The area offers breathtaking alpine scenery, iconic peaks, the Aletsch Glacier, Leukerbad's thermal hot springs, world-class hiking and skiing, and more
The towering Matterhorn is an iconic symbol of Switzerland but is also only one of a number of tourism draws in the surrounding Valais region, with many of those attractions also having been created by Mother Nature, says the director Asia, North America for the VALAIS Matterhorn region.
Mario Braide notes the Alps have some 85 peaks that rise over 4,000 metres and over half of those are in his part of Switzerland, and even those who live in other parts of the alpine country are impressed by the lofty mountain scenery.
“This is a region where the Swiss go for holidays, summer and winter,” he said during the recent Lufthansa Group Travel Forum in Toronto.
The remarkably distinctive, 4,478-meter-high Matterhorn is believed by many to be the most photographed mountain on the planet.
The area has the only spot in Switzerland where people can see the towering Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Jungfrau peaks simultaneously.
But Braide added there are many other dramatic non-mountain sides to his part of Switzerland, with one of those being the 20km-long Aletsch Glacier, the longest ice flow in continental Europe and the center of the Swiss Alps’ Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site. Glacial hikes are available for those who enjoy the outdoors.
Braide – who was serving the classic Swiss dish raclette during the forum – said the VALAIS Matterhorn region has a “large range of summer experiences, winter experiences and culinary experiences” visitors can discover, with a third of Swiss wine coming from his region, and locals keeping their traditions alive in the home of the Alphorn, the lengthy, wooden musical instrument synonymous with Switzerland, Braide added.
As well, Leukerbad is the “largest hot springs resort in the Alps,” he continued. Leukerbad has 65 natural thermal springs and tourism officials note it combines “natural wellness with breathtaking mountain scenery and year-round outdoors adventure, thanks in part to over 200 km of hiking trails, 225 km of mountain biking routes and 55 km of ski slopes.”
Ryan Maxwell of My Leukerbad AG told the event that Leukerbad’s building a following among those seeking wellness is understandable, thanks to its never-ending supply of mineral-rich water.
“Four million liters of water comes out of the ground every single day,” he reported.
Leukerbad has 3 public thermal bath complexes, including saunas and wellness facilities. There are also 5 hotels with their own private thermal baths. Visitors will also find a 35-meter-high waterfall.
The overtourism that is plaguing some parts of the world isn’t an issue in Leukerbad, Maxwell stated, adding its “key DINA is peace.”
Tourism officials are also eager to promote Saas-Fee/Saastal, stating that in summer it has some 350 km of hiking trails in a high-alpine setting. There are also 80 km of biking trails.
Winter visitors will find a ski season that stretches from November to mid-April, making the Saas Valley the “ultimate paradise for winter sports lovers,” they add.
Other Saas-Fee/Saastal claims to fame include its being home to the Metro Alpin, the world’s highest underground funicular, and the world’s highest revolving restaurant.
