Swiss Valais
Self-Guided Walking Holiday

Quintessential mountainous Switzerland

The Valais region of Switzerland is one of the most characterful and spectacular mountain regions in Europe. South of the Rhone valley as it turns the corner at Martigny, a series of awe-inspiring valleys run North to South. One of these valleys is the Val d'Herens, the location of this holiday. From many viewpoints up and down the deep valley, dark forests lead up to grey cliffs and finally sharp snowy peaks.

The forests, valley floors and hillsides offer just as much potential for exploration in Val d'Herens as the high mountains, and they are the focus for this introductory walking holiday. The walks aim for photogenic alpages (meadows) or a high valley floor surrounded by evidence of past glacial activity. This being a Self-Guided holiday, you will be free to complete the walks as you choose: we arrange everything for you, including booking accommodation and providing you with a choice of route cards for the walking, and then it's up to you to carry out the walks yourself.

This is a two-stage holiday giving a taste of life throughout the Val d'Herens. Accommodation for your first two nights is in a simple hotel in the old centre of Les Hauderes. The fine old larch-timbered buildings are nearly black in colour making this Swiss village centre particularly attractive, like that of Evolene down the valley. For your last two nights, move up to the high mountain village of Arolla, where you stay in a comfortable hotel in the heart of this old resort.

Holiday Update emails

Keep in the loop about our Swiss Valais (Self-Guided) holiday by signing up for Holiday Update emails, sent roughly 4 times a year with any itinerary changes and other news.

Further information

About our walking holidays (FAQs)
Flowers of the Western Alps: An introduction

Please email us to discuss any aspect of this holiday at info@alpineexploratory.com.

Guided alternative

Explore the Swiss Valais in the company of a group, with a guide to lead the walking:

Swiss Valais (Guided)

Bespoke alternatives

Go on a Self-Guided holiday to a different part of the Swiss Valais or following harder or easier routes:

Bespoke holidays