The 60 best outdoor activities in Valais region

Most of this region lies entirely in the Alps. Nevertheless, you will find enormous contrasts here. On the one hand, Valais includes particularly mighty mountain massifs and, on the other hand, pretty valleys along the Rhone. In addition to vineyards and side valleys, Valais is home to 41 four-thousand-meter peaks, 18 of which belong to the Monte Rosa group alone. Therefore, the region also has the most and the largest glaciers to offer.

There are 44 ski resorts in Valais with a total of more than 2600 km of slopes. 576 ski lifts provide access to the ski regions. The largest ski resorts in the region are:

• Les Portes du Soleil - Morzine/Avoriaz/Les Gets/Châtel/Morgins/
• Champéry with 580 km of slopes and 170 lifts
• 4 Vallées - Verbier/La Tzoumaz/Nendaz/Veysonnaz/Thyon with 412 km of pistes and 67 lifts
• Zermatt/Breuil-Cervinia/Valtournenche - Matterhorn with 322 km of slopes and 52 lifts
• Crans-Montana with 140 km of slopes and 19 lifts
• Grimentz/Zinal with 115 km of slopes and 21 lifts
• Aletsch Arena - Riederalp/Bettmeralp/Fiesch Eggishorn with 104 km of pistes and 35 lifts
• Saas-Fee with 145 km of pistes and 23 lifts

The Valais region includes far more than 200 lakes. Most of them are mountain lakes that you can find at altitudes between 1000 and 3000 meters. Among the most beautiful lakes are the Schwarzsee, the Riffelsee below the Gornergrat, the Stellisee with the reflection of the Matterhorn, the Bettmersee, the Champex-le-Lac and the reservoir Gibidum. Other popular lakes are the Blausee and the Daubensee on the Gemmi, which you can reach after a few minutes walk from the Gemmi mountain station.