Full Self-Guided Trek What Is a Self-Guided Trek?

Home , Breithorn, Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, Pennine Alps, Pollux (mountain), Weisshorn

The Tour du Monte Rosa circumnavigates the 10, 4000m summits of the Monte Rosa massif taking you through two alpine regions within Switzerland & Italy. Approximately 140 km in length with an accumulation of approx. 7,000m of elevation starting & finishing in the iconic alpine town of Zermatt. Full Self-guided Trek

Like many of the renowned long distance treks in the Alps many of the trails on the Tour of Monte Rosa have been used for centuries by travelers, tradespeople & farmers in order to access & link the network of valleys, hamlets & villages in this region of the Pennine Alps. The Theodulepass (3301m) is one of the most famous in the Alps linking Switzerland with Italy, artifacts dating bac to 2AD have been found here & can be viewed at the archaeological museum in Zermatt. The Walser community features on the Italian side of the route, Germanic people who settled in this area over 1000 years ago.

This trek gives you the opportunity not only to view the glorious Monte Rosa massif but will give you sight of some truly iconic Swiss 4000m peaks, Weisshorn, Dom, Breithorn, Caster, Pollux, Liskamm, Weissmies & of course the mighty Matterhorn. What is a Self-guided trek?

This self-guided Tour du Monte Rosa trek offers the independent and more experienced mountain walker a real adventure trekking though Switzerland & Italy on this classic route. All planning & preparation is done for you and we will provide you with all you need so you can just enjoy your holiday. By trekking self-guided with us you can be assured that we will be available to help any time before and during your trek. A good degree of mountain sense is required in order to route find and navigate your way along the trails as it can be difficult at times especially in bad weather and poor visibility.

Trek in Brief

Trek: Tour du Monte Rosa Full Circuit self -guided Accommodation: 7 x 3* Hotels, 3 x Mountain Refuges Duration: 10 nights Meals: 3x B&B in Zermatt & Saas-Fee, 7 x half board Trekking: 9 days (B&B + 3 course evening meal) whilst on the tour Suitability & grading: Grade 7- Good level of stamina & Dates: To suit you fitness required for 10 days of trekking over alpine Prices: See website for further details terrain Bag transfer: Not available

Our Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Zermatt

Day 2 Zermatt to Refugio Theodulpass: You commence the Tour du Monte Rosa from Zermatt ascending through larch forests passing through the hamlets of Blatten & Furi providing pleanty of opportunities to stop for refreshments & enjoy the surroundings. From hear you will head tout of the trees & meadows onto more rocky & barren terrain leading to Trockenersteg & the cable car station. A final ascent via the Theodulepass glacier to the col at 3301m & the refuge which sits on the ridge with fabulous views including many of the Swiss 4000’s.

Distance: 11km Height gain: +1700m Descent: -0m

Day 3 Refugio Theodulpass to Refugio Ferrero, Resy: Your day starts with a descent down through the ski area of Cervinia followed by a traverse high above the village passing through the Coll Supierior della Cime Blanche at 2882m. From here you will leave the ski area & descent into a more remote environment pasting Gran Lago & into the valley of Alpe Mase, Fiery & finally on to the hillside hamlet of Resy & to the Refugio Ferrero 2017m.

Distance: 15km Height gain: +100m; Descent: -700m

Day 4 Refugio Ferrero, Resy to Safal: This is a relativly short day so not need for an early start, treat this as a rest as there is harder days to come! From the refuge ascent up towards the ski lift & take the traversing path away from the Bettaforca to the alternative & more remote route via the Passo de Rothorn 2689m. From the col descent steeply at times down into the ski area of Stafal & Gressoney. Once in the ski area descent via the chapel through the forest to the village of Stafal 1823m

Distance: 11km Height gain: +628m Descent: -877m

Day 5 Stafal to Alagna: Leaving Stafal make the steep ascent up the gully to high plateau within the ski area. Although the path follows the line of the cable car it is out of view & the ascent feels remote & tranquil. Once at the plateau enjoy a refuge stop at one of the many refuges before heading up through the ski area to the wild & wonderful Col d’Olen 2881m. Descend steeply at time towards the Alagna ski area, cut leftwards to get away from the ski resort by taking the route via Devils Rock to Passo Foric descending finally through the Valle d’Otro to the village of Alagana 1180m.

Distance: 14km Height gain: +1058m Descent: - 1700m

Day 6 Alagna to Macugnaga: A big & beautiful day ahead so an early start is advisable. Initailly easy taking the route along the valley before an iinital ascent to Refugio Pastore which is nestled within a beautiful alpage, stop & refresh if you have the time before continuing on your way to the impressive route to Colle del Turlo 2738m. Descend on the paved trail into the remote & beautiful Valle Quarazza & finally on to Macgnaga at 1317m.

Distance: 20km Height gain: +1649m Descent: - 1512m

Day 7 Macugnaga to Saas-Fee: An beautiful early morning ascent through larch woodland brings you into the Macugnaga ski area ascend to the wonderful Monte Moro (2984m) with fabulous views of the Mote Rosa as you go. Take a detour to the iconic golden Madonna before making your descent into Switzerland and to where the road joins the trail at Mattmark (2200m). From here you have the option to take the bus to Saas Fee or to walk the remaining route that traces the river & the road via Saas Almagell & on to Saas Fee at 1803m.

Distance: 20km Height gain: +1797m Descent: -1341m

Day 8 Saas-Fee to Grachen: A beautiful day awaits on the lofty traverse high above the Saas valley, making your assent from Saas Fee to the high point at Lammugrabe (2329m). The route takes you through steep boulder terrain and traverses exposed steep slopes with fabulous views as far as the Bernese Oberland. The route finally changes direction and heads hight above the Matterhorn valley to the village of Grachen (1619m). Mont Blanc Treks Ltd © 2018 www.montblanctreks.com

Distance: 16km Height gain: +700m Descent: -900m

Day 9 Grachen to Europahutte: Departing Grachen traverse along the Wanderweg to Gasenreid before gaining height steeply to Mittelberg and the St Bernard statue which offers great views of the Bernese Alps and magnificent Grosser Aletschgletscher. The path continues over difficult terrain at times taking you to the Europahutte refuge beautifully perched high above the Matterhorn valley.

Distance: 14km Height gain: +1000m Descent: -100m

Option to stay in the valley in Randa with hotel accommodation, ask for details if you are interested in the option.

Day 10 Europahutte to Zermatt: Departing from the refuge, you descend and take the impressive Charles Kuonen suspension bridge for a fitting final day. This section of the Europaweg is stunning as the trail traverses its way on exposed & breathtaking terrain. Beyond the exposed sections you reach Ottovan (2187m) where you can rest & reflect on the day so far before continuing on the final section with incredible views of the Matterhorn that takes you on the high route into Zermatt (2215m).

Distance: 21.5km Height gain: +1175m Descent: -850m

Day 11: Departure.

Option to add on additional days in Zermatt at the beginning or the end, please ask for further details.

Accommodation Over the years we have tried & tested accommodation whilst trekking with our guided groups & we know that each hotel, auberge or refuge offers good facilities, service and food.

Our standard trek includes hotel accommodation on 7 nights, with twin/double rooms with private facilities. On the three nights in refuges dormitory accommodation is the norm however it might be possible to request a private room at a supplement depending on availability.

Single rooms are available at a supplement, 7 nights (subject to availability) at all hotel locations, please request this on the booking form.

Trek Grading All of the treks we offer are physically demanding you will be travelling over rugged and mountainous terrain with a sustained amount of ascent and descent on a daily basis. Make sure you are aware of the daily distances travelled and the height gain & descent so you know what to expect.

We have graded the Tour du Monte Rosa as grade 8. See below for the explanation:

GRADE 8 STRENUOUS & DEMANDING: Tour du Monte Rose: This is a very physically demanding treks that requires an excellent level of fitness and stamina for long mountain days. You need to have plenty of mountain walking experience & exercise on a regular basis. Each day the trek has continued and substantial height gain and decent of over + or -1500 m per day without a break. The terrain is difficult at times with steep & rocky ascents & descents.

Fitness In order to get the most out of your trek and enjoy each day to the full, it is essential that you make sure you are prepared before you arrive here in the Alps. Have a look through the table below and suggested training depending on your base level of fitness.

Carrying a sack: It’s a good idea to have a trial at packing your rucksack beforehand to maximize space, check the weight & get rid of any un-needed items! If you are not used to trekking with a heavier rucksack take it out with you when training during the months beforehand.

Level of fitness, which best describes you? Training required You exercise on a daily basis. You regularly walk in If this is you then you will have absolutely no the mountains in your home country. You take a problem. Keep up the good work & enjoy! long-distance trekking holiday every year. You exercise a few times a week. You regularly The same applies if this is you. You will have walk, sometimes in the mountains. You have taken absolutely no problem, so keep up the good work & trekking holidays in recent years and coped well. enjoy! Possibly do some more walking in the mountains, carrying a rucksack to get used to the extra weight. You do some exercise but not on a regular basis. You do some exercise, so that’s a good start. From You do some walking and have walked in the now until the trek start date, make sure you get out at mountains before. You have taken a trekking least a couple of times a week. To build up holiday before, but not for many years. endurance skills, get out walking, building up to 10- 15km in distance. You need to make sure there is height gain & descent to build up leg strength. By the time the trek date arrives, you need to be comfortable walking 15-20km per day with 1000m of height gain and descent. You also need to carry a rucksack to get used to the extra weight. You don’t take regular exercise and haven’t walked All is not lost, although there is no time to lose in in the mountains for a number of years. You have terms of starting your training. Maybe enlist the help never taken a trekking holiday before. of a personal trainer and let them work out a program for you. Start easy, get out walking on flat easy routes and build up the distance over a number of weeks. Once the distance has increased and you feel fitter, start to introduce some hill walking. By the time the trek date arrives you need to be comfortable walking 15-20km per day with 1000m of height gain and descent. You also need to carry a rucksack to get used to the extra weight.

On all of our treks guided or self-guided breakfast will be provided each day, 3 course evening meal is also provided on all nights apart from your first & last night, please see individual trek information for further clarification.

Food, Drink & Nutrition When trekking on the Tour du Mont Blanc or the Walkers Haute Route you will be trekking through 2 or 3 countries, France, Italy & Switzerland and each county has its own specialities.

Breakfast varies depending on accommodation, some locations are more basic than others. But you can expect at least cereal, milk, break & jam. When staying in hotels they will offer a more substantial breakfast including yogurt, cheeses, cold meats, eggs & pastries. Mont Blanc Treks Ltd © 2018 www.montblanctreks.com

Picnic lunch: This is not included & you will need to purchase a picnic to carry with you each day. This can be bought from local bakeries or supermarkets or when staying in more remote locations it can be ordered from the refuge on the night of arrival. Allow approx. 10 euros each day for your picnic. Make sure you take plenty with you, don’t reply on stopping for lunch en-route although on some days this will be possible it’s always good to have your own provisions in case the refuge or café is closed or very busy.

Evening meal: when on the trek, this is provided & will consist of 3 courses, typically you will have soup or a salad for the starter, meat or vegetarian option for the main course and a dessert or cheese.

If you have any specific dietary requirements you must let us know at the time of booking & then we will inform each accommodation, so they are prepared. It is advisable to remind them on arrival as they have many guests each day & sometimes requests do get overlooked.

The accommodations we use will do their best to accommodate specific requests however it is advisable if you are lactose or gluten free to carry additional food supplies, for example gluten free bread with you in your bag transfer so you can supplement the food provided if need be.

Drinks with the evening meal are not included & we ask that all drinks bought at the accommodation are paid for at the time, so we don’t have any additional bills to chase after you have departed.

Nutrition & hydration: One of the most important things in addition to fitness is your nutrition & hydration during the trek. Poor nutrition & hydration can severely affect your physical performance & it is important to get your nutrition & hydration right, you will be burning lots of calories & loosing essential fluid each day so it is imperative you carry the right kinds of food & enough water with you to avoid dehydration & malnutrition. It is advisable to drink plenty of water before you sent off on each day’s trek so you are fully hydrated. A pack lunch can be bought from local supermarkets when staying in villages or from the accommodation if ordered the night of arrival. If you are not familiar with the kinds of food & drink that would be good when exerting yourself on a daily basis do some research beforehand and trial what works best for you.

Travel to and from Zermatt

The nearest airport to Zermatt is Geneva & getting to and from Zermatt to Geneva is fairly straight forward & the Swiss rail service runs like clockwork and is the best way to get from Zermatt to Geneva airport. Train times & tickets information can be found on the following website: https://www.postauto.ch/en Ask for further details.

How to Book

We require a completed booking form & deposit payment to secure your booking. Take a look at our booking form page for further information.

Deposit and payment We require a deposit of £250 per person at the time of booking and details of how to pay are outlined below. Once we have received payment, we will confirm your place and send you that confirmation. Balance of payment is due 12 weeks before the trek start date. For deposit and balance transactions we accept the following forms of payment:

Credit/ Debit Card You can pay by credit or debit card & if you wish to pay by this method please state this on the booking form and we will send you an electronic invoice, so you can pay securely online. There is no additional charge for card payments.

International & UK bank transfers If you would like to pay by bank transfer, you must pay any fees associated with the transaction in addition to the amount due in sterling, please ask at the time of booking for our bank details.

For your piece of mind Mont Blanc Treks is fully bonded with The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Limited (ABTOT) who provide financial protection under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 2018 for Mont Blanc Treks Ltd, and in the event of insolvency.

Being based in the Chamonix valley all year round, we are well placed to offer invaluable help and support before and during your trek. We have a wealth of experience trekking this classic route, so please do not hesitate to ask as many questions as you wish, we are happy to help with your planning in any way we can.

Telephone one of our international numbers at your local rate. Our office hours are 9am to 6pm UK/GMT time + 1 hr. If calling from outside of Europe please allow for time differences:

UK: +44 (0)161 408 1222 France: +33 (0)7 81 58 69 03 USA: +1 303 800 5866 Australia: +61 75660 6258

Skype: montblanctreks Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.montblanctreks.com