Valais walks

Passing through the preserved site of Tanay, with its lake, you climb to a summit that offers a unique view of Lake Geneva and a wide panorama of the surrounding mountains. A popular hike with steep sections but no technical difficulty.N.B. The calculated elevation gain is slightly overestimated; the actual cumulative elevation gain is close to 1,000 metres.

Starting from Col de la Forclaz (1527m), a short and easy out-and-back walk along the Bisse du Trient (irrigation channel) to the Chalet du Glacier (1583m), which offers a fine view of the Glacier du Trient and the Petite Pointe d'Orny (3187m). ⚠️ Part of the trail has been damaged by a landslide. Bypassing is possible, but the walk is not accessible for baby carriages and wheelchairs (see practical info).

As its name suggests, this summit offers a superb panorama, particularly of the nearby Dents du Midi. The proposed route offers a pleasant walk mainly through mountain pastures.

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

After passing through Swiss stone pine forests, this circular hike leads to an impressive record-breaker: the Charles Kuonen Footbridge, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world.

A not too busy hike up to a summit offering a vast panoramic view. A relatively challenging route with some aerial passages requesting a certain sense of itinerary at times. The beginning of the hikes passes through Tanay site and its lake.

Imagine a world-famous postcard backdrop and a route along five lakes perched above Zermatt. What's more, it's effortless, as you go up by funicular and come down by train. The only downside is the cost of transport!

The Nendaz plateau was once a productive orchard before being overdeveloped. This productivity was partly due to the water supply provided by the four irrigation channels diverted from the River Printse. The suggested route follows the course of two of these man-made channels and also links two village chapels. An easy, shaded and refreshing route for a hot day.

6th stage of the Mont Blanc tour: from the Relais d'Arpette to the Forclaz Pass via la Fenêtre d'Arpette.

This easy round trip could have continued towards Lake Chésery, or even Lake Vert, to form a circular route returning via Tovassière, but the rain and thunderstorm forced us to turn back. It remains a lovely walk along the banks of the stream, featuring several welcome shelters for a picnic in changeable weather.

An uphill hike taking you to the foot of the Eastern Peak (Cime de l'Est), eastern peninsular of "les Dents du Midi", with mind-blowing mountain view points and a panoramic view extending towards the Vaudois Alps. A challenging itinerary with a short aerial path through ridges.

The Cabane du Vélan (2,642 m) is nothing like a traditional Swiss hut. Its bold, futuristic architecture, adorned with solar panels (inaugurated in 1993), makes it look more like a ship than a refuge and has earned it the Ligue de Protection du Patrimoine award. It enjoys an exceptional location above moraines and glaciers, with magnificent views of the Grand Combin massif (4,312 m) and Mont Vélan (3,727 m).

Lac de Salanfe is located in a large cirque, which is most easily accessed from the east via the Vallon de Van d'En Haut. From the Emosson dam, two passes offer access to this magnificent lake. In a high mountain setting, you can admire the Ruan massif to the south-west and the Dents du Midi massif to the north-west. During these two days, you will cross the Barberine, Emaney and Fenestral passes.

From the hamlet of Les Granges to Van d'en Bas, you will climb up the Dailley Gorge via daring constructions, footbridges, galleries and vertiginous stairways. The Salanfe river rushes down the steep gorges in several stages. The view is breathtaking. You will enjoy numerous views of the Alpine peaks. You will cross the magnificent Vallon de Van. In the evening in Salanfe, you can already admire the Dents du Midi rising behind the lake

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.

The second stage of the route involves crossing two passes, the Louvie and the Prafleuri, both of which were snow-covered.

A circular route around Salvan, passing through Le Marecot. Follow the route with the Visorando app

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.

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).

A long day leading to Lac d'Emosson via the Col d'Emaney and Col de Barberine. Descent to Lac d'Emosson, then Col de la Gueulaz and the final climb to the Cabane du Vieux Emosson.

