My husband and I will be just outside Zurich (Affoltern am albis) the first week of September. We'd like to travel to the French-speaking part for 4 days to include moderate hiking (2-5hrs/day, carrying daypack, no special gear required). We're considering either the Vaud or Valais regions to hike the mountains .

Our preference is for a less touristy region, accomodations <$100USD/140CHF, but maybe with a couple alternative activities to hiking should we get tired (wine, museums, chateau or cheese making for example).

1st - We're trying to decide on a base town (so we can reserve in advance) from which we can hike, or if we should hike from town-to-town and find accomodations as we arrive.

2nd - where should we start from? we plan to train from Zurich or Affoltern am albis. We've looked at many websites and are starting to get overwhelmed. A couple towns we noted so far included Charmey and the Villars-Gryons region.

3rd - will the mountains we see in Vaud/Valais still be "impressive" to the American eye? I know it's not Zermatt, but we do want to stay in the French region (for ease of communication).

Any thoughts on these towns as bases, or any other recommendations?

Thanks!

There are several places in the Valais that might make a good base. I like Zinal and Grimnetz in Val d'Anniviers. The hike to the Cabine de Moiry is spectacular, if a little steep. You can get food and drink at the shelter; it will still be staffed that first week.

There are no flat mountain hikes in that region. From Zinal you can walk well up the valley where it is relatively calm hiking.

Let me suggest that you get a copy of The Valais, a Walking Guide
ISBN: 1852841516 by Kev Reynolds.
You can order it from Amazon.

He lists dozens of hikes that you might find of interest.

We stayed at a little hotel in Zinal where French was the first language: Hotel du Trift. It is a 2-star place with fairly small rooms, but clean and decent enough. I doubt if the old black dog is still resting by the stove, however. He spoke just about any language, but he was still resting up from the last big push.
He still moved his tail a little to show he was greeting you.
I thought the hotel was what I wanted in a Swiss Mountain hotel. Charm, character, authentic Swiss food, and mountains.

Soniah: My husband and I hiked from Chamonix to Zermatt in 15 days last fall, carrying smallish backpacks and hiking from village to village (an sometimes a hut). We've also hiked other area in the Bernese Oberland and different parts of the Valais.My last report is listed here on the board titled Chamonix to Zermatt Hike Report, you should be able to bring it up if you search for that text.

Anyway, hiking is a fabulous way to experience Switzerland and I applaud you for getting out and walking! As Bob Brown advises, Zinal is a great spot and would be a terrific base for day hiking. An overnite at the Cabane du Moiry is unforgettable. The Hotel Europe is a VERY nice 3-star in Zinal for under 140CHF.We also like the villages in the next valley over, Les Hauderes and Evolene, which in my opinion are more "french". In Les Hauderes, you will see elderly ladies still wearing traditional dress. Again, many, many hikes from easy to very difficult just out your door. We stayed at the Hotel Edelweiss, for around 110CHF. You will have no trouble finding hotels in that price range throughout the Valais. You really don't need reservations either, we were there early Sept. and never made one. The Kev Reynolds guidebooks are the best for hikers, get the one Bob talked about for the Valais...Reynolds also has one on the Walkers Haute Route if you want a longer, town to town trip. The Valais has the greatest number of big mountains than any other region of Switzerland. You can't go wrong there. Have a wonderful trip, wish I was going!

soniah: read my message and thought it might be a bit confusing, I was thinking too fast! Technically, Les Hauderes in the Val d'Herens is two valleys over from Zinal! Also, forgot to mention that Zinal can be a little tricky on public transportation. There is a seasonal bus that runs up and down the valley, but Evolene and Les Hauderes have more frequent, regular Postbus service from Sion.

Thanks for your recommendations; I've checked Amazon for the book (new release not available yet, but hopefully will be sometime this summer), and will look up the towns you both mentioned.