Hiking along the Aletsch Glacier from Bettmerhorn to Fiescheralp: the details

The simple way to a perfect Swiss trip

➤ Overwhelmed by all the options? Let our Switzerland experts craft your custom independent trip. Save time and travel with confidence. See how it works

Bettmerhorn-Märjelensee-Fiescheralp: the facts

Hiking time: 2h45
Difficulty: moderate
Elevation: 2180 – 2647 m
Distance: 9.3 km
Terrain: rocky, high-alpine area with grasslands, mountain lakes and meadows
Region: Upper Rhone Valley (Valais)

About the trail

The cable car takes you up to the Bettmerhorn, where you can immediately enjoy the magnificent view of the Aletsch Glacier. The route can be divided into 3 sections: along the glacier (1), crossing over to the Upper Rhone Valley (2), and the Upper Rhone Valley (3).

Section 1 is about 3.5 km long and offers continuous views of the glacier as you walk parallel to it. Then you’ll walk to the east, away from the glacier, and you’ll soon reach the tiny Märjelensee (Lake Märjelen).
Section 2 continues to the larger Vordersee (Lake Vorder), where you will enter the 1 km-long pedestrian tunnel. It’s quite exciting to walk across that pretty dark tunnel. A flashlight will come in handy. You can extend the route by not taking the tunnel but walking further to the northeast along the Vordersee. This trail rejoins with the original route about 1 km before Fiescheralp.
Section 3 starts at the end of the tunnel. This section offers views of the Fiescher Glacier, the Fiescher Valley, and the Upper Rhone Valley. An easy wide trail will lead you to Fiescheralp. If you want to see the Aletsch Glacier from a different perspective, this is where you can take a cable car up to the Eggishorn.