Arolla cross-country ski loop | full version
Arolla
9/22°
Full loop including an easy first part and a more technical second section, exploring the upper Arolla valley, from Satarma to the foot of the glaciers.
Difficulty
DifficultLength
15.24 kmDuration
4:00 h
Description
Along the way, take a break at La Monta, at the Hôtel-Restaurant de la Tza.
The entire route offers breathtaking views of the Pigne d'Arolla and Mont Collon.
Turn-by-turn directions
The first part is easy up to La Monta, where one can enjoy a well-deserved break at the "Aiguille de la Tsa" hotel. Several shortcuts allow this flatter part of the trail to be completed without continuing on to the more challenging section. The route then becomes more demanding, with an initial 2.5-kilometre climb and a 100-metre elevation gain through Tsalion, which leads to the foot of the ski lifts and continues towards the Arolla hydroelectric plant. This is followed by another 100-metre climb over two kilometres to reach the highest point of the route in an exceptional environment in the region of the lower Arolla glacier.
After this, glide down a steady slope along the river to Arolla, La Monta, Pramousse, then Satarma, and return to the starting point.
Start
Satarma (1808m)
Destination
Satarma (1808m)
Author's recommendation
Satarma - Plan Lucel = Easy
Plan Lucel - La Monta = Intermediate
La Monta - Lower Arolla Glacier = Difficult
Technical information
Altitude
2120m
1797m
Ascent
+338m
Descent
-338m
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Public transport
From Sion, take the Sion-Les Haudères bus line. In Les Haudères, take the bus towards Arolla and get off at the Satarma stop.
Approach
Cantonal road towards Les Haudères.
In Les Haudères, continue straight towards Arolla until Satarma.
Parking
Source
This activity is brought to you by Val d'Hérens Tourisme. Valais/Wallis Promotion is not responsible for the content provided.