Tour of the Matterhorn — Stage 3: Arolla → Les Haudères

A short recovery stage: from Arolla descend along the Borgne through the stone-pine woods that give the village its name, past La Gouille and the Satarma meadows, to Les Haudères (1,452 m), a Valais village of dark timber barns.

A recovery day in the heart of the Val d’Hérens, one of the most authentic valleys in Valais. The trail descends along the Borgne among the stone pines — the “aroles” that give the village its name — past the blue tarn of La Gouille, a favourite with families, and the barn-dotted meadows of Satarma. At Les Haudères the sun-blackened timber houses crowd the lanes as they did three centuries ago; a half-hour detour climbs to Evolène, ranked among Switzerland’s most beautiful villages. All services, buses to Sion, and time to rest the legs.