Explore the Val d'Hérens and Val d'Anniviers, two breathtaking Swiss Alpine valleys nestled to the west of Zermatt in the Valais — a region of soaring peaks, ancient glaciers, shimmering lakes, and traditional villages that remains refreshingly quieter than its famous neighbour. With day walks ranging from 9 to 22km (6–14 miles) and completable in 2 to 10 hours, it's an ideal destination whether you have a long weekend or a full fortnight to spare.

This trusted Cicerone guidebook by Lesley and Jonathan Williams describes 35 graded day walks and 2 multi-day treks across Arolla, Zinal, Evolène, Grimentz and beyond, giving you everything you need to explore these valleys with confidence. It pairs clear, walk-by-walk route descriptions with thorough planning information to help you prepare well before you travel and navigate with ease once you're in the mountains.

• The 35 day walks are graded and spread across the Val d'Hérens and Val d'Anniviers, exploring the area from valley-floor paths through traditional villages to high mountain circuits, so you can choose routes that suit your experience and energy each day
• Detailed step-by-step route descriptions are supported by 1:50,000 maps for every walk, helping you navigate confidently on the high mountain paths above Arolla, Zinal, Evolène, Les Haudères, and Grimentz
• Downloadable GPX files enable easy digital navigation on GPS devices or smartphone apps, so you can keep your eyes on the glaciers of the Ferpècle valley or the vast Grande Dixence barrage rather than the map
• Practical planning sections cover getting to the region, travel between centres, accommodation options, and the best season to visit (mid-June to end of September), with key information on mountain huts and public transport throughout the valleys
• Two multi-day routes — the Tour du Val d'Hérens and the Tour des Cabanes du Val d'Anniviers — are outlined in full, combining day walks into extended high-level itineraries for those who want to experience these valleys as a connected trek

Together, the graded route descriptions, 1:50,000 maps, GPX downloads, and comprehensive planning advice make this the definitive guidebook for walking in the Swiss Valais west of Zermatt. Discover the Arolla and Zinal valleys with confidence.

Walking in Arolla and Zinal - Quick Fact

Region: Val d'Hérens and Val d'Anniviers, Valais, Switzerland 
Location: West of Zermatt, Swiss Alps 
Walk format: 35 graded day walks plus 2 multi-day treks 
Day walk distances: 9–22km (6–14 miles) per walk 
Day walk duration: 2–10 hours per walk 
Multi-day routes: Tour du Val d'Hérens (TVH) and Tour des Cabanes du Val d'Anniviers (TCVA) 
Main centres: Arolla, Zinal, Evolène, Les Haudères, Grimentz 
Terrain: Well-maintained mountain paths, high alpine terrain, valley floors, glacier viewpoints 
Difficulty: Mostly moderate mountain walking; a small number of walks involve exposure and aided sections (clearly indicated) 
Navigation: Well-maintained marked paths; 1:50,000 maps and GPX files included 
Highlights: Dent Blanche, Weisshorn, Lac Bleu, Lac de Moiry, Moiry icefall, Ferpècle valley, Grande Dixence barrage, Pas de Chèvres, traditional Valaisan villages 
Best season: Mid-June to the end of September (when snow has cleared and mountain huts are open) 
Accommodation: Mountain huts (cabanes), hotels, guesthouses across valley centres 
Getting there: Fly to Geneva or Zurich; good public transport connections into the valleys 

Author Highlight

“Within the canton of Valais, and a little to the west of world-famous Zermatt, two French-speaking valleys run parallel to their more glamourous neighbour, a world apart yet matching or surpassing it in their beauty and potential as an ideal alpine walking destination. Val d’Anniviers is known to skiers, the lift systems of Grimentz, Chandolin and Zinal providing rapid access to higher alpine paths, while the Val d’Hérens’ principal village of Evolène remains attractive and traditional, as does the whole of the valley and the higher alpine centre of Arolla.”

- Lesley Williams, author of Walking in Arolla and Zinal

CONTENTS

Map key

Route summary table

Introduction

The Valais – Val d’Anniviers and Val d’Hérens

The mountains

The walking

Bases in the Val d’Hérens

Bases in the Val d’Anniviers

When to go

Getting there

Travel in the region

Accommodation

Maps

Apps

Preparation

Equipment

Using this guide

Val d’Hérens and Val d’Hérémence

Val d’Hérémence (Dix)

Walk 1 Thyon to Grande Dixence barrage

Walk 2 Grande Dixence barrage to Cabane des Dix

Walk 3 Cabane des Dix to Arolla

Arolla

Walk 4 Pas de Chèvres from Arolla

Walk 5 Cabane des Aiguilles Rouges from Arolla

Walk 6 Lac Bleu circular walk from Arolla

Walk 7 Plan Bertol from Arolla

Walk 8 Cabane de la Tsa from Arolla

Walk 9 Arolla to Les Haudères – the valley route

Walk 10 Arolla to Evolène – the high Route 6

Les Haudères and Ferpècle

Walk 11 Roc Vieux from Les Haudères

Walk 12 Ferpècle valley

Walk 13 Bricola and the upper Ferpècle valley

Evolène

Walk 14 Tour of the rock villages – Route 214

Walk 15 Evolène to Pralong (Dix valley) via Col de la Meina

Walk 16 Pic d’Artsinol

Walk 17 Evolène to Pralong (Dix valley) via Mandelon

Walk 18 Euseigne pyramids, Ossona, the passerelle and Combioule hot springs

Walk 19 Villa to Grimentz via Col de Torrent

Walk 20 La Sage to Cabane de Moiry via Col du Tsaté

Walk 21 Evolène to Cabane des Becs de Bosson

Multi-day route

Tour du Val d’Hérens (TVH)

Val d’Anniviers and Val de Moiry

Réchy valley

Walk 22 Cabane des Becs de Bosson to Nax

Walk 23 Réchy valley

Moiry valley

Walk 24 Grimentz to Cabane des Becs de Bosson

Walk 25 Cabane des Becs de Bosson to Cabane de Moiry

Walk 26 Lac Moiry circuit 2500m

Walk 27 Cabane de Moiry to Zinal

Zinal

Walk 28 Zinal to Cabane du Petit Mountet

Walk 29 Zinal to Cabane du Grand Mountet

Walk 30 Roc de la Vache from Zinal

Walk 31 Cabane Arpitettaz from Zinal

Walk 32 Cabane de Tracuit from Zinal

Hotel Weisshorn and Chandolin

Walk 33 Chandolin, Planets Trail, Hotel Weisshorn to Zinal

Walk 34 Bella Tola from Tignousa

Walk 35 Illhorn, Illsee, Lac Noir and Cabane Bella-Tola

Multi-day route

Tour des Cabanes du Val d’Anniviers (TCVA)

Appendix A Contact information

Appendix B Glossary of useful French words

Seasons

Best for walking from mid-June to the end of September, when snow has melted, and mountain huts and main services are open.

Centres

Arolla, Zinal, Evolène, Les Haudères, Grimentz.

Difficulty

Includes a range of routes, mainly mountain walking on good paths. A few walks involving exposure and aided sections are clearly indicated.

Must See

Dent Blanche, Weisshorn, Ober Gabelhorn, Pigne d’Arolla, Lac des Dix, Lac de Moiry, Pas de Chèvres, Ferpècle valley, Moiry icefall, Lac Bleu, traditional buildings, Planets trail, Grand Dixance barrage, Tour de Val d’Hérens, Tour of the Cabanes Val d’Anniviers.

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