Aletsch Express

Runners, spectators and guests staying in the car-free village of Riederalp can reach the start line of the Aletsch Half-Marathon in Bettmeralp via the Aletsch Express. The buses run between Riederalp-West and the aerial cable car of Bettmeralp Bahnen. The Aletsch Express will be running extra services on the days of the event. Please note: there is limited capacity on the buses!

Click here to view the Aletsch Express timetable during the Aletsch Half-Marathon.
 

Tip

Even if you are travelling by car, you can still travel on the aerial cable car from Betten Talstation to Bettmeralp or from Mörel-Filet to Riederalp free of charge. All you need to do is register for an SBB Swiss Runners Ticket.

How to get here

The Aletsch Half-Marathon takes place at the heart of the Aletsch Arena, part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch. The canton of Valais is easily accessible by either car or train.

>Verkehrsspinne Aletsch Halbmarathon Aletsch Arena

Arriving by train

Travelling by train to the Aletsch Half-Marathon is not just safe and comfortable, it is also environmentally friendly. If you take advantage of the SBB’s Swiss Runners Ticket, you can benefit from a free return journey on public transport from anywhere in Switzerland.  

Details for arrival by train:

Alternative route 
to avoid bottlenecks

  • from Brig to Mörel-Filet valley station (approx. 10 km) with the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGBahn)
  • from Mörel-Filet valley station to the car-free Riederalp Mitte with the Riederalp cable car
  • from Riederalp Mitte approx. 20 minutes walk to the start on Bettmeralp (Bettmeralp mountain station)

Swiss Runners Ticket

Logo Swiss Runners TicketAll participants benefit from a free 2nd class public transport journey from their place of residence or train station in Switzerland to Bettmeralp and back via GA area routes. You will receive a promo code for the journey and one for the return journey by e-mail. With these two promo codes you can book and print out two free public transport tickets for the outward and return journey exclusively on sbb.ch/swissrunners. It is not possible to book at the train counter, at ticket machines or via the SBB app.

The arrival can be made from June 15, 2024 and the return journey between June 22 and June 30, 2024. On the return journey, the special ticket is only valid together with your Aletsch Half Marathon start number.

This is how you secure your Swiss Runners ticket:

  1. Register successfully online for the Aletsch Half Marathon
  2. Approximately 1 week before the event you will receive your personal promo codes (for outward and return journey).
  3. Enter your personal promo codes at sbb.ch/swissrunners.
    • Please note that your codes can only be redeemed online.
      Important: It is not possible to book at the train counter, at ticket machines or via the SBB App.
    • Please complete the purchase process when entering the code for the first time.
  4. Print out the free tickets for the outward and return journey in second class.

Validity of Swiss Runners Ticket:

The outward journey can take place between 15 June 2024 and the return journey until 30 June 2024. More details are available at sbb.ch/aletsch-halbmarathon. The Swiss Runners Ticket is valid for everyone who has registered for the Aletsch Half Marathon and/or the Saturday races. 

Arriving by car

Participants can travel by car to the Aletsch Half-Marathon on good roads and/or part of the way on the car train direct to Betten Talstation and Mörel-Filet. Here, there are sufficient fee-based parking spaces and a modern multi-storey car park. You then take the Bettmeralp aerial cable car from Betten Talstation and reach the car-free village of Bettmeralp in a matter of minutes. 

Details on how to travel by car to Betten:

  • from West Switzerland along Lake Geneva and through the Rhone valley 
  • from Italy via the Simplon Pass or by car train from Iselle
  • from Germany via Basel, Bern, Thun, Kandersteg (Lötschberg car train) 
  • from Zurich or Lucerne towards Gotthard via the Furka Pass or via the Furka car train into the Rhone valley.