Tour de la Seya
Ovronnaz
-4/2°
Panoramic walk along the high ridge linking La Seya and Grand Garde, famous for its variety of alpine flowers. Scenic chairlift ride up; gentle walk down to resort through forests and pastures.
Difficulty
DifficultLength
8.1 kmDuration
2:59 hDescription
The views from the high ridge west of Ovronnaz are mesmerising. At La Seya (2,182 m), at the northern end of the ridge, hikers enjoy a 360-degree view from the Finsteraarhorn to Mont-Blanc, including 35 peaks higher than 4,000 m. Grand Garde (2,145 m), at the southern end of the ridge, offers panoramic views of the whole Rhône valley, from the depths of the Lötschental to the sparkling Trient Glacier.
The high ridge is also the focus of a fascinating botanical trail. Enjoy an enchanting variety of flowers including narcissus anemone, alpine gentian, elder-flowered orchid and alpine pasqueflower – with details at information posts along the trail.
The Tour de La Seya begins at the top of the Jorasse chairlift with a gentle climb to the alpine pastures of Petit Pré and a steeper ascent to the imposing cross of the Seya, the highest point of the walk. The trail then leads south along the length of the ridge to Grand Garde.
The path back to Ovronnaz follows a clearly marked trail via the alpine pastures of Quieu and Odonne. Just above the bottom of the Jorasse chairlift, the path passes the Centre Sportif Cantonal: the leading sports training centre for the whole of Valais, used by schools, clubs and associations for a wide variety of sports camps.
Highlights
- Glorious ridge walk: thrilling views of the Rhône valley and snow-capped peaks
- Scenic chairlift ride up
- Abundance of alpine flowers – info panels along the way
Turn-by-turn directions
The trail begins at the top of the Jorasse chairlift. The Restaurant de Jorasse (1,940 m) has a large panoramic terrace as well as a fun children’s playground. Set off southwards in the direction of the meadows of Petit Pré; a further climb of another 30 minutes leads across larch forest and its 1,000 flowers of all colours up to La Seya.
The well-marked trail generally follows the crest of the ridge. To reach Grand Garde at the end of the ridge, hikers have to negotiate a rock fitted with chains; walkers who suffer vertigo can take a variant path instead down to the pastures of Quieu, and rejoin the main route there. The final stretch of trail is a leisurely descent through fragrant pine forest and across sunny meadows back to Ovronnaz.
Start
Jorasse (chairlift summit station) (1939m)
Destination
Ovronnaz village (1379m)
Author's recommendation
Soothe sore muscles with a relaxing visit to the resort’s thermal spa, Les Bains d’Ovronnaz.
Technical information
Altitude
2189m
1380m
Ascent
+287m
Descent
-847m
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