Group Media Trip - (e-)Mountain biking in Valais - Valais/Wallis Promotion
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Group Media Trip - (e-)Mountain biking in Valais
Destinations: Aletsch Arena, Grächen and Verbier
Dates: Tuesday, 20th to Saturday, 24th August 2019
Participants: max. 10 international journalists
Highlights: Valais, land of adventure for mountain bikers; the Stoneman Glaciara route; the
mountain bike destinations of Aletsch Arena, Grächen and Verbier; 30th edition of the Grand
Raid BCVS
Fitness level: out of 3 stars
Tech. level: out of 3 stars
www.visitvalais.ch/mountain-bike
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION
Conditions for taking part in this press trip
- You must be in very good physical shape and have the stamina to keep going for several
hours a day over several days
- You have experience in mountain biking and ride regularly
- Let us know if you are bringing your own mountain bike
- If not, let us know if you ride with flat pedals or with clips. If possible, please bring your own
pedals and biking shoes (these will be adjusted to fit your bike)
- You must bring your own cycling helmet
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION
Transport within and to Switzerland
For your comfortable journey through Switzerland, Swiss Travel System AG is happy to provide
you with a unique all-in-one 1st class Swiss Travel Pass.
4 advantages of your #swisstravelpass
- Unlimited travel by train, bus and boat
- Public transportation in more than 90 cities and towns
- Includes mountain excursions: Rigi, Schilthorn, Stanserhorn and Stoos
- Free admission to more than 500 museums throughout Switzerland
The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland links the most scenic panoramic lines, showcasing the
country’s diversity and highlights. The free Swiss Travel Guide app is the perfect companion
on this tour: it continuously points out sights and landmarks en route and offers digital coupons
for thrilling attractions and discounts.
In your posts on social media, include #swisstravelsystem and #grandtraintour and tag us
on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to permit reposting.
Visit us at mystsnet.com to download our Media&Trade kit.
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION
Road cycling and mountain biking in Valais
Well-signposted cycle trails, dramatic routes over mountain passes and scenic alpine roads
make Valais a thrilling destination for cyclists and mountain bikers. Routes lead through
vineyards, valleys and gorges and along panoramic roads over impressive passes. Travelling by
bike is the best way to experience Valais; riders can choose their own pace. There is something
for everyone: leisure riders, road racers, mountain bikers and downhill enthusiasts.
Mountain bike tours
Valais is a land of adventure par excellence, a vast playground for altitude junkies. Well-marked
mountain bike trails lead along cascading mountain streams and Alpine lakes, across
mountainsides and through dense forests. Thanks to public transport and aerial cableways,
bikers are faced with no end of possibilities when planning their tour at any level.
www.visitvalais.ch/mountain-bike-tours
Bike hotels
Suitable accommodation is the basic of perfect holidays for cycling and mountain bike fans.
Hotels close to the loveliest trails, including services such as laundry, a safe place to store your
bike, along with a workshop and repairs facility. And naturally a good healthy breakfast,
information you can rely on and suitable maps are a bonus too! Some hotels offer guided tours
along the best paths - and even possible luggage transport from place to place on request.
www.visitvalais.ch/bike-hotels
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION
Aletsch Arena – Stoneman Glaciara
127 km of route and 4,700 spectacular metres of elevation gain among glaciers, countless
4,000-metre peaks and the enchanting appeal of ancient mountain villages – that’s the
Stoneman Glaciara, Roland Stauder’s exclusive mountain bike experience in Switzerland.
www.valais.ch/en/touren/mountain-bike/tours/stoneman-glaciara
Contact for interview:
• David Wyssen, President of Stoneman association
• Kurt Schweizer, Bike Store Schweizer, Fiesch
Grächen
Bike trails in Grächen and the surrounding area, from leisurely to challenging: here are a few
tips from a local bike guide.
