The challenge here is less physical and more about stilling your
mind, with this easy, circular route serving as an idyllic reminder
of just how therapeutic reconnecting with nature can be. Setting
off from the bus station in Saas-Fee, you’ll walk north, up to a high
plateau above the Saas Valley. From here you’ll look out over
traditional, old Valais barns, and dreamy views of some of the
valley’s 18 4,000m peaks. The trail then takes in the 1687-built
chapel ‘Zur Hohen Stiege’. Stop for some quiet contemplation at the
same spot where shepherds once worshipped at a shrine of the Virgin
Mary, before getting back on the flower-flanked path, which ends in
Saas-Grund.

Distance: 4km

Insider tip: This route suits all levels, so
feel free to bring the whole multi-generational travel gang
along.

Getting there: Take the train to Visp, then
change for the PostBus
towards Saas-Fee. The walk starts directly from the bus
station.

Blessed with 300 days of sunshine a year, Valais is a dream
destination. You’ve probably seen the flawless inverted
mirror-image of the Matterhorn reflected on the Riffelsee lake on
countless computer screensavers before, but nothing beats seeing it
with your own eyes. To reach it, take the Gornergrat Bahn from Zermatt to Rotenboden station,
from where the Riffelsee hiking path is clearly marked. It’s an
easy, 10-minute walk to the lake, which makes a great picnic spot.
Afterwards, you can either continue hiking to Riffelberg – keeping
your eyes peeled for the native blacknose sheep that like to graze
around here – or return to Rotenboden station. Whichever option you
choose, expect to arrive back at base with at least another few
hundred photos on your phone.

Distance: 4.1km

Insider tip: Looking for a standout shot of the
Matterhorn with which to impress friends back home? The top of the
Gornergrat offers the best panoramic view of the “Horu”, as locals
like to call it.

Getting there: Take the Matterhorn
Gotthard Bahn from Visp to Zermatt. In Zermatt, take the
Gornergrat Bahn Rotenboden station.

Starting at the
Mattmark dam, in the popular holiday region of
Saas-Fee/Saastal, the trail winds upwards, taking on some
treacherous old traders’ paths and rock steps, towards Monte Moro,
the border pass between Switzerland and Italy. You’ll see the glint
of the golden statue of Maria, who stands proudly on a prominent
rock, before you reach the pass – she dazzles against a backdrop of
flint-grey mountainside and distant, snow-capped peaks.

Distance: 7.4km (one way)

Insider tip: Hungry? Take the gondola from the
Monte Moro Pass up to the village of Macugnaga and enjoy your lunch
there.

Getting there: Take the train to
Visp and change there for the 511 bus in the direction of
Saas-Fee. Change bus in Saas-Grund, alighting at
Saas-Almagell/Mattmark.

Taking in stony ridges and sun-dappled larch forests, this moderate, four-hour hike is a must for anyone
keen wildlife. Ibex were once hunted to eradication, but there are
around 17,000 of these wild mountain goats in Switzerland today,
thanks to a breeding and reintroduction programme. You have to go
high to spot them, though. This beautiful, circular trail from
Saas-Fee ascends to Mällig, at 2,760m. From here, you’ll be able to
gaze at breathtaking views over the Saas Valley and, if you’re
lucky, get some close-up photos of the resident ibex as they bask
in the summer rays.

Distance: 9km

Insider tip: Set your alarm clock for the crack
of dawn. Early morning is the best time of day to spot ibex.

Getting there: Take the SBB train to Visp, then change for the
511 bus to Saas-Fee. It’s a 10-minute walk from the bus terminal to
the gondola station, from where you take the lift up to Hannig.

Mark Twain’s travel narratives are perhaps less well known than
his adventure novels. This storied trail follows the route that
Twain hiked and wrote about in 1878. Back then, the only way to
reach the Gornergrat and the Riffelberg was on foot, but today, the

Gornergrat Bahn, Europe’s highest open-air cog railway, is the
smart way to make the ascent. On this scenic route, walkers will be
rewarded with incomparable Matterhorn views and a visit to Hotel Riffelhaus, which
was built in 1853, and was once known as “the playground of
European high society”. Today, it’s better known as a serene spot
to enjoy the tinkling of cow bells than a magnet for the jet
set.

