Smart, personalised guidance is the key to a successful holiday. Let’s spend a little time planning your stay: you can ask us anything you like, and we’ll do our best to make your holiday the best it can be.
In any case, don’t forget your “Anniviers Liberté” pass, which we’ll give you when you arrive at the hotel. This provides free access to all of the transport in the valley (postal buses, funicular and cable car, plus visits and other activities)
Hikes
The Anniviers Valley is a paradise for walkers, with more than 490 km of signposted trails to discover. There’s everything, from pristine nature and authentic villages clinging to the mountainside to unique views out over the incredible 4000.
Claude is here to help you customise your holiday programme, making the most of your days here and ensuring you don’t miss the best of Anniviers. And if you want a little practice, St-Luc / Chandolin has five new trails to offer.
Claude’s selection:
- St-Luc / Zinal – map and profile
- Le Touno – map and profile
- Cabane de Moiry – map and profile
- Roc de la vache – map and profile
Claude’s top trail:
- St-Luc – Zinal from above – map and profile
Mountain-biking heaven
Our region has some of the finest mountain-biking trails in Switzerland, boasting 170km of tracks for all levels and between 1400 and 3100m altitude. Enjoy a breath-taking ride between glaciers, moraines and pine and larch forest.
When you’re not riding, you can leave your bike in our secure locker and borrow our cleaning kit when you need it. Claude has all the maps, tips and trails you need, and it will be a pleasure to get you on the right track.
- Detailed maps are available from reception. List of MTB trails in the Val d'Anniviers
- Mountain bike / E-bike rentals organised by the hotel, alongside sports shops
Claude’s selection:
- From St-Luc to the Weisshorn Hotel, via Chandolin and Prilet on the way home: map and profile
His top trail:
- From Sorebois to Grimentz, with a downhill track to Lake Moiry: map and profile
Great for the whole family
Our beautifully preserved little mountain village is the perfect place to get away with your family. Engage your children’s senses with a host of fun activities and places where they can run and play in complete safety. Let them enjoy nature to the full with all the family here at Bella Tola. What’s not to love?
This summer, children up to 12 years old can stay for free (in their parents’ room).
- Our alpine residences are the perfect place to relax with your family
- We can even organise a baby-sitter if you need one (CHF 20.- hour)
Anne-Françoise’s selection:
- The Planetary Path - A Tour of the Lakes - A Botanical Morning or a Morning with the Birds
- Relax at the pool - Baking bread at the village bakery
Her top choices:
- An evening identifying and picking Alpine flowers with Anne Françoise. Why not make your own little herbarium?
- A little French vocabulary lesson, if your child would like to learn a few words during their stay
Something for teenagers
For a great holiday, everyone needs to enjoy themselves. So what will your teenagers do here? Aside from the mountain-biking trails, St-Luc features:
- A 6km Bike Park with 3 fully equipped downhill trails (jumps - wooden bridges - tight turns)
- Micro-scooters are available at the funicular
And why not try...
- The Pump Track in Grimentz or
- Bungee jumping in Niouc?
Claude’s selection:
- A mountain-bike tour of the village slopes - Bike Park - Via Ferrata to Grimentz
- Tennis at Prilet and a trail to St-Luc
His top choices:
- Discover a top mountain-biking trail with a young local guide
- Test your mettle in the legendary Sierre - Zinal race on the 09/08/2020
Let your curiosity run free / “Science and discovery”
Your little Einstein is more than welcome to quench their thirst for knowledge at the St-Luc observatory or the Planetarium in the village.
Claude’s selection:
- The Planet Path - Planetarium - Observing the sun at the St-Luc observatory
- The animal trail to Grimentz - On Tuesday morning you can “Discover Nature” with a hunter
His top choices:
- An astronomy evening at 2200m (make sure you book early)
- A visit to the Moiry Dam (you can even visit the tunnels inside it!)
- Read the excellent “Repaire de Loup” (”The Wolf’s Lair”) graphic novel by Jacques Martin, available at reception.
Culture and heritage
Our mountain villages have so many stories to tell. Why not add a little flavour to your stay and immerse yourself in historic village life? Did you know that our village was ravaged twice by fire? There is a whole series of history trails and guided tours throughout the season. It’s a real pleasure, so don’t miss out!
Anne-Françoise’s select:
- Saracens’ Bliss - Discovery of the cupule stone above the village - Historic village walk - The chapel walk - the St-Luc bread trail - Hike up to the Weisshorn Hotel
Her top choices:
- A guided tour of the Bella Tola Hotel every Thursday at 18:00
- Enjoy some authentic Tarte Tatin, made using our historic recipe
- Unwind with a chamber music concert in our lounge on Wednesday evenings
- Read “Simon l’Anniviard”, all about what life used to be like in St-Luc, following the footsteps of the author, Hélène Zufferey’s father.
Traditions
Religious celebrations, the changing of the seasons, working the vines, living with livestock and more... these were the traditional milestones of village life, between hard work and festivities.
Anne-Françoise’s selection:
- The village church Fete in June - Bringing the herd on and off the mountain (June and September) - The Rouaz Alpine Pasture Mass (26/07/2020), the blessing of the cheese, Alphorns - and every year, young heifers lock horns in Niouc (12/10/2020)
Her top choices:
- The August the First party in the hotel garden, to the sound of Alphorns
- The Fife and Drum dawn chorus in the hotel garden (see calendar)
