Val d Anniviers Hiking Tour. Information and Reservations C H A N D O L I N S T L U C

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1 C H A N D O L I N S T L U C Z I N A L G R I M E N T Z V E R C O R I N S I E R R E S A L G E S C H Information and Reservations info@sierre-anniviers.ch join us on Val d Anniviers Hiking Tour

2 Walk at your own pace, follow the signposted paths and stop for a picnic whenever you feel like it. Sleep in a different spot every night and enjoy extraordinary landscapes in this region of central Valais. This round trip from Sierre will take you through Chandolin/St-Luc, Zinal, Grimentz and Vercorin in that order. It takes about five hours to complete each day s walk. On the last day, we propose you a trek to the Vallon de Réchy or the vineyard path, which links Sierre to Salgesch. Both of those are optional. Each overnight stay can be planned separately if you prefer to shorten your stay, or why not spend 2 nights in each resort in order to take advantage of the many local activities? The footpath The path is well signposted and you won t need a guide to follow it. You will therefore be free to walk at your own pace, chose the perfect spot for the picnic lunches, and stop as many times as you want to admire the continually changing panoramas and landscapes along the way. You will be given a map showing you the path before you set off. Your luggage Apart from your backpack, which will accompany you during your journey, your luggage is taken care of and will be transferred each day to the following overnight stay. One item of luggage per person is authorised. The food Breakfast, evening meal and picnic are included in all the types of accommodation. Accommodation Below you will find the different alternatives for accommodation available at the time of publication. New offers will certainly be available. Please don t hesitate to inform us of your wishes or needs. - Sierre, Salgesch et environs hotel*** - Chandolin hotel** Hut - St-Luc hotel**** Spa hotel*** hotel** Lodge/Hut - Zinal hotel*** hotel** hotel* Hut - Grimentz/St-Jean hotel*** hotel** Lodge/Hut - Vercorin/Chalais hotel*** hotel** Transport You will be able to shorten some trips using public transport. Two vouchers for the postal bus per person for the journey of your choice are included in the deal. (recommended: Sierre-Les Pontis / Vercorin/Chalais/Chippis-Sierre). Moreover, you will get an Anniviers Liberty pass that gives you free access to more than 20 activities and transport (lifts and postal bus between the different resorts of the Val d Anniviers). The starting point By car : A special rate for the long stay car park Plaine Bellevue located to the south of Sierre station is available for clients of the Val d'annivers tour. By train: Sierre is on the line for Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich, Bern or Brig. FROM MID JUNE TO THE END OF OCTOBER 6 nights in hotel double room: Sierre, Salgesch / St-Luc/Chandolin / Zinal /Grimentz / Vercorin / Sierre, Salgesch or Vercorin Full-board (breakfast, picnic lunch and evening meal) Transfer of one item of luggage per person from one overnight stay to the next (except in hut) 2 vouchers for postal bus per person 1 footpath map of the Val d Anniviers (optional) Anniviers Liberty pass On arrival in Sierre, Salgesch and surrounding areas The region of Sierre, Salgesch and the surrounding areas are located on the right bank of the river Rhone. Having a great deal of sunshine, Sierre is frequently nicknamed the City of Sun or Agreeable Sierre. The alluvium soil and large doses of bright sunshine go to explaining the abundance of the vineyards and the exceptional bouquet of their wines. European oenologists have come to consider the Valais, in matters of wine growing, as an authentic conservatory.

