Activities in Blatten Belalp | Valais Switzerland

Theme hike around air from Mund to Eggerberg, Valais

Air – elixir of life

This trail leads from Mund along the north side of the Rhône Valley to Eggerberg above Visp. It looks at the subject of air – that invisible, yet essential element that enables flight, transmits sound and colours the sky.

Interpretive trails

Footbridges

Aletsch footbridge

The 124-metre Aletsch footbridge offers a dramatic way of crossing the impressive Massa gorges, 80 metres above the ground. The bridge lies along a magnificent 5-hour hike between Belalp and Riederalp. From the footbridge, you can see the tongue of the Great Aletsch Glacier.

Footbridges

Fixed rope routes

Aletsch via ferrata

The Aletsch Via Ferrata circles the Gibidum lake at the upper Massa Gorge. The 3km long trail consists of some...

Fixed rope routes

Brunch

Café Jungfrau-Aletsch

The Café Jungfrau-Aletsch invites you to discover regional specialities at its delicious “Püüru-Brunch”. The meal showcases local producers who place special emphasis on respect for nature and the animals that provide the food: expect a mouth-watering exploration of the flavours of Valais. The café is housed in the World Nature Forum, so take advantage of your visit to explore the fascinating permanent exhibition and discover one of the gems listed as UNESCO World Heritage: the Jungfrau-Aletsch region.

Brunch

Dams and reservoirs

Gibidum

Gibidum Dam, 1436 metres high, entered service in 1969 after five years of construction. It is one of the most efficient dams in Valais. It dams the Massa River, into which the Aletsch glacier water flows.

Dams and reservoirs

The Gibidum Dam is perhaps the least known of the Valais dams, but it’s definitely worth the visit for the amazing scenery and a climb full of discovery!

Cycling routes

Gibidum – Trophy of the Dams

The Gibidum Dam is perhaps the least known of the Valais dams, but it’s definitely worth the visit for the ama...

Cycling routes

The adrenaline buzz on the suspension bridge, the imposing view of the glacier gate and ancient Swiss stone pines in Aletsch Forest make this hike a truly impressive experience.

Hikes

Hike from Belalp to Riederalp via the suspension bridge

The adrenaline buzz on the suspension bridge, the imposing v...

Hikes

The Häxutrail takes you from Belalp to Blatten via forests and varied trails. The route has been extensively reworked for mountain biking.

Mountain bike tours

Häxutrail (witches’ trail)

The Häxutrail takes you from Belalp to Blatten via forests and varied trails. The route has been extensively r...

Mountain bike tours

UNESCO Welterbe Jungfrau-Aletsch mit dem Aletschgletscher im Hintergrund, Wallis

Hiking Tours

Jungfrau – Aletsch Tour

The Jungfrau – Aletsch Tour circles the perimeters of the UNESCO World Heritage site and discloses the natural...

Hiking Tours

Mountain lakes

Lüsgersee

This little natural alpine lake draws guests and locals to swim and relax. The Lüsgersee can be reached from the summit station in 15 minutes.

Mountain lakes

Interpretive trails

Massa Trail – the water connection

Whether in Valais or Nepal – water is a valuable resource. The educational trail from Blatten to Ried-Mörel explores this topic from a variety of different angles, for example, by turning the spotlight on the Riederi, a bisse that was first mentioned back in the 14th century.

Interpretive trails

A hike through the dramatic Massa gorge and across open meadows that offer sweeping views of the Rhône valley. The path along a former irrigation channel is now a theme trail devoted to water.

Hikes

Massaweg (Massa Trail) from Blatten to Mörel

A hike through the dramatic Massa gorge and across open mead...

Hikes

The Nesselloop leads from Belalp to Birgisch via Nesselalp and offers bike fans a breathtaking panoramic view of the Valais mountains as well as a thrilling trail!

Mountain bike tours

Nessel loop trail

The Nesselloop leads from Belalp to Birgisch via Nesselalp and offers bike fans a breathtaking panoramic view...

