Tour du Cervin

Tour du Cervin "classique", dont certaines étapes ont été divisées pour plus de facilité
Départ de Randa, Arrivée à Zermatt
Pour les randonneurs pressés, il est possible de regrouper les 2 dernières étapes en empruntant des remontées mécaniques, éventuellement en passant par le refuge Théodule au lieu de la cabane Gandeg.
l'intérêt de passer une nuit à la cabane Gandeg est de profiter d'un panorama très intéressant, qui compense le caractère plus artificiel de cette dernière partie de parcours, située sur le domaine skiable.

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

1. S

   Herbriggen – Topalihütte

   5.85 mi 6,791 ft 2,152 ft

   See the guide on route moderation. The classic hike from Randa is very often closed. This hike starts at Herbriggen (accessible by train from Randa).The route is much steeper than the one starting from Randa; furthermore, once you reach Tälli, the ‘normal’ route is also closed due to rockfalls, and a new route has been marked out joining the alpine path linking the Topali Hut (Topalihütte) to the Barrhorn, which adds 400 metres of elevation gain. The difficulty rating is ‘very difficult’, to reflect the total duration of the hike, which takes into account the significant elevation gain covered in two main sections, and the steep nature of the first ascent. There are no technical difficulties other than the elevation gain (2,000 m elevation gain over 9.5 km).

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2. 2

   Topalihütte – Jungu

   6.94 mi 1,860 ft 4,055 ft

   Jungu/Jungen (1,954 m) is a village situated above St-Niklaus. The journey is made by cable car. If the cable cars are not running, an intercom at the Jungu station allows you to contact the operator: payment is made at the bottom.The descent down the Wasulicke features several sections secured with fixed ropes and ladders, as the ground is quite unstable and sloping. The descent is currently not particularly exposed: a 45° slope, which allows for a fairly safe descent with the safety measures in place. There is currently no route across what remains of the glacier. This forms the second stage of the Tour du Cervin, passing through the western part of the Matter Vispa valley.

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3. 3

   Jungu – Grüben

   7.79 mi 3,848 ft 4,318 ft

   The first of the three stages that make up the northern traverse of the massif from east to west.No particular difficulties: you just need to take care on the first section, which follows a narrow path along the cliff face. Fixed equipment (ropes) secures the most exposed sections.The route starts from the same cable car used on the previous stage to descend to St-Niklaus.

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4. 4

   Grüben – Zinal

   8.56 mi 3,284 ft 3,845 ft

   Stage2 of the northern section of the Tour du Cervin: this takes you to the Val d’Anniviers.NB: Originally, we had planned to walk all the way from Grüben to Zinal, but in two stages: stage 1 from Grüben to the Hôtel Weisshorn, and stage 2 from the Hôtel Weisshorn to Zinal. For financial reasons, this wasn’t possible; so we carried on to Saint-Luc, from where a bus service took us to Zinal.The first section (up to Meidu) does not follow the classic Tour du Cervin route; the section through the forest and mountain pastures between the end of the track and the buildings at Jäniltigu Oberstafil is no longer marked at all; that said, there are no particular difficulties: the track reflects the route I took, based on the path as shown on the maps and the terrain.

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5. 5

   Tour du Cervin - Etape 5 (préparation) : Zinal-Arolla

   16.16 mi 4,692 ft 7,031 ft

   Pour réduire la difficulté de la randonnée, le départ se fait du sommet de la télécabine Sorebois - Espace Weisshorn (2695m).A Villa-Evolène, un bus permet de redescendre à Arolla en évitant de suivre la route pendant 10km.

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6. 6

   Tour du Cervin - Etape 6 : Arolla - Prarayer

   11.34 mi 4,219 ft 4,091 ft

   Cette partie du tour du Cervin mène au refuge de Prarayer, qui peut constituer une étape de 2 nuits si vous voulez vous reposer avant d'entamer la dernière partie du tour. Il est agréable de flâner autour du lac.

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7. 7

   Tour du Cervin - Etape 7a : Prarayer - Refuge Perrucco Vuillermoz

   4.08 mi 3,737 ft 758 ft

   Afin de ne pas faire 2 étapes longues d'affilée, nous avons décidé de faire l'étape 7 du Tour du Cervin classique (Refuge Prarayer - Breuil) en 2 jours, en faisant une halte au refuge Perruca Vuillermoz avant de rejoindre la Cabane Gandeg (cf Etape 7b).

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8. 8

   Tour of the Matterhorn – Stage 7b: Perruco Mountain Hut – Breuil

   6.78 mi 974 ft 3,930 ft

   This is the second part of the classic stage of the Tour du Cervin, running from Prarayer to Breuil. The final section of the route can be avoided if you are tired once you reach the road. It is also possible to head towards Varvoie and Lake Perrères to rejoin the road more quickly.

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9. 9

   Tour du Cervin, Breuil – Cabane Gandeg

   7.17 mi 4,373 ft 1,060 ft

   For this eighth stage, it is possible to take the ski lifts up to the Théodule Refuge, depending on conditions, in particular the Plan Maison lift from Breuil; or even as far as Fornet, to get even closer.

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10. E

    Tour of the Matterhorn, Gandeg Hut – Zermatt

    5.69 mi 16 ft 4,610 ft

    This ninth stage involves the final descent to Zermatt. Once again, the walk can be shortened at Furi by taking the section of the Matterhorn Express that runs to Zermatt. The walk remains within the Zermatt ski area.

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