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Tailor Made Rail · Self-guided walking holiday

Valais Walking Holiday

Self-guided hiking from Basel through Valais, based in Belalp above the Aletsch Glacier

Illustration of Valais Walking Holiday

Tailor Made Rail's Valais Walking Holiday is a 6-day self-guided mountain escape based in Belalp, a quiet village perched above Switzerland's Aletsch Glacier. The journey starts in London, traveling by Eurostar and TGV Lyria to Basel, then by train and cable car to your base in the Swiss Alps. From there, you spend three nights as your own hiking guide, with flexible routes suited to your fitness: one day you walk to Tyndalldenkmal beside a mountain lake with views of the Matterhorn, another offers a choice between a steep 6-hour summit hike to Foggenhorn or a gentler loop. The package includes all rail travel with seat reservations, hotel stays with breakfast and dinners in Belalp, packed lunches, transfer shuttles, hiking notes, and maps. It suits independent walkers and couples seeking flexible mountain days without a guide group, and those comfortable navigating multi-leg rail journeys across Europe.

What to know before you look closer

  • Day 4 hiking is optional; the itinerary presents two routes of very different difficulty, and the harder option requires good fitness.
  • Hotels are listed 'or similar', meaning your final accommodation may vary by city and booking tier.
  • No current departure dates are published; confirm availability and dates directly with Tailor Made Rail before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Basel

    London to Basel

    Catch a Eurostar this morning from London to Paris. When you arrive, it's an easy connection by RER (rapid metro) to the Gare de Lyon where you'll board the TGV Lyria service direct to Basel. On arrival in Basel, check in for an overnight stay at the Hotel GAIA (or similar), just opposite the station.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Belalp

    Basel to Belalp

    This morning, leave Basel aboard a train bound for Brig in the Swiss canton of Valais. Once you get here, you might like to enjoy some lunch in town before catching a PostBus for a 20-minute journey to Blatten. Once you reach your stop, disembark and catch the cable car up to the village of Belalp. The hotel is a lovely 25-minute stroll from the top cable car station but your luggage will be collected for you. You have a 3-night stay here.

  3. Day 3overnight: Belalp

    Bruchegg, Lüsgersee & Tyndalldenkmal

    A short but extremely rewarding hike begins by walking from the hotel back towards the cable car station but turning right at Bruchegg and climbing gently thereafter following signs for Tyndalldenkmal, taking in a beautiful mountain lake and spectacular views, with the Matterhorn visible across the Rhone Valley to the south, and breathtaking views over the mighty Aletsch Glacier.

  4. Day 4overnight: Belalp

    Hiking from Belalp

    After breakfast collect your packed lunch from Reception and head towards the cable car station, continuing past it and following the path to Foggenhorn (a steep, 6-hour hike requiring a good level of fitness, with breathtaking views to the summit), or take the gentler alternative via the Foggenhornrundweg to Nessel and back to Belalp.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Brig

    Belalp to Brig

    After breakfast, the Hexpress will leave the hotel at 10:00 and take you and your luggage back to the cable car station from where you head back to Brig via Blatten. Check in here for an overnight stay at the Ambassador Hotel (or similar) and enjoy a relaxed afternoon. Alternatively, extend your holiday by taking the Glacier Express from Brig to Chur and picking up the Graubunden walking holiday.

  6. Day 6rail

    Brig to London

    Make your way back to the station today and catch a train to Basel, where you pick up the high-speed service back to Paris and onwards under the English Channel to London via Eurostar.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Cable car ascent from Blatten to Belalp, followed by a 25-minute walk through mountain terrain to the hotel.
  • Day 3Hike to Tyndalldenkmal and Lüsgersee with views of the Matterhorn across the Rhone Valley and the Aletsch Glacier.
  • Day 4Choice between a steep 6-hour climb to Foggenhorn summit or the gentler Foggenhornrundweg loop, both from Belalp.

Included

  • Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 2 nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • 2 nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast and dinner in Belalp
  • Two packed lunches
  • Hexpress transfer from cable car to hotel in both directions
  • Detailed hiking notes and local maps
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes. Tailor Made Rail includes standard-class rail travel with seat reservations on Eurostar (London to Paris), TGV Lyria (Paris to Basel), and Swiss rail and PostBus services. Return journeys follow the same route.
Is this trip guided or self-guided?
This is a self-guided walking holiday. You receive detailed hiking notes, local maps, and easy-to-follow travel documentation. Hotel staff in Belalp can help you choose walking routes to suit your mood and fitness level.
What accommodation is included?
Hotel GAIA in Basel (1 night), Hotel Belalp (3 nights with breakfast and dinner), and Ambassador Hotel in Brig (1 night). All include breakfast; Belalp includes dinner as well.
How much walking is involved?
Day 3 is a short rewarding hike to Tyndalldenkmal and a mountain lake. Day 4 offers two options: a steep 6-hour hike to Foggenhorn summit, or the gentler Foggenhornrundweg loop. Other days involve minimal walking.
What is included in the price?
The package covers standard-class rail with reservations, 5 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast and some dinners, two packed lunches, Hexpress transfers between cable car and hotel, hiking notes, maps, travel documentation, and ticket delivery.
Can I extend this trip?
Yes. Tailor Made Rail offers an optional extension via Glacier Express from Brig to Chur to join their Graubunden walking holiday, plus options to add extra nights and destinations. Contact them for prices and details.

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