Mountain bike tours

Bisses

Nessjeri - Obersta - Stigwasser

First mentioned in 1477, the Nessjeri begins at 2140 m near the Kelchbach stream. At first, it runs at an almost imperceptible incline across a rock balcony located diagonally opposite the Aletsch Glacier; then it plunges down into the valley via Nessel as a frothing stream. The Stigwasser and Obersta bisses (irrigation conduits), mentioned for the first time in 1521 and 1684 respectively, are both sourced in the Gredetsch Valley near Mundbach at altitudes of about 1300m.

Bisses

Museum of the Swiss Guards in Naters, Valais

Castles & buildings

Old military fortress with the museum of the Swiss Guards

The faithful Swiss Guard has been serving the papacy for over 500 years. Today the Swiss Guard still stand tall in their uniforms in front of the St. Peters Cathedral in Rome, not only as symbolic protectors of the Pope, but also as welcome additions to the souvenir photographs of visiting tourists. No other town has contributed more Swiss Guards to the Papal chair in Rome than Naters over the centuries. For this reason the historian Werner Bellwald decided to open a museum of the Swiss Guards in the old military fortress just above Naters. To discover the town of Brig and Naters, take a round-trip with the small train (treno dotto) which will drives you up the hill to the entry of the Museum of the Swiss Guard.

Castles & buildings

Adventure parks

Rope Park

The suspension rope park in Blatten offers a first-class outdoor adventure. You can experience the forest on four tracks with different degrees of difficulty from a squirrel’s point of view. The visitors whip themselves from tree to tree high over the forest soil, traverse swaying bridges or zip to the next platform. After an introduction you can choose between for tracks with different levels of difficulty. So you can slowly reach your limits. You cross challenging suspension bridges, three-rope bridges and action-packed zip lines. Visitors with nerves of steel climb heights of 20 metres and speed along zip lines of about 200 meters.

Adventure parks

Baking rye bread

Rye bread making in Blatten-Belalp

Discover the secrets of baking traditional rye bread at the historical Wichje watermill and bakery (Backhaus Mühle Wichjie) in Blatten-Belalp. Inside the building, with its picturesque mill wheel, you can learn all about the cultivation of rye, making the flour, preparing the bread and baking it. By the end of your visit, you will be an expert on the iconic rye bread of Valais!

Baking rye bread

Pumptracks and skills parks

Skills Park Hexenland

Im Skills Park Hexenland auf der Belalp sammeln Sie alle wichtigen fahrtechnischen Zutaten, um auf den Trails Spass zu haben. Das Reich der Belalphexe Vero beinhaltet mehrere Kurz-Trails, welche Hindernisse wie Rock Garden, Table Jumps, Anliegerkurven, Drops und vieles mehr bieten. Mit dem eigens dafür angelegten Uphill-Trail gelangen Sie rasch zurück an den Start.

Der Skills Park dient zur idealen Vorbereitung für die nahe gelegenen Mountainbike-Trails Häxutrail (Route 157) und Nesselloop (Route 158).

Pumptracks and skills parks

Treasure hunt

Solve riddles with Vero, the little witch

Discover the secret home of Little Witch Vero on a hike from Blatten through Rischinu Forest. The treasure hunt starts at the Blatten bei Naters tourism office, winding its way through fir trees to the Burgen viewpoint. Discover the mystical, untouched woods with all of their secrets along the route. At the end of the hike, the Hexenkessel adventure playground is the perfect place to take a break for young and old treasure hunters alike. If you have solved all of the clues, you will receive a code. This can be used to open the lock to Vero's treasure chest at the Blatten tourism office, where a fantastic reward awaits.

Treasure hunt

Artificial lake for snow production Hohnbiel on Belalp, Valais

Mountain lakes

Speichersee Hohbiel

In the summer the chair lift at the Sparrhorn takes you up to Hohbiel, close to the Speichersee at 2680m. Once there, you can gaze at the dramatic alpine scenery with views to 17 4000-metre peaks. The pristine alpine lake has a diameter of 150 metres. From Hohbiel you can hike towards the Aletschbord, from where you enjoy a grandiose view of the mighty Aletsch Glacier.

Mountain lakes

Aletsch glacier UNESCO world heritage, Aletsch Arena, Valais

Nature parks

Unesco World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch

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.

