The central location of Ferienstudio Heidi in Ernen (Valais, Switzerland) offers you opportunities to create fun and beautiful moments all year round. There are many opportunities for recreation nearby, for example, in nature. You can make your holiday day as relaxed and active as you want, for example with cultural and/or sporting activities. You can find out more about it below.
Cultural activities in the area
The picturesque Ernen has won the ‘Wakkerpreis’ for the preservation of architectural heritage. It has a historic village core. There are authentic wooden buildings (dating from 1511). Do you like history? Then you can indulge yourself here!
Museums
Small-scale museums are present in Ernen and the surrounding area.
Mineralien museum Binn
There is no other area in the Alps that is so rich in minerals than Binn Valley (Binntal). In this Mineral museum (at 10.1 km. from the Ferienstudio) you can admire various minerals from the area.
Musikdorf Ernen
Ernen is known as Music Village (in German: Musikdorf Ernen) and has received various awards for this. Do you like classical music? Then you’re in the right place. Musical activities such as classical concerts take place regularly (in particular usually from mid-June to mid-October.
Dutch tv program about music village Ernen
In the Dutch tv program Klassiek viert zomer from the NTR this episode is about Musikdorf Ernen (Season 1, Episode 5). You will get an impression of the village, the music that is played during Musikdorf Ernen and the Aletsch Glacier. At minute 20:50 you can see Feriensiedlung Aragon in Ernen (the small-scale holiday park where the Ferienstudio is located) and the view that you have approximately from the balcony of Ferienstudio Heidi (this fragment was filmed at the upstairs neighbors, on the left).
In the video below from 2019, a composer shares more about his participation at the time and you also get an impression of Ernen and the music that is played here.
Sports activities in the area
In the surrounding area you can engage in numerous sports activities, in picturesque places. Below you will find some examples.
Hiking Switzerland
The Ferienstudio is your ideal starting point for walks. From your front door you can walk directly into the protected nature reserve Binntal Nature Park (German: Landschaftspark Binntal). There is a hiking network in the area. There are in the District of Goms (which Ernen falls under) 750 km. hiking routes. Clear your mind and enjoy beautiful, varied hiking routes in the mountains and the mountain air, on a glacier or in meadows, forests and valleys (villages).
Cycling and mountain biking
The enchanting surroundings are perfect for fun bike rides that you can make as intense as you want. From your front door you can walk to your bike to discover varied routes. This can be done, for example, with an e-bike or mountain bike that you rent nearby. For example, some people do a (part of the) Stoneman Glaciara route with their mountain bike.
Sport center
At 4 km. from the Ferienstudio there is a sports center. Here you can go to a swimming pool, bouldering hall, climbing wall, tennis court, squash court and badminton court. There are also other possibilities, such as archery facilities.
Paragliding
Do you like paragliding? You can do this in the area. At 6.5 km. from Ferienstudio Heidi is for example a paragliding school.
Rafting
At 27.5 km. from the Ferienstudio you can go rafting in the Rhône.
Climbing
You can climb, including in the mountains.
Golf
In Riederalp you can play golf on the highest golf course in Europe (at 2000 meters altitude). You have a view of 4000 meters high mountain peaks. At 25.8 km. from the Ferienstudio you can play golf at Source Du Rhône: this is one of the longest 9 hole golf courses in Switzerland.
At 16.7 km. from the Ferienstudio you can play minigolf.
Bocce court
At Feriensiedlung Aragon (the small-scale holiday park where Ferienstudio Heidi is located) you can use the shared bocce court (a kind of boules/pétanque) for free if you want.
Table tennis
There is a (shared) table tennis table about 130 meters from Ferienstudio Heidi that you can use for free as a guest.
Snow activities in the area
In winter (around the end of november to the end of March) you can, among other things:
- Skiing and snowboarding
- Cross-country skiing
- Walking on snowshoes
- Sledding
Get an impression of the winter and snow activities in the area in the video and below:
Skiing and snowboarding
You can go to ski- and snowboard areas in the Aletsch Arena and Bellwald. Here are ski schools and ski rental opportunities.
Aletsch Arena
The ski area in the Aletsch Arena is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. There are 104 km. pistes (42 km. blue, 50 km. red and 12 km. black). It is located at 1925-2869 meters altitude. This ski area is 5.5 km from the Ferienstudio.
Bellwald ski resort
Bellwald has 35 km. pistes (10 km. Blue, 20 km. red and 5 km. black), from 1600-2558 altimeter. The ski lift in Bellwald is approximately 13.5 km away. from Ferienstudio Heidi.
These areas are easily accessible from the Ferienstudio (also by public transport).
Cross-country skiing
In the area you can go cross-country skiing. For example, there is a cross-country ski trail about 700 meters from Ferienstudio Heidi. There are also cross-country ski trails in the Aletsch Arena. You can go cross-country skiing on the longest cross-country ski trail in Valais (more than 100 km.), this is 9.9 km. from Ferienstudio Heidi. This trail has won the Blick Winter Awards three times for the most beautiful cross-country network in Switzerland. This trail is easily accessible by public transport. The starting point of the Cross Country World Cup and Switzerland’s largest cross-country skiing event (the Gommerlauf) can be found at 22.5 km. from Ferienstudio Heidi.
Walking on snowshoes
Near Ferienstudio Heidi you can walk on snowshoes. For example, a route starts 550 meters from the Ferienstudio.
Sledding
You can go sledding nearby. For example, a sledding route is 600 meters from Ferienstudio Heidi.
Snow security
Snow activities occur when there is sufficient snow, which is often the case. The ski slopes in the Aletsch Arena and Bellwald and the longest cross-country ski trail in Valais are sprayed if there is not enough snow, so you can still ski and cross-country ski.
Other activities
Aletsch Glacier (UNESCO World Heritage site)
The Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacier in Switzerland and the Alps. The glacier is 23 kilometers and up to 1000 meters thick. It is UNESCO World Heritage site. At 4.3 km. from Ferienstudio Heidi is the cable car to here.
Zermatt Switzerland (Matterhorn)
Zermatt is easily accessible. You can drive to a train station in about an hour. From there you can take a train up and see the Matterhorn (a mountain at 4478 meters in altitude).
Wellness (sauna, thermal bath)
Pamper yourself with wellness activities in the area. For example, visit some thermal baths and saunas (as at 12 and 24 km from the Ferienstudio). The water of thermal baths comes from hot springs. These consist of lithium-containing sodium-calcium sulfate water. Some people with osteoarthritis and rheumatism benefit from this (as a supplement to regular health care, not a substitute. In case of complaints, also consult a doctor).