Tour of Monte Rosa: Self-Guided Hike

Day 1: Valtournenche

Independent travel to the small village of Paquier located in the narrow Valtournenche, Italy. This valley extends all the way to the base of the Monte Cervino, known on the Swiss side as the Matterhorn. Access this village via Aosta, Chamonix or Courmayeur. We are happy to help with travel.

Day 2: Transfer to Cheneil

Hike to St. Jacques. The day begins with a short transfer to Cheneil, a small hamlet of stone farmhouses. From where you climb through open pastures to the Colle di Nina at nearly 9,200’ with its impressive views of the range of peaks between the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa. The long descent to St. Jacques is a classic high alpine experience: amazing views, open meadows, craggy outcroppings. You end the day in the small, quiet village of St. Jacques.

Day 3: Colle de Pinter

Today’s hike is accented by a wild and timeless feeling. After a cable car ascent, you first hike to the tiny hamlet of Cunez with its historic buildings. Climbing up to the Colle de Pinter (9,164’) and then descending to the picturesque village of Gressonay-St.Jean, you hike through untamed pastures and past old rustic farms. This is hike breathtaking and has a real feeling of remoteness.

Day 4: Gressonay

From Gressonay there are two hiking options. One utilizes a series of cable cars arriving at the Passo Salati. From Salati you can descend to Alagna on foot or take another series of cable cars all the way to the valley effectively making for a nice rest day. The other option is the remote route over the Colle Valdobbia. This little traveled route is remote and unspoiled. Either option ends in the pretty and isolated village of Alagna located in the Piemonte region of Italy and the valley of Walsers.

Day 5: Colle di Turlo

From Alagna you climb to the Colle di Turlo at 9,035’. This amazing, though very long climb is almost entirely on a cobbled “road”. It was built in the 1950’s by the Italian Army Corps of Engineers. The scenery is rugged and unspoiled. We think this hike is the longest and most remote of this trip and really of any hikes in the alps. The long descent is about 4,400’, also a good part of it on a cobble road, and eventually leads to Isella. From Isella it is about 30 minutes to the quiet village of Macugnaga. Macugnaga is at the end of a narrow valley and is surrounded by Monte Moro and the east facing wall of Monte Rosa. This is a long and strenuous plus day with significant elevation gain and loss.

Day 6: Passo di Monte Moro

From Macugnaga you take the cable car to the Passo di Monte Moro. Looking back, the views of Monte Rosa and her east wall equal the most impressive of mountain landscapes. Its precipitous rise is awesome. At the pass, Passo di Monte Moro, you now leave Italy and cross into Switzerland. At the pass is a large golden statue of the Madonna. With the aid of handrails and stepping stones, you begin the descent to the large damned lake of Mattmark. On the descent you hike an ancient “paved” trade route used by mules in the early days. Arriving at the dam at Mattmark, you take a Swiss Post bus to the bustling resort village of Saas Fee. The views from Saas-Fee take in the Mischabel Range with its peaks the Taeschorn, Dom, Lenzspitz, Alphubel and Allalinhorn all rising to over 4,000 meters (13,200’). 

Day 7: Stafelalp

From Saas Fee you climb to the high alpine pastures of the Stafelalp. From there the narrow trail to Graechen skirts the rocky mountains of the Gemshorn, Lammenhorn, Rihorn and many others. The amazing trail wends its way in and out along the east side of the Mischabel Range. This hike has challenging footing, and is open and exposed in many places. Arriving at Hannigalp, you take the cable car to the village Graechen. This is a long day.

Day 8: Europaweg to the Europa Hut

From the hotel in Grachen you start the day with a very pleasant 45-minute walk to the hamlet of Gasenried. Once in Gasenried you begin your climb to the high belvedere and the famous Europaweg to the Europa Hut. This wonderful hike offers a completely different view of the mountains including the Weisshorn, which dominates the skyline. There are outstanding views of the Rhone Valley to the north and the Mischabel Range to the south. The Matterhorn will now be showing herself with some regularity. 

Day 9: Zermatt

By now the mountains: The Matterhorn, Dent Blanche, Ober Gabelhorn, Zinalrothorn and Weisshorn will be readily recognizable. You begin your final and spectacular hike into bustling village of Zermatt. This is not a day to rush as the route continues to amaze. 

Day 10: Departure from Zermatt

Individual departure from Zermatt. Please allow for travel time when making plans.