Hotel Alex Naters Ober-Wallis - Environs

Environs – day trips/excursions

Holiday – Highlights around the hotel Alex. Day trips/excursions in the area: We have something for everyone! With great pleasure we help you to create a varied programme turning your holidays into an unforgettable experience.
The central location of the hotel is of great advantage. The modern Hotel Alex in Naters/Brig is centrally and conveniently located in the Jungfrau-Aletsch World Heritage Site, a nature reserve. All famous Valais resorts are easily accessible. Do not hesitate and spend some quality, relaxing time with us.

1.Blatten – Belalp Aletsch glacier
After a delightful breakfast the bus will take you to Blatten.
Do not miss the visit of the village and the old mill "Wichje". From there you take the cable car to Belalp to visit a dairy. After a pleasant walk you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Aletsch Glacier which –at 23 km length- is the largest glacier in the Alps.

2.Château de Chillon
After breakfast the bus will take you to Chillon, near the fashionable health resort Montreux.
Let the past work its magic during visits of the moated castle of Chillon (Prince's residence, castle and prison – all in one). Afterwards go for a stroll along Lake Geneva Riviera, enjoy the beauty of the Lake Geneva Riviera.

3.Lausanne
After breakfast the bus will take you all the way through the canton of Valais to Lausanne, the capital of the canton of Vaud. Enjoy a guided city tour and visit the Gothic cathedral.
Short walk to Ouchy and a visit to the Olympic Museum. Hop on the ship to Montreux, "the pearl of the Swiss Riviera". Alternatively, you can also take a bus which will eventually take you back to the hotel.

4.Martigny
In the morning the bus will take you to Martigny, site of the Fondation Pierre Gianadda Museum which regularly hosts exhibitions of unique paintings from around the world.
Continue your trip by bus to the Great St. Bernard. For the past 1000 years the canons have lived here to the rules of St. Augustinus. With the help of St. Bernard dogs many a tired traveller's life was saved. A museum with treasury of the church tells the story of the pass which Napoleon Bonaparte crossed with his troops in 1800.

5.Ernen
After breakfast the bus will take you to Ernen, the beautiful birthplace of the legendary cardinal Matthäus Schiner. Visit the townhall of Zenden Goms and the church museum.
Friends of classical music will delight in the annual Chamber Music Festival which takes place during the summer.
Further it goes by the bus in the untouched Binntal, called „valley of the minerals". A look in the mineral museum will be worthwhile certainly.

6.Blümlisalp" a beautiful old paddlesteamer
After the breakfast you go with the BLS from Brig to Thun. Here you change on the historical bicycle steamboat "Blümlisalp". The nostalgic two-decks-drawing room steamboat from the Belle Epoque brings you over the lake to Interlaken.

Get to know Interlaken with a walk. Late in the afternoon, the BLS will bring you back to Brig.

After breakfast you take the train from Brig to Thun from where the historical paddlesteamer "Blümlisalp" will take you across the lake to Interlaken.
Get to know the city of Interlaken during a walk until by late afternoon the train will take you back to Brig.

7.Mont Blanc Express
The bus will take you through the beautiful Valais to Martigny where you jump on the famous Montblanc-Express and drive to Le Chatelard. From there you take the bus to Chamonix, a unique destination for an outing featuring three cable cars taking you higher and higher.
Lovers of great heights may take the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi at 3842m above sea level (optional for extra charge) where a spectacular panorama of the Alps can be enjoyed.
In the evening the bus will take you back to the hotel.

8.Eggishorn
In the morning you take the bus to Fiesch from where you continue by cable car to Fiescheralp and Eggishorn (2926m above sea level). Enjoy the stunning panoramic view of the Aletsch Glacier and Matterhorn. Early birds can witness the spectacular sunrise.

9.Cow fighting in Valais
The people of Valais have a greatpassion – Eringer-cows. This robust, unique cattle breed is famous for establishing the hierarchy in the herd through fighting. Cow fights take place during spring and late summer. The winner will bear the title of "Cantonal queen".
Experience the special tensions and emotions! We will inform you about dates and venues.

10.Realp
After breakfast enjoy the bus trip through the picturesque valley of Goms. In Gletsch you will take the nostalgic steam railway which will take you across the Furka pass to Realp.
The return journey will be by bus. Admire the gorgeous alpine scenery, the Rhone glacier and the source of the Rhone.

11.Saas Fee
After an extensive breakfast you drive to Saas Fee, the car-free glacier town called "Pearl of the Alps", which is surrounded by glaciers. With the highest Metro Alpin of the world you can reach the Allalin glacier. Enjoy a nice meal in the revolving restaurant and cool down in the fabulous ice pavilion.

12.On the traces of the glacier express
After the breakfast your bus will bring you to the station of brig.
Here you mount the train called „On the traces of the Glacier express train". It will take you through wild-romantic and fascinating scenery to Disentis.
Admire the marvellous architecture of the Benedictine's cloister in Disentis.