3 Discoveries and suggestions The vineyard footpath (6 Km), accessible all year round, is a discovery path with explanatory information panels along the way. It links the two sites of the Valaisan museum of Wine and Wines and the Chateau Villa in Sierre, dedicated to wine and its cultural aspects to the Zumofen house in Salgesch devoted to vineyards and vineyard workers. The Chateau de Villa wine shop is the site of a privileged meeting place for all wine lovers. Come and discover, in friendly and exclusive surroundings, a choice of more than 500 of the best Valais wines from 70 cellars from all over the Valais, some rare vintage wines and schnapps from Valais fruit orchards. 1st stage: Sierre/Salgesch to Chandolin or St-Luc - Sierre -> Les Pontis (by bus) then Chandolin or St-Luc on foot (about 5 hours walk) - Sierre -> Finges (on foot or by bus) then Chandolin or St-Luc on foot via the chapel of St-Antoine (about 6½ hours walk) Sierre -> Les Pontis by bus, then Chandolin or St-Luc on foot (about a 5 hour walk) Starting from Sierre station (542 m), the bus takes you along the Val d Anniviers road. After a few hairpin bends and going through the valley s canyons, you get off the bus at the Pontis stop, at a place called «Fribougxe» (1001 m). After an hour s walk going up a rather steep slope you come across a small corner of paradise known as Soussillon (1388 m). You continue walking upwards for about another 30 minutes eventually getting to the foot of the village of Chandolin (about 1 hour 50 minutes) or you can walk to the mountain pastures of Ponchet (1950 m and about 2 hours walking). If you decide to pass by Ponchet, the path is fairly wild and has a few nice surprises along the way (fauna and flora). Please note that this path is only for adept walkers. From Ponchet a wide forest track takes you to Chandolin (about 1½ hours). Along the way have a glance at the Illgraben a site of erosion unique in Europe. It is renowned as being the most beautiful and biggest rock cirque resulting from the subsidence of the mountain due to erosion. From Chandolin (1979 m) there are two different ways of getting to St-Luc (1655 m) either by going down through the village of Chandolin then through a place called La Tueille and Lebing (about 1½ hours) or higher up following the Sierre- Zinal foot race path which takes you through the freshness of the pinewood forest to Tignousa (2186 m about 1¼ hours). There we would recommend you take the funicular train which will take you down to St-Luc in 7 minutes (1655 m) however if you wish you may gown down on foot to St-Luc using the footpath (about 1½ hours) or the ski slope (about 1 hour).

4 Sierre -> Finges then Chandolin or St-Luc on foot via the chapel of St-Antoine (about 6½ hours walk) To get to Finges or the hollow of Chippis (565 m) you can take the postal bus or go on foot (about 1 hour). The path starts 100 m after the crossroads on the val d Anniviers road. Follow the Chapel of St-Antoine. This climbing and winding path with numerous crosses along the way goes to the chapel of St-Antoine (about 45 minutes walk 989 m). When you get there don t forget to ring the bell as this is said to bring good luck! Continue walking up to Plan Palet (about another 45 minutes 1146 m) then to the Couquelle forest. The walk up is fairly energetic but full of surprises. Perhaps you will come across a doe or a chamois! After 2 hours walking, you get to the mountain pastures of Ponchet (1950 m) an open window over the Anniviers valley. From Ponchet a wide forest track takes you to Chandolin (about 1½ hours). Along the way have a glance at the Illgraben a site of erosion unique in Europe. It is renowned as being the most beautiful and biggest rock cirque resulting from the subsidence of the mountain due to erosion. To Chandolin, see below Chandolin, 2000 m. above sea level This village is located between the sky and the earth, 2000 m. up, where one can find fine flora rare for the Val d Anniviers end even for the Valais in general. Botanical walks will let you discover these specimens amidst unspoilt countryside. In the old part of the village a permanent exhibition is devoted to Ella Maillart, the traveller and writer. She was one of Chandolin s most famous guests. St-Luc, its nose in the stars! The astronomical observatory located 2200 m. above sea level and the planetary walk (6 Km) will allow you to discover in an original way the planets that make up our solar system. The Matterhorn can be seen here from an unusual angle. On the riverside, the watermills dating from the 18th century are still working. 2nd stage : Chandolin or St-Luc to Zinal (about 5½ hours) From Chandolin (1979 m), the route of the Sierre-Zinal running race will take you to the freshness of the pinewood forest going towards Tignousa (about 1¼ hours, 2186 m). From St-Luc we would suggest that you go to Tignousa (2186 m) by the funicular train. From there enjoy the splendid view that the imperial crown offers, including, amongst others, the Dent Blanche and the Matterhorn. The stars observatory OFXB proposes visits during the day to enable you to observe the sun. The Hotel Weisshorn, during the first part of this day is equally worth a visit. To get to it simply follow the planetary footpath. Other than the planets you go across the Roua alpine pastures (20 minutes, Chalet Blanc 2179 m) where Saturn and its rings can be found. When you get to the Chiesso Blanc (2201 m and ½ hour) the climb to the Hotel Weisshorn starts. After about half an hour you get to the hundred year old hotel built in a traditional English style (2237 m). The interstellar journey continues to the last planet in the solar system; Pluton. Don t miss it, it can be found after about 20 minutes walking, below the footpath. The pleasant walk takes you to Bella lé, after to the pastures of Barneuxa (2211 m about 1 hour). The scenery starts to change as you start to go down towards Zinal. Count about ¾ hour to get down the steep path from upper Zinal. Zinal, at the foot of the imperial crown Zinal, located at an altitude of 1670m., is a charming and welcoming family resort. The footpaths surrounding it will take you to the foot of the famous imperial crown, composed of five summits all over 4000 m. high. These are the Bishorn, the Weisshorn, the Zinalrothorn, the Obergabelhorn and the Dent-Blanche. The Besso, slightly lower than the others provides the foreground to the Matterhorn behind it. With its numerous glaciers, waterfalls and the copper mine, this area offers plenty of opportunities to get away from it all.

