Throughout the summer you can join daily treks by horse or pony following a wide variety of routes through the beautiful valley extending from Chatel down to Abondance.

They offer trips to suit all standards of riders.

For complete beginners, experienced equestrians are on hand who are fully familiar with the area. After ensuring you are properly kitted out, you will be shown the basics - most instructors speak excellent English - before guiding you along a route chosen to match your standard.

Later as your confidence grows you can join more challenging groups exploring the forests and high pastures in the hills above Chatel.

Winter drapes the mountains with snow, providing a haunting backdrop for a back country horse ride. Despite the silence all around, tracks in the snow are signs of activity which if you are very lucky you just might catch a glimpse of.

If you really want to see the mountains at their best you may want to head just over the Swiss border to the Morgins Ranch (first right after the Border post) where you will find Monika Broder and her family takes great care and pride in maintaining an excellent stable of very sure footed horses and ponies ideally suited to trips up into the heart of these truly stunning mountains.  They can be very busy in peak weeks, so it is well worth a call before hand (English no problem). 0041 79608 1016.