Overview
Flanked by thirty-two 4,000m peaks, a spectacular experience awaits you on the Aletsch Glacier Panorama Trail. The Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacier in the Alps. It has a length of about 23km and covers about 82 sq km in the eastern Bernese Alps. This walking holiday offers intoxicating panoramas – even without having a glass of the famous Valais wines! The hike along the railway embankment of the Lötschberg train line takes in amazing views on the viaducts and leads past small streams and over suspension bridges towards the Great Aletsch Glacier. The hike ends with a walk towards the typical mountain village of Bellwald, where you can again enjoy the skyline of the snowy peaks of Valais.
- Breathtaking mountain landscapes
- Lötschberg train line viaducts
- Aletsch Glacier, the largest in the Alps
- Stay in comfortable hotels and enjoy Swiss specialities
- All luggage transfers included
Itinerary
Day 2: Gampel-Steg – Ausserberg/Brig | 12km
Today’s walk starts with a panoramic hike on the high-level BLS railway Südrampe (south ramp). Walk beside the Lötschberg Railway tracks to the imposing Bietschtal bridge. A lovely path then takes you beside historic irrigation channels (suonen) to a hanging bridge; you will enjoy superb views at Brägji and Riedgarten. Continue on to Brig by train.
- Walking for the day: 4-5h, 12km, ↑680m ↓300m
- Accommodation in Ausserberg: Bahnhof or similar
Day 3: Ausserberg/Brig – Belalp | 15-21km
Today you will again follow the suonen and the BLS railway line and take in impressive views of the Baltschieder viaduct. Some tours will start the day with the train from Brig back to Ausserberg. You will pass by the Swiss Guards Museum. From Naters either by foot or with the public bus, you will reach Blatten and from there take the cable car up to Belalp.
- Walking for the day: 7h, 21km, ↑1,265m ↓945m (alternative shorter option if you take the bus from Naters: 5h, 15km, ↑560m ↓870m)
- Accommodation in Belalp: Belalp or similar
Day 4: Belalp – Riederalp | 11km
Today you will enjoy great views over the lower part of Aletsch Glacier from Aletschbor. You will continue over a suspension bridge to the magical Aletschwald forest. Villa Cassel looms like an eagle’s nest on the Riederfurka ridge, surrounded by the magnificent Valais mountains.
- Walking for the day: 4h, 11km, ↑590m ↓775m
- Accommodation in Riederalp: Silbersand or similar
Day 5: Riederalp – Fiescheralp | 17km
Today, a string of vantage points provides a natural spectacle: to the north, the view of the Aletsch Glacier and to the south, the 4000m peaks of Valais. Your walk ends with a gentle descent to the Märjelensee lake, where cotton grasses and small tarns beautifully contrast with the rock and ice.
- Walking for the day: 5-6h, 17km, ↑710m ↓415m
- Accommodation in Fiescheralp: Alpenlodge Kühboden or similar
Day 6: Fiescheralp – Bellwald | 14km
The trail follows old Alpine paths down to the Burg, a rock massif of gneiss smoothed by glaciers. Against the backdrop of the Goms mountains, the Fiescher Glacier becomes visible. The 160-metre-long Aspi-Titter suspension bridge takes you to the idyllic mountain village of Bellwald.
- Walking for the day: 5h, 14km, ↑495m ↓1,135m
- Accommodation in Bellwald: Hotel Bellwald or similar
Day 7: Departure
Return home or individual stay extension.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms. Please note that twin rooms cannot always be guaranteed. In such cases, the room will feature a double bed with individual bedding.
Click to view default hotels
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Accommodation is on a bed & breakfast basis. Picnic lunches are optional at an additional charge and can be ordered locally. You can have dinner at your hotel or the restaurants in the villages.
Difficulty and terrain
Sure-footedness and good physical condition are mandatory. You must not be afraid of heights to go on this alpine tour, which includes a couple of pedestrian suspension bridge crossings. Some sections of the tour can be cut short in the case of bad weather using local transport (read more about difficulty grades). The trails are in perfect condition. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available on any date between June and October.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date in the season – so please indicate desired beginning date when booking.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By train or bus
- There are train stations at Fürgangen-Bellwald Talstation and Gampel if you want to start and end this tour by train. Fürgangen-Bellwald Talstation is 5.5km from Bellwald
- Return travel by cable car down to Fürgangen and by train via Visp back to Gampel-Steg; approx. 2h
- Parking is possible at the railway station in Gampel, c. CHF4.- per day.
- For more information use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- Six overnight stays with breakfast as described in the itinerary (all overnights in private rooms)
- Luggage transfer on all walking days (one piece of luggage per person, 20kg)
- Detailed digital route notes (1 x per room), Navigation App access
- SwitzerlandMobility-Plus subscription for one year
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Cable car (Bellwald – Fürgangen) and train (Fürgangen – Brig/Ausserberg-Brig) fare and other local transportation
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Printed travel documents available upon request at the time of the booking
