VAL D HÉRENS HIKING TOUR VAL D HÉRENS DISCOVERY TOUR: 2, 3 OR 6 DAYS

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1 VAL D HÉRENS HIKING TOUR VAL D HÉRENS DISCOVERY TOUR: 2, 3 OR 6 DAYS

2 VAL D HÉRENS HIKING TOUR WELCOME TO THE VAL D HÉRENS! Set out to explore a valley of pure natural beauty enhanced with tradition and authenticity! Surrounded by ridges and mountain tops, you ll find wide open spaces, well preserved villages - heritage of our ancestors - unspoiled nature and the respect of traditions and life on the mountain pastures. During the hike, discover the highest gravity dam in the world, the Grande Dixence a gigantic structure some 285 meters high. Walking along the shore of Lac des Dix, you arrive at the foot of the glaciers dominated by the magnificent 3,500 meter summits. Another legendary section is the Col de Riedmatten, at an altitude of 2,900 m, part of the route of the famous ski-mountaineering race «La Patrouille des Glaciers». This pass offers spectacular views over legendary Alpine summits. Then head back down to typical Val d Hérens villages, which are still so well preserved, testifying to mountain life as it was in days gone by. Your walks will take place under the watchful eye of the Val s emblematic mountain, the Dent Blanche towering at 4,357 m. Next, you head up to a mountain cabin for magnificent views over the whole of the Valais Alps, before dropping down into a small protected valley where Nature reigns.

3 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WALK Val d Hérens villages, typical, traditional, and extremely well-preserved High mountain landscapes in the heart of the Valais Alps, with lots of viewpoints, passing very close to the summits. A region which is relatively unknown, intensifying the feeling of being in a really preserved and intact environment. 6 DAYS 3 DAYS 2 DAYS Prices* / pers. in double room CHF Euro CHF Euro CHF Euro Nights with breakfast and evening meal Picnic lunches with a drink Bus transport from Sion to Thyon and from Nax to Sion from Sion to Thyon and from Évolène to Sion from Sion to Évolène and from Nax to Sion Transport of one piece of luggage per person on each stage of the Tour (except to cabin) 1 walking map and other travel documents 1 certified Val d Hérens welcome gift (Free) 1 sampling of local products (Free) * Approximate price subject to modification. Valid from mid-june to mid-october.

4 HIKING TOUR OF THE VAL D HERENS 1 st STAGE THYON LES COLLONS GRANDE DIXENCE Departure from Thyon - Les Collons, at approx. 1,900 m, in the direction of the Grande Dixence dam, where you take the route of the Thyon-Dixence running race. On the way, you ll see the magnificent Essertze peat bogs, where signs explain the wealth of nature in the area. This first stage takes you along hillsides, with the Val des Dix in your line of sight, and as you draw closer, the world s largest gravity dam, the Grande Dixence, rises more and more impressive ahead of you, as do the summits of the Val des Dix, over 3,500 m high, which remain snow-capped all year round. Accommodation is at the Hôtel du Barrage de la Grande Dixence or the Prafleuri cabin. The walk lasts around 5.15hrs. THYON / LES COLLONS THYON 2000 LES GOUILLES D ESSERTZE ESSERTZE ORCHÈRA ALLÈVES m altitude DIXENCE km

5 HIKING TOUR OF THE VAL D HERENS 2 nd STAGE GRANDE DIXENCE AROLLA Walk alongside the 6km long Lac des Dix and you re getting closer to the magnificent summits that have been keeping you company all day : Mont Blanc de Cheillon 3,869 m, Pigne d Arolla 3,772 m, La Luette 3,548 m, Le Pleureur 3,703 m, Mont Collon 3,637 m. Another legendary passage is the Col de Riedmatten, a pass at 2,900 m altitude and part of the route of the famous ski-mountaineering race «La Patrouille des Glaciers»; the pass offers superb views of the surrounding mountains. Today s walking time is around 5.30hrs. DIXENCE LA BARMA PAS DU CHAT COL DE RIEDMATTEN REMOINTSE D AROLLA AROLLA NOTE The Col de Riedmatten section is narrow and very steep and the Pas de Chèvre section is «aerial» m altitude with ladders, but is no problem for good walkers. km

6 HIKING TOUR OF THE VAL D HERENS 3 rd STAGE AROLLA LA SAGE/LES HAUDÈRES/ÉVOLÈNE Descent into the Val d Arolla with the possibility of passing by the Lac Bleu (Blue Lake), a little piece of paradise in the middle of a forest of Arolla pines, and arrival in the typical villages of La Sage, Les Haudères or Évolène. If you wish to shorten this stage, a variation is possible by taking the Post bus from Arolla, from the place known as «Les Farques» and from there, setting off in the direction of Lac d Arbey, a beautiful little plateau above Évolène, with impressive views of the Dent-Blanche (4,357 m). Depending on the route, overnight accommodation possible at La Sage, Les Haudères or Évolène. The walking time according to the itinerary is 4.30 to 5.00hrs. m altitude AROLLA PRAMOUSSE LA GOUILLE LES HAUDÈRES LA FORCLAZ LA SAGE km

