Engstlige, where you can admire the famous Engstlige waterfalls. The last stage, starting from Adelboden, will take you to Lenk along the Via Alpina.

After a night spent in absolute silence, this second stage begins with a pleasant climb to Schwartzgrätli. A fairly exposed section along the Felsenhorn wall will require a little caution, despite the cables and ropes. You will then continue along the Engstlige ridge with the Tschingellochtighorn, with its remarkable relief, in your sights. To conclude the day, you will descend via the Ärtele ridge to Engstligenalp, a superb mountain pasture at the foot of the Wildstrubel.

After a night in the wilderness, for this third stage you will leave the Engstlige Alp and descend into the Adelboden valley. This route is enhanced by the famous Engstlige waterfalls. The Engstlige waterfalls plunge 600 metres into the valley, offering an exceptional spectacle. They are a protected site and are the second highest waterfalls in Switzerland. In the evening, you can enjoy the charming resort of Adelboden.

This fourth stage will take you from Selde to Lauchernalp. You will start by crossing the Kander via a suspension bridge. After Gfelalp, you will have a superb view of the Kanderfin glacier, the source of the Kander. The climb to the Lötschenpass crosses a glacier without any difficulty. An equipped passage takes you to the pass, where you can enjoy a break at the hut. You will admire the wide panorama of the 4,000-metre peaks of the Valais Dom, Weisshorn and Matterhorn. At the Lötschen Pass, as at Lauchernalp, you can see the Restipass, which is the planned route for the next day's stage.

For this fourth stage, you will follow the Via Alpina to Lenk. At the Hahnenmoospass, you can enjoy views of the Wildstrubel and Wildhorn mountains and the Plaine Morte glacier. A long descent will take you to the peaceful village of Lenk in the Simme Valley.

This third stage will take you from Kandersteg to the hamlet of Selde. The Kander river will accompany you throughout this beautiful route. Calm from Kandersteg to Eggeschwand, the Kander can be heard as you climb up through the gorges, where you can enjoy the various waterfalls and cascades. You will then follow it more peacefully through the wide Gastertal valley to Selde.

This last stage will take you from Lauchernalp to Leukerbad. The route passes through several mountain pastures, including Kummenalp and Restialp. As you climb up to the Restipass, you will enjoy magnificent views of the Lötschental and the peaks, from the Jungfrau to the Aletschhorn. The Weisshorn will also often be visible. The western slope of the Restipass will take you easily to the upper station of Leukerbad at the Rinderhütte.

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 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.