Pass through the listed site of dinosaur footprints, then climb up to Cheval Blanc and reach the summit of Buet via the ridges. A difficult alpine route classified as T4 with breathtaking views of the Aiguilles Rouges.

You will return to Almageller Alp via the Almagellerhorn adventure trail, which is marked with ladders, steps and a suspension bridge. The trail returns to the Saas Valley and remains at almost the same altitude until Kreuzboden. From this balcony, you can admire the Mischabel massif and the resort of Saas Fee. Overlooking the Saastal and at the foot of the Fletschorn, you will walk through old pastures. You will pass through several Walser hamlets before arriving in Gspon.

During this fourth stage of the Tour des Dents du Midi, the route offers more magnificent views overlooking the Val-d'Illiez. At Signal de Soi, you can admire the Tête de Chalin, the Cime de l'Est, the cathedral and the Dent Jaune. At the Cabane d'Antème, wonderfully located at the foot of the Haute Cime, you can enjoy a sunset over the Dents du Midi and the Portes du Soleil.

During this stage of the Tour des Dents du Midi, at the Col du Jorat you will enjoy a panoramic view to the south of the peaks on the border with Italy. You will probably recognise the Matterhorn. You will also have a bird's eye view of the Lac de Salanfe, with the Dôme de la Sallière in the background. To the north, the Rhône valley awaits you. In the small village of Mex, nestled on a plateau, several viewpoints offer views of the villages in the valley, all the way to Lake Geneva.

The second stage of this hike starts at the Cabane du Vélan and follows the right bank of the Valsorey torrent.

During this first stage, you will discover part of the Old Saxon Bisse (the longest of the bisse: 26 km from its water source in Siviez to La Boveresse). The bisse starts at the point (6). Built in the 1850s, the pipes no longer exist, so you will have to wait until you reach La Tzoumaz to finally see water flowing along the path. The bisse is currently being restored in sections.

The elevation profile says it all about this day. Most of the route runs along the Grand Bisse de Saxon. This section has been beautifully restored. In Taillay, you will discover a water wheel and a hammer powered by the stream. This ingenious invention was an alarm signal. The sound of the hammer could be heard 2 km away. The absence of sound alerted the bisse guard. You will recognise the Muverans massif on the other side of the Rhône valley.

A big day with spectacular scenery. The Pas d'Encel pass is a little tricky to navigate to reach the foot of Mont Ruan. Reach Haute Cime, the highest point of the Dents du Midi at 3,257 metres, via the Col de Susanfe, then descend to the Auberge de Salanfe on the edge of the lake.

Between two ascents of the surrounding peaks, or when these are shrouded in clouds or under snow, a short, easy walk across the plain and along the boundary between vineyards and forest, exploring the rich heritage of the old village of Vionnaz.

First stage of the trek linking the village of Fionay to Saas Fee. A pleasant stage to reach the Cabane de Louvie, built on the edge of the lake of the same name.

During this beautiful stage of the Tour des Dents du Midi, you will cross pastures and forests to reach Chindonne. As the stage is quite short, you will not miss climbing the Dent de Valerette, a magnificent viewpoint. You will then enjoy a panoramic view of the Dents du Midi and the Rhône valley.

The usual route to the Susanfe hut from Campéry starts in the forest before emerging onto the Bonavau mountain pasture. Below the imposing peak of the same name, the trail climbs up a path with a few equipped sections and crosses the Pas d'Encel. The final ascent of the Susanfe valley takes place in a high mountain setting.

Today's high mountain stage requires the use of crampons to cross the Arolla glacier. This long stage requires an early start.

stage 7 of the Tour du Mont Blanc from Champex (Switzerland) to Trient via the Col de la Forclaz.

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

A lovely hike starting from Siviez, beginning with the chairlift (15 FS for the ascent). Then take the path along the mountainside to reach the lake. Next, head downhill back to the starting point.

