Valais

An alpine canton on both sides of the Rhône Valley in southern Switzerland, home to the Matterhorn, the Aletsch Glacier and dozens of 4,000-metre peaks.

This region covers the whole canton of Valais, including the French-speaking west (Lower Valais, capital Sion) and the German-speaking east (Upper Valais, Oberwallis). To the north, the ridge of the Bernese Alps separates it from the Bernese Oberland; to the west it borders Vaud and the Lake Geneva region; to the south the Pennine Alps mark the border with Italy and France; and in the east the Furka Pass leads to the canton of Uri in Central Switzerland.

Highlights: the car-free town of Zermatt and the Matterhorn, which you can view up close by taking the Gornergrat cogwheel railway or the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car; the UNESCO World Heritage Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in the Alps, which can be admired from Riederalp, Bettmeralp or the Eggishorn near Brig; Saas-Fee, the thermal baths of Leukerbad, the ski resort of Verbier, the castles of Valère and Tourbillon in Sion, and the wine region of the Rhône Valley.

Classic itinerary: 2–3 nights in Zermatt for views and hiking, plus 1 day at the Aletsch Glacier and 1 day in Sion or Leukerbad, for 4–5 days in total; the Glacier Express departs from Zermatt and crosses the Furka and Oberalp passes on its way to Graubünden.

Getting there: Bern is easily reached via the Lötschberg Tunnel; to get to Zermatt you must change to the Zermatt train at Täsch.

Note: Mountain weather changes quickly, so go early for the views; climbing 4,000-metre peaks requires a guide and proper equipment.

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Itineraries