Day 1 - Arrive in St. Niklaus

Our trip starts at the group hotel in St. Niklaus. In the evening you will meet your guide, who will brief you on the week ahead, and check your kit. 

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

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Day 2 - From St.Niklaus to Gruben

After breakfast we will take a short walk across the village and catch the cable car up to Jungen (1960m), enjoying the beautiful views back down the valley. We trek past forests to our highest point of the day - the Augustbordpass at 2894 metres. A pleasant path takes us all the way down to Gruben (1820m), where we spend the night. 

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Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Walking: approx 5-6 hrs

Distance: 14km

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Day 3 - Trek from Gruben to Zinal

We start the day with an ascent up through the woods. After around an hour we climb above the treeline, where the gradient eases slightly, and we get lovely views of the col up ahead. After reaching the Meidpass (2790m) we descend to Zinal, enjoying a breathtaking viewpoint along the way, followed by a relatively steep zig zag path through the forest and down into Zinal. 

 

Accommodation : Hotel, dinner included

Walking: approx 6-7 hrs

Distance: 23km

 

Day 4 - Trek from Zinal to La Sage

We have two high cols to cross today so we'll need an early start! the first is the Col de Sorebois (2895m), which is the lower of the two, but the final ascent is quite steep. Thankfully we'll be rewarded with beautiful views from the top, before descending down to the Lac de Moiry and its turquoise waters. Next we tackle the Col de Torrent (2919m), which is higher but less steep, however the views are just as beautiful! Our base for the night is the pretty village of la Sage. 

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Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Walking: approx 7-8 hours

Distance: 23km

 

Day 5 - Trek from La Sage to Arolla

We have a relatively easier day today, so there's the chance of a more leisurely breakfast and a later start. A gentle walk takes us up to la Gouille, where we leave the path to have a picnic lunch at the picturesque Lac Bleu. After lunch we rejoin the path that leads us down to the village of Arolla. 

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Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Walking: approx 5-6 hrs

Distance: 11km

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Day 6 - Trek from Arolla to the Prarayer Refuge

Today we will enter the high mountains, and will therefore be joined by an IFMGA qualified guide. Today is a true mountain day as we take the guide's lead and climb to the Col Collon (3074m), via the Arolla Glacier. From here we descend into the striking Oren Valley in Italy. We descend to the Prarayer Refuge (2000m) on the shores of the beautiful Lac des Places de Moulin. 

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Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: approx 7-8 hrs

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Day 7 - Trek from the Prarayer Refuge to Breuil-Cervinia

Today is one of the highlights of the trip, and it starts with a traverse through beautiful larch woods. We climb to Valcournera at the head of the valley, tackling some slightly exposed sections with the help of the ladders and cables. There may also be a few sections of snow to cross on our way up to the  Col de Valcournera (3060m). From this high point we descend to the twin tarns known as Dragon Lake. 

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Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Walking: approx 7-8 hrs

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Day 8 - Trek from Breuil-Cervinia to Zermatt

Today we will again be joined by an IFMGA qualified guide as we will descend the Theodule glacier. The guide will rope us up but no other specialist equipment is needed, other than our hiking boots and poles. From here the views are fantastic, not just of the Matterhorn but also the Alphubel, Dom, Obergabelhorn, Zinalrothorn and Weisshorn. We leave the glacier at Gandegg and cross the moraine, before descending to our hotel in Zermatt. 

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Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

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Day 9 - Trek from Zermatt to the Europahutte 

We leave Zermatt and follow the Mattertal down towards the Rhone Valley. It's a pleasant day meandering alongside the river, through the woodland and meadows.  Our climb starts in the village of Randa, as a steep zig zag trail leads us underneath the peaks of the Taschorn and the Dom. This is the route that will take us all the way to the Europahutte (2220m), since the Europaweg has been closed since the recent rockfall. If the Europaweg reopens we will consider taking this route to the Europahutte.   

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Accommodation: Refuge, dinner included

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Day 10 - Trek from the Europahutte to Grachen, then transfer to St. Niklaus

Our final day is one of the best of the trip, as our path takes us over river crossings, across exposed sections of terrain, and underneath impressive cliffs. Our final descent takes us down to picturesque Grachen, from where we take the local bus to St. Niklaus. 

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Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

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Day 11 - Departure Day

Our trip finishes after breakfast.