This is a spectacular hiking trip through the Swiss and Italian Alps – Trekking across Italy and Switzerland. This is one of Europe’s finest and stunning hiking holidays.
It’s 9-days of hiking around the Monte Rosa massif walking hut to hut staying in Alpine Huts and lodges with traditional home cooked meals and the regions famous wines.
After pick up at Milano Malpensa International Airport we will drive to Alagna Valsesia, Italian mountain village in the Piedmont region.
Waiting for us there are nine days of challenging and long-distance hikes throughout the Italian and Swiss Alps. We will walk approximately 160 kms, vertical ascent of a total of 13,094m, hiking across the Monterosa massif glacier, walking 6 to 9 hours every day.
During our daily treks we will have breaks for refuelling with snacks and packed lunches (not included) that we will source the day before but we will always have the opportunity to spend the nights in comfortable beds and access to toilets and services, sometimes in fully serviced remote mountain huts and sometimes in small family run traditional hotels located in the villages.
Throughout the trip we will enjoy traditional Swiss and Italian meals in the local restaurants located in the mountain villages or in the fully serviced remote mountain huts that we will reach at the end of each stage.
The trip will end back in Alagna Valsesia, where we began.
In Alagna at the end of our trip, there is a possibility for a 2 days mountaineering excursion post trip. We will climb to the “Capanna Margherita”, the highest mountain hut (Rifugio) in Europe at an altitude of 4,554 metres above sea level.
ALAGNA (ITALY).
Meeting in the morning at the arrival terminal of Milan Malpensa International Airport. Transfer from Milan to Alagna Valsesia (approximately 1h and 45min). Arrival in Alagna early afternoon, check in at the hotel and free time to explore the village and source some local food for the following days snacks and lunches during the trek. In the evening we will have our welcome and pre-trip briefing and dinner in a traditional Valsesia restaurant.
Lunch and snacks not included
Dinner included
Accommodation and breakfast included
Overnight Alagna – Valsesia – (Italy)
ALAGNA (I) – MACUGNAGA (I)
Our hike will start today, walking from Alagna to the Walser Village of Macugnaga. We will walk approximately 8 hours across a well-developed military trail built after World War 1, reaching “Colle del Turlo” (Turlo Col) at an altitude of 2,738 m above sea level. The trail was used by the Germanic Population called Walser in the thirteenth century during their colonization of the Alps. Breathtaking views of the Monterosa massif, waterfalls and alpine forests will be experienced during the trek.
We will arrive in Macugnaga in the late afternoon. There will be enough time, thanks to the long European summer days, to explore the village and source some local food for day three’s snacks and lunches and then finally relax.Accommodation and breakfast included
Dinner not included
Overnight “Colle del Turlo” – Macugnaga (I)
MACUGNAGA (I) – SAAS FEE (CH)
Today we will experience the steepest ascent of the all trip. The culminating point of this hike is “Monte Moro” 2,868 m (The Black Mountain) where we can admire the Golden Statue of the Virgin Mary and in the background the east face of the Monterosa. We will walk through the original Walser population trail, going around Mattmark dam, biggest natural dam in Europe, admiring a number of little waterfalls coming down from the visible glacier. Our daily hike will end in the Swiss village of Saas Fee “the Pearl of the Alps”, popular tourist destination both in winter and summer (ski all year around on the glacier). We will have time to explore the village and purchase food for tomorrow’s snacks and lunches. Then some free time. Today we will walk approximately 9 hours.Accommodation and breakfast included
Dinner not included
Lunch and snacks not included
Overnight Monterosa East Face
SAAS FEE (CH) – GRACHEN (CH)
Today we will hike through the Saas Valley over an exposed but safe trail. We will be surrounded by alpine flowers and vegetation and hopefully meet some of the local wild life. The imposing glacier with its perpetual snow will be above us. The impressive “Bietschorn” shaped as a Pyramid rises in front of us, become our companion all along the trail. Interesting local magical tales of dragons and demons are linked to this remote alpine area giving a mysterious touch to our journey today. After approximately 7 hours walk we will finally arrive in the village of Grachen (CH), having some time to explore the village and purchase food for the tomorrow.Accommodation and breakfast included
Dinner not included
Lunch and snacks not included
Overnight Saas Valley (Switzerland)
GRACHEN (CH) – EUROPAHUTTE
Today we will experience one of the hardest altitude hikes in all of Europe. All the efforts are rewarded by the views of the imposing Weisshorn and its impressive neighbors.
