Val d’Anniviers: All destinations, advice & information for your holidays!
The charming Val d’Anniviers in the Valais Alps is surrounded by several four-thousand-meter peaks. It extends south of the municipality of Siders and connects it with the holiday resorts of Saint-Luc, Chandolin, Zinal, Grimentz, and Vercorin. Amidst the enchanting nature, you will find exceptional ski slopes with spectacular freeride descents.
Table of contents
Val d’Anniviers - The most beautiful cities
Zinal
300 km of hiking trails open up to the guest in the Zinal mountain world with Zinalrothorn, Weisshorn, Bishorn, and Ober Gabelhorn. Several huts invite you to a cozy rest. A cable car takes you to the mountain station Sorebois, located at 2,438 m. An exciting venture is the Foxtrail, a mix of sightseeing and treasure hunt. Winter sports enthusiasts find fun and challenge in the Corne de Sorebois ski area. The gondola, which accommodates 125 people, opens up the slopes of Zinal from the valley station in Grimentz and connects both areas to the ski arena. Cross-country skiing fans also get their money's worth. On the Zinal natural ice rink, skaters of all ages can practice.
Grimentz
In summer, the rustic wooden houses in the center of Grimentz are adorned with geraniums. The place is a perfect starting point for hikes: Gourmets opt for the Anniviers hut hike, while the ambitious find a sporting challenge on the D+ classified via ferrata. Families love the charming animal educational trail that leads to Saint-Jean. Experience a ski vacation in winter and look forward to 115 kilometers of slopes in the Grimentz/Zinal ski area. If you enjoy off-piste skiing, the freeride area at Gardes de Bordon is ideal. Cross-country skiers can discover the winter wonderland on 19 kilometers of trails. Additionally, there is a natural ice rink in Grimentz.
St-Luc/Chandolin
The mountain region St-Luc/Chandolin in the Swiss Val d’Anniviers is located at altitudes of 1,680 to 2,980 meters. In winter, 60 kilometers of slopes provide unrestrained snow fun for skiers and snowboarders. 15 lifts lead to higher elevations of the mountains. Snowshoe hikes and snow parks of varying difficulty levels provide variety. In summer, hiking trails lead through the alpine meadows to majestic peaks. A highlight is the famous Bella Tola with over 3,000 meters in height. From the top, the view extends far over the Valais Alps. A popular destination for families is the mountain lake Lac de Tseuzier, where you can also go boating.
Vissoie
The typical Valais village of Vissoie is located in the heart of the Val d'Anniviers. The place has a long history dating back to the Middle Ages. During a walk through the village, you will discover traditional houses from times past, religious art in the Church of Sainte-Euphémie, and the crypt of the castle chapel. In winter, four ski resorts invite you to enjoy winter sports. In the Val d'Anniviers, Grimentz, Vercorin, Zinal, and St-Luc/Chandolin offer around 220 kilometers of slopes of all difficulty levels. In summer, you can explore the picturesque mountain region on over 600 kilometers of well-marked hiking trails. A popular destination is the Moiry Dam between snow-covered mountains.
Vercorin
From Vercorin, you can explore the Vallon de Réchy on a well-developed network of trails. The mountain stream Reche flows through the quiet side valley and empties into the Rhone. In addition, you can discover mountain lakes and flat moors. The cable car takes you to Crêt-du-Midi, the local mountain of Vercorin. Fun for the whole family is promised by a scooter ride through the forest back to Vercorin. You can rent the scooters at the Crêt-du-Midi mountain station. Paragliding offers you a bird's-eye view of the green mountain landscape. In the cold season, the Snowpark Vercorin invites you to enjoy winter sports.
Ayer
Scattered farms and small hamlets characterize the wonderfully green community in summer, whose heart is the tranquil village of Ayers. Rustic wooden houses with typical larch shingle roofs shading the alleys add to the village's charm. Many of its buildings cling to the hillside like swallow's nests. The small, whitewashed church with its pointed, shingle-covered spires also harks back to old times. Wonderful hikes in the shadow of majestic mountains await you in summer. In winter, you can head to the well-developed ski areas around Ayer or glide on cross-country skis through the picture-perfect landscape.
