Guided gravity · Switzerland
Mountain biking and E-Bike in Valais and the Swiss Alps
From the Rhône vineyards to the glaciers, March to November: enduro shuttles, day tours, weekends and all-inclusive weeks, from the Exo'base in Orsières.
- Season
- March to Nov. The Valais micro-climate
- Descent
- 5 to 10,000 m Per day, on shuttles
- Peaks
- 4,000 m Matterhorn, Combins, Aletsch
- Areas
- 3 + 2 Lower, Central, Upper Valais, Vaud, Aosta
- Base
- Orsières The Exo'base guesthouse
- From
- 65 CHF Entry price of upcoming dates
Four ways to ride Valais
A day, a weekend, a week
A 95 CHF shuttle and an all-inclusive week do not speak to the same budget or the same free time. Here are the four formats, shortest to longest.
The country's calendar
Next dates in Switzerland
Tour
Tour
Shuttles
TripFull
Shuttles
Tour
Shuttles
ShuttlesDeparture is guaranteed as soon as the group is complete. If a ride does not gather enough participants, it is postponed or refunded: you lose nothing.
The playground
From the Rhône vineyards to the glaciers
Valais is one valley and its twenty side valleys. Each has its own light, its own season and its own ground: that is what makes it possible to ride from March to November without ever repeating a day.
Lower Valais and Entremont
Orsières, Verbier, Val Ferret, Trient: forest, larches and balconies facing Mont Blanc. The Exo'base area, rideable from March and late into autumn.
Central Valais
Anniviers, Hérens, Crans-Montana, Plaine-Morte: the big descents, the bisses and the altitude. The heart of the season, June to October.
Upper Valais
Aletsch, Lötschental, Zermatt, Simplon: glaciers, high plateaus and Matterhorn views. Opens late, once the snow has left the ridges.
Vaud Alps and neighbouring Aosta
Villars, Les Diablerets, and on the other side of the Great St Bernard, the Aosta Valley an hour away. Two natural extensions of the ground.
These are the areas we ride. The trails themselves are discovered on the day.
The 360°, no middleman
Guiding, shuttles, lodging, rental: all under one roof
One contact from the first e-mail to the return to the car park. We resell nothing: the Exo'bus is ours, the guides are ours, the guesthouse is ours, and so are the rental bikes.
That is what lets us switch valley the same morning when the weather turns, and not charge a supplement because a supplier changed his mind.
- The Exo'bus and its drivers, up to 26 riders and their bikes
- Local, Swiss Cycling certified guides who ride the ground all year
- The Exo'base in Orsières: rooms, workshop, bike room, at the foot of the trails
- A serviced rental fleet, protection included, and the spare bike that follows the group
- The Exo'Pass, for the season's guided days
Since 2010, at home
Valais, by the people who know it by heart
We live here. The trails we ride with you, we scouted out of season, and we know which ones hold up after three days of rain.
When to come
Three seasons to ride
1
March to May · Lower Valais opens
The snow leaves the balconies before the ridges. Dry forests, mild temperatures, nobody on the trails: the best window for a course or a first shuttle.
2
June to September · everything is open
Altitude is reachable, the lifts are turning, the days are long. This is the season of 10,000 m descents, of weekends and all-inclusive weeks.
3
October to November · the light
Golden larches, cold air and perfect grip. The high ground closes, the lower valleys give their finest days of the year.
They were there
What they say about Valais
I spent a week with Christian exploring Valais between Orsières and Zermatt. It was an incredible experience: the riding challenges, the mountain views, the huts for lunch and the home-cooked dinners. Each day we took a shuttle to a new spot, used the lifts as much as possible, then the e-MTB for the extra climbing. He adapted the descents and traverses to my abilities and my wishes. He knows the local trails, the huts and the access points extremely well. I finish this week with gratitude, wonder at the Alps, and the urge to come back for more adventures.
We have just come back from a wonderful mountain biking experience with Chris. We stayed in his guesthouse, which has an incredible view over the Alps. We started in Verbier with a coaching day that took us all to a new level, thanks to Chris's sharp feedback. The next day we did shuttles in Valais and had great fun. Chris's enthusiasm for mountain biking is contagious. As a coach he understands your limits and helps you progress while keeping you feeling safe. As a host he provides very attentive service to make your stay comfortable. You will not find a better mountain biking experience than this one!
Upper Valais outing, perfect weather, pure pleasure. Thanks to Chris and his organisation, everything was superb!