A very beautiful route starting from the upper Bettmerhorn station. After a panoramic viewpoint right at the start of the hike, you’ll make your way to the second summit, which offers the widest panorama of the Aletsch Glacier.

The Riederhorn is a peak overlooking the village of Riederalp. From Bettmeralp, the route follows the Aletsch Promenade and then the UNESCO Promenade to reach Rieder Furka and Villa Cassel. The route continues with the ascent of the Riederhorn and follows the ridge. The return to Villa Cassel takes you through the Bettwald forest, which overlooks the Gibidum reservoir, a lake fed by the Aletsch Glacier.

A magnificent route between Bettmeralp and Platta, with a viewpoint overlooking the Aletsch Glacier. You can admire the Aletsch Glacier all the way to Konkordia Platz, where several glaciers converge. This phenomenon forms the mid-moraines – lines of pebbles and rocks in the middle of the ice – which are clearly visible on the Aletsch Glacier. Along the way, before the tunnel under the Tälligrat, you can also see the Fischergletscher, another glacier in a valley further to the east.

A circular walk starting from Bettmeralp. It passes through the village of Riederalp before climbing up to Rieder Furka. From this pass, you’ll descend through the beautiful Aletsch Forest to Silbersand. As you climb back up towards Alte Stafel, you’ll gradually come to see the Aletsch Glacier. At Moosfluh and along the ridge, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the glacier. To the south, you can admire the 4,000-metre peaks, from the Weismiess to the Weisshorn via the Matterhorn. The return to Bettmeralp takes you past the lakes of Blausee and Bettmersee.

Le Sex des Granges (2,082 m) is the first peak on the ridges surrounding Lake Salanfe. This circular walk takes you along the ridges, offering superb views, as well as a stroll along the lakeshore.

An extremely easy walk on a very gentle slope. Take the ski lifts from Verbier to Ruinettes (or walk up), and you can continue to Mont-Fort by cable car. At La Chaux, the restaurant “Le Dahu”, with sun loungers and occasional entertainment (such as concerts), awaits you.

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)

Starting from the Grimsel Pass in the Bernese Alps, this mountain hike ascends to the summit of the Sidelhorn before descending through the valley of the high-altitude lakes. The route first climbs above the Totensee and its mountain-pass hotel, along a stony path that soon overlooks the Rhône Valley and the surrounding glacial peaks. The final ascent involves scrambling up a rocky ridge to a wide viewpoint overlooking the High Bernese Alps and their glaciers. The return route runs alongside the Jostsee, a small mountain lake, before following a balcony-like path back towards the pass. A true alpine ascent, to be attempted only in the height of summer, in fine, dry weather, and reserved for seasoned walkers wishing to experience the Swiss high mountains.

A short but fascinating route. It climbs steadily, avoiding the hairpin bends of the white track used by 4x4s. Magnificent views of the Dent Blanche and the neighbouring peaks. The traditional Mayens are an absolute must-see, as is the very well-preserved centre of the village of La Forclaz. The descent through the larch trees is pleasant. Can be extended via the Tsalè refreshment hut – Total: 6 km, 480 m

A small, turquoise-blue lake, surrounded by Swiss stone pines and venerable larch trees – this is the destination of your hike. With views of the peaks as a bonus. You’ll pass through hamlets with magnificent wooden chalets featuring slate roofs. A cosy Valais-style café and restaurant awaits you beside the lake. This route is short, but you’ll get a good workout given the elevation gain.

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.

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.

Pierre Avoi is the local dialect term for ‘rock worth seeing’: that certainly makes you want to go there! It is an isolated rocky peak on the Verbier ridge, making it an iconic summit. The route suggested here, starting from the Col des Planches, is a slightly less busy alternative to the one from Verbier or Savoleyres.

This ninth stage involves the final descent to Zermatt. Once again, the walk can be shortened at Furi by taking the section of the Matterhorn Express that runs to Zermatt. The walk remains within the Zermatt ski area.