Saturday 6th September 2025 • Promotional Content
T e Travel Guide
15
Surprising Switzerland: The best views in the scenic region of Valais
High up in Switzerland’s south west, Valais is where the Alps properly take centre stage. Here, jagged peaks soar above sunlit vineyards, and glaciers scythe deep through ancient val- leys scattered with postcard-perfect villages. Autumn is the ideal time to visit: trails are hushed, the air sharp and the light crystalline enough to make every ridge and summit feel as if it’s within touching distance. From the Matterhorn to the Aletsch Glacier, these four viewpoints frame Valais in widescreen.
GORNERGRAT RAILWAY: THE MATTERHORN’S MOST ICONIC VIEW Rising to 3,089m (10,135ft), the Gornergrat summit presents one of Switzerland’s most commanding panoramas. Getting up there is only part of the appeal: the century-old cogwheel Gornergrat Railway climbs from Zermatt in 33 minutes, cross- ing stone viaducts and pine forests before cresting magnifi cently above
the treeline. T e Matterhorn is visible from Zermatt, but at the top the Mat- terhorn’s distinctive angular summit anchors a horizon studded with 28 other 4,000-metre peaks, their glaciers glittering under the exquisite autumn sunlight. Trails loop past still Alpine lakes as well as the terrace of the historic Kulmhotel — the highest- altitude bolthole in the Swiss Alps.
ALETSCH GLACIER: EUROPE’S LONGEST ICE FLOW Stretching for 12 miles, the Aletsch Glacier is a frozen river of ice and rock that’s both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the scenic anchor of the three mountain villages that make up the Aletsch Arena. T e best vantage point is from the Eggishorn — reached via cable car from Fiesch — where you can see the glacier in its full spectac- ular length, as it curves up towards the twinkling Bernese Alps. In the au- tumn, the air is crisp and the crowds thin, leaving the panorama to plucky
hikers and photographers. Trails wind through golden larch forests and past traditional Alpine huts, while informa- tion boards explain the glacier’s slow, climate change-induced retreat.
MATTMARK RESERVOIR: A HIGH- ALTITUDE OASIS NEAR SAAS-FEE Perched prettily above the village of Saas-Almagell at 2,200m, Mattmark Reservoir has Europe’s highest earth dam, with turquoise waters hemmed in by epic snow-streaked summits. A level trail traces the shoreline — an easy two-hour circuit that’s especial- ly joyful in the autumn, when those vivid Alpine blooms fade to russet and the clear air etches every ridge in sharp relief. Along the way, you can explore many more adventures in the Saas Valley. Surrounded by 18 four-thousand-metre peaks and numerous glaciers, there are endless picture-perfect trails to roam. Before you leave, be sure to pay a visit to the car-free village of Saas-Fee.
©LITSCAPEMEDIA
BARME PLATEAU: ALPINE TRANQUILLITY AT ITS PUREST Out in the far west of Valais, near the French border, the Barme Plateau feels blissfully isolated. Reached via a wind- ing road above the village of Champéry (Région Dents du Midi), this secluded meadow is encircled by sheer lime- stone cliff s and dense forests of pine, all set to a soundtrack of tinkling cow- bells. September is dreamy here: the summer heat softens, trails are quiet and the fi rst hints of autumn paint the spruces. Hike the gentle paths across the plateau, pausing at rustic moun- tain cafes serving cheese from nearby dairies. Look up and you’ll spot climb- ers tackling the Dents Blanches — breathtaking peaks whose pale rock gives the range its name. It’s a corner where nature and tradition converge.
© SWITZERLAND TOURISM/JAN GEERK
©JAMES FILTER
PLAN YOUR TRIP Fly direct to Geneva or Zurich with SWISS, then connect by train to Valais using Switzerland’s seamless rail network. T e Swiss Travel Pass off ers unlimited travel across trains, buses and boats, including scenic routes like the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn. T e autumn is an idyllic season for hiking and sightseeing, with quiet- er trails, mild temperatures and clear mountain light.
For more information,
visitvalais.ch
©SAAS FEE/ SAASTAL TOURISMUS
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