www.graechen.ch/en/Experience-the-summer-the-autumn/Activ-in-summer/bike-tours
Contact for interview:
• Berno Stoffel, CEO Touristische Unternehmung Grächen AG
Verbier
4,000-metre peaks with their unmistakeable silhouettes; glaciers glistening in the sun; sun-
kissed Valais villages… Typical features of the «Valais Alpine Bike» route, which starts in
Verbier. No other itinerary gets so close to stunning 4,000-metre summits.
www.valais.ch/en/touren/mountain-bike/tours/valais-alpine-bike
Contact for interview:
• Grand Raid BCVS organizer (TBD)
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTIONTuesday, 20th August 2019 – Hello Valais! Hello Aletsch Arena!
16:00 Individual arrival to Mörel, Aletsch Arena.
Arrival at Mörel, Aletsch Arena. Meet with Nadine Blatter (+41 79 372 97 17)
from Aletsch Arena at the cable car station.
Check-in at the hotel.
Badehotel SALINA MARIS ****
Breiten 1
CH - 3983 Breiten ob Mörel
Phone: +41 27 928 42 42
www.salina-maris.ch
17:00 Meet in your hotel lobby with your guides from Alpine Trails to collect and
adjust your MTBs and e-MTBs.
19:00 Meet in the hotel lobby. Welcome drink and official presentation by Laura
Marro from Valais/Wallis Promotion (+41 77 454 21 06), Nadine Blatter (+41
79 372 97 17) from Aletsch Arena and the guides from Alpine Trails:
- MTB options in Valais: www.visitvalais.ch/mountain-bike
- MTB options in the Aletsch Arena region:
www.aletscharena.ch/sports-summer/mountainbike/
- Alpine Trails: www.alpine-trails.ch
20:00 Dinner at Restaurant Aletsch.
Restaurant Aletsch
Furkastrasse
CH - 3983 Mörel-Filet
Phone: +41 27 928 63 63
Overnight in Aletsch Arena.
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTIONWednesday, 21st August 2019 – Ride the Stoneman Glaciara!
08:00 Breakfast at the hotel
09:00 Meet your mountain bike guides from Alpine Trails in the hotel lobby
NOTE: Don’t forget your Swiss Travel Pass!
Stoneman Glaciara - «127 km of pure mountain bike thrills»
The Stoneman Glaciara route leads up to the Great Aletsch Glacier and back
to Mörel in three well-balanced stages. Next comes the defining climb of the
tour, with an ascent of nearly 1,600 vertical metres: an old military road leads
steeply up to the Breithorn Pass at an altitude of 2,451 m. The route descends
into the Binn valley, a treasure trove of mountain crystals and over 200 other
minerals. It then follows the Rhône into the Obergoms, the upper Rhône
valley, with its ancient villages, historical monuments and welcoming cafes.
www.stoneman-glaciara.com/en
09:30 Start of the morning tour
Fiescheralp > Bettmersee > Blausee > Moosfluh > Riederfurka with stunning
view of the Great Aletsch Glacier and ride down back to the Aletsch-
Plateau/Riederalp.
Route map (length: 16 km, ascent: 720 m, descent: 870 m)
https://map.schweizmobil.ch/?lang=de&bgLayer=pk&resolution=5&E=264782
0&N=1138390&season=summer&trackId=4590322&logo=yes
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION12:30 Lunch at mountain restaurant Berghotel Riederfurka in Riederalp.
Berghotel Riederfurka
CH-3987 Riederalp
Phone: +41 27 927 21 31
www.artfurrer.ch
14:00 Continue with the afternoon tour.
Ride from Riederalp down to Mörel via the Stoneman Glaciara trail, passing
traditional Valais mountain villages and architecture. Once on the valley floor,
we pedal from Mörel to Brig along the river Rhône and ride «the red mile» in
Naters. Route: Riederalp > Greich > Mörel (> Bitsch > Naters > Brig)
Route map (length: 18 km, ascent: 166 m, descent: 1,420 m):
https://map.schweizmobil.ch/?lang=de&bgLayer=pk&resolution=9.91&E=2644
605&N=1133200&season=summer&trackId=4590406&logo=yes
17:00 (Additional exploration if enough time left) End of tour in Brig’s Old Town by
the Stockalper Palace or at Sebastiansplatz. Train transfer from Brig to Mörel.
