ALPINE PASSES TRAIL - SwissTrails

84 | HIKING SWITZERLAND
ALPINE PASSES
TRAIL
★ THE «SWISS GRAND CANYON»
A REAL SHOW EVEN ON FOOT!
★ WALSER VILLAGES AND CULTURE
nf
Swiss Grand Canyon
Basel
MAP
Bern
Grächen
Zinal
Luzern
Ulrichen
Zürich
Lago Ritom
Simplonpass
Saas Fee
All'Acqua
Ilanz
Vrin
Olivone
Chur
★ THE GREINA
A NATURAL PARADISE DERIVED FROM THE ENERGY INDUSTRY
★ VAL PIORA AND RITOMSEE
THE ALPINE FACE OF THE TESSIN REGION
★ VILLAGES IN THE GOMS REGION
★ PANORAMIC ROUTES
FACING THE 4000M ALPINE PEAKS
★ TURTMANNTAL VALLEY,
VAL D’ANNIVIERS
ANCIENT WALSER MOUNTAIN VALLEYS
★ ZINAL
DESTINATION AT 1700M AND AT THE FOOT OF THE GLACIER
ELEVATION PROFILE AND ROUTE STAGES
3000 m
2500 m
2000 m
1500 m
1000 m
500 m
0 m
Chur ••
Felsberg •
0 km
• Hotel Top Class
• Hotel Standard
• Hotel Budget
• Hostel
• sleeping-in-the-straw
... Optional transport
4
24
31
36
Versam •
Valendas •
Ilanz ••
Vella ••
Vrin ••
Passo dela Greina 2355 m
48
62
93
Olivone •
Acquacalda ••
Passo del Sole 2376 m
104
122
Lago Ritom •
Airolo ••
All’Aqua ••
128
Passo del Corno 2525 m
142
Ulrichen •
166
Niederwald ••
182
Saflischpass
2583 m
197
Bistinepass
2417 m
207
215
Binn ••
Rosswald ••
Brig ••
Simplonpass ••
233
Giw 2190 m
25
270
Visperterminen •
Saas Grund •
Saas Fee •
Grächen •
Augstbordpass
2893 m
Hannigalp 2122 m
292
316
Meidpass
2790 m
Gruben ••
Hotel Weisshorn •
Zinal ••
328
338
More Information 0 and reservations: 30 www.swisstrails.ch · Telephone +41 (0)43 422 60 22 · info@swisstrails.ch
60 90 120 150 180 210 240
270

HIKING SWITZERLAND | 85
OVERVIEW
The Alpine passes route has been opened
as a new national long distance hiking
trail in Spring 2008 as part of the «switzerlandmobilitye»
project. It begins in Chur,
crosses through the Vorderrhein gorge and
the Lugnez valley and continues across the
plateaus of Greina to Tessin. The route runs
through Ritomsee, Val Bedretto and the
Passo del Corno to Valais. Walkers can see
the high peaks at close hand over the Brig
– Zinal section and marvel at the powerful
panoramic views of the Valais 4000m mountains.
The route is suitable for experienced
walkers in good physical condition.
PART A: GRAUBÜNDEN
CHUR - VERSAM
Hiking time Reichenau - Versam: 4:00
In Reichenau, the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein
meet to form the Rhine river. Sometimes,
you can catch a glimpse of the adventurous
wild water rafters as they set off
down the «Swiss Grand Canyon».
EF Chur - Reichenau by train.
VERSAM - ILANZ Hiking time: 3:40
Today the route winds its way down into the
gorge of the wild Vorderrhein. Our tip: walk
in the morning and book a rafting tour in the
afternoon from Ilanz down the «Swiss Grand
Canyon»!
OLIVONE - ACQUACALDA
Hiking time: 4:30
The upper Bleniotal valley is rich in flora and
fauna – a beautiful area for walking, wellworth
exploring.
ACQUACALDA - LAGO RITOM / AIROLO
Hiking time: 5:10
From the Bleniotal valley, the route runs via
the Passo del Sole (2376m) to the Val Piora.
Here you can spend the night by the Ritom
Lake or take the cable railway / bus down
to Airolo.
PART B: TESSIN / WALLIS
AIROLO - ALL’AQUA Hiking time: 6:55
The route runs from Airolo to the Pesciüm
mountain and then along a panoramic route
along the left edge of the Bedrettotal valley.
ALL‘ACQUA/BEDRETTO - ULRICHEN
Hiking time All’Acqua - Ladstafel: 5:10
This route does not run via the Nufe nen
Pass but instead goes via the Passo del
Corno (2525m) located further south in the
Goms region.
EF Post bus Ladstafel - Ulri chen
runs two times daily..
