The Matterhorn Tour
Undertaken over 10 days, this circuit around the Matterhorn is outstanding. Each day it takes you over the 4000 m peaks of this alpine range. As it is located in 2 countries, Italy and Switzerland, it also brings you into contact with three European languages: Italian, German and also French in Valais in Switzerland.
Technical sheet No. 4098290
Author's time : 10 days
Distance : 156.13 km
Vertical gain : 11,626 m
Vertical drop : 11,485 m
Highest point : 3,315 m
Lowest point : 1,124 m 
Difficulty : Difficult
Back to starting point : No
Walking
Location : Bionaz
Starting point : N 45.899788° / E 7.490252° 
Ending point : N 45.921091° / E 7.533053° 
Today's forecast :
Step by step walk
This walk needs several days, please find the details below.
The Matterhorn Tour Day 1: The Léchère - Prarayer Refuge
Warm-up walk to reach the Prarayer refuge along the right bank of the lake.
The Matterhorn Tour Day 2: Prarayer Refuge - Perrucco Vuillermoz Refuge
Stage starting in pasture which quickly heads into the high mountains passing through the Valcornera pass.
The Matterhorn Tour D3: Perrucco Vuillermoz Refuge - Gandeg Cabin
Discover the giant that resides here, the splendid Matterhorn itself, before getting a closer look in the evening at the Gandeg cabin.
Tour du Cervin Day 4: Cabane Gandeg - Zermatt
A Tour du Cervin alternative today, visiting the north side of the colossal peak before reaching Zermatt.
Tour du Cervin Jay 5: Zermatt - Europahutte
An easy climb reaching part of Zermatt ski slopes, extending to an uphill-downhill balcony trail leading to the famous Europahutte (Hut).
Watch out: The Himalayan footbridge just before Europahutte is currently out of service. You'll need to head down to Randa valley along the second blue marked trail on the map before heading back up to the hut (allow for 2 extra hours).
Tour du Cervin Day 6: Europahutte - Gasenreid (then Saint Nicklaus)
A new balcony stage at the foot of high summits separating the Zermatt and Saas Fee valleys.
Tour du Cervin Day 7 : Saint Nicklaus - Gruben
Beautiful mountain stage going through a pass by the name of Augstbordpass.
Tour du Cervin day 8: Gruben - Saint Luc (then Zinal)
The next stage to this mountain hike with a stop at Saint-Luc then a transfer by postbus to Zinal.
Tour du Cervin day 9: Villa Evolène (then Arolla)
A long stage through two passes however, shortened by the cable car link in Zinal and the coach transfer between Villa Evolène and Arolla.
Warning: Taking into account the cable car transport, the positive altitude isn't 2156 m as indicated but only 1380 m.
Tour du cervin day 10: Arolla - Refuge de Prarayer (Prarayer Shelter)
A high mountain stage which requires hiking boots with crampons to cross the Arolla glacier. You should get an early start for this long stage of the hike.
Useful Information
Water is always available all around, however it needs to be purified.
Shelter is mainly to be found in huts or gites where we spent our nights.
Day 1: Refuge de Prarayer.
Day 2: Perrucco Vuillermoz Shelter.
Day 3: Gandeg cabin.
Day 4: Zermatt youth hostel.
Day 5: Europahütte cabin.
Day 6: Hotel in Saint Nicklaus.
Day 7: Schwarzhorn Hotel in Gruben.
Day 8: Zinal youth hostel.
Day 9: Hotel Tsa in Arolla.
Day 10: Refuge de Prarayer.
To complete this circuit in 10 days we used, especially in valleys, buses or cable cars to travel between routes. This requires a good knowledge of public transport timetables, especially in the case of the Swiss buses which are always on time.
General note on this tour: it is 10 days long, and requires each participant to be in adequate physical shape to have the minimum necessary equipment, including crampons to cross two glaciers, to pack light, to book shelters, hotels and cabins well in advance, to have pocket timetables for transport (by road and by cable car) and be prepared to sleep in groups with the occasional snoring and other annoyances that hikers become accustomed to ignoring. And finally you come back, already delighted by one of most beautiful hikes in the Alps, and take a tour around Mont Blanc, crossing the Grand Paradis, the Queyras Tour and many others... that are also described on the website.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
During the walk or to do/see around
This itinerary crosses many settlements including Cervinia in Italy, but also Saint Nicklaus and especially Zermatt in Switzerland.
A quick tour of this place that closed to cars (except electric cars) is a must, including (alas) the cemetery where many famous climbers now lie.
Other walks in the area
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