19:00 Dinner at Badehotel SALINA MARIS ****
Badehotel SALINA MARIS ****
Breiten 1
CH - 3983 Breiten ob Mörel
Phone: +41 27 928 42 42
www.salina-maris.ch
Overnight in Aletsch Arena.
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTIONThursday, 22nd August 2019 – (e-)mountain biking in Grächen
07:30 Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
08:30 Meet your bike guides in the hotel lobby. Bus transfer from Breiten ob Mörel
to Grächen (~1h). Take the gondola from Grächen to Hannigalp with the MTBs.
09:30 Start of the morning tour.
Ride around Grächen & Hannigalp area (www.graechen.ch). The UCI has
chosen the Valais resort of Grächen as the venue for the UCI Mountain Bike
Marathon World Championships 2019. For many years Grächen and other
Valais destinations such as Verbier, Leukerbad and Zermatt hosted the well-
known Swiss Epic marathon team race (www.swiss-epic.com). We will explore
some of the most scenic spots and ride trails along the historically important
«Suonen» (ancient irrigation channels of Valais).
Route: Hannigalp > Stafel > z’Seew > Grächen > Gasenried
Route map (length: 9.5 km, ascent: 205 m, descent: 650 m):
https://map.schweizmobil.ch/?lang=de&bgLayer=pk&resolution=5&E=2631919
&N=1116382&season=summer&trackId=4590832&layers=Wanderland
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION12:00 Lunch at Restaurant Riederstübli in Gasenried. Meet with Laura Marro from
Valais/Wallis Promotion.
Restaurant Riederstübli
Ried 106
CH-3924 St. Niklaus
Phone: +41 27 956 13 04
www.riederstuebli.ch
13:30 Continue the afternoon tour.
Route: Gasenried > Mattsand > Herbriggen (option St. Niklaus)
Route map (length: 11.5 km, ascent: 167 m, descent: 700 m):
https://map.schweizmobil.ch/?lang=de&bgLayer=pk&resolution=10&E=26292
31&N=1112560&season=summer&trackId=4590819&layers=Wanderland
16:30 End of the tour in St. Niklaus. Leave your (e-)mountain bikes at the store.
NOTE: Do not forget to keep your pedals if you have brought your own!
16:54 Bus transfer from St. Niklaus to Grächen (25 min).
17:18 Meet with Beatrice Meichtry (+41 27 955 60 67) from Grächen Tourism.
Check-in at the hotel Aktiv Hotel & Spa Hannigalp***S (certified Bike Hotel)
Aktiv Hotel & Spa Hannigalp***S
Heiminen 468
CH - 3925 Grächen
Phone: +41 27 955 10 00
www.hannigalp.ch
19:30 Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Grächen.
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTIONFriday, 23rd August 2019 – Time to discover Verbier!
07:00 Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
08:00 Meet in the hotel lobby. Bus transfer from Grächen to Verbier (~ 1h45).
10:00 Meet with Elise Farquet (+41 79 458 89 61) from Verbier Promotion and your
biking guide Ludo May.
Check-in at the hotels (certified Bike Hotel)
Hôtel Mirabeau Hôtel Les Chamois
Rue de Ransou 72 Rue de Médran 9
CH - 1936 Verbier CH - 1936 Verbier
Phone: +41 27 771 63 35 Phone: +41 27 771 64 02
www.mirabeauhotel.ch www.hotel-chamois.ch
10:30 Mountain bike rentals from Backside store.
Backside
Rue de Médran
CH - 1936 Verbier
Phone: +41 27 771 55 56
www.backsideverbier.ch
11:00 Start of the Pierre Avoi route.