Distance: 3.5km

Insider tip: Plan your hike around a lunchtime
table reservation at Restaurant
Riffelhaus 1853, which has made cheese dishes into an art
form.

Getting there: Travel on the Matterhorn
Gotthard Bahn railway from Visp to Zermatt – a service runs every
30 minutes. After the hike, the return journey on the Gornergrat
Bahn takes you from the Riffelalp station (2,211m) back to
Zermatt.

An experienced hiker looking to have your efforts rewarded with
unparalleled views? This
is the one for you. There are several variations of this trail,
so we recommend charting your preferred course before setting off.
Taking walkers from Fiescheralp past the Märjelensee, you’re
guaranteed glorious views of the Unesco-listed
Aletsch Glacier and the surrounding mountains. A challenging
route, taking an average of four hours and 15 minutes to complete,
the Panorama Trail is also great for mountain bikers and trail
runners.

Distance: 14.3km

Insider tip: Instead of lugging your picnic
with you, refuel after the hike at Chüestall, near the
Moosfluh lift. The 1962-built cow stall is now a welcoming pit
stop, serving up Valais specialities that can be enjoyed on the
large sun terrace.

Getting there: Take the chairlift to Moosfluh,
from where the trail is signposted.

Skip this one if you suffer from vertigo, but thrill-seekers
will get a kick from traversing the 124m-long Belalp-Riederalp suspension bridge. Crossing
the Massa Gorge at the dizzying height of 80m, it’s impossible not
to marvel at the gate of the Great Aletsch Glacier – or stop to
take a few selfies. After the bridge, you have the choice of
ascending through Teiffewald forest or via Silbersand. You’ll then
climb from Silbersand through the ancient Swiss stone pines of
Aletsch Forest to Riederfurka, before descending to car-free
Riederalp, exhausted but happy.

Distance: 11.4km

Insider tip: Refuel at Berghaus Toni, a
pet-friendly hotel, restaurant and bar, where you’re assured of a
warm welcome from husband-and-wife-team James and Brit.

Getting there: Take the train to Brig station
and then get the 624 bus to Blatten bei Naters.

Available from April to October, this five-hour vineyard
adventure sets off from
Les Celliers de Sion. The first winepark in the heart of
Valais, the attraction was founded in 2017 to educate visitors on
Valais wine – much of which stays in the country, leaving
neighbouring Europeans in the dark as to its many charms. The good
news? You’ll only be hiking for one-and-a-half hours, with the rest
of the time spent lingering over a three-course meal at a guérite
(converted winemaker’s hut), accompanied by a tasting of six Valais
wines.

Distance: 5km

Insider tip: Wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots
for this one. Some of the vineyards are steep and the terrain is
rocky.

Getting there: By car, take the “Sion-Est”
motorway exit, or take the train to Sion, then the No.4 bus to
Centre Funéraire, from where it’s a seven-minute walk.

Roll over, Jurassic Park. This geologically rich hike will see
you following in the footsteps of huge, crocodile-like reptiles
that roamed this rocky terrain more than 240 million years ago,
their fossilised footprints still clearly visible in a gigantic
slab of rock at the trail’s far end. Vieux-Émosson dam, the
endpoint of this trail, has been providing electricity for the
Swiss railway network since 1955. You’ll find mountain refuges at
both dams, with toilets and refreshments available.

Distance: 12.3km

Insider tip: Budding palaeontologists will want
to wait until around mid-July to take this one on – the prehistoric
croc prints are only visible after the snows have melted.

Getting there: Take the train to Martigny, then
change to the Mont-Blanc Express. Either get off at Finhaut and
catch the PostBus to Emosson dam or stay on the Mont-Blanc
Express until Le Châtelard VS and travel up to the dam with
VerticAlp Émosson.