Tour of the Matterhorn

This 10-day tour of the Matterhorn is remarkable. It allows you to walk alongside the 4,000-metre peaks of this Alpine range every day. Located in two countries, Italy and Switzerland, it also allows you to familiarise yourself with three European languages: Italian, German and French in the Valais region of Switzerland.
Important note: Two stages of this route take place partly on glaciers. It is highly advisable to bring crampons and a rope for maximum safety. Crampons will make it easier to walk, and the rope can be used to form a rope team to secure the participants.

Details

109923
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 156.13 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 10 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 11,648 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 11,574 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,317 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,126 m
  • ⚐ Country: Italy
  • ⚐
    Area: Alps
  • ⚐ District: Bionaz 
  • ⚑
    Start: N 45.899788° / E 7.490252°
  • ⚑
    End: N 45.921091° / E 7.533053°
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. E

Notes

Water is available every day, but it needs to be purified.
Accommodation is mainly in refuges or lodges where we spent our nights.
Day 1: Prarayer refuge.
Day 2: Perrucco Vuillermoz refuge.
Day 3: Gandeg Cabin.
Day 4: Zermatt Youth Hostel.
Day 5: Europahutte Cabin.
Day 6: Hotel in Saint-Nicklaus.
Day 7: Schwarzhorn Hotel in Gruben.
Day 8: Zinal Youth Hostel.
Day 9: Hotel de la Tsa in Arolla.
Day 10: Prarayer Refuge.

To complete this 10-day tour, we used buses or cable cars for some of the connections, particularly in the valley. This requires a good knowledge of the timetables for these modes of transport, especially buses, which in Switzerland are always on time.

General comment on this tour: lasting 10 days, this tour requires each participant to be in good physical shape, to have the minimum equipment, in particular crampons for crossing the two glaciers, not to overload their rucksacks, to book their accommodation in lodges, refuges or hotels, have transport timetables (cable cars and buses) in your pocket, and be prepared to sleep in groups with sometimes annoying snoring, but hikers are used to this. And finally, you will return enchanted by this trek, which is one of the most beautiful in the Alps, along with the Tour du Mont Blanc, the Grand Paradis crossing, the Tour du Queyras and many others... which are also described on the website.

Worth a visit

This route takes you through many towns, including Breuil Cervinia in Italy, but also Saint Nicklaus and, above all, Zermatt in Switzerland.
A quick visit to this car-free town (except for electric cars) is a must, especially (unfortunately) the cemetery where many famous mountaineers are buried.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
bernardG34
bernardG34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2002
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Carried out over 12 days in complete autonomy. Carried out in 2002, I noticed a terrible retreat of the two glaciers along the route! The high Arolla glacier is now just a vast field of scree....

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