Last Updated on: 29th October 2024, 10:35 am
Champex Lac, nicknamed Little Canada, is a stunningly picturesque alpine village in Switzerland, located in the French-speaking canton of Valais.
The village is named after its scenic lake, Lac de Champex, which is approximately 1,500 meters (4,920 feet) above sea level.
Many visitors pass through Champex Lac as part of the Tour du Mont Blanc hike, but you don’t have to be a serious hiker to enjoy this beautiful part of the world.
In fact, this picturesque town in the Swiss Alps offers a wide variety of summer activities, and I was fortunate to spend ten days here in August sitting for a lovely cat.
Here are some recommendations on what to do in Champex Lac in the summer.
Enjoy Spending Time Around The Lake
Not surprisingly, many activities are centred around the lake.
Walk Around The Lake
For a nice, easy trail, there’s a lovely walk around the lake that will only take you 30-40 minutes unless, like me, you stop every couple of minutes to take photos.
Swimming and Sunbathing
Those who know me know I’m not a swimmer, but the clear waters of Champex Lac are popular with swimmers, and there are designated swimming areas. The lake’s shore is also an excellent spot for sunbathing and relaxing.
If the lake waters are too cold for you (well, it is an alpine lake), there is an open-air heated swimming pool just a few minutes away.
Boating and Fishing
The lake is perfect for boating and fishing. Pedal boats and paddle boards are available for hire.
Fishing permits are available for those interested in angling.
Hiking and Walking
There are numerous trails around Champex Lac for all levels, including routes that offer stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Popular hikes include the lake walk, the route to the Champex Glacier, and the Bovine hike, part of the Tour du Mont Blanc.
If you’re like me and not quite fit enough for a mountain climb to the glacier, the Tourist Information Office has a map with several two-hour hikes in the area. Although even some of these can be rather steep in places—ooh, I think I’m getting old.
Recommended Walk In Champex Lac
Whatever walk you do has beautiful scenery, but I loved this one that the owner of my housesit recommended.
Bisse Du Petit Ruisseau
The Bisse Du Petit Ruisseau trail starts close to the chairlift. It’s a lovely walk that takes around 45 minutes in each direction and is suitable for most fitness levels, including families with children. The last 10-15 minutes have a lot of steps, but they’re not too steep.
For most of the walk, you follow the bisse, a channel built many centuries ago and used for irrigation. As you get higher, you will pass a waterfall. It’s a very pretty trail.
At the highest point, you will come to the Relais d’Arpette, a lovely place for lunch. Do try their delicious blueberry tart. If you plan to visit on a Saturday or Sunday and want to have lunch, I recommend making a reservation.
To return to Champex Lac, follow the same route back. It will seem a lot quicker on the return.
Visit the Flore-Alpe Botanical Garden
The Flore-Alpe Botanical Garden showcases a diverse collection of alpine plants. It’s a lovely, peaceful place to stroll and learn about the local flora.
I’m not particularly a fan of botanical gardens, but this one with views of the lake and mountains was really nice.
They offer tours of the garden. Most of the tours are in French, but if a few English speakers are around, they will do them in English. However, you don’t need them. There are audio guides and leaflets, or you can just wander around and enjoy the view.
It’s open every day from 1st May to 31st October from 10 am – 6 pm and costs 8CHF to enter.
The Fortress Under The Alps
In Champex Lac, you can visit a hidden fortress under the Alps, originally built between 1940 and 1943 and used by the Swiss army until 1998.
This underground fort, invisible from the outside, spans over 600 metres of tunnels and could house up to 300 soldiers.
It was modernized during the Cold War for potential nuclear conflict.
Tours are available daily during summer at 2:00 pm and 4:30 pm. You must register at the Champex-Lac Tourist Office if you wish to visit.
You’ll find artillery batteries, command centres, barracks, and more inside. The fort remains at a cool 10-12°C, so maybe take a fleece with you as it’s chilly in there.