Before you go
Frequently asked questions about Valais
How do I get to Valais?
By train to Martigny or Orsières, by car on the A9 motorway, or by air to Geneva, two hours away. We arrange transfers from the station or the airport on request.
When is the best time?
March to November. Spring and autumn for the lower valleys and the quiet, summer for altitude and the big descent days.
Where do we sleep?
At the Exo'base, our guesthouse in Orsières, on the trips that start there. On the others, in hotels or mountain huts depending on the programme: the detail is on each trip page.
What level do I need?
Rides run from 2/4 to 4/4. Every date states its technical and physical level, and the scale is explained in two minutes on its own page.
E-Bike or regular mountain bike?
Both. Some rides take both in the same group, others are reserved for one or the other: it is stated on each date.
Can I rent a bike here?
Yes, serviced full-suspension mountain bikes and E-Bikes, protection included. Book it with your date; the fleet is limited in high season.
And for a group?
Every day ride and every trip can be booked privately, from four riders, on the dates that suit you. Describe your project and we come back with a proposal.
Do I need insurance?
Accident and third-party liability cover is essential, and cancellation insurance is recommended on trips. We do not provide them.
Shall we?
Valais is waiting, March to November
A shuttle to taste it, a weekend to see it, a week to understand it. The simplest way is to start with a date.
A change of air
The other destinations
Italy
From the ridges of Aosta to the Tuscan coast
Morocco
A change of scene, and prime riding all winter
Georgia
Your horse-shuttle adventure across the Caucasus
Iran
The exclusive trip, from 5,600 m to sea level
Travel light
Rent a bike
Serviced full-suspension mountain bikes and E-Bikes, protection included. Book it with your date.
See rentalA good present
The gift card
An amount now, a date chosen later. Valid on every ride and every trip.
Order onlineClub, team, company
Go as a group
A private departure for your club or your team, on the dates that suit you.
See the groups pageWith friends, family, a club or a company
Your Valais ride, your way
Your club, your team, your crew: tell us the level, the dates and the number of riders, and we build the day or the week around you.
Let's stay in touch
Take 5.- off your first ride
New dates before everyone else, faraway destinations included. One letter a month.
They have been with us from the start
The levels, made clear
First tracks
Wide paths, rolling doubletrack, the odd loose rock. MTB without traps, to build pleasure and confidence.
You'll relate if
- comfortable on gravel and forest roads
- the word singletrack intrigues you more than it speaks to you
- you are discovering braking on loose ground
Singletrack bliss
Narrow but flowing trails: moderate roots and rocks, wide switchbacks, a few spots where you pick your line.
You'll relate if
- you ride singletrack regularly and enjoy it
- tight switchbacks still make you dab a foot sometimes
- you brake hard without locking up in the rocks
Technical ground
Rock gardens, steps, tight switchbacks, off-camber: the terrain demands clean lines and active riding.
You'll relate if
- tight switchbacks without dabbing, almost
- 30-40 cm steps do not stop you
- you read the trail several metres ahead
Committed
High mountain, exposed sections, big steps: places where mistakes cost, precise riding is mandatory.
You'll relate if
- you ride what many carry
- exposure does not cloud your judgement
- you stay in control on the steep even when tired
Easy
Short outing, minimal climbing: shuttles or lifts do the work, frequent breaks.
You'll relate if
- 2-3 h out
- under 300 m of climbing
- no training required
On an e-bike, one physical grade lower is often enough: ask us.
Active
Half to full mellow day: we pedal, but the pace leaves time for the view.
You'll relate if
- 3-5 h out
- 300-700 m of climbing
- occasional exercise is enough
On an e-bike, one physical grade lower is often enough: ask us.
Sporty
A proper MTB day: hours in the saddle, real climbing, punchy sections. You need juice, not a palmares.
You'll relate if
- full day, 5-7 h including breaks
- 800-1'200 m of climbing
- regular sport, endurance follows
On an e-bike, one physical grade lower is often enough: ask us.
Enduring
Big days or back-to-backs: climbing stacks up and the pace stays high.
You'll relate if
- 1'500 m+ of climbing, or several days in a row
- regular training
- fast recovery is part of the game
On an e-bike, one physical grade lower is often enough: ask us.
Between two grades? Halves (2.5) exist: aim higher if you are fit, lower if you are coming back.
Not sure? Write to usWe will advise you honestly, even if it means suggesting mellower.See the full page
