Aletsch Arena – largest glacier in the Alps
The most liberating experience in the Alps: the natural paradise of the Aletsch Glacier
Families, couples, solo travellers, sports enthusiasts, nature lovers and those looking for peace and quiet will find just what they need to relax in the immediate vicinity of Brig and Goms. The Great Aletsch Glacier forms the heart of the “Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch” Unesco World Heritage Site.
High up on the sunny Valais plateau, the car-free destinations of Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp sit in solitary splendour. The idyllic villages of Mörel-Filet, Lax, Fiesch and Fieschertal lie below in the Rhone Valley. In between, halfway up the mountain, Ried-Mörel, Greich, Betten Dorf, and Martisberg are waiting to be discovered.
The Aletsch Arena holiday paradise is easy to reach both by car and public transport. Parking is available in the valley, and the cable car will take you up to the sun-kissed, car-free plateau in comfort.
The Great Aletsch Glacier
The Great Aletsch Glacier has something archaically beautiful about it. Its impact is extremely impressive. The ice giant stretches 20 km from its accumulation zone in the Jungfrau region (4,000 m) down to the Massaschlucht gorge situated around 2,500 m below. It is the longest ice flow in the Alps. It covers an area of 79 square kilometres, and its thickest ice is 800 metres deep.
Climate change is also having an impact on the giant river of ice in the Aletsch Arena. With an annual loss in length of up to 50 metres, global warming has assumed worrying proportions here too.
The best viewpoints
Viewpoints – where you can enjoy the best view
From the Hohfluh, Moosfluh, Bettmerhorn and Eggishorn viewpoints, the Great Aletsch Glacier is revealed in its full size and uniqueness. Each of the four viewpoints offers a breathtaking view from a different perspective.
Eggishorn
The Eggishorn viewpoint lies at an altitude of 2,869 m above sea level and is the highest of the four viewpoints. From here you can see the entire 20 kilometres of the Great Aletsch Glacier as well as the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. From Fiescheralp, the cable railway takes you up the mountain in comfort. In the “Horli-Hitta” mountain refuge you can enjoy Valais specialities in a cosy atmosphere.
Bettmerhorn
From the Bettmerhorn mountain station, you can reach the fully accessible viewpoint after just 200 metres. From the viewpoint at an altitude of 2,647 metres, an unimpeded view of the immense straight section and the impressive large arc of the glacier opens up.
Visit the free interactive exhibition at the mountain station and find out a lot of interesting information about the imposing Great Aletsch Glacier in a fun way. In the self-service restaurant you can enjoy the panorama with a regional lunch or coffee and cake.
Moosfluh
The Moosfluh viewpoint on Riederalp (2,333 metres above sea level) can be reached in both summer and winter with the Moosfluh combined cable car and chair lift. Take in the fantastic view while enjoying a small refreshment in the Bar-Buvette.
Hohfluh
From the Hohfluh viewing platform at 2,227 metres above sea level you can enjoy a particularly good view of the meandering formation of the Great Aletsch Glacier. Reachable on foot via Riederfurka in 30 minutes or directly from Riederalp with the Hohfluh chair lift.
Hiking tips
Hiking highlights on the Aletsch Glacier
A hike along the Great Aletsch Glacier is an unforgettable experience! Thanks to the well-developed Aletsch Arena you will find hiking paths for every age and level of fitness. With the various cable railways and chair lifts you can reach the Aletsch Glacier without a huge amount of physical effort.
Moosfluh–Riederfurka themed path (Gratweg)
Travel on the Moosfluh glacier railway from Riederalp Mitte up to the Moosfluh viewpoint, the starting point of the hike.
The Gratweg takes you via Hohfluh to Riederfurka and the imposing Villa Cassel. It’s worth stopping here to visit the exhibition and the Alpine garden of the nature conservation centre. On the adventure trail, five information stations await, dedicated to the topics
- wilderness and civilisation,
- nature conservation area and old mountain economy,
- water shortage and water reservoirs,
- Gratzug legend and holy souls,
- nature conservation and tourism.