I took the 4:30 pm tour and was the only one on it. Meanwhile, the 2 pm tour was full. The guide spoke excellent English, and it was a really fascinating private tour. I highly recommend it.
It costs 15 CHF to visit, which must be paid in cash.
Chairlift La Breya
The chairlift up the mountains runs continuously in the summer. It’s a bit scary. I prefer using cable cars, but you don’t have a choice here.
However, the view from the top is lovely. There are several hiking trails, or you can simply enjoy the view and maybe have a bite to eat on the terrace of Restaurant La Breya.
The food looked quite nice at the restaurant, but I only had a coffee. The fear of being on chairlifts makes me lose my appetite.
Check here for up to date schedules and prices.
Mountain Biking
There are many mountain biking trails, ranging in difficulty. Whether a beginner or an experienced rider, you can find a suitable trail with beautiful alpine scenery.
Mountain bikes are available for rent in the town and can be taken on the chairlift.
Consider Getting The PASS Saint Bernard
If you plan on doing several activities around Champex Lac, consider getting the PASS Saint Bernard.
The PASS Saint-Bernard provides access to over 15 leisure activities year-round, with annual, seasonal, or daily pass options. This includes entry to the three ski resorts of La Fouly, Champex-Lac, and Vichères-Liddes, pedal boating on Lac de Champex, the treetop walk at La Fouly, and the museum and kennels at the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard.
Additionally, the PASS Saint-Bernard covers public transportation throughout the Pays du St-Bernard region, connecting Orsières, Champex-Lac, La Fouly/Val Ferret, Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Commeire, and the Great St Bernard Pass.
Where To Eat In Champex Lac
There are quite a few restaurants and cafés in Champex-Lac, which offer a range of Swiss dishes, including fondue and raclette, along with international options.
I had a lovely lasagne (yes, I know, not very Swiss! but Italy isn’t that far away) at the Boulangerie and Patisserie Tea Room Gentiana. It’s a lovely spot with a terrace, perfect after visiting the Botanical Gardens.
You can also buy fresh bread, local wines, and cheese here—perfect for a picnic by the lake. Swiss wine is really good.
Another lovely lunch spot is La Cabanon, which has a terrace overlooking the lake. It’s popular, so make a reservation or get there early for lunch.
For a crepe, head to Mylord on Main Street. There was a good selection of sweet and savoury pancakes. I had yummy goat cheese, sheep cheese, tomatoes, and honey crepe, which was very good.
Mimi’s Lounge is just opposite the lake but across the road, so don’t be surprised if your lake view is blocked by cars. It serves excellent lunches. Their blueberry tart, however, isn’t as good as the one at Relais d’Arpette on the Bisse de Champex walk.
I enjoyed a lovely grilled trout dish at Vieux Champex.
Eating out in Champex Lac does get expensive; not only is it Switzerland, but it’s a tourist town in Switzerland. You are looking at around 25-40 euros a head without alcohol.
I couldn’t afford to eat out at every meal, so luckily, as I was housesitting, I had access to a full kitchen. The only problem is that I am a terrible cook.
However, there is a small mini-mart in town. It could be better, but you can at least get your basics there. And there is a bakery, too.
How To Get To Champex Lac
By Plane
The nearest airport is Geneva.
By Train
Take the train from Geneva Airport to Orsières. You will have to change trains a couple of times, but this is Switzerland and everything just works. And the train journey alongside Lake Geneva is beautiful.
From Orsières, it’s a twenty-minute bus ride up the mountain.
For up-to-date information on train journeys, schedules and tickets, download the SBB Mobile.
By Car
You can also drive, but the train is so much nicer, and it’s a very scenic journey.
Interested In Housesitting?
For More Posts On Switzerland, Check These Out
A Visit To Montreux and Chillon Castle
Day Trip to Gruyeres From Lausanne
An Easy Day Trip By Train From Zurich To Rhine Falls And Stein am Rhein
Easy Day Trip By Train From Basel, Switzerland To Colmar, France
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