Valais/Wallis (East)
It's the Wallis, as the eastern part of Valais speaks German. As the French-speaking Valais, it's a region producing exquisite wines. The side-valleys climb to world-famous destinations as Zermatt, Saas Fee, Leukerbad...
Albinen
If you're looking for authenticity, the village of Albinen, between Leuk and Leukerbad, is for you. Not only is it one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland, it's also one of the least known, completely untouched by mass tourism and virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages.
Aletsch Glacier
The Aletsch Glacier (in German Aletschgletscher) is the largest glacier in the Alps, with a length of about 23 km and a surface of more than 120 sq km. It is situated in the Eastern Alps of the canton of Valais.
Bettmeralp
Clinging to the mountain slopes above the upper Rhone Valley, Bettmeralp is a car-free village, just like Saas Fee and Zermatt. You can get there by cable car... or on foot!
Blatten
Highest inhabited part of Lötschental, 1540 m above the sea, this picturesque village is a Swiss Heritage Site, and the region is included in the Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area (UNESCO World Heritage site).
Brig
Brig, the last town in the Upper Valais before the Alpine passes, is a rail and road junction linking north and south as well as west and east. This position as a European crossroads has given Brig a rich history, and the old town is well worth a visit.
Daubensee
This natural lake lies at an altitude of 2207m north of the Gemmi Pass, in the Valais part of the Bernese Alps. Its circumference of just over 4km is covered by a beautiful hiking trail.
Fafleralp
At the very end of the Lötschental road, the Fafleralp mountain pasture attracts many hikers who love the wilderness. There is a large car park, two restaurants in season, a campsite without comfort, a romantic hotel, a chapel, two tiny hamlets and a breathtaking scenery.
Fiesch
In the Goms Valley, at the foot of Eggishorn, a peak overlooking Aletschgletscher. Goms Valley stretches from Brig to 3 alpine passes connecting Wallis (Valais) to Tessin (Nufenen), Bern (Grimsel) and Uri (Furka). Great area for summer hikes and winter sports.
Furka
The Furka Pass, 2429 m over sea level, is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps, connecting the Goms Valley (Valais/Wallis), to Andermatt (Uri, Central Switzerland), along the Rhône Glacier. Scenes of Goldfinger, with Sean Connery as James Bond, were shot here.
Gemmi Pass
The Gemmi Pass, at an altitude of 2270m, is one of the few passes that once provided a link between the Valais and the Bernese Oberland. It has never been passable by car, and its side overlooking Leukerbad was long considered impassable. Nowadays, a cable car climbs it in both summer and winter.
Gornergrat
The Gornergrat is, together with the Matterhorn, the big star of Zermatt. It is a summit ridge at 3133 m altitude offering breathtaking views of the glaciers and the highest peaks of the Alps.
Grimsel
The Grimsel is a Swiss high mountain pass, 2,165 m above sea level, connecting the Haslital (upper valley of the Aar river, in Bernese Highland) to the Rhone Valley, in Valais. It is situated near the source of the Rhone River.
Lötschberg
Many mountain passes connect north and south of the Alps, but most are not accessible by car. Loetschberg Tunnel car shuttle train, between Kandersteg and Goppenstein, is the only connection open all year long between Bern and Valais.
Leuk
Between Sierre and Gampel, a satellite communication station will catch your eye. It's the big ears of the Swiss Intelligence Service. Have a look to the left: you'll see the little city of Leuk, with its castle renovated by renowned architect Mario Botta.
Leukerbad
Leuk's Baths (Loèche-les-Bains in French), at the foot of the Gemmi. The history of the springs dates back to the Roman times and the Gemmi Pass has been an important connection between Valais and Bern in past centuries.
Matterhorn / Cervin
Matterhorn... or, in French, Cervin... The most mythical summit of Switzerland, or even Europe! South of Zermatt, on the border between Switzerland and Italy, peaking at 4,478 m (14,691 ft) above the sea.
Mattmark
Dam and lake at the end of Saastal. West of the lake, there are three summits of the Mischabel Massif that peak over 4000 m: Strahlhorn (4190 m), Allalinhorn (4027 m) and Rimpfischhorn (4199 m).
Mörel
Situated in the upper Rhone Valley, 10 km north-east of Brig, the small village of Mörel is the departure point for the cable cars to Riederalp and the Hohfluh and Moosfluh viewpoints on the Aletsch Glacier.
Novena/Nufenen
Highest mountain pass with paved road in Switzerland, 2,478 m (8,130 ft) above the sea. It connects Ulrichen (Wallis/Valais) to Airolo (Ticino/Tessin). Open June-October.
Pfynwald / Bois de Finges
The forest of Finges (Pfynwald in German) is one of the largest pine forests in Central Europe. It is located in the Rhône Valley and marks the border between the French-speaking and German-speaking parts of Valais. It is a nature reserve of national importance, home to an exceptional wealth of species.
Raspille (Pyramides de la)
Spectacular geological formations rise above the torrent that marks the language border between the French-speaking Valais and the German-speaking Upper Valais.
Saas-Almagell
Saas-Almagell is the last of the three villages lined up along the Saastal, the valley above which the famous destination of Saas Fee is perched.
Saas-Balen
Saas-Balen is the first of the three villages lined up along the Saastal, the valley above which the famous destination of Saas Fee is perched.
Saas-Fee
High above the Saastal, Saas Fee is like Zermatt a village without cars, at the foot of 13 mountains over 4,000 m above sea level.
Saas-Grund
When driving from Visp towards Zermatt, in Stalden the alpine valley divides in two: the right branch is the Mattertal, climbing to Zermatt and the Matterhorn, and the left branch is the Saastal, nicknamed Free Republic of Holidays.
Salgesch / Salquenen
Salgesch (Salquenen in French) is a wine-growing village on the language border to the east of Sierre and the Finges Woods (Pfynwald). It is an exceptional wine-growing region, producing some of Switzerland's finest vintages, which have won numerous international awards.
Simplon Pass
This high mountain pass connects Brig (Wallis/Valais) to Domodossola (Italy). Highest point is 2,006 m (6,578 ft) above sea level and it is open all year long.
Turtmann
Halfway between Sierre and Visp, the village of Turtmann goes almost unnoticed, revealing its charms only when you move away from the main road. To the south of the village, a 42m-high waterfall marks the entrance to the Turtmanntal, a wild and little-known valley.
Ulrichen
A village in the Goms Valley (Vallée de Conches), above Fiesch. Start of the Nufenen (Novena) Pass connecting Wallis (Valais) to Ticino (Tessin).
Varen / Varonne
Situated between Salgesch and Leuk, Varen (Varonne in French) is a small wine-growing village whose vintages have nothing to envy those of its famous neighbour Salgesch, even if they are much less well-known.
Visp / Viège
Visp (in French Viège) is a town in the German-speaking part of Valais, at the lower end of the Mattertal and Saastal valleys climbing to Zermatt and Saas Fee.
Wiler
With just over 500 inhabitants, Wiler is the largest village in the Lötschental and the valley's most important tourist destination. In winter, it is the departure point for the cable car up to the Lauchernalp ski area.
Zermatt
Probably the best known Swiss place in the whole world: situated at the foot of the Matterhorn (Cervin), the most picturesque mountain of Europe, it is an ideal starting point to discover the highest peaks of the Alps, some 4,000 m above sea level.
 
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