Is this the cheapest bike day pass in the Alps?

Tageskarte Aletscharena

Photo: Thomas Giger

Mountain bikers who like to use cable cars sometimes have to dig deep into their pockets. But not everywhere. In the Aletsch Arena in Valais, for example, you will find one of the cheapest shuttle services in the Alps.

Mountain bikers are in good hands in the Altescharena: No fewer than six mountain railroads transport bikes. The highlight of the story: three of these mountain railroads provide access to the Fiescher, Bettmer and Riederalp feeder routes and are therefore integrated into the public transport network. In other words: If you have a Half-Fare travelcard in Switzerland, you pay just CHF 37.50 for a day ticket including the mountain railroad. This also includes the railroad line between Brig and Fürgangen (Bellwald).

But it gets even better: because the feeder lifts are part of public transport, they are in operation for much longer than conventional tourist lifts. The gondola lift to Fiescheralp, for example, rides from 7.15 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., while the operating hours to Rieder- and Bettmeralp even last from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. - bike pass included.