Icogne walks

You’ll walk alongside what is probably the oldest bisse. Since 1947, as maintenance had become too dangerous, the water no longer flows through it; it has been diverted. The information boards along the path are well worth reading. The path can be quite impressive as you often follow a platform right in the middle of the cliff face, as shown in one of the photos. Of particular note is a Himalayan-style footbridge – wide but nonetheless impressive, 124 metres long – built in 2020. The route is very well secured. You can extend the walk to the Tseuzier dam and return by bus, or otherwise return via the same route. Please note: given the terrain, the elevation gain shown is significantly overestimated. Expect around 150 metres.

The climb up the Bisse du Ro to Lake Tseuzier is fairly easy The return trip is more difficult, with a steep descent at the beginning and a steep climb at the end of the walk In the middle there is a field with cows, so remember to close the gates behind you

An accessible hike without any major difficulties, this is a beautiful hike starting from Aminona, with spectacular waterfalls and beautiful landscapes along the way. You can take a break along the way at the Colombire relay station (credit cards accepted) or at the Sex cave (no credit cards).

Departure at the foot of a magnificent chapel for a lovely loop with a beautiful lake surrounded by larch trees and tables and benches for lunch. Trail following a small stream to the pond

For fans of bisses (Swiss irrigation channels). A very lovely hike covering part of the Tsittoret bisse. We avoided the first section of the bisse, which we’d been told was steep, by starting our walk from a place called l’Aminona. The walk is generally accessible as it follows the channels, though there are a few fairly steep flights of steps. A few beautiful waterfalls and magnificent views will make this walk truly special. A lovely mix of shaded and rocky areas will help you adapt to this walk whatever the weather. We made a detour towards the Petit Mont Bonvin and returned via the Tièche valley to complete a circular walk. (No. 101211191)

In Valais, ‘bisses’ are irrigation channels built along the mountainside to distribute water from glacial torrents. Walking along the bisses generally makes for easy (little elevation gain) and pleasant walks. The route suggested here combines several bisses to form a circular route: out via the Bisse Neuf and the Bisse de Varen, through the forest; back via the Bisse de Mengis along the edge of the vineyards, passing by the Cascade de la Raspille. This results in a slightly greater elevation gain (as the outbound and return bisses are at different altitudes), but it allows for a greater variety of landscapes along the way.

Starting from the Anzere cable car station this walk follows a piste before heading uphill into an alpine pasture where the path all but disappears, this section is short as you soon pick up a better track to the Combe de Serin and a descend to the alpine pastures at Serin. You then take the waymarked paths back through the forest and beside the Bisse to Anzere. A varied and interesting walk with great views.

This walk starts in Anzere and uses the cable car to the Pas de Maimbre. The walk takes you around the Sex Rouge and includes the short but steep ascent to the summit for the great views across the Pennine Alps. It descends to pass the Cabane de Audannes and then through the Combe des Andins to Serin. After this is uses one of the established Bisse walks to return to Anzere. ⚠️(Note in 2024 the path between point 2616m and the col at La Selle was affected by a landslide and is unsafe. This route uses a deviation set up by local mountain guides; it is marked with posts but is not yet as obvious as it will be, once it is used by many people)

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.

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 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.

An easy walk in the hills above Savièse, combining bisses and fields.

This fifth day will take you to the charming village of Vercorin. You will once again overlook the Rhône Valley as you pass through Nax, a pretty winter sports resort. Then you will gradually enter the deep valley of Réchy. You will admire the La Rèche torrent at the bottom of the valley, then begin the pleasant and peaceful route along the Bisse de Vercorin. In Vercorin, you can marvel at the many mazots (traditional houses) built on stilts.

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.

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.

This loop allows you to discover vast mountain pastures covered with flowers in season, admire the larch and other conifers in the woods you pass through, stroll along the shores of Lake Majingsee, and continue on to the rocky outcrop overlooking Leukerbad.

A short walk offering a variety of views of the surroundings of Leukerbad. The vantage point is high enough to provide an exceptional view of the Gemmi cliffs. On this route, you can also admire the peaks of the Vallon de Réchy.

Climbing up the Dala Gorge, you will discover a bubbling river, learn about the thermal springs, walk overlooking the gorge and climb metal stairs near a waterfall. The return trip involves a slight climb, but this can be avoided.

This superb route follows the historic mule track from the Gemmi Pass to Sunnbüel. It is one of the few Alpine passes well known to the Swiss that can be traversed on foot in winter.

A superb route across the wide Lämmeren plateau, offering breathtaking views of the Wildstrubel and its glacier.

Daubensee is the largest natural lake in the Canton of Valais. It is approximately 1.6 km long and 300 metres wide. In winter, it is covered by a thick layer of snow and becomes a vast plateau ideal for winter activities. This magnificent hike takes place right on the lake.

This circuit is suitable for almost everyone. Before starting your circuit, you can admire the peaks of the Bernese Alps from a footbridge equipped with an orientation table. You can take a leisurely walk around the lake surrounded by mountains. Several options allow you to adapt the circuit to your level.

Alternating between woods with imposing trees, alpine pastures carpeted with alpine flowers in season and rhododendrons in bloom (late June-early July). View of the impressive rock face overlooking Leukerbad and extending eastwards on the opposite slope to the circuit. Passage at Majingsee, ideal for contemplation. In the woods, birdsong will accompany you depending on the time of year.

We started out in the Saint-Luc ski area before joining the Tour du Cervin trail to finish the stage in Gruben.

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.

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.

A very beautiful route through the Veysonnaz and Nendaz region. The route consists entirely of forest tracks. The hike begins at the Veysonnaz resort, heading into the Ojentze valley and passing through La Giettaz. The next stop is Planchouet, with its two excellent restaurants. The walk then passes through La Planie and along the Tracouet road, which winds its way through the forest to the top of the Trancouet cable car (Nendaz resort). The return route takes you via Prarion and its larch trees, some of which are several hundred years old (600 years). The walk also passes through Haute-Nendaz, Pracondu, Sofleu, Sarclenze, the Scie bridge, La Giettaz and Veysonnaz.

The fourth day is a long stage, using a variation on the "Chemin des Bisses" trail from La Luette. This interesting alternative in hot weather allows you to reach Vernamiège via a new trail created in 2015, "La Luette-Ossona-Les Prixes", via the Grande Combe footbridge. The elevation gain is less than on the traditional route. You will follow the large Bisse de Vex to the Mayens de Sion. You will pass through two typical villages in the Val d'Hérens: Hérémence and Euseigne.

The Engstligen Falls, near Adelboden in the Bernese Highlands, consist of two waterfalls, Engstligen Fall I and II, with heights of 97 and 165 m respectively. They are listed in the Swiss inventory of landscapes of national importance.

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.

This beautiful walk offers one of the finest panoramic views in the region from the Becs de Bosson hut. It’s well worth doing in fine weather to see as far as Mont Blanc. The walk is challenging due to the 900 m elevation gain and because the path is a bit tricky near the hut. The path is also somewhat exposed after the Lona mountain pasture.

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.

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.

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.

A circular route, including the ascent to the highest peak in the Saanen region, with stunning views of the Vaud, Fribourg and Bernese Alps.

Two bisses are on the agenda for this third day. Very quickly in Nendaz, you will reach the "Bisse Vieux" against the current, then after Planchouet, you will stroll along the magnificent "Grand Bisse de Vex". Opposite, the Rhône valley is often visible, and you will clearly see the Derborance and Sanetsch valleys, Mont Gond, the Wildhorn and its glacier.