The dreamy landscapes of Switzerland’s Valais region are a romantic mix of vineyards, mountain valleys, authentic villages and imposing glaciers and peaks over 4,000 metres. The Valais is home to countless hours of sunshine, mixed with a wonderfully snowy winter season that makes the bilingual region (French and Swiss-German) a spellbinding winter playground.

Alpine Adventures in the Valais

In the Dents du Midi region, feel at home in the quaint Swiss Chalet-style village of Champéry. Enjoy winter sports like curling and skating at the Palladium or ski on the alpine powder in the Portes du Soleil ski region shared with France. Four Swiss resorts, Champéry, Les Crosets, Champoussin and Morgins, operate 37 lifts accessing sunny slopes for all ages and ski abilities.

Nearby, experience tobogganing and snowshoeing in Les Marécottes and overnight at the Zoo des Marécottes Boutique Hôtel. This unique accommodation is in a three-hectare wildlife park with deer, marmots and other alpine fauna.

In the heart of the 4 Vallées, which is home to Switzerland’s largest ski resort, less intensive but equally scenic winter scenes await in Nendaz. Snow-covered trails follow historic irrigation channels, known as “bisses,” where the classic sounds of the alphorn, a historic instrument used in this region for centuries, are popular.

Charming Martigny, at the foot of the Col du Grand St. Bernard, offers an intoxicating mix of history, culture and nature. The town, which is known for its vibrant arts and cultural foundations, is also home to several Roman ruins, including thermal baths and an amphitheatre that once seated up to 5,000 people.

Wellness Highlights

Wellness opportunities abound in scenic Martigny. The new Hotel Borsari allows guests to experience extraordinary underground baths constructed in former 19th-century wine tanks. Or enjoy a therapeutic thermal soak at the Bains de Saillon with Alps views.

Just outside of town, wander the hallowed stone halls of the Abbey of St. Maurice, which was built 1,500 years ago and is one of the oldest monasteries in Western Europe.

The Valais is Switzerland’s most important wine-making region, known for its excellent wines, including some notable crus. Enjoy scrumptious tastings at Les Celliers de Sion in an architecturally stunning “Oenopark.”

Did You Know?

The Valais is home to the oldest St. Bernard breeding program in the world. Once used as a rescue dog on the Great St. Bernard Pass, the faithful St. Bernard has been the Swiss national dog since 1848. Barry, the most famous St. Bernard of them all, is said to have saved over 40 people. A Barryland Theme Park, designed in the shape of a dog’s paw print, is scheduled to open in 2025.