Walking in the Valais

With the greatest collection of 4000m peaks in Western Europe and charming valleys and hillsides dotted with chalets and hay barns, the Valais represents the quintessential Alps.

This walkers’ paradise in southern Switzerland is located on both sides of the Rhône valley and includes the whole of the Pennine Alps, with France and Italy forming its southern and western borders. The region is crowned by iconic mountains including the Matterhorn, Dent Blanche, Monte Rosa and the Combin. It explores the deep valleys of the region including the Lötschental, Saastal, Mattertal, Val d’Anniviers, Val d’Hérens and Trient.

There are pristine snowfields and long glacier tongues, meadows full of flowers and marmots that will eat out of your hand. Accommodation is plentiful, ranging from simple mountain huts and back-country dormitories and campsites, to the grandest of hotels, and the integrated public transport system is world-renowned.

Routes wander from the popular Mattertal and Saastal valleys, to the quiet reaches of the Fieschertal and the picture-perfect Val d'Hèrens. A popular guidebook, this fourth edition continues to provide excellent routes for walkers of any ability – gentle valley strolls, walks of moderate difficulty and strenuous, steep routes from accessible and tourist-friendly bases such as Saas Fee, Zermatt and Arolla.

• 111 day walks described in full, arranged valley by valley, with other route suggestions
• 10 multi-day tours for longer trips
• detailed guidance on valley bases, mountain huts, access and facilitie