Route map (length: 36,3 km, ascent: 658 m, descent: 2’020 m):
https://map.schweizmobil.ch/?lang=fr&bgLayer=pk&logo=yes&season=summ
er&resolution=20&E=2581582&N=1107045&trackId=4446420
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION13:00 Lunch at Café du Levron.
Café du Levron
Rlle de la Place 2
CH - 1942 Levron
Phone: +41 27 565 48 88
www.levroncafe.ch
15:30 Return to Verbier and time at leisure to explore the resort or relax.
18:00 Tasting of wines and local products at Vinabagnes with Elise Farquet (+41 79
458 89 61) from Verbier Promotion.
Vinabagnes
Rue de Médran 11
CH - 1936 Verbier
Phone: +41 79 901 62 45
www.vinabagnes.ch
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION19:30 Dinner at Fer à Cheval with Laura Marro from Valais/Wallis Promotion and
Elise Farquet (+41 79 458 89 61) from Verbier Promotion.
Restaurant Le Fer à Cheval
Rue de Médran 18
CH - 1936 Verbier
Phone: +41 27 771 26 69
www.feracheval.ch
Overnight in Verbier.
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTIONSaturday, 24th August 2019 – 30th edition of the Grand Raid BCVS in
Verbier
05:15 Breakfast at your hotel and check-out. Please leave your luggage at the front
desk.
06:00 Meeting with one of the organisers of the Grand Raid BCVS.
06:30 Start of the Grand Raid BCVS, and time for discussion with the race
organisers.
09:00 (According to time available) Time at leisure or individual MTB ride in Verbier.
Return to the hotel for a shower and to collect your bags.
NOTE: Please leave all rental equipment at the hotel; do not forget to keep
your pedals if you have brought your own!
End of the programme. Individual return.
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTIONAdditional information for your article
www.visitvalais.ch – Official website of Valais/Wallis Promotion with countless ideas for cycling
and mountain biking adventures plus news about Valais.
www.myswitzerland.com – Official website of Switzerland Tourism.
Websites of the destinations visited
www.aletscharena.ch – Aletsch Arena
www.graechen.ch – Grächen-St.Niklaus
www.verbier.ch – Verbier
Photos of Valais
You will find more than 4,500 pictures of Valais in our photo library, available for editorial use.
Please respect copyright.
https://photos.valais.ch
Insurance
Participants are responsible for arranging their own insurance.
Travel to Valais
Travel to Valais is organized by Switzerland Tourism.
Social media
Share your travel experiences with us:
Twitter: @valaiswallis – www.twitter.com/valaiswallis
Instagram: @valaiswallis – www.instagram.com/valaiswallis
Facebook: Valais Wallis – www.facebook.com/valaiswallis
@ValaisWallis #Valais #MySummerInValais
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTIONContacts for this press trip
Valais/Wallis Promotion Laura Marro
Rue Pré Fleuri 6 Corporate Communications
CH-1951 Sion Direct: +41 27 327 35 23
www.valais.ch Mobile: +41 77 454 21 06
E-mail: laura.marro@valais.ch
Aletsch Arena Monika König-Gottsponer
Postfach 16 Corporate Identity & Communication
CH-3992 Bettmeralp Direct: +41 27 928 58 63
www.aletscharena.ch E-mail: monika.koenig@aletscharena.ch
Grächen / St. Niklaus Beatrice Meichtry
Dorfplatz Marketing
CH-3925 Grächen Direct: +41 27 955 60 67
www.graechen.ch Mobile: +41 79 343 25 28
E-mail: beatrice.meichtry@graechen.ch
Verbier Promotion SA Elise Farquet
Chemin des Marais Verts 9 Public Relations & Communication
CH-1936 Verbier Direct: +41 27 775 23 74
www.verbier.ch Mobile: +41 79 458 89 61
E-mail: e.farquet@verbierpromotion.ch
VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTIONYou can also read