The easy themed path is rendered even more attractive by several beautiful viewpoints. The final stage of the hike is the descent from Riederfurka down to Riederalp.
| Hiking trail | Moosfluh–Hohfluh–Riederfurka–Riederalp |
| Distance | 5 km |
| Hiking time | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Elevation difference | +60 m / -1878 m |
| Degree of difficulty | easy |
Eggishorn–Märjelensee–Fiescheralp round walk
The hiking route starts directly behind the Horli-Hitta mountain refuge at the mountain station of the Eggishorn cable car. Follow the winding path downhill to the “Gletscherstube, Tälligrat, Märjelen” way-marker. The route then continues along the beautifully laid flagstone path to Tälligrat and the small Tällisee lake. Here you can enjoy a splendid view. Continue the descent to the Gletscherstube hut and take the opportunity for a trip to the “Platta”: from this viewpoint, you can see the size of the former Märjelensee lake. Clearly visible deposits show the former shoreline. Alternatively, you can also walk down to Märjelensee directly. For the way back to Fiescheralp, you have two options from the Gletscherstube: the slightly longer version takes you via Unners Tälli. Or you can walk through the illuminated Tälligrat Tunnel (Obers Tälli) back to the sunny plateau of the Aletsch Arena and on the last stage of the path to Fiescheralp.
| Hiking trail | Eggishorn, Bergstation–Märjelensee–Fiescheralp |
| Distance | 11.5 km |
| Hiking time | 3 hours 40 minutes; |
| Elevation difference | +164 m / -825 m |
| Degree of difficulty | Medium |
Hängebrücke Belalp–Riederalp
The hike from Belalp to Riederalp takes you across the spectacular Aletsch suspension bridge and offers an incomparable hiking experience at a lofty height. The 124-metre-long suspension bridge is one of the hiking highlights in the Aletsch region. At a height of 80 metres it takes you directly in front of the mouth of the Great Aletsch Glacier across the Massaschlucht gorge, connecting Belalp with Riederalp. The view deep into the Massaschlucht gorge is guaranteed to thrill and makes for an impressive experience.
From the Hotel Belalp, the path leads down the zigzags of the Steigle to Aletschji, where you can gaze in wonder at the beautiful panorama and the old Alpine huts by the chapel. From there, you continue via Leng Acker to the old glacier ascent and to the Belalp-Riederalp suspension bridge, the highlight of this hike. You should enjoy the impressive view of the mouth of the glacier and of the Massaschlucht gorge in full when crossing the bridge, before tackling the ascent to Riederfurka. The idyllic Grünsee lake is an excellent place to take a rest. The path then continues through the protected Aletsch Forest with its ancient Swiss pines.
| Hiking trail | Belalp–Hängebrücke–Riederalp |
| Distance | 11.4 km |
| Hiking time | 4 hours 30 minutes |
| Elevation difference | +655 m / -849 m |
| Degree of difficulty | Medium |
Guided glacier tours
Discover the Great Aletsch Glacier in safety in the company of an experienced mountain guide and enjoy an unforgettable adventure. On a guided glacier walk, you can discover fascinating phenomena relating to the eternal ice and find out lots of exciting facts about the glacier and its history. Various one- and two-day glacier tours take place daily between June and October.
Aletsch Entdeckerpass
Ticket tip: free mobility in the Aletsch Arena
The Aletsch Entdeckerpass guarantees unlimited mobility within the Aletsch Arena – free travel on all facilities with adjacent hiking paths and to all excursion summits is included. The Brig–Mörel–Betten Talstation–Fiesch–Fürgangen train route is also included. The Aletsch Entdeckerpass is available as a 1-day ticket and a multi-day ticket (up to 21 days).
Prices 1-Day-Aletsch Discovery Pass
- CHF 55.00 Adults
- CHF 27.50 Half Fare Travelcard / Children 6–19.99 years
- CHF 18.00 Adults with GA Travelcard
Aletsch railways operating hours
Spring 2024
07.04.–07.06.2024 (Riederalp–Hohfluh)
Summer 2024
08.06.–20.10.2024
Winter 2024/2025
07.12.2024–21.04.2025
- Timetable mountain railways Riederalp, Bettmeralp, Fiesch-Eggishorn
How to get there
Travel to Mörel, Betten Talstation, Lax, Fiesch or Fieschertal by car. Using the BLS Lötschberg car transport service, the journey from Bern via Kandersteg is reduced by over 100 km, for instance. Large car parks and parking garages are available at the valley stations for the cable railways.
Location
Contact
- Aletsch Arena AG
- +41 27 928 41 41
- Aletsch Arena www.aletscharena.ch
