Stage 9: Ulrichen - Visp

If you do not know the Goms yet, be prepared for a surprise: the upper part of the Rhone valley truly is a hidden gem freckled with picture-perfect villages and centuries-old houses and barns blackened by the sun – you will pass many on the Glacier Bike Tour. 

Mühlebach is one of the quaint villages and you will reach it shortly after leaving Ulrichen. It’s center has the oldest wood buildings in Switzerland dating back to the 14th century. Make sure to take your time here – also because on the other side of the road (in the newer part of the village) you find the snug Café Hängebrigga run by Snowboard Olympic Gold Medalist Patrizia Kummer and her family. You will love the cake!  

Before getting back on your bike, makes sure to take the short hike down to the spectacular suspension bridge. Just like the traditional houses, it is made of larch wood and spans the Rhone at a height of 92m. it is 140cm in width and 280m long – and thus one of the longest suspension footbridges in Switzerland.  

Don’t expect to make fast progress yet on this stage…  Shortly after Mühlebach waits the beautiful village square of Ernen. And again, you should stop for a bite to eat at Klaus Leuenberger. He is a pioneer of alpine cuisine having cooked in the world's finest restaurants, catering even to the Sheikh of Qatar and guests on the Queen Elizabeth II. Now, he is devoted to regional cuisine and the art of baking in the historic St. Georg, a wooden building dating back to 1535 in Ernen, where he serves "organic terroir cuisine" alongside freshly baked bread and pastries. 

After Ernen, the route takes you through the Binntal – known as the valley of hidden treasures. It is indeed rich in minerals, and you can find crystals in all shapes and forms buried in the layers of different stone. The remote valley has also preserved its original Alpine culture. The section via Ausserbinn is almost meditative until you turn right onto the forest path shortly after Hubu. The old pass route towards the Albrun Pass is now also part of the Rhine-Reuss-Rhone pilgrimage route - you should stop at the baroque chapel of St. James (refill your bottle at the drinking fountain). The trail continues through the Twingi gorge with its historic Roman bridge into the Hockmatta, a passage which requires a bit of technical skills.

Back on the road, you whizz downhill through the pretty villages until you finally cross the Rhone. Unfortunately, we have to take the busy road for a bit. Soon, however, the Glacier Bike Tour heads offside again leading between the railroad line and the river to Brig and on along the north bank to the destination of Visp. 

Nestling between the highest point on the Furka and the grande finale near the Matterhorn, Visp exudes Mediterranean flair. In the charming old town with its winding roads, there are plenty of opportunities to try the nearly 60 grape varieties that grow in the region: White wine lovers must try the local specialty «Heida» and those who prefer red wine must try «Cornalin». 

• Beatrix, Roli, and Patrizia Kummer are great hosts serving delicious food in the Café Hängebrigga in Mühlebach.

• Today, former top chef Klaus Leuenberger is committed to regional cuisine, embodying the role of Ernen's "village baker." At his St. Georg on the medieval village square, you can also savor on small dishes. 

• The simple, authentic and welcoming Grängierstuba restaurant in Grengiols serves its guests a range of Valais specialities, mainly from the immediate surrounding region.

• Mühlebach is the oldest wood village in Switzerland. 

• The Valais is Switzerland’s largest winegrowing region. 

• Visperterminen’s vineyard spans a height from 650 up to 1,150m and is Europe's highest contiguous vineyard. It overcomes the 500 altitude meters with terraces and dry stone walls – the art of dry stone walling was inscribed on the UNESCO representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. 

A striking feature of Upper Goms is the large number of the incredible age-old houses and barns. The Valais block construction has rectangular walls and a flat pitched roof. Another signature feature are the clever “mouse slabs” on which the barns were built: stilts with circular stone slabs laid which are insurmountable obstacles for mice and rats - and therefore the perfect protection for precious supplies. 

Around 80,000 people in the Upper Valais speak Wallisertiitsch, an independent language, which also exists in written form. It predates many Swiss dialects and isn't merely a variant of Swiss German.

The Binntal has a special geology and is rich in minerals. A fact that sparked tourism in the tiny valley in the 19^th century. Over 300 types of minerals have been found here, 56 of which are unique. 

Valais enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year, thanks to the Bernese and Valais Alps shielding the Rhone valley from rain. As clouds shower the towering mountains, Valais welcomes a dry, warm foehn wind. 

The Bildungshaus St. Jodern is nestling in the countryside just outside of Visp and is a bike-friendly hotel with single, double and multi-bed rooms.    

The Baxter Hotel (also bike-friendly) is located in the heart of Visp: modern, fresh, relaxed. 

Camping Mühleye offers a swimming pool, a bike service station and pretty unique accommodation: you can sleep in a tipi tent, in a yurt or in wooden huts… 

You can find more accommodation in the region here.