With the arrival of the summer season and a view to autumn 2026, the Canton of Valais is relaunching its tourism offerings, also targeting the Italian market. The goal is to enhance a region that combines Alpine landscapes, sustainability, culture, and gastronomic traditions, offering a mountain experience increasingly focused on sustainable mobility and respect for the environment.
Located in southern Switzerland and characterized by French-German bilingualism, Valais is known for its 45 peaks over 4,000 meters, numerous glaciers, extensive terraced vineyards, alpine lakes, and thermal springs. Its natural features are complemented by a tourism system that has invested over the years in sustainable transport links, car-free destinations, and activities for all visitor groups.
Water is one of the elements that best reflects the canton's identity. Glaciers, streams, artificial lakes, thermal springs, and the historic irrigation canals called bite They constitute a natural and cultural heritage that accompanies visitors along numerous itineraries. Added to this is an offering that integrates hiking, outdoor sports, culture, gastronomy, and wellness, making Valais a suitable destination for both extended stays and short breaks.
Saas-Fee and the Saas Valley: The car-free mountain
Among the most iconic locations for sustainable tourism is the Saas Valley, comprising the villages of Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund, Saas-Almagell, and Saas-Balen. Surrounded by eighteen peaks over 4,000 meters, this area has retained a strong Alpine identity and has focused on low-impact mobility for decades.
Saas-Fee, in particular, has been completely closed to car traffic since 1951. Travel is done on foot or by electric vehicles, helping to maintain a peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
Guests staying in the valley receive the SaastalCard, a digital card that allows free use of the ski lifts in summer and electric public transport all year round.
The trail network offers numerous opportunities for hiking enthusiasts. Among the most popular routes is the Almageller Höhenweg, which passes through high-altitude environments and offers views of the Mischabel mountain range, while the Glacier Trail connects Saas-Fee to the Mattmark reservoir, crossing two glaciers, the Hohlaub and the Allalingletscher.
The interactive path has been developed for families Eddie & Mountain Weather, dedicated to discovering the Alpine climate through digital installations and content designed for adults and children. Those wishing to delve deeper into the effects of climate change can explore the Gletscherlehrpfad, an educational trail with twelve stations illustrating the role of glaciers in the evolution of the landscape.
There's no shortage of wellness options, such as Kneipp paths in various villages in the valley, as well as a water-themed treasure hunt for families.
Among the most innovative experiences is VirtuAllalin, an installation located at Mittelallalin, at an altitude of 3.500 meters. Thanks to virtual reality, it allows visitors to fly over the glacier with three-dimensional images and immersive videos, completing the experience with a digital interaction based on artificial intelligence.
Tradition and gastronomy meet on Alpe Hannig, where you can watch mountain cheese being made over an open fire, while every September the Nostalgische Genussmeile offers a gastronomic itinerary through the village streets with tastings of local products and live music.
Mountain bikers also find new opportunities thanks to the expansion of the Mattmark Lake Trail, a loop that leads to the Mattmark Dam, one of the region's major hydroelectric facilities.
More information can be found at www.saas-fee.ch.
Zermatt and the Matterhorn: historic railways and sustainable mobility
Among the most famous resorts in Valais is Zermatt, dominated by the silhouette of the Matterhorn. Here, too, mobility follows strict rules: cars are not allowed into the village and must be left in the Täsch parking lot, about six kilometers away. Travel is exclusively on foot or by electric vehicle.
The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, on the Klein Matterhorn at 3.883 meters above sea level, can be reached year-round via a cable car system that also connects Switzerland with Breuil-Cervinia in Italy, making it possible to cross the border on the same day.
One of the symbols of Valais tourism remains the Gornergrat Railway, inaugurated in 1898 and considered Switzerland's first electric rack railway. The train departs from the Zermatt station and ascends to the 3.089-meter Gornergrat, crossing forests, alpine meadows, and glacial areas.
Along the way, views open up of the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, Lyskamm, Breithorn, Weisshorn, and Gornergletscher, the second largest glacier in the Alps. Along the way, you'll also encounter Lake Riffelsee, famous for the Matterhorn's reflection in its waters.
Among the novelties of the season is the temporary exhibition Rock Stars: Women on the Matterhorn, dedicated to the first female mountaineers who tackled the ascent of the Matterhorn, while the Kirchbrücke platform, one of the most popular photographic spots in the village, has also been expanded.
The train route can also be combined with a trip aboard the Glacier Express, one of Switzerland's most famous railway routes.
Information:
- Zermatt: www.zermatt.swiss
- Gornergrat Railway: www.gornergrat.ch
Aletsch Arena and the largest glacier in the Alps
Among the most iconic natural sites in Valais is the Great Aletsch Glacier, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At approximately twenty kilometers long and covering 79 square kilometers, it is the largest glacier in the Alps.
The area can be reached via the ski lifts that connect Bettmeralp, Riederalp and Fiescheralp, three villages that are also free of car traffic.
The summer offering includes numerous hiking trails, such as the Aletsch Panoramaweg, observation points such as Eggishorn, Bettmerhorn and Moosfluh, as well as itineraries that allow you to get close to the edge of the glacier accompanied by mountain guides.
Great attention is also paid to scientific dissemination. Various trails illustrate the effects of climate change, while at the Bettmerhorn, a multimedia exhibition tells the history of glaciers and the transformations affecting this environment.
The area is also home to a rich alpine fauna, easily observed during excursions: deer, chamois, ibex, and marmots populate much of the nature reserve.
For families, routes suitable for strollers have been mapped out, while the Aletsch Panorama Lunch offer combines a lift pass with lunch at a mountain hut.
