100% Local Flavours Stay in Val de Bagnes

While Verbier is famous for skiing, the region is just as well known for another treasure: Valais Raclette AOP. In reality, the cheese is only the tip of the iceberg. Verbier and Val de Bagnes offer a wealth of agritourism experiences, places, local producers and regional specialities, making them the perfect destination for a 100% local-flavours getaway.

Buvette De Pindin @raphaelsurmont

Day 1: Between Alpine Pastures
and Beekeeping

1. Brunch
at Pindin

To start this programme, you might as well dive straight into one of the valley’s most popular experiences: the brunch at the Sery alpine pasture. Your day begins in Verbier or Le Châble, where a taxi will pick you up and take you to the Sery-Laly alpine pasture at 2,200 metres above sea level. There, accompanied by Francine, who knows the area like the back of her hand, enjoy a walk (lasting between one and two hours) and the magnificent views at the foot of the Petit Combin.

A tiny mountain hut, Hérens cows grazing nearby, and the majestic Petit Combin and its glacier towering above the landscape. Time for brunch. Served on the terrace overlooking the peaks, the menu showcases local flavours: alpine cheeses and milk, fresh bread, homemade jams and apple juice. After this convivial moment, return by the same route: walk back to the Sery farm buildings before taking the taxi back to Verbier, arriving around 15:00.

The Sery Alpine Brunch and Cheese Workshop are summer activities that can be booked online. VIP Pass holders benefit from reduced rates

Discover the “Îtres”
Along the way, you cannot miss the îtres. Îtres are traditional alpine buildings unique to Val de Bagnes. Built from stone, they once provided shelter for herdsmen and were used for cheese production. While some have disappeared over time, others have survived or been repurposed, such as the Pindin mountain hut. To learn more about these remarkable buildings and where to find them, visit: https://itre.ch/

2. Visit the Centre of Excellence for Beekeeping

Head to Sembrancher by bus and, after a 10-minute walk, it’s time to discover another tradition that plays a vital role in biodiversity: beekeeping. On the banks of the Dranse, the Centre of Excellence for Beekeeping, this unique project in Switzerland opens its doors for a visit to the apiary, an exhibition and a stroll through the honey garden. By reservation, a guided tour and workshop will introduce you to the bees and their queen.

3. Etiez Dairy

Stop at the Etiez Dairy: Just a few minutes away on foot, the Etiez Dairy, inaugurated in 2025, is well worth a visit. From the visitor gallery, you can observe the production of Bagnes 98 Raclette AOP (the number stamped on every wheel produced here). The dairy also features a shop selling products from the Grand Entremont region, along with a café-restaurant where you can enjoy Etiez fondue.

Return to Le Châble

The train station is located directly behind the dairy, making the return journey easy. And once again, travel is included with your VIP Pass.

Day 2: Between Tradition and Cheese

1. Head to Bruson

From Le Châble railway station, hop on the bus to Bruson (free with the VIP Pass). Get off at the final stop, Bruson Valbord, where the trail to the bisse begins.

2. The Ravines Bisse

Before becoming a pleasant family walk beside the water, a bisse was originally an irrigation channel — a unique feature of Valais. The Ravines Bisse was dug in 1908 to irrigate the fields of Bruson and draws its water from the Versegères stream. This gentle walk of just over an hour winds through forest and alongside flowing water, making it ideal for anyone looking to escape the summer heat.

Bisse des Ravines

3. A Well-Earned Break

Whether it’s time for a drink or a bite to eat (though is there ever a wrong time for raclette?), we recommend a stop at Raclett’House, the iconic restaurant run by raclette master Eddy Baillifard.

4. Discover Bruson

Just below the Ravines Bisse lies Bruson, a village that has preserved the spirit of mountain life from days gone by. Wander through its narrow lanes and discover its many barns, stables and traditional granaries, reminders of a time when every family lived in rhythm with farming and livestock.

Bruson and the PALP

Located in the heart of Bruson, PALP is a festival that brings culture and heritage into dialogue. While it is best known for its iconic Rocklette and Electroclette events in the Val de Bagnes, PALP is also PALP Village, quite simply, the village of Bruson itself. With its village grocery shop, restaurant, exhibitions, famous comic book cabin, artist residencies and the Rouli-Bouli, PALP has become deeply woven into village life, helping to give Bruson a vibrant new lease of life.

5. Afternoon on the Combins Train

Let the Combins Train take you to Sarreyer, a village where agricultural traditions are still very much alive. Along the Route du Soleil, enjoy magnificent views over the Val de Bagnes. Once there, discover Sarreyer’s historic sawmill and mills, as well as an open-air photography exhibition set among the village’s old wooden houses.

The Combins Train is a free activity offered by Verbier Tourism and the Musée de Bagnes. This tour starts in Verbier. Other itineraries are also available. Online booking is required.

Sarreyer and Its Slow Food Community

Created in 2020 to reopen the Café du Mont Fort, the Sarreyer Slow Food Community brings together local artisans and producers. A chocolatier, a distiller, a grower of medicinal and aromatic plants, and a farm raising cows and sheep have joined forces with a shared mission: connecting the resources of Sarreyer and its surrounding area while encouraging the exchange of local knowledge and expertise.

6. Atelier fromage

Pour compléter ta journée, il est temps de mettre la main à la pâte pour l’atelier fromage. Au cœur de la laiterie de Verbier, bien cachés au fond d’un chaudron, plonge dans les secrets des fromages du Val de Bagnes. Pour cela, pas de baguette magique, mais un chaudron, un bon feu et quelques ingrédients mystérieux… Avant de déguster toutes les spécialités de la laiterie de Verbier, tu pourras descendre dans la caverne aux trésors où dorment des centaines de meules de Raclette.

L’atelier fromage est une animation proposée durant l’été et est réservable en ligne. Les détenteur du VIP Pass y ont accès à prix réduit.

7. Ferme du Soleil

A must-visit near Verbier, La Ferme du Soleil is a former goat farm lovingly restored. To complement the beautifully renovated building, they created a restaurant serving entirely homemade cuisine featuring produce from the farm itself, all in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. On sunny days, the terrace, with its sweeping views across the valley, is the perfect place to spend a long evening watching the sun set.

Day 3: Alpine Pastures and Mountain Taverns

1. Head to Levron

For your third day, discover another side of the valley: the “Three Passes” region, home to the Col des Planches, Col du Tronc and Col du Lein. From Le Châble, take the train to Sembrancher, then continue by bus to the village of Levron. The journey is free with the VIP Pass. Getting around the Val de Bagnes.

2. Walk Through Wooded Alpine Pastures

Starting in the centre of Levron, enjoy a circular hike of around 2½ hours through the unique wooded alpine landscapes of Tronc and Lein. Winding between larch trees and grazing herds, the trail offers beautiful views between Val de Bagnes and the Rhône Valley.

Levron via the 2 passes

3. Alpine Refreshment Huts

Along the route, you’ll come across two traditional mountain refreshment huts: Tronc and Lein. Both are ideal places to stop for a light meal and pick up local alpine products before continuing your walk.

Topofinder: A Journey into the Past

Along the way, discover the stories hidden behind local place names through the Topofinder website. Legends of encounters with the devil, mysterious stones, ancient ruins and place names recalling forgotten tragedies bring the landscape to life.