Tour of Monte Rosa

Accommodation: as this tour takes place over 10 days, it is necessary to plan it in advance and, to do so, to book accommodation. The accommodation used for this tour, listed for information purposes only, is as follows:
Frachey Hut, tel +39 334 746 36 40
Oreste Hut
Rifugi Pastore, tel: +39 3481415490, Email: info@rifugimonterosa.it
Hotel Macugnaga
Hotel Glestschergarten Saas-Feetel] 0041 27 957 21 75 fax 0041 27 957 30 00
Hotel Desirée Grâchen] Tel: +41 27 956 30 60 Fax: +41 27 956 30 11
Europahuette tel +41 27 9678247 or +41 79 2913322 Email: europahuette@sunrise.ch
Europaweghûtte] Tel: +41 27 967 23 01
Refugio Teodulo Email: info@rifugioteodulo.it Tel: +39 0166 68

Weather conditions: in July 2016, over the course of these 10 days we experienced every kind of weather, from fine, warm weather at the start, followed by two periods of rain and cold on days 3 and 4. We did get wet, but the return of fine weather from Grachen onwards meant we were able to finish the trek in sweltering heat. These varied weather conditions are an integral part of this type of trip.
The terrain: the mountain passes are at high altitude and snow remains there until the end of July. The sections from Saas-Fee to Europahutte involve a gradient of around 30°, and are traversed over extensive scree slopes. We used ropes to secure ourselves on the snow and certain sections.

Equipment: you therefore need to be fully prepared for these situations and have the necessary equipment to cope with them. Obviously, this makes the rucksack heavier. For a group, it is strongly recommended (I would even say essential) to have ropes for tricky sections.

Logistics: we organised this by opting for half-board, though this does require some advance preparation. This option is quite expensive, particularly in Switzerland.

The stages: be warned – they are long and some require around 10 hours of walking; the paths are all signposted and in very good condition. However, some passes (Monte Moro and the start of the descent) are very uneven and require considerable effort and particular care.

Participants: this tour can be undertaken by a wide range of people of all ages. However, it is demanding; living conditions in the huts are not like being at home (far from it) and it is essential to rest properly each evening. The group must also get on well together. To achieve this, it is essential to know one another well, to be comfortable living together and, above all, to be fit enough to complete this tour.

Overall, I don’t think this trek is suitable for a hiker looking to embark on their first multi-day mountain trek. But later on, with a bit of experience and practice, completing the ‘8’ between the two peaks of the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa will be one of the most beautiful Alpine adventures for a keen hiker.

During the trek (or afterwards, depending on availability), visiting the Italian and Swiss villages and valleys adds to the experience.
Gressoney, Alagna and Macugnaga, on the Italian side, are magnificent towns, each offering views of the neighbouring peaks.
Saas-Fee and Zermatt, on the Swiss side, are closed to petrol and diesel vehicles; only electric vehicles are permitted, creating a very peaceful atmosphere. Saas-Fee is dominated by the Alalin range, which separates the two valleys. In Zermatt, the view of the Matterhorn alone is worth the detour.
See also the commentary in this same window on the final stage: Theodule Refuge – Saint-Jacques.