Nature parks

Nature parks

World Nature Forum: the most modern museum of the Alps

The visitors will be confronted in a spectacular exhibition with thrilling films, interactive experience stations, infographics and artefacts. His exploratory mind will be challenged with key questions associated to the use of the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch. The Panorama space will be the highlight of the exhibition, with a screen of 100 square meters, where spectacular movies from the World Heritage will excite the visitors.

Nature parks

This winter hike from Belalp mountain station to Aletschbord and back might be easy, but it’s also very impressive. The Great Aletsch Glacier alone is an utterly fascinating experience, with its gigantic 27 billion tonnes of ice.

Winter hiking

Aletschbordweg

This winter hike from Belalp mountain station to Aletschbord and back might be easy, but it’s also very impres...

Winter hiking

Ski touring

Belalp Touring Tracks

Two ski touring routes on the Belalp are sure to attract fans of deep powder experiences. Both start at the Belalp aerial tramway upper station and are well signposted. The easier route leads along the Weisse Meile to Schönbiel, and the more challenging one via the Tyndall Trail to Hohbiel. Enjoy fascinating views of the snow-covered mountains of Valais as you glide across a wonderful winter landscape on both excursions.

Ski touring

Ski region Belalp - Blatten, winter, Valais

Ski areas

Blatten – Belalp

The skiing resort Blatten-Belalp offers more than 47 kilometres of skiing fun; it also features spectacular views to the Great Aletsch Glacier, which is part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Advice to skiers: take the T-bar to Hohstock (3118m), where the highest piste of the ski resort offers stunning views of the Matterhorn, Dom, Weisshorn and 14 other four-thousand-metre peaks. Whether you wish to replenish your reserves, relax or celebrate, there are many restaurants with sun terraces to choose from. An unforgettable experience is guaranteed!

Ski areas

Dog Sledding

Dog sledding in the Lötschental

The Lötschental winter experience for dog lovers. Enjoy the incredibly beautiful natural landscape of the Lötschental on a dog sled. Family and children‘s rides on the Fafleralp Sports trips to Fafleralp for max. two people aged 16 and over. Duration approx. 2 hours, good fitness level desired. Saturday and Sunday by appointment only.

Dog Sledding

Secured freeride runs

Hohstock

The adventure begins at an altitude of 3,100 metres, where you start a thrilling descent with gradients of up to 60%. Especially after a fresh snowfall, freeride enthusiasts will enjoy glorious virgin snow – on a descent that is nonetheless secured. The run finishes at an altitude of 2,320 metres, but those who wish can continue their descent, clocking up a total of 12 kilometres all the way down to Blatten.

Secured freeride runs

Starting in Blatten, the trail leads via Rischinen, Egga and Holzji to Aletschbord, where you can enjoy fine views of the Great Aletsch Glacier.

Snowshoeing

Holzji snowshoe trail

Starting in Blatten, the trail leads via Rischinen, Egga and Holzji to Aletschbord, where you can enjoy fine v...

Snowshoeing

As the name suggests, this easy and relatively short snowshoe hike leads from Blatten valley station through snowy Rischinu Forest to Stalden, making a detour to Gibidum dam above the Massa Gorge. Along the way you’ll be spoiled by Franz and his team at the Belstar restaurant.

Snowshoeing

Rischinerwald Trail

As the name suggests, this easy and relatively short snowshoe hike leads from Blatten valley station through s...

Snowshoeing

Tobogganing

Toboggan run Belalp-Blatten

Enjoy some snowy fun in an authentically charming setting by taking on the ten-kilometre sledge run between Blatten and Belalp. It crosses the village and follows a forest path with long curves. You can leave from the upper station of the Blatten-Belalp cable car and cross the authentically charming village of Belalp to reach the Bäll alpine pasture via a mountain path. The sledge run follows the ski run for a few metres before reaching the Voggelbrunnji forest path with its long curves, then continues along Tätschenstrasse before finishing in Blatten. You can even do this descent by moonlight. Feeling peckish? Enjoy a bite to eat at one of the restaurants, either in Belalp, en route to Tschuggen or on arrival in Blatten. A Ghosky sledge, which you steer simply by shifting your weight, offers you a more traditional descent. You can rent one directly at the cable car station.

Tobogganing