ULRICHEN - NIEDERWALD
Hiking time: 6:30
A gentle walk through the beautiful Wals
villages of the Goms region.
PART C: WALLIS
BRIG / SIMPLONPASS - GIW
- VISPERTERMINEN
Hiking time Simplonpass - Giw: 5:00
From the Simplonpass, the route runs along
the Bistinepass (2417m) and onwards along
a panoramic route from Suonen to Giw.
EF Cable car Giw - Visperter minen.
VISPERTERMINEN - GIW
- SAAS-GRUND - SAAS FEE
Hiking time Giw - Saas-Grund: 7:00
Plea sant elevated panoramic route which
runs along at a fairly even height of 2000m.
EF Cable car Visperterminen -
Giw.
SAAS-GRUND - GRÄCHEN
Hiking time Saas Fee - Hannigalp: 7:00
A fantastic high trail with views of Balfrin,
Bietschhorn and Weissmies. The mountain
trail is very narrow in places and secured
with ropes.
EF
Bus Saas Grund - Saas Fee.
Cable car Han nig alp - Grä chen.
(GRÄCHEN) - ST.NIKLAUS- GRUBEN
Hiking time Jungu - Gruben: 6:00
Gentle ascent through the inner Tälli to the
Augstbordpass (2893m). This is the highest
point on the tour.
EF Bus Grächen - St.Niklausen,
Cable car St.Niklausen - Jungu.
GRUBEN - HOTEL WEISSHORN
Hiking time: 5:00
Spend the night at the exceptional Hotel
Weisshorn at 2337 m!
HOTEL WEISSHORN - ZINAL
Hiking time: 3:35
A gentle panoramic route to the fi nal destination
of Zinal. (Lack of accommodation
means that a continued journey through to
St. Gingolf cannot be booked).
SEASON 2012
15.06. - 15.10.2012 (daily service)
ILANZ - MORISSEN / VELLA
Hiking time: 4:30
The traditional wood hou ses of Vals OVER-
VIEWise the delightful little villages of the
Lumnezia valley.
VELLA - VRIN Hiking time: 4:30
A beautiful panoramic rou te with no no tab le
climbs, leading across the Alpine meadows
Lumnezia.
VRIN - GREINA
- CAMPO BLENIO / OLIVONE
Hiking time Puzzatsch - Pian Geirètt: 6:00
A walk through the Greina is an unforgettable
experience! .
EF
Bus Alpin Vrin - Puzzatsch
and from Pian Geirètt to Olivone. Book your
own additional stay over in the Terri-Hütte
(luggage transportation to Olivone available)
and experience the morning and evening
moods of the Greina!
NIEDERWALD - BINN Hiking time: 4:30
Terraced fields, mown meadows, the «Mähwiesen»,
Alpine meadows, trails, irrigation
channels, dry stone walls, barns and Alpine
cabins characterise this traditional cultural
landscape.
BINN - ROSSWALD / BRIG
Hiking time: 7:15
The walk runs through the delightful Saflischtal
valley to the Saflisch Pass (2583m)
and into the small ski resort of Rosswald
above Brig.
ROSSWALD - SIMPLON PASS / BRIG
Hiking time: 7:50
The route traces a wide arc around the
Gantertal valley along the the Simplon-Pass
road and on to the Simplon Pass. Various
short-cuts available. If required: Valley trip
to Brig by post bus (several trips each day).
Simplon - Giw
RATES (in CHF, per Person, incl. VAT.)
Part Category Start / Overnights / Finish Days / Nights Rate
Graubünden B Standard Hotel Chur B) - Versam - Ilanz - Vella - Vrin - Olivone B) 5/4 647.–
C Budget Hotel Chur C) - Versam - Ilanz - Vella - Vrin - Olivone B) 5/4 558.–
Tessin - Goms B Standard Hotel Olivone B) - Acquacalda - Airolo - All‘Acqua/Bedretto - Ulrichen B) 4/3 509.–
C Budget Hotel Olivone B) - Acquacalda - Lago Ritom - All‘Acqua/Bedretto - Ulrichen B) 4/3 442.–
Goms B Standard Hotel Ulrichen B) - Niederwald - Binn - Rosswald - Simplonpass B) 4/3 509.–
C Budget Hotel Ulrichen B) - Niederwald - Binn - Rosswald - Simplonpass C) 4/3 442.–
Wallis B Standard Hotel Simplonpass B) - Visperterminen - Saas Grund - Grächen - Gruben - Hotel Weisshorn - Zinal C) 6/5 785.–
Rates include: accomodation, breakfast, luggage transfer, travel documents, helpline.
Additional night: E) sleep-in-straw: 35.–, D) Hostel: 45.–, C) Budget Hotel: 75.–, B) Standard: 90.–, A) Top Class: 135.–