5 3rd stage : Zinal to Grimentz (about 5½ hours) For this third stage we recommend you to use the cable car that will take you directly to Sorebois, however, if you wish to walk, follow the Navizence river (1653 m) for about ¼ hour then take the winding footpath that will take you to Sorebois via Fêta d août (2254m about 2 hours). When you get to Sorebois (2438 m) going through the alpine pastures, the top is about 1 hour and twenty minutes away. Whilst walking here you may get to see a few marmots which are very common in this area. Getting to the Col de Sorebois (2835 m), you will see the Moiry dam (2250 m) below you with is Caribbean Sea colour. The walk down to the dam takes about an hour. Walk across the dam wall to get to the path that banks the Grougra River and that will take you Grimentz (1564 m about 1 hour 40 minutes). This path is also used by mountain bikers during the Grand Raid (Verbier-Grimentz race) in mid-august every year. Grimentz/St-Jean, the villages of joy Enchanting by the beauty of their barns browned by the sun, charming with their balconies adorned with flowering geraniums, these villages are what picture postcards are made of! At an altitude of 1570 m. Grimentz can best be described as authentic, charismatic, picturesque and sumptuous. It houses, in the bottom of its cellars, the reputed glacier wine, which has been maturing for over 100 years in oak casks.

6 4th stage: Grimentz to Vercorin (about 5 hours) From the start of the cable car (1518 m), the path goes across grazing land following the route of the cable car (1719 m 25 minutes) then follows the track that leads to the alpine pastures. After walking for about 45 minutes at a place called le Chequet take the direction of the Orzival pastures. The footpath takes you through a very perfumed larch tree forest leading to the pastures of Orzival (2100 m). When you get there you have two choices: either you can walk up in the direction of the Brinta (2660 m 1½ hours) then continue on towards the Crêt du Midi (2331 m 45 minutes) and go down on foot to Vercorin (1342 m 2¼ hours - Be careful: the cable car of Vercorin is closed during the summer 2012) or you can on towards the alpine grazing pastures of Tracuit (1898 m ¾ hour) and then on to Sigeroulaz (1861 m ½ hour), finally ending up in Vercorin (1342 m 1¼ hours). Vercorin, with its added charm Situated not far from the motorway, this small village come ski resort with its radiant climate, has been able to keep its unique and generous vegetation amongst wild and invigorating countryside. The Vallon de Réchy, to the west, is a protected nature reserve where you can find almost all the types of fauna to be found elsewhere in the alps. Its paragliding school will give you many thrills during a flight above the Rhône valley.

7 5th stage: Vercorin and surrounding area The bisse of Vercorin (about 4 hours return) From Vercorin (1320 m), a short jaunt to the Vallon de Réchy will let you discover the Vercorin bisse (irrigation stream) and finally the Buvette de la Lé (1661 m 2h00) with its imposing panorama over the Rhone valley and the impressive view of the waterfall that cascades down from the Ar du Tsan above you. Return via the same path (1h30) or walk along the torrent and turn right via Les Vernys to reach Vercorin (1h55). As the route back to Sierre on foot is extremely steep, we suggest you return by postal bus.

8 Your contact : info@sierre-anniviers.ch,