Mission
The small village of Mission seems to be slumbering as if in a fairy-tale sleep. You stroll through its alleys, where ancient alpine houses with larch shingle roofs transport you to a long-forgotten time of alpine farming. However, today hardly any resident of Mission engages in agriculture and livestock farming. Instead, the scent of spicy herbs wafts from many gardens, which are processed into herbal candies by a large manufacturer. In summer, the peaceful landscape invites you to hikes and mountain tours. In winter, you explore the surrounding ski areas and enjoy snow-secure trails and slopes.
Chandolin
For centuries, Chandolin has been considered a retreat oasis. Among others, Konrad Adenauer and Ferdinand von Zeppelin stayed here, as well as the Swiss athlete and travel writer Ella Maillart, to whom a museum is dedicated today. In winter, you can ski or go snowshoeing in Chandolin, while in summer, numerous hiking trails beckon. A beautiful hike is the route from Chandolin to the summit of Illhorn. It first runs over the Alpage de Chandolin and the Pas de l’Illsee. Then, you take the chairlift to the Tsapé mountain station. There, four mountain lakes with crystal-clear water are located, and their circuits are worth it.
Val d’Anniviers - 5 most beautiful natural sights
Moiry Hut
The Cabane de Moiry mountain hut in Switzerland, built in 1924, has been modernized over the years and expanded with a new dining room featuring panoramic windows. From here, there is a magnificent view over the Moiry Glacier. The hut is situated on a mountain ledge above Zinal and opposite the Zinalrothorn. From the Cabane de Moiry, various summit tours can be undertaken. Popular hikes include those to the Glacier de Moiry and the Grand Cornier. Additionally, you can embark on a hut-to-hut hike: in about six hours, you can reach the Cabane du Petit Mountet via the Col du Pigne pass and finally Zinal.
White Tooth
The Dent Blanche is located between the Val d'Hérens, the Val d'Anniviers, and the Mattertal in the Valais Alps. On the southern slope of the mountain is the Evolène Dent Blanche ski area with a total of 42 kilometers of slopes and 40 km of trails. For the adventurous, climbing the Dent Blanche is worthwhile. The normal route to the Dent Blanche leads over the south ridge and starts at an altitude of 1,800 m in Ferpècle in the Val d'Hérens. It takes a few hours to reach the Cabane de la Dent Blanche mountain hut. Here you stay overnight to climb the summit of the Dent Blanche the next day.
Grande Dixence Dam
In the south of Switzerland amidst the Valais Alps, the Grande Dixence is a concrete colossus to marvel at. The 285-meter-high and up to 200-meter-thick dam holds back the meltwater from around 30 glaciers. In addition to a free exhibition on the history of the dam, exciting tours through its interior are also offered. The scenic dam crest of the Grande Dixence, which you can reach either on foot or by cable car, is the starting point for numerous walking and hiking trails. Even more thrilling is zipping along the dam at an altitude of 2,400 meters with the AlpinLine zip line or exploring it while climbing on six designated routes.
Zinal Peak
The Zinalspitze rises in the Valais Alps not far from the holiday resort of Zinal, which gives it its name. The normal route to the summit of the Zinalspitze leads from the mountain pass Col Durand over the northeast ridge. At the foot of the Zinalspitze is Zinal with its ski area Zinal-Sorebois. There, around 70 kilometers of slopes and magnificent mountain panoramas await you. Around Zinal, you will find a varied network of hiking trails with a total length of 300 km. Mountain bikers can enjoy 150 km of well-marked routes. North of the Zinalspitze, the Zinal Glacier attracts visitors with the mountain hut Cabane du Grand Mountet. From there, you can enjoy a splendid view of the Zinalspitze and the surrounding mountains.
Head of Milon
The pyramid-like Tête de Milon is located near the Bishorn and Weisshorn in the Valais Alps. Its wide, glacier-facing summit forms a small, flat dome. To the northeast, it features the glacier ice of the Turtmann Glacier. Thanks to the Cabane de Tracuit hut, a short tour to the 3,236 m high viewpoint is possible. From Zinal, you can reach the Col de Milon pass via the Pas du Chasseur via ferrata and the Cabane Arpiettaz. From there, the northwest ridge (Crete de Milon) leads you to the Tête. The tour, not suitable for beginners, through gneiss and scree offers you an unforgettable view amidst the Couronne impériale.
Val d’Anniviers - Climate
The following graph shows the average weather conditions for the country. Historical weather conditions may vary by region.