7 HIKING TOUR OF THE VAL D HERENS 4 th STAGE LA SAGE/LES HAUDÈRES/ÉVOLÈNE BECS DE BOSSON CABIN You leave the villages of the Val d Hérens to head up high, with a substantial uphill climb over the day s walk. You ll pass through different Val d Hérens Alpine pastures, known for their raclette cheese production and the Hérens breed of cows. You arrive at the Pas de Lona, which straddles the Val d Anniviers and the Val d Hérens, a wonderfully wild area (lakes, flowers ) and attack the last climb in the direction of the Becs de Bossons cabin (2,985 m) where views over all the most impressive summits in Valais are simply superb. The most beautiful views of the entire route. Walking time from Évolène to the cabin is around 5hrs. LA SAGE MAYENS DE COTTER VOLOVRON L A VIEILLE PAS DE LONA BECS DE BOSSON CABIN NOTE If you stay at Les Haudères or La Sage, there is the possibility of taking the Post bus to Évolène to reduce m altitude the walking time to the cabin. km

8 HIKING TOUR OF THE VAL D HERENS 5 th STAGE BECS DE BOSSON CABIN NAX On leaving the cabin, you head down in the direction of the Vallon de Réchy, a magnificent, isolated and protected little valley where no construction is allowed and where Nature rules undisturbed (eagles, marmots, marshes ). Then an easy descent to Nax to end the tour. Situated on a promontory, the village of Nax offers magnificent views of the Rhône Valley and unforgettable sunsets, the latest in the area. Walking time is around 5hrs. COL DE COU LA COMBE m altitude BECS DE BOSSON CABIN LE LOUCHÉ NAX km

9 STAGES 6 DAYS 1 Thyon - Dixence 2 Dixence - Arolla 3 Arolla - Évolène / Les Haudères / La Sage 4 Évolène / Les Haudères / La Sage - Becs de Bosson Cabin 5 Becs de Bosson Cabin - Nax 6 Return to Sion 3 DAYS 1 Thyon - Dixence 2 Dixence - Arolla 3 Arolla - Évolène / Les Haudères / La Sage 2 DAYS 4 Évolène / Les Haudères / La Sage - Becs de Bosson Cabin 5 Becs de Bosson Cabin - Nax SION 6 Nax 1 Thyon Les Collons St-Martin 5 Becs de Bosson Cabin Évolène 4 La Sage 2 Dixence Les Haudères 3 Arolla

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11 PRACTICAL INFORMATION DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMMODATION The hotels and guesthouses have been selected for their comfort and friendly welcome, or their selection has been imposed, as they are the only possibilities in a given place. Sleeping arrangements are in double rooms (or in certain cases triples). Single rooms, if available, are subject to an extra fee. Sion: hotel**** or hotel*** or hotel** (not included in the package) Thyon-Les Collons: hotel***, cabin Dixence: hotel**, cabin Arolla: hotel*** or hôtel** or hotel Swiss Lodge Évolène : hotel** or hotel* Les Haudères: hotel*** or hotel** La Sage: hotel Swiss Lodge St-Martin/Eison: cabin or guesthouse Nax: hotel**or hotel*** ACCESS Road: Motorway Geneva - Lausanne - Sion Rail: For information only, Paris - Sion approx. 5.30hrs journey. Genève FRANCE Vevey Valais GERMANY Basel Bern Sion Brig Zürich Luzern Schaffausen Lugano ITALY St-Gallen AUSTRIA Check times on (pay service) or on the website (Swiss Railways Company). Arrival in Sion by train or by car (parking possible) then departure by coach to Thyon-Les Collons for the first night. You can park your car in Sion or in Thyon- Les Collons. La Cambuse Hotel offers free parking for tour participants for the 6 days of the tour. In this case you will need to return to Thyon at the end of the tour to collect your vehicle : Nax - Sion by postal bus, then Sion - Thyon by Theytaz coach. It is also possible to stay in Sion the first night. TRANSPORT Two coach transport vouchers per person are included in the package. The first is for Sion station to Thyon-Les Collons with Car Theytaz ( The Theytaz coach stop is on the right as you exit Sion station. The second voucher is for the Nax to Sion station journey with the Post bus (www. sbb.ch/en) (yellow coach). It is possible to book additional coach transport at extra cost, per journey and per person (please request terms). Luggage transport during the tour is provided by two coach companies. Luggage must be deposited by clients before 8.30 at the hotel reception. The luggage is transported from hotel to hotel but not to cabins. If clients are spending a night in a cabin, they must take everything they require for the night with them in their backpack. Their luggage will be transported to the next hotel where it will be waiting for them the following day.

12 INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS Hiking Tour of the Val d Hérens info@valdherens.ch +41 (0) USEFUL CONTACTS Tourist Offices : Évolène : +41(0) Nax : +41(0) Thyon : +41(0) St-Martin : +41(0) lindaphoto.ch