From Grachen, we will rapidly gain height, on this steep old goat trail, reaching the most remarkable lookout point of the section, the statue of Saint Bernard, the patron saint of the mountaineers and the inhabitants of the Alps. The next part of the trail brings us through fallen rocks, pastures, paths and safe passages through exposed cliff faces.
We will have dinner and spend the night in the recently refurbished “EuropaHutte” Hut.
Today the walk will approximately 6.5 hours.Accommodation and breakfast included
Dinner included
Lunch and snacks not included
Overnight Europa Hut (Switzerland)
EUROPAHUTTE – ZERMATT (CH)
We will start our walk after a tasty Swiss breakfast. The highlight of today will be going over the world-record suspension bridge – the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world, which traverses the Grabengufer. The bridge is 494m long and 85m high (at its highest point). The trek will then continue in the direction of Tasch and finally to the Swiss village of Zermatt. The walk today is approximately 6 hours. We will arrive in Zermatt in the afternoon having some free time to visit the charming village after checking into the hotel.
Accommodation and breakfast included
Dinner not included
Lunch and snacks not included
Overnight Zermatt Lodge
ZERMATT (CH) – THEOUDUL PASS
Today we will catch a few different cableways from Zermatt up to the Theodul Glacier (365 days per year glacier skiing). We will hike through the glacier, wearing crampons and watching out for crevasses. We will most likely be overtaken by skiers and snowboarders, enjoying the amazing opportunity of summer skiing.
After approximately 6 hours walk on a sea of ice we will reach our destination the “Theodul Pass”, that defines the border between Switzerland and Italy. We will have dinner and spend the night at the “Rifugio Teodolo” (Theodul Hut).Accommodation and breakfast included
Dinner included
Lunch and snacks not includedOvernight “Rifugio Teodolo” (Theodul Hut) – Cervinia (I)
THEOUDUL PASS – ST JAQUES (I)
We will cross a desert of stones with small mountain lakes. After a short climb towards the “Cime Bianche” (White Peaks), a long terrace valley follows, in a landscape of peatlands. At the entrance of the Val d’Ayas, we enter into the alpine forest.
We will be welcomed on the plateau of the Maison-Blanche by the scintillating of the small dark blue mountain lakes. Stones, fallen rocks and some lichen are typical for this alpine zone.
The trail curves through a terraced valley that is almost endless, going through isolated little traditional Walser huts. We will come across the mountain villages of Fiery (I) and St Jacques (I) where locals speak Italian as well as German and French. Our Hike today will end at Resy (I) where we will have dinner and spend the night at the “Rifugio Ferraro” (Ferraro Hut). Our walk today is approximately 6.5 Hours.Accommodation and breakfast included
Dinner included
Lunch and snack not includedOvernight St Jaques – Aosta Valley (I)
ST JAQUES (I) – GRESSONEY (I)
After a healthy and delicious breakfast at the “Rifugio” (Hut) we will start our walk heading to the “Colle di Bottaforca – 2672 m”, after this peak we will come down through the Gressoney Valley (Valle d’Aosta Region), during this part we will experience spectacular views of the Monterosa massif.
Today our walk will be quite relaxing (approximately 4.5 hours), that will allow us to reach our destination the village of Gressoney (I) early in the afternoon giving us plenty of time to visit the village and enjoy some free time. We will spend the night in a traditional family owned hotel in the village.Accommodation and breakfast included
Dinner not included
Lunch and snacks not includedOvernight Gressoney (I)
GRESSONEY (I) – ALAGNA (I)
Our last hike of the tour and one of the longest of the entire trip. We will walk through steep cliffs and green pastures with isolated Walser sheppard huts. It will be uphill until we reach the “Colle dell’Olen – 2881m”. The descent to the Otro valley will be long but not difficult with beautiful views and plenty of opportunity to see local wildlife. Behind us all the way down to Alagna the “Sasso del Diavolo” (The devil Rock) will be upon us. Local tales give this area a mystical atmosphere.
We will arrive in Alagna late afternoon. Our tour is now complete, we will go for dinner together to celebrate the conclusion of our amazing journey.
Our walk today will take approximately 9 hours.Accommodation and breakfast included
Dinner included
Lunch and snacks not includedOvernight Alagna – Val Sesia (I)
ALAGNA (I)
For the travelers that did not book our post-extension mountaineering trip to the “Capanna margherita”, today is time to say “arrivederci”….. till next time.
Your transfer will leave in the morning for Milano International Airport.
“If our set departure dates are not convenient for you, you may choose Private departures by selecting your own convenient tour date. These types of departure are best suited to couples, families, charity and small groups of friends. Customised itineraries are available as per your travel need.“
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