13.Grande Dixence
After a well-balanced breakfast you will drive to Sitten. Further up to the hotel Ritz where your bus is parking. Continue further to the Hotel Ritz where the bus is waiting.
The cable railway brings you afterwards on the crown of highest traffic jam wall of the world where currently 400 million cubic metres of cold glacier water are stopped.
The cable car will take you to the edge of the highest dam wall in the world where currently 400 million cubic metres of cold glacier water are dammed up.
The film „Time of the titans" from Edgar Hagen, tells the story of 25,000 where workers, miners, engineers and surveyors who built the dam wall and the 160-km-long tunnel labyrinth. The film received the Alstom journalist's price.
In the former worker's hotel Ritz one can have lunch. Dinner in the hotel.

14. Oberwald evening excursion
Take the Matterhorn railway to Oberwald.
Dinner will be served to you during your trip.
Once in Oberwald you will walk to Obergesteln in moonlight, have a glass of mulled wine and listen to old Valais legends. Return trip by train.

15.Chapel ways
The Valais is very catholic and devout. Thus there are many chapel pathways each showing the 14 stations of Christ's suffering.
You find the nicest chapel ways in Saas Fee.
The most beautiful chapel pathways can be found in Saas Fee.
After the breakfast you go by bus to the car-free mountain resort of Saas Fee, afterwards you continue on foot to Saas Grund.
From there the bus will drive you back to Naters.

16.Visperterminen
Take the bus to Visperterminen, then the chair lift to the Gebidem, a gorgeous vantage point.
Walk along the chapel pathway and its 14 stations in Visperterminen.
Finish your trip with a glass of wine in the Heida winery with the highest vineyards in Europe extending from 660 to 1150 m above sea level.
After the degustation you turn back to the hotel in a relaxed and happy mood.

17.Lötschental
Take the bus to Blatten. From here you walk to Fafleralp in the Lötschental. The fantastic, archaic world will enchant you. Visit the museum in Kippel which tells the story of the valley and its people. Return journey by bus.

18.Niesen
Take the train from Brig to Frutigen. Continue by bus to Mülenen where you can board the unique funicular with a 68% gradient. From the top, the Niesen, you can enjoy a stunning view as well as good food. Back to the hotel, dinner in a dignified ambience.

19.Moosalp
ake the bus to Moosalp (2050m above sea level) where you can enjoy an impressive panorama in the middle of equally impressive mountain scenery.
Walk to a typical Valais hut and enjoy "Walliser Raclette" on the open fire and witness the return of our Eringer cows to the stables in the evening.
Return trip by bus.

20.The grave of Rilke in Raron
After the breakfast you will go to Raron.
The writer Rainer Maria Rilke rests on the castle hill of Raron.
The grave lies underneath a rose bush by the south wall of the castle church featuring a late-gothic reticulated vaulting and the largest medieval mural painting in Switzerland.
Peter von Roten –rebellious prefect, lawyer and columnist- has lived on the castle hill until recently.
He commuted between Basel and Raron and was married to Iris von Roten who –thanks to her book "Frauen im Laufgitter"- is referred to as Simone de Beauvoir of Switzerland.
Take the bus back to Brig.
On board of the small Simplon Express you can go sightseeing in Brig-Naters finishing with a guided tour of Naters.

21.Mund
Take the bus to the sunny mountain village of Mund where saffron is grown.
Here you can go for a small walk and savour a tasty saffron risotto in the Restaurant Salwald.

22.St. Léonard
The largest natural subterranean lake of the Alps can be found in St. Léonard which is located on the right bank oft he Rhone between Sitten and Siders.
Trouts swim in the crystal clear water.
Generally the lake can be explored by rowing boat from 15th March to 1st November.

23.Stresa
Take the bus via the Nufenen pass, Locarno along the lakeshore to Stresa where you can visit the delightful Isola Bella. In the afternoon you can take the bus via the Simplon pass to Brig-Naters.

24.Suonen
The Valais, its people and the countryside always suffered from drought. The people gathered the holy waters of the smaller streams by means of "Suonen" and "wooden channels" and directed it to the pastures. Walk along one of the most famous water channels from Ausserberg to Baltschieder.

25.Zermatt
Take the bus to Täsch and from there the train to Zermatt.
Spend the day as you please. We can also arrange a trip on the rack railway from Zermatt to Gornergrat (price on request).
In the afternoon you can get back to the hotel by train/bus.

26.Switzerland - Italy palm tree tour
After a good breakfast you take the bus via the Nufenen pass, the highest pass of the Alps, to Locarno. The trip takes you along the lakeshore to Stresa where you can enjoy a southern climate, palm trees and the breeze from the lake (optional boat trip to Isola Bella: 6.00 EUR)
Return to Brig by bus in the evening.