Hiking around the Aletsch Glacier

Last wekend we woke up on a sunny morning and headed off for the hiking tour to Aletsch Glacier and suspension bridge in Valais. I found this suspension bridge when I was searching for some hike paths and I just couldn't stop thinking that I had to do it. Having my boyfriend visiting me this weekend and wanting to show him one of the reasons why I am in love with this country was just the perfect excuse. :)

The Aletshc Glacier is the largest glacier in the Alps and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001. For anyone who wants to go SBB has a nice package deal with train, bus and cable car tickets included.

It took us almost 2 hours to get from Lausanne to Brig, where we then took a bus to Blatten bei Naters. From here we took the cable car that would take us to the starting point of the hike - Belalp.

cable car to Belalp

The hike starts at hotel Belalp that is just 10-20 min walk from the cable car. This hike is not very long, it's around 11 km, although it has abrupt variations of height. On the board signs it says that it takes around 6h, of course it will allways depend on you. It tooked us 5h30 and we were walking without hurry stopping everywhere to enjoy the view and take pictures.

height profile

Bruchegg - 2128m

starting point

The Aletsh Glacier

From this point the way was allways down until we found the bridge. There were signs (red and white) along the way and also the yellow board signs, so it's hard to get out of the right path. Some pics on the way down...

my love <3

Here we found two nice guys that confirmed that we were on the right track. One of them tolds us with a big smile "Enjoy the way down". At the time we thought he was just beeing nice. Silly us...

Our friends blocking the way ;)

Our gold

A few more meters and we got there, there was no way back.

sweet

stunning

Hängebrücke - 1599m 

From this point on, the way is allways up. We continued the hike without stopping for lunch, although we should. The way up is very steep, so I advise anyone who wants to do this hike to stop for a while and eat something to get energy for the way up.

At this point we understood the smile of the guy (it's allways up to the top)

The view from the top. Amazing!

Totally worth it

Riederfurka - 2065m

There's a hotel on the top, great to buy refreshments, from here we just had to walk down on the other side until Rideralp to get the cable car down to Mörel.

In Mörel we took the train to Brig and then to Lausanne.

Since we had to wait more than 1 hour in Brig, and despite beeing tired we enjoyed our time walking on the city center.

More information about this hike here and here.


This one was great, so I'm already looking forward for the next one.

p.s.1: Optei escrever este post em inglês para que a informação esteja disponível a outros aventureiros que queiram fazer a caminhada e, tal como eu costumem pesquisar na net mais informações.

p.s.2: Por incrível que pareça encontramos portugueses a trabalhar tanto no local de partida, na construção de uma casa e no final, no hotel. Estamos em todo o lado, até nos lugares mais remotos. ;)