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Walking Holidays Haute Route of Europe
Walking Holidays in the Valais
Spend your walking holidays in Switzerland: This High Alpine hiking tour is offered for the experienced hiker with a head for heights. It’s ultimate destination is Zermatt with the towering Matterhorn – and what a superb finish it is. The route takes you along two high routes and also includes a much less travelled mountain pass starting at Brig. The ever changing scenery, the lonely valleys and most importantly the highest mountains of the Swiss Alps surround you on your way up the Matter valley to your destination Zermatt. There is also an overnight stop in the ‘Europahütte’ mountain hut half way between Grächen and Zermatt. Some walking days are long but on others short cuts in form of buses or cable cars are suggested, however a reasonable level of fitness is necessary.
| Day 1: | Arrival Flight or rail from the UK to Switzerland and 2nd class rail transfer to Brig. |
| Day 2: | Brig – Simplon There are two possibilities to get from Brig up to the top of the Simplon pass. In both cases, you follow at least partially the historic „Stockalperweg“, which is the traditional track used for centuries to traverse this important divide. If you choose to get a lift by cable car up to the small village of Rosswald, you will make the acquaintance of the tiny but wonderful Ganter valley, through which you walk towards the Simplon route for the final ascent to the pass, where you will spend the night. (This section can partially be travelled by bus; no luggage transfer). |
| Day 3: | Simplon – Gspon The day starts with a minor ascent, because you have to get across the Bistinepass (2417 meters) in order to reach the absolutely wonderful, untamed, lonely Nanz valley. The route takes you down to the bottom of this cleft, which is embedded into a marvellous mountain range, before you climb yet another pass, named Gebidum, from where the path gently drops to the small village of Gspon, high above the Matter valley, where a bed is booked for you. |
| Day 4: | Gspon – Saas Fee From Gspon, you have to work your way up to the small settlement of Oberfinilu, from where the track closely follows the bush line, which mainly consists of larks, that take a beautiful, yellowish colour in September or early October. Slowly, you ascent to the highest point of the day called Chrizbode, crossing the steep slope of the Weissmies, before you steeply drop down to the bottom of the Matter valley, to Saas Almagell, from where a bus takes you the final distance to Saas Fee, your destination for tonight (Shortcut: Descent to Saas Grund by cable car from „Chrizbode“; minus 8 km / 3 ½ h!). |
| Day 5: | Saas Fee – Grächen It’s a popular route that you follow today, which is no surprise, as you walk high above the Matter valley, right opposite your yesterday’s walk. Your efforts are more than rewarded with a panorama that includes views deep down into the valley and over to magnificent, snow-covered mountains, glowing bright and white in the sun. An abundance of flowers accompanies you as you slowly ascent the Hanningalp, from where you have the choice to either walk to Grächen or take the cable car, which glides high above the tree tops down to your hotel. |
| Day 6: | Grächen – Europahütte For the next two days, you follow the Kings route, connecting Grächen with Zermatt. This walk once had to be done in one day, which was a rather hard adventure, but nowadays, one has the chance to break it in two sections, thanks to the Europahütte, built only a few years ago at the halfway point between Grächen and Zermatt. It is simply a wonderful tour that expects you on this and the next day and you are sure to enjoy every meter of this spectacular, partially newly constructed track, which without any doubt is the king of all walks in this part of Switzerland (no luggage transfer). |
| Day 7: | Europahütte – Zermatt Continue on the high route from the Europahütte to Zermatt to finally catch a glimpse of the famous Matterhorn. Descent from Sunegga by train down to the village of Zermatt for the final night of this wonderful, unforgettable tour. |
| Day 8: | Transfer to Geneva / Zürich for your return flight or rail to the UK. |
Swiss Card
The included 2nd class Swiss Card covers travel to and from Swiss airport. Additional rail tickets can be purchased at 50% discount.
Accommodation
You will be accommodated in small family-run hotels located along the route.
- From £ 721 per adult sharing twin/double room
- Single room: on request
- Subject to availability at the time of booking
Price includes: BA return flights from Heathrow to Geneva, all airport taxes, Carbon offset contribution (see climate care), 7 nights accommodation with breakfast and 5 dinners, 2nd class Swiss Card, Luggage transfers on 4 days ,detailed hiking itinerary and suggestions will be available at the first hotel.
Payment by credit card:
A charge of 1 % up to a maximum of £ 15 will apply when paying by credit card (Diners Card cannot be accepted). No charge will be made for debit cards.
