This trip should appeal to the aspiring mountaineer and anyone who wants to challenge themselves and learn plenty of new skills across the week. If you have climbed Mont Blanc or the Monterosa before but maybe feel the Matterhorn is a bit of a stretch then this trip is for you.
In the shadow of the Matterhorn and with distance views to Grand Combin and Mont Blanc this is surely one of the great mountaineering circuits to complete.
The exact itinerary will be decided by a guide depending on weather and snow conditions.
Day Itinerary
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Arrive in Zermatt, check-in to the hotel, meet the guide for our welcome meeting and overnight in the hotel.
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Take the Klein Matterhorn cable car and make an ascent of the Breithorn (4164m) via Breithorn West and Breithorn Central, a great traverse of the mountain with some fine mixed climbing and also ascend Pollux (4092m). We overnight in the Guide d'Ayas hut.
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From the Guide d'Ayas hut we climb back up to ascend Pollux (4092m) typically via its SW ridge; followed by an ascent of Lyskamm (4272m). From here we overnight in the Gnifetti hut.
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From the Rifugio Gnifetti, we climb Ludwigshohe 4,341m and Parrotspitze 4,432m. A great traverse linking all the peaks, it's not especially difficult but the sustained altitude will make the going tough! If time will allow we may climb lower Italian summits, such as Piramide Vincent (4,215m), a relatively straight forward snow ascent from the Rifugio.
From here we head to the Margharita hut, perched at 4,554m the highest refuge in Europe, where you overnight. If not possible you will go back to Gnifetti/Mantova hut.
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From the Margharita hut, we aim to climb in good conditions Zumsteinspitze - Dufourspitze 4,634m. This is a narrow ridge where a head for heights is essential and a fine end to the weeks climbing.
From here we descend to Zermatt so you can catch a late train to Geneva.
The price includes:
4 guided days
guide’s fees and expenses
4 nights of HB accommodation
The price does not include:
flights
local transfers
ski passes
lunches and drinks
insurance
uplift costs
We proudly offer our returning customers a discount.
The promotion is valid for qualifying bookings made before the end of October 2024 (using the discount codes provided) at the checkout.
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Ski Club Winter Arrangements limited (trading as Mountain Tracks)
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Zermatt is a charming alpine village. It is car-free and reached only by a 15 minute train journey from the valley station of Tasch. As you would expect given its location it is one of Europe's main centres of alpinism and is a bustling town in both winter and summer.
Surely there is no more dramatic sight in the Alps than the distinctive shape of the Matterhorn! At 4,478m it may not be the highest mountain in the Alps, but it is easily the most recognised.
All three of Zermatt's main ski areas soar to at least 3,100m. Good snow conditions are almost guaranteed and there are some superb long runs back down to the village. At 3,883m the Klein Matterhorn lift is one of the highest cable car in the world. The ski down from here is almost 13 kilometres - with 2,200 vertical metres of varied descent. Zermatt has extensive off-piste terrain and thanks to the extremely high altitude and abundance of north facing slopes, powder snow can still be found many days after it falls. In spring especially, huge areas of both powder and spring snow can be found off piste.
Zermatt is the Alps' biggest heliskiing center and its helicopter pad in the village is very busy during the winter months. Many of the runs do not require excellent skiing ability. The scenery, as you'd expect, is truly spectacular.
Our top reasons to visit Zermatt
- Switzerland’s premier destination for alpinism and skiing, a traditional Swiss village that has the additional benefit of being car-free
- Idyllic location high in the mountains with beautiful scenery and surrounded by thirty 4,000m+ peaks
- The Matterhorn – one of the world’s most iconic mountains
- Justifiably rated as one of the world’s best ski and climbing resorts
- Huge ski terrain with lots of variety including world class off-piste. The highest point of the Zermatt ski area is not far short of 4,000m. Good skiing can usually be had until end April and ski touring well into May
- Excellent après-ski and nightlife
- Possible to ski across to Italy for lunch in Cervinia!
Resort Information:
Resort Height: 1,650m
Highest Lift: 3,883m
Nearest Airport: Zurich or Geneva
Transfer Options: We recommend you take the train from Zurich or Geneva airport to Zermatt. Connections are regular and the its takes approximatly 4hrs from Geneva with 1 change and 3hrs 30 mins with 1 or 2 cahnged from Zurich airport. To look up train timetables use this link Swiss Railway Timetables
More about the Matterhorn
- The Matterhorn is known as Monte Cervino in Italian and Mont Cervin in French.
- It is located in the Pennine Alps (at 45°58′N, 7°39′E) on the border between Switzerland and Italy.
- It was first climbed in 1865 by a climbing party that included Edward Whymper. It was the last major mountain of the Alps to be climbed.
- The North Face of the Matterhorn is one of the six great north faces of the Alps. The others are: the Cima Grande di Lavaredo, the Piz Badile, the Petit Dru, the Eiger, and the Grandes Jorasses.
- A miniature imitation of the Matterhorn featuring a bobsled ride is one of the attractions at Disneyland in Anaheim, California
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Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you are insured for your chosen activity and the cover must include medical expenses, personal accident, personal liability, third party risks and rescue (including helicopter rescue). You are strongly advised also to take out cover against cancellation and curtailment.
For UK residents Ski Club Travel Insurance may be a suitable option.
For more details and to purchase a policy online visit http://www.skiclubinsurance.co.uk/
If you need assistance arranging your personal insurance please let us know.
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Travel to Zermatt
The most convenient airports for Zermatt are Sion (transfer time 2 hours), Bern (3 hours), Zurich (3.5 hours), Geneva (4 hours)
For the rail journey from the airports to Zermatt check the train times by logging on to www.sbb.ch/en
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