The trip

LEVEL ****              

Elevation: +/-500 to 1700m average per day.
Walking time: 6 to 8 hours average per day.
Type of trek: mountain route on steep, rocky paths.

Please find the description of the levels by clicking here: Level of difficulty

FITNESS LEVEL

A good fitness level is highly important for this tour.
Ability to easily walk 20km (on flat trails) in a maximum of 3.5 hours. This trek requires a certain physical fitness level but presents no particular technical difficulty for experienced hikers. Good advance preparation is nevertheless necessary in order to appreciate the beauty of this high altitude domaine. Your physical preparation will enable you to enjoy your trek to the maximum.

GUIDING

Group from 6 to 12 people supervised by a qualified mountain leader.

It is usual to tip your guide at the end of the trek, according to your satisfaction. It is not mandatory but, it is very appreciated.

ACCOMMODATION

4 nights in mountain refuges, in dormitory.
1 night in gites, in multiple bedroom.
All accommodation offers hot showers. However, due to increasingly recurrent periods of drought, access to showers is not guaranteed.

MEALS

Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation.
Picnics are included and are carefully prepared daily by your guide, comprising a variety of healthy salads and local products. For the day without luggage, picnic is ordered in the refuge.

Please inform us about your food allergies and special diets at the time of booking.
We do our best to accommodate special diets (gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.). However, we encourage you to bring some additional products for your own picnics.

MAPS

Swiss maps: 1/5000: VISP 274, MISCHABEL 284, GRESSONEY 294
Italian maps: 1/25000 108 et109

Practical information

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Meeting at 9am at the cable car parking in Stalden.

BY TRAIN
Access: Gare de Lyon (Paris) - Stalden.
Return : depart from Zermatt at 2:37pm arrive in (Paris) Gare de Lyon at 9:42pm.
or the following day : Zermatt at 9:13am arrive in (Paris) Gare de Lyon at 4:04pm
Times given are indicative and should be verified at a train station or at www.oui.sncf and www.cff.ch

BY CAR
Take the motorway from Geneva direction Lausanne, Martigny and Sierre then follow signs for Zermatt (you can purchase the Swiss motorway tax online Vignette Shop )
Meet at the cable car in Stalden next to the train station in the village centre.
You can leave your car in the large underground or the outdoor car park at payment near the Stalden station (pick up your ticket at the SBB station): parking Parkhallen Saint-Michel 10CH / day or alternatively All Stalden car parks

End of the tour Saturday at 5pm in Zermatt.

RETURN TO DEPARTURE POINT

At the end of the tour, your mountain leader can organise a group transfer (20 mins) to the departure point, at the Stalden cable car, for those who wish (10€ per person).

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Stalden
Hôtel Hohlgassli: +41 (0)2 79 52 15 12
Hôtel Killerhof: +41 (0)2 79 52 13 38
Zermatt Tourist Office: +41 (0)2 79 66 81 00
 

INSURANCE

In accordance with regulations, we are covered by Professional Liability Insurance. Under no circumstances, we can replace your personal civil liability.
The repatriation insurance EUROP ASSISTANCE that we offer is dedicated to French speaking people living in Europe. If it is not your case, we advise you to subscribe to another travel insurance which will cover you in case of injury and repatriation during your trek.

If you chose to take out repatriation insurance with EUROP ASSISTANCE whom we propose, Altitude Mont Blanc will only serve as an intermediary between the client and the insurer. We cannot influence either party. We adhere to strict conditions of sale. You are responsible for compliance with the reporting procedures of any incident.

Before making any decision, contact EUROP ASSISTANCE.

CONTACT US

If you are late please contact the agency as soon as possible: +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & baggage

EQUIPMENT LIST

Clothing

• Walking trousers
• Shorts (Bikini/swimsuit, just in case!)
• Breathable or merino wool t-shirts
• Breathable or merino wool leggings
• Fleece or jumper
• Wind stopper or Goretex jacket
• Waterproof poncho + gaiters or Goretex trousers + waterproof rucksack cover
• Pair of gloves and a warm hat
• Sun hat or baseball cap
• Walking socks (1 pair per day)
• Sturdy walking boots with a good sole, already broken in
• 1 change of clothes for the evening
• A pair of comfortable shoes for the evening

Other Equipment

• Toilet bag
• Quick drying towel
• Sunglasses and sun cream
• Water bottle or Camelback (1.5 litre minimum)
• Knife, fork and spoon
• Plastic lunch box/plate for your picnic lunches
• Plastic cup for coffee
• Small First Aid kit (antihistamine, ibuprofen, Compeed type blister pads...)
• Survival blanket
• Head torch or hand torch
• Sleeping bag liner sheet and pillowcase (blankets provided at accommodation)
• Two adjustable walking poles (highly recommended)
• Identity card or passport

BACKPACK

Bring a comfortable backpack of 30 to 40 litres for your personal belongings for the day (warm clothes, waterproofs, water, plate and cutlery for your picnic, sunscreen and your identity papers) and please keep a little room to carry a picnic and snacks.

LUGGAGE TRANSPORT

You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag, with all your possessions inside, of 10kg maximum per person. Your baggage will be transported daily between accommodation, except day 2, by our logistics vehicle where access is not always easy. 
Baggage which is too big and too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers, please think of their backs! 

YOUR BACKPACK FOR THE NIGHT WITHOUT YOUR BAGGAGE

On night 2, your luggage won't be dropped off at your accommodation (you will get it back the day after). Here are the things to add to your backpack (about 2 kilos are enough!):
- small toilet bag
- sleeping bag liner sheet
- change of clothes (bare necessities!)