Le Tour des Alpages
Anzère
-3/1°
The hike leads through diverse landscapes past numerous alpine farms and mountain pastures. Discover alpine cheese production directly from the farmers. The return path runs pleasantly along the suone of Sion.
Difficulty
IntermediateLength
16.59 kmDuration
4:50 h
Description
Every summer, cows and sheep spend the warm months on the alpine farms above Anzère. The animals’ milk is processed daily into various cheese specialties. As a by-product of traditional alpine cheese, a seasonal delicacy is also created: Ziger – a mild, low-fat cheese made from whey. The hike passes three alpine farms and their herds. Along the way, watch the herders and cheesemakers at work and taste the products made on site.
The Tour des Alpages begins at the cable car parking lot and leads over a 3-kilometer ascent with 400m elevation gain to La Brune. The ascent can be shortened by taking the cable car to the middle station.
The next 7 kilometers pass the various alpine farms. Rose-Marie, the farmer at the first farm “Alpage de Tsalan d’Arbaz”, also runs a small restaurant offering refreshments with homemade products. A small ascent then leads you to the “Alpage de Duez”. The path becomes flatter again and leads to the “Alpage de Serin” with its modern cheese dairy. Visits and tastings in the dairy are possible by appointment.
Taste the local products from the alp before starting the descent via Bisse de Sion. The historic irrigation channel was built between 1901 and 1903 and carries water from the Lienne to the slopes above Sion.
On the hike you will discover diverse landscapes. The route is named after one of the most famous Valais running events. The “Tour des Alpages” sports event, which takes place on the same trail, attracts more than 1500 participants yearly in the categories running, Nordic walking, and a children's run.
Highlights of the route:
- Hike to three alpine farms – meet the cheesemakers on site and taste the products made on the alp.
- Varied views of the Rhone Valley and the snow-covered peaks of the Valais Alps.
- Suone of Sion – the historic irrigation channel guarantees a pleasantly refreshing return route.
Turn-by-turn directions
The start of the hike is located at the cable car station in Anzère: either hike the first part with 400 meters of elevation gain to La Brune or take the cable car to the middle station. The more relaxed option joins the original path shortly before the "Alpage de Tsalan d’Arbaz". A gentle ascent then leads to the "Alpage de Duez", where the path again gently descends to the last alpine farm, the "Alpage de Serin". Follow the signs here to Les Rousses.
The first part of the return route follows the suone "Bisse de Sion". Part of the irrigation channel runs underground, so follow the yellow signs to Les Grillesses and then to Anzère.
Start
Anzère, valley station gondola (1554m)
Destination
Anzère, valley station gondola (1553m)
Author's recommendation
Technical information
Altitude
2078m
1551m
Ascent
+635m
Descent
-635m
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Public transport
Approach
Parking
Source
This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion
