Tour of the Monte Rosa Trek

Lake Mattmark - start of the TMR

View from Macugnaga

Grächen Höhenweg

Lake Mattmark - start of the TMR

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Tour of the Monte Rosa Trek

Stunning views of the Swiss Alps & 4000m peaks
Views of the iconic Matterhorn
Overnight in Zermatt
Exciting trekking on spectacular paths

Why Choose Cloud 9 Adventure

Good mix of huts and quality hotels
Private rooms wherever possible
Excellent, little-travelled route variants
Outstanding fully-qualified guides

Tour of the Monte Rosa Trek: Dates and Prices

AT A GLANCE

10 nights

9 days' trekking

Group size 4-10

Join: Saas Grund

Nearest Airports: Geneva, Zurich & Basel

ACCOMMODATION

5 nights in hotels

5 nights in refuges

DIFFICULTY GRADING

9

Extremely tough

Tour of the Monte Rosa Trek: Overview

The circuit route around Monte Rosa (4634m), is one of the best and most demanding long-distance treks in Europe. The Monte Rosa Massif is part of the Pennine Alps straddling Switzerland and Italy, and has multiple peaks above 4000 metres. Our Tour de Monte Rosa Trek starts in the pretty Swiss village of Saas Grund, then leads us on a circular route through Italy, then back into Switzerland. Our 9-day trek takes in pine forests, hidden valleys, towering alpine peaks, high passes and glaciers. Highlights include the Teodulo pass, a glacier descent, stunning views of the Matterhorn, and a night in the iconic mountain town of Zermatt.

The Tour de Monte Rosa Trek is graded as 'extremely tough', which means participants should have a good level of fitness and experience of hill walking for extended days. The terrain is sometimes difficult, including glaciated sections, and we spend lengthy days at altitude. If you need any help at all deciding if this is the right trek for you then don't hesitate to ask, and we will be glad to help.

What is the accommodation like?

In Saas Grund, at the beginning and end of our trip, we will be in private rooms in a hotel. For the rest of the trip we will be in a mixture of mountain refuges and small hotels, where we are likely to be in shared rooms and dormitories. Some refuges may have limited washing facilities, however they are in stunning locations in the heart of the mountains, and have an authentic charm that more than makes up for any lack of luxury! The nights spent in huts can be a highlight of the trek, with more chance of seeing local wildlife, and an opportunity to meet like-minded people. Because of the remote nature of the refuges there won't be any luggage delivery during the trip.

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TRIP NOTES

Tour of the Monte Rosa Trek: Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Saas Grund

Our trip starts in the village of Saas Grund, just next to the well-known ski resort of Saas Fee. We hold a trip briefing in the hotel, followed by our evening meal.

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Day 2 - From Saas Grund to Macugnaga

The day starts with a short bus ride to Mattmark, where we start gently, following the side of Lake Mattmark. It is a good warm up before we tackle our first col; the Monte Moro at 2853 metres. On the way we enjoy stunning views of the Weissmies (4023m) and the Rimpfischhorn (4198). On arrival at the pass we are greeted by Monte Rosa itself. We then have a steep descent through boulder fields, to the village of Macugnaga.

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: approx 6-7 hrs

Distance: 15km

Altitude gain / loss: +750m / -1600m

Day 3 - Trek from Macugnaga to the Rifugio Pastore

Today is one of the longest climbs of the trek, but it is a lovely walk, as we start by following the torrent of Anza towards the lake at Quarazza. We then climb steadily through the spruce forests to Alpe Plana, with views of impressive waterfalls behind us. As we pass over the Colle del Turlo we lose our view of Monte Rosa, but the dome of the Weissmies takes its place. From here we have a long steady descent to our overnight stop at the Rifugio Pastore.

Accommodation : Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: approx 8 hrs

Distance: 23km

Altitude gain / loss: +1510m / -1300m

Day 4 - Trek from Rifugio Pastore to Rifugio Gabiet

From the refuge we climb to the Vallon delle Pisse. Our route follows the waterfall underneath the glacier of the Piramide VIncent, which is one of the smaller peaks of the Monte Rosa Massif. After passing the disused cable car station at Alpe la Balma, we take a steep and rugged path over the Bocetta delle Pisse, followed by a descent to Alpe Pianlunga. Another winding ascent takes us through the Valle d’Olen, then back down to our refuge at Lake Gabiet.

Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: approx 7-8 hours

Distance: 15km

Altitude gain / loss: +1800 / -650m

Day 5 - Trek from the Rifugio Gabiet to Resy

After the strenuous uphill yesterday, we start more gently today as we cross the Colle d'Olen, then descend through the larch forests to the Rifugio del Lys. From here a nice trail through forests and meadows brings us into Gressoney Stafal. From here we head up to Alpe Sitten, and take a good path to our only pass of the day; the Colle di Bettaforca. We then take an easy trail down to the pretty hamlet of Resy, where we spend the night, high above the Ayas Valley.

Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: approx 6-7 hrs

Distance: 16km

Altitude gain / loss: +970m / -1200m

Day 6 - Trek from Resy to the Colle del Teodulo

We begin the day with a short descent towards the meadows of Alpe Varda and Alpe Mase. This is one of the highlights of the trek, as we climb steadily to the Colle Superieur delle Cime Blanche (2982m), with the Breithorn above us. From this vantage point we enjoy our first unforgettable views of the Matterhorn at 4478 metres. After descending through the glacial moraine we then have a steep final climb to our highest point, and our base for the night, at the Colle del Teodulo (3317m).

Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: approx 7-8 hrs

Distance: 18km

Altitude gain / loss: +1550m / -300m

Day 7 - Trek from the Colle del Teodulo to Zermatt

Today we will be guided by an IFMGA qualified guide, as we descend the Theodule glacier (the spelling has changed now we are back into a German-speaking area!). The group will be roped up, but no other specialist equipment is needed, other than our hiking boots and trekking poles. The angle of the glacier is relatively easy, and the views are fantastic - the Matterhorn is the focal point of course, but from here we also have views of the Alphubel, Dom, Obergabelhorn, Zinalrothorn and Weisshorn, on both sides of the Mattertal. At Gandegg we leave the ice of the glacier behind, and traverse the glacial moraine down to the famous mountaineering town of Zermatt.

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: approx 4-5 hrs

Distance: 16km

Altitude gain / loss: +460m / -2070m

Day 8 - Trek from Zermatt to the Europahütte

We leave Zermatt today, following the Mattertal towards the Rhone Valley, and stroll through meadows and larch forests. After Täsch is the village of Randa, at which point we start a steady climb on a steep zig zag trail. We pass under the rugged peaks of the Täschorn and the Dom, before reaching our base for the night. The Europahütte is a relatively new hut, in a stunning location, and with spectacular views of the Weisshorn. The alternative route from Zermatt to the Europahütte, via the Europaweg, has been closed in recent years due to substantial rock fall, but we will start to take this route again as it reopened in July 2017, now with the longest pedestrian bridge in the world at 500m long. Our guide will decide which route we take.

Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: approx 4-5 hrs

Distance: 16km

Altitude gain / loss: +890m / -300m

Day 9 - Trek from the Europahütte to Grächen

Today our traverse continues across boulder fields, with rugged cliffs towering above, and the Breithorn and Matterhorn behind us. We enjoy stunning views as we tackle the cables and bridges on this exciting trail. The Riedgletscher lies in our path, so we descend steeply and drop down through the woods to our overnight stop at the village of Grächen.

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: approx 6-7 hrs

Distance: 17km

Altitude gain / loss: +600m / -1180m

Day 10 - Trek from Grächen to Saas Grund

On our final day we take the Hohenwegg path to Hannigalp, high above the Saastal. It is a stunning path, a little lower and greener than previous days, but still with exposed sections that need our full attention. Directly ahead we have views of the snow-topped Weissmies, and the Lagginhorn. Our trek comes to an end as we arrive back into Saas Grund, where we have a well-earned rest and our final dinner together.

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking: approx 7-8 hrs

Distance: 21km

Altitude gain / loss: +1220m / -1270m