In 2001 Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch region was labelled World Heritage by UNESCO. The Heritage Site stands for the splendid natural beauty of the Alps. At its heart lies the impressive Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau rock massif and the glacial landscape surrounding the Great Aletsch Glacier. On the southern slopes of the Bietschhorn, this high-alpine scenery is gradually transformed into a submediterranean rocky steppe. The Aletsch Glacier is the biggest glacier in the Alps, with a length of 20 km. The fascinating world of snow and ice can be experienced on a guided tour or from the Jungfraujoch. The climatic conditions on the southern slopes lend the landscape a Mediterranean touch. The Lötschen, Joli, Bietsch, Baltschieder and Gredetsch valleys have largely been able to preserve their original character. Off the beaten tracks of the main tourist routes, they offer peace and tranquillity along the bisses and mountain streams.

With an unbelievable 10 billion tons of ice, the Great Aletsch glacier is part of the Unesco World Heritage Site and is the Alps' mightiest ice flow. It is easily accessible and is ideally situated for extensive hikes and special nature excursions. The entire region is a habitat for many rare animal and plant species.
Innumerable vantage points offer a good view of the glacier, such as the Bettmerhorn above Bettmeralp. The World of the Great Aletsch Glacier multimedia exhibition is free and gives you all kinds of interesting information about the glacier. Eggishorn, which can also be reached via cable car from Fiesch via cable car, offers a magnificent view of the winding upper part of the large glacier. Beautiful Lake Märjelen, which is fed by glacial meltwater, lies at the base of the ice flow.

The extensive Aletsch ski area encompasses 104 kilometres of pistes and reaches 2869m. The Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiesch-Eggishorn offer unforgettable views to the Great Aletsch glacier, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch) in 2001. A fine raclette or fondue, accompanied by a glass of white wine, is a pleasurable conclusion to a vigorous day of snow hiking or cross-country skiing.

Since 1986, Bettmeralp has hosted a challenging glacier race along the Great Aletsch Glacier. In the early days, the distance covered to reach the 2,650-metre Bettmerhorn was 17.5 kilometres. In 2000, the distance and route were adapted to the demands of the runners, and the name was changed to “Aletsch Half Marathon”. As the name indicates, the run now covers exactly 21.2 kilometres. Starting at 1,950 metres, it features 1,050 metres of ascent. In 2011 the Aletsch Half Marathon was voted the most beautiful race in Switzerland. The race promises an exhilarating experience for trail running enthusiasts and all who enjoy mountain races.

The Swiss Enduro Series (SES) is a series of professional mountain bike races in the discipline of enduro held in several regions of Switzerland. Each race consists of four to five timed stages featuring 500 to 1,000 metres of ascent, with the total race time being used to rank the individual athletes. It is not surprising that Valais’ topography is ideal for this type of discipline. This year, several rounds will take place in Valais, in the regions of Leukerbad, Aletsch Arena and Lötschental. This is an opportunity for participants and spectators alike to discover these beautiful destinations and important mountain bike locations in Valais.