The awesome Aletsch Glacier is the longest ice sheet in Europe

The Valais is one of the most traditional - and iciest - regions of Switzerland.

In the southwest of the country, the Valais extends for 150km along the Rhone Valley between the Rhone Glacier and Lake Geneva. Glaciers make up almost 20% of the region, the most unmissable being the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Aletsch Glacier, the longest ice sheet in Europe.

Valais is also home to the Matterhorn - the iconic horn-shaped mountain peak that has become both the symbol of Switzerland and a challenge for extreme climbers the world over.

The three famous ski resorts of Zermatt, Crans-Montana and Verbier, as well as a smattering of smaller resort, provide a further lure for outdoor adventure-seekers.

After a toe-numbing day on the slopes, the Valais offers a number of natural hot springs to thaw out in. The small mountain town of Leukerbad, 1,400m above sea level, is the largest thermal spa and wellness resort in the Alps. In the winter its public baths fill with bathers pruning in its outdoor thermal waters as snowflakes drift down from above.   

Beyond its resort towns and iconic landmarks, the Valais remains one of Switerzerland´s least-explored regions. Many of its idyllic rural villages remain deeply traditional, and the Valais countryside is a joy to train, cycle, drive or hike around, dotted as it is with vineyards and dark-wood chalets.