With the Tour du Val d’Hérens, you discover a preserved, authentic, timeless region of central Valais. Its sublime landscapes, its little frequented paths, its mountain range with peaks over 3000 and 4000 m, its typical villages, and its local gastronomy have nothing to envy to its big sister of the Tour du Mont-Blanc.

• Main activity: TREKKING
• Location: VAL D’HÉRENS
• Duration: 3 DAYS
• For whom: SPORTS
• Comfort: CHARM
• Category: COLLECTIVE STAY

YOUR ADVANTAGES

• A medium mountain guide will assist you throughout the course and will inform you about the region, the life of the valley, the flora or the fauna!
• Small group (6 people, or less with supplement)
• Comfort & authenticity with a selection of the best rooms in the most authentic and comfortable accommodation on your route, including 1 night in a charming mountain refuge
• Local products, wine and Valais specialties.
• Lightweight bags thanks to logistical assistance.
• All inclusive

INCLUDED

• 1 night half board in a charming hotel in a superior double room
• 1 night half-board in a refuge or mountain hotel
• 3 days with your guide in mid-mountain
• Picnic for the 3 days of hiking
• Taxi or transfers
• Baggage taxi
• 2 aperitifs with tasting of local products
• Coffee-croissants upon departure on the 1st day

NOT INCLUDED

• Your hiking equipment and meat bag (compulsory for the refuge) (see material list)
• Drinks, unless stated in the package
• Insurance (cancellation, rescue, repatriation, accidents …)

PROGRAM

D1 Essertses – Prafleuri

Meeting point in Vex for a coffee and croissants with your guide for the next 3 days. A taxi will take you to the Val des Dix, to the Essartées cabin. From there, you will take a section of the mythical Thyon-Dixence running route, on the hillside overlooking the Val des Dix, above the edge of the forest. You will have the opportunity to admire from afar the highest gravity dam in Europe, the Dixence, with a final climb in a magnificent valley, up to the Prafleuri hut. Perfect warm-up for a 1st day of trekking and to keep up your strength for the biggest stage that awaits you the next day. You will not pick up your luggage in the evening, but the next day in Arolla.

Approx. 4 hour walk

Included :

• 1 night with half board in a mountain refuge
• Picnic
• Taxi from Vex to Essertses
• Morning coffee and croissants

D2 Prafleuri – Arolla

This stage of the Tour du Val d’Hérens will take you from Val d’Hérémence to Val d’Hérens .

After a short climb from your mountain refuge, you will dive into the magnificent Lac de la Dixence (from the dam) by accommodating it to its source. You will then rise in an increasingly mineral universe to reach the Riedmatten pass which separates the 2 valleys and will allow you to enjoy a magnificent landscape on the surrounding mountains. During the descent, you will gradually regain contact with the plant world, especially through the splendid forest of arolla which has given its name to Arolla.

Approx. 6h walk

Included :

• 1 night in a superior double room, half board
• Welcome drink and appetizers
• Picnic
• Luggage transport

D3 Arolla – Les Haudères

In complete contrast to your ^1st stage, the heights give way to pastures in which you may have the chance to meet the famous val d’Hérens cows, whose name the Valley gave to the breed.

First of all, the arole will accompany you during the start of this hike. A pretty path will take you to the “Lac Bleu”, a magical place and ideal for a break. You will pass on the other side of the valley, to then discover the Haudères, one of the charming villages typical of the Valais, and particularly of the Val d’Hérens. Do not forget from time to time to turn around to admire the 4000m, including the Dent-Blanche and the Matterhorn, which overlook the bottom of the valley.

Included

• Picnic
• Aperitif-tasting of local products
• Luggage transport
• Taxi to Vex

Your addresses:

• D1: Cabane de Prafleuri – tel. +41 27 281 17 80
• D2: Arolla: Grand Hotel Kurhaus 3* – tel. +41 27 283 70 00

Your mid-mountain guide:

• Pierre Burnier
• Pierre will contact you the day before your departure to check with you the various details. A D1 coffee-briefing is scheduled for 8 a.m. in Vex.

Prerequisites

• Good physical condition is necessary. Indeed, you have to be able to walk for 4 days with an average of 5 to 6 hours per day.
• The habit of hiking in the mountains is desirable.
• See the list of useful equipment