Sentier des Sens La Tzoumaz (Path of the Senses)
La Tzoumaz
2/10°
The "Sentier des Sens" (Path of the Senses) invites active people of all ages to experience alpine nature in a different way through sounds, tastes, and the sense of touch. The beautiful hike along the water begins at the fascinating forest house "Maison de la Forêt."
Difficulty
EasyLength
5.5 kmDuration
1:30 h
Description
The "Sentier des Sens" (Path of the Senses) is a 5.5 km long hike (round trip) for nature lovers of all ages. The path is also accessible for strollers and wheelchairs and was originally developed in collaboration with a school for visually impaired children in Lausanne. Since then, it invites hikers to discover nature with all their senses—especially touch, hearing, and taste.
The path begins at the “Maison de la Forêt.” With an interactive exhibition about local wildlife, a botanical garden, and an adventure playground, the place already invites you to linger. A 5-sense quiz booklet for the hike is available in the associated café. In a series of games around the forest house as well as on the hike, you learn more about our five senses. The booklet is available in French, English, and German—and the panels along the hike are also in Braille.
On the hike, you discover your surroundings in a different way: taste the scent of flowers and trees, listen to birdsong, and feel the texture of the ground under your feet. The route runs along a historic irrigation channel originally built to bring glacier water to irrigate fields and gardens in the villages. The “Bisse de Saxon” irrigation channel was hand-built around 1850 and, at 26 km in length, is the longest in Valais.
At “Le Marteau” there is a picnic area with tables and a fireplace. The forest house “Maison de la Forêt” is open from the end of May to the end of September and also on weekends in October.
Highlights of the hike:
- Forest house "Maison de la Forêt" with interactive exhibition, adventure playground, and café.
- 5 senses quiz – games and puzzles along the hike.
- The flat path along an irrigation channel is accessible with strollers and wheelchairs.
- Fully equipped picnic area with tables and fireplace.
Turn-by-turn directions
Starting at the Maison de la Forêt, the path first leads through the forest along the irrigation channel "Bisse de Saxon." At "Les Pontets" you hike through the subalpine forest and over fields before returning to the channel along the stream "La Fare."
The picnic area is located about one kilometer from the start/end of the hike.
Start
La Tzoumaz, Maison de la Forêt (1682m)
Destination
La Tzoumaz, Maison de la Forêt (1682m)
Author's recommendation
Technical information
Altitude
1749m
1683m
Ascent
+66m
Descent
-66m
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