Particularly striking is the 124-meter-long suspension bridge over the Massa Gorge, built in an area once occupied by the glacier. Today, it also represents tangible evidence of the glacial retreat in recent decades.
In 2026, the Pro Natura Aletsch Center will also celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in the historic Villa Cassel, a structure that has promoted knowledge and protection of Alpine ecosystems for half a century.
More information can be found at www.aletscharena.ch.
Valais Summer 2026 in Leukerbad: Wellness Meets the Mountains
Among the most famous relaxation destinations in Valais is Leukerbad, considered the largest spa resort in the Alps. Every day, approximately 3,9 million liters of thermal water flow from 65 natural springs, with temperatures reaching 51 degrees Celsius and properties appreciated for their relaxing and revitalizing effects.
The town's main spa is the Leukerbad Therme, featuring numerous indoor and outdoor pools filled with natural water. It also boasts the Walliser Alpentherme & Spa, offering superior wellness experiences, and the Therme 51°, as well as spa facilities reserved for guests of some hotels.
The experience isn't limited to the spa, however. During the summer, the area offers a dense network of hiking trails leading to the Gemmi Pass, also accessible by cable car, from where itineraries depart for the Canton of Bern.
Among the most interesting options is the Hot Springs Trail, also known as Canyon Walk. The trail crosses the Dala Creek gorge via metal walkways and a suspension bridge, allowing for close-up views of the springs and a 35-meter-high waterfall.
For more experienced hikers, the Gemmi–Daubenhorn via ferrata is available, considered one of the most challenging in the Alps. Mountain biking, hiking, and golf round out the offerings for those who prefer less extreme activities.
Families also find dedicated options thanks to the Thermi Trail, a two-and-a-half-kilometer route punctuated by ten educational and fun stops.
More information is available at www.leukerbad.ch.
The Canton Valais for summer 2026, told through its flavors
Alongside its natural beauty, Valais maintains a strong gastronomic identity. The canton is Switzerland's leading wine-growing region, growing over fifty grape varieties at altitudes ranging from 400 to 1.150 meters.
Among the most representative grape varieties are Arvine, Cornalin, Fendant, Humagne Rouge and Heida, the latter grown mainly in the Visperterminen area, where some of the highest vineyards on the continent are located.
One of the most interesting is Celliers de Sion, Switzerland's first wine park, located at the foot of the Clavau terraces. Tastings, guided tours, and outdoor activities are organized here, including a puzzle trail set in the vineyards.
Among the most curious stops is the famous Farinet vineyard in Saillon, one of the smallest in the world, next to which is the tiny vineyard dedicated to the Dalai Lama, a symbol of peace and dialogue.
For those who want to get to know the area better, there is the Chemin du Vignoble, an itinerary of approximately 82 kilometers that connects Martigny to Leuk, passing through historic villages and wineries.
Throughout the year, numerous producers open their cellars to the public, while events like the March of the Vines offer a combination of tastings and walks among the vines.
The gastronomic offering also includes traditional products such as PDO raclette, PGI dried meat, PGI raw ham, and PDO rye bread. The quality of the cuisine is also demonstrated by the numerous restaurants awarded by major food guides.
The locations of the Canton Valais in the summer of 2026 are also designed for families
Valais pays particular attention to family tourism through eleven destinations that offer specific services for children and parents.
Among these, Grächen stands out, a traffic-free village that hosts themed play areas, interactive trails, and nature experiences designed for the little ones.
Nendaz also offers easy itineraries along the ancient bite, playgrounds and summer activities dedicated to families.
On the shores of Lake Geneva, Le Bouveret is home to the Swiss Vapeur Parc, a large open-air railway park where miniature locomotives travel along a network of tracks between bridges, tunnels, stations and reconstructions of Swiss landscapes.
Nature, culture and historic cities
Valais' natural heritage is complemented by numerous places of historical and cultural interest.
Between Sierre and Gampel lies the Pfyn Forest, one of the largest continuous Scots pine forests in the Alps, located within the Pfyn-Finges Regional Nature Park. The area alternates between wetlands, forests, ponds, and arid environments, offering remarkable biodiversity.
Another special attraction is the underground lake of Saint-Léonard, the largest navigable natural lake in Europe, located inside a cave. Visits are conducted exclusively by boat, accompanied by guides.
Among the main centers of the canton, Sion stands out, dominated by the hills of Valère and Tourbillon, where religious buildings, remains of medieval fortifications and one of the best-preserved historical organs in Europe coexist.
Saint-Maurice, on the other hand, houses an abbey founded in 515, as well as a system of fortifications dug into the mountain and which can be visited today.
Martigny preserves evidence of the Roman era and is home to the Fondation Gianadda, one of Switzerland's main cultural centers, as well as Barryland, a museum dedicated to the famous St. Bernard dogs.
Brig is best known for the Stockalper Palace, an imposing baroque complex built in the 17th century by the entrepreneur Kaspar Stockalper, a key figure in the development of trade across the Simplon Pass. The city is also a convenient starting point for visiting Brigerbad and the village of Mund, where DOC saffron is grown.
How to get to Valais
Valais is also easily accessible from Italy.
Those who choose the train can take advantage of direct connections from Milan, consulting timetables and connections on the website www.ffs.ch.
By car, you can reach the canton via the Simplon Pass, the Great St. Bernard Pass, or the Great St. Bernard Tunnel. Rail transport is also available between Iselle and Brig.
For those arriving by plane, the nearest airports are Geneva and Zurich, both connected to the Swiss rail network.
With its car-free resorts, vast glaciers, hiking trails, spas, culture, and gastronomic traditions, Valais boasts a tourism offering that satisfies a wide range of interests throughout the summer and autumn, championing a development model increasingly focused on sustainability and regional exploration.
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