There are many walks to be discovered in the 4Vallées area, but today, we’ve decided to take you to the Pierre Avoi. It’s one of our favourites – we love the beautiful scenery and the spectacular view over the Rhone valley.
A little geography and some culture
The Pierre Avoi is a rocky peak and one of the key symbols of the Valais Alps. It reaches a height of 2,473m and is a popular hiking destination.
> Unless you speak the local dialect, Pierre Avoi won’t mean much to you, but in fact, Avoi comes from the word avouè, meaning sharp, pointed.
Some cartographers are said to have added an r to the end of Avoi, turning it into Pierre à voir, which translates as the rock which must be seen. This mistake can still be found on some maps.
Off er go!
You can start the hike to the Pierre Avoi from several places. We decided to leave from the top of Savoleyres, taking the cable car from Verbier, but you can also leave from La Tzoumaz.
We have a leisurely start around 8 am, to enjoy the sunrise. From Savoleyres, there is an amazing view over the valley so we’re already lost in admiration!
At the beginning, the path starts to climb, so we all go at our own pace. As we go higher, we admire the wild flowers and spot some marmots along the way.
The last stretch
Halfway along, the path becomes steeper and the Pierre Avoi is clearly visible. It looks close enough to touch, but to get there, there’s still a bit of a walk! Towards the end of the hike, the path and the scenery become more rocky and we need to climb over a few rocks to reach the top.
The last few metres are climbed using a ladder screwed to the rocks and, finally, there are steps carved into the rock, secured by chains. And there we are, we’ve made it to the top!
From the summit, the view is breathtaking. We’re absolutely stunned by the magnificence of the panorama before us, sweeping across Verbier, the Val de Bagnes, La Tzoumaz and the Rhone Valley, and revealing an unforgettable view of the Mont-Blanc and the Grand Combin.
The last word
This summer hike is suitable for average to experienced hikers. You’ll enjoy magnificent views and won’t meet many people along the way.
This is an out-and-back route, 7 km long, with a height difference of 275 m. It takes about 2 hours to complete, walking at a reasonable pace.
If you’re not convinced yet, have a look at this video:
See more
See you on top!
You can start from the cable cars in Verbier or La Tzoumaz, depending where you are coming from. The lifts operate every day from 8.45 am to 5 pm until the 28th of August 2022, and then every weekend from the 3rd to the 18th of September 2022 (as well as Monday the 19th of September).
Holders of the VIP Pass travel free on the lifts.
