Half marathons in Valais

The half marathon is the ideal Valais format: short enough to keep smiling, long enough to enjoy the scenery 🌞. The Rhône carves its valley between slopes planted with apricot trees and vines, then the peaks take over, as white as the Matterhorn in every season. For a half marathon in Valais, you choose between a fast valley floor and spectacular altitude, without ever losing sight of the mountains.

The terrain follows the relief. On the valley floor, courses roll along wide, flat roads, perfect for setting a personal best 🏃. At altitude, the road twists, the climbs multiply and the air thins out from 1,500 m. Spring and early summer remain the best periods, before the heat of the plain sets in. Autumn, cooler, appeals to runners aiming for a fast time. Early morning starts avoid the heat peaks, and every aid station restores energy for the final third.

The Valais half marathon calendar is compact, but every entry counts. The Marathon des terroirs du Valais BCVS, in Martigny, offers its half marathon in May amid a festive atmosphere 🎉. In early July, the Gornergrat Zermatt Marathon offers a half marathon format for lovers of grand scenery. In June, the Aletsch Half Marathon, in Fieschertal, unfolds its distance facing the largest glacier in the Alps, an unusual setting that makes a change from city avenues. To aim longer, check out the marathons in Valais, and for shorter, the 10 km races in Valais.

The Upper Valais speaks German and cherishes its traditions, from festive costumes to alpine cheeses, a change of scenery that saves you from taking a plane 🧀. In Martigny, the Pierre Gianadda Foundation, known for its art exhibitions, awaits finishers for a cultural reward 🎨. All that remains is to choose your half marathon, and the rest of the day will follow.