Tour of Monte Rosa

Accommodation: as this tour takes place over 10 days, it is necessary to prepare in advance and book accommodation. The accommodation used for this tour, listed for information purposes only, is as follows:
Refuge Frachey 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, we experienced all kinds of weather during our 10-day trip, starting with warm, sunny weather followed by two periods of rain and cold weather on days 3 and 4. We got wet, but the good weather returned from Grachen onwards, allowing us to finish the trip in warm conditions. These varied weather conditions are an integral part of this type of trip.

The terrain: the passes are high up and snow is present until the end of July. The stages from Saas Fée to Europahutte are on a slope of around 30°, with significant scree. We used ropes for safety on the snow and certain sections.

Equipment: it is therefore important to be aware of these situations and have the necessary equipment to deal with them. Obviously, this makes your rucksack heavier. For a group, it is strongly recommended (I would even say essential) to have ropes for the tricky sections.

Logistics: we organised half-board accommodation, but this requires advance planning. This service is quite expensive in Switzerland.

The stages: be aware that they are long and some require around 10 hours of effort. The paths are all well marked and in very good condition. However, some passes (Monte Moro and the start of the descent) are very uneven and require effort and particular attention.

Participants: this tour can be done by a large number of people of all ages. However, it is demanding, the living conditions in the refuges are not the same as at home (far from it) and it is necessary to recover well each evening. The group must also get along well. This means that participants need to know each other well, be willing to live together and, above all, be fit enough to complete the tour.

Overall, I don't think this tour is suitable for hikers embarking on their first mountain trek. But with a little experience and practice, completing the 8 between the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa tours will be one of the most beautiful alpine adventures for a passionate hiker.

During the hike (or afterwards, depending on availability), visiting the Italian and Swiss villages and valleys is an added bonus to this hike.
Gressoney, Alagna and Macugnaga on the Italian side are magnificent towns, all offering views of the surrounding peaks.
Saas Fée and Zermatt, on the Swiss side, are closed to combustion engine vehicles, with only electric vehicles allowed, making for a very peaceful atmosphere. These towns are dominated by the Alalin mountain range, which separates the two valleys. In Zermatt, the view of the Matterhorn alone is worth the detour.
See also the comment in this window on the last stage: Refuge Theodule - Saint-Jacques.