Alpine Switzerland in Summer is world famous for it's floral mountain meadows, stunning lakes and mighty peaks. The food is fantastic and the villages are beautiful. This is reason enough for the popularity of a Swiss summer holiday in the mountains.
And like you all know, this summer we decided to explore the Zermatt - Val d'Anniviers region!
For your convenience we have curated some of the top and best things to do in Val d'Anniviers which is perfect for 3 to 5 days itinerary!
Top things to do in Val d'Anniviers:
1. Walk among the red geraniums and sun blackened houses of Grimentz
The main villages of Val d'Anniviers are Vissoie, St-Luc, Ayer, Grimentz, Zinal and Chandolin. Each has its own beauty, but for us Grimentz with its sun-blackened traditional houses decked in blooming red geraniums had a particular rustic charm that we never tired of.
Grimentz is a traditional mountain village at 1570m altitude in the Swiss Canton of Valais. The area has been home to nomad farmers for thousands of years but the medieval town centre we see today dates back to the 16th century. Whichever village you stay in, a visit to Grimentz simply to stroll through the old town, soaking up the atmosphere and gazing out over the diverse terrain of the mountains & valleys give rise to all kinds of beautiful and exciting natural spectacles.
2. Moiry Glacier
This glacier, although only about 5km in length, is extremely impressive. Located about 12km south of Grimentz one can drive or here and try a number of good hiking trails, taking in great views of the glacier.
3. Explore Zinal
At 1670m, Zinal is 12km south of Vissoie, at the end of the Val d'Anniviers. While Matterhorn climbers start from Zermatt, a valley to the east, climbers for five other 4000+m peaks seen from the Zermatt side, start their climbs from Zinal. This is a grand base for both summer and winter sports. The ski area is interconnected with that of and the village has a number of hotels which also boast restaurants and bars.
4. Pass Anniviers Liberte - Stay in Grimentz with Mountain Heaven & get the Pass Anniviers!
You might think of a Swiss summer holiday as painfully expensive but that's only half the story. Self catered accommodation in Grimentz is reasonably priced and very comfortable with the ' Pass Anniviers Liberte' - a special summer pass offered by the Swiss tourist board. The culture, the fun and the adventure literally doesn't have to cost a penny.
The pass is available from June to October, all our guests in Grimentz can pick one up for free!
Few things that come with the pass
Free access to selected lifts up the mountains Free access to swimming & sports families Free use of several main bus routes Free access to the below mentioned tours Guided tour of the Moiry dam / Grimentz Guided tour of the hydroelectric power station / Mottec Guided tour of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Observatory / St-Luc
Find out more about the pass and the full list of benefits.
5. Take the cable car from Grimentz to Corne de Sorebois
Val d'Anniviers has a great selection of cable cars to take visitors high onto the surrounding hills, either to look over the valley and have a drink in the cafes or to get a headstart on a hike into the higher peaks. The cable cars from Grimentz to Bendolla, from Zinal to ski station Sorebois and the chair lift from Chandolin are all beautiful. However, if you only ride one cable car we'd recommend taking the ride from Grimentz to Corne de Sorebois. The car swings out over the gaping valley and rising up to 2896m (the highest car station in the valley). This was a spectacular treat for the passengers. The view from the Corne was one of the greatest outlooks in the whole area, including sweeping views along the whole Val d'Anniviers and the five 4000m peaks at the crown of the Zinal.
Our Favourite Flight/Hotel Booking sites:
After traveling consistently for over 3 years, we've come to trust and rely on a few websites to help us find the best deals on flights and accommodation.
Flights: Skyscanner is the first place we check when searching for cheap flights. It searches hundreds of sites for the best fare and includes both standard and budget airlines. The price calendar feature shows the cheapest days to fly in your preferred month of travel.
Accommodation: Hotelscombined.com cuts through availability and prices from all the top travel websites from around the world, including Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, Agoda, AccorHotels, Hilton and many more. In one quick and easy search, we show you only the information you want to know and need to know. You'll find just what you're after and can be sure you got the most out of your booking.
Our Hotel: Chalet Les Rahas by Mrs. Miggins Featuring ski in/out facilities and a sauna, Chalet Les Rahas by Mrs Miggins is situated in Grimentz and provides comfortable accommodation. Some of the premium facilities at this 4-star property include ski passes and complimentary Wi-Fi. It is set close to various restaurants, cafés and shopping areas and also provides an ideal location to explore Zermatt and Murren.
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