Passing through the little station of Goppenstein at the south side of the BLS Bern-Brig rail line, you could be forgiven for not even noticing a little side road that leads to the Lötschental – a roughly 10 kilometer-long valley through which the glacier-fed Lonza River runs, on its way to the Rhone.

The Lötschental is a haven for those seeking an escape from the rigors of everyday life. It’s almost literally “another world”.

There are many ways to commune with nature there all year long. In both summer and winter, there are walks and hikes of various degrees. In summer, there are also mini-golf, tennis and climbing possibilities. In winter, the Lötschental offers excellent downhill skiing on the Lauchernalp, accessible by cable car. There is little motor traffic, since the narrow valley is well served by Swiss postal buses, which run to and from Goppenstein.

There are quite a few hotels, but vacation apartments, which include cooking facilities, are abundant and very popular, especially with families.

Because of its relative isolation, the Lötschental has remained largely untouched, and maintains a lifestyle and deep sense of tradition which has remained practically unchanged. This is an insider tip, know mostly to the Swiss, themselves.

Bob Zanotti went on a walking tour of the valley.

https://www.loetschental.ch/en/