The trip

LEVEL ****

Elevation: +600 to 1250m average per day.
Walking time: 7 hours average per day.
Type of trek: mountain route for experienced hikers, on marked trails.
Both of the glacial sections are easy and do not require any special technique. Several aerial passages secured with hand cables on day 4 and day 5.

A good fitness level is essential to enjoy these beautiful "high mountain" routes.
Please regularly pratice a cardio sport as hiking, running, biking, from 6 to 8 hours per week. Your physical preparation will enable you to enjoy your trek to the maximum.
Please find the description of the levels by clicking here: levels of difficulty

GUIDING

Group between 6 and 12 people supervised by a qualified professional mountain leader. At the beginning of the season, the group number may be reduced depending on snow conditions. 

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

ACCOMMODATION

5 nights in gîtes or mountain refuges in dormitories.
All accommodation offers hot showers.

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. 

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

Federal Office of Topography: Matterhorn Michabel 5006

Practical information

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Meeting Sunday at 9am in front of the train station in St. Niklaus VS (Switzerland).

BY TRAIN
Inbound: depart Gare de Lyon (Paris) the day before, Saturday, at 11.56am arrive in St. Niklaus at 6.10pm.
Return : depart Zermatt at 16.06pm, arrive in (Paris) Gare de Lyon at 23.46pm.
Or the day after : Zermatt 9.06am, arrival à Paris 4.05pm
Times given are indicative and should be verified in a train station or on oui.sncf and cff.ch

BY CAR
Take the motorway from Geneva direction Lausanne, Martigny and Sierre then follow signs for Zermatt. Please note the mandatory sticker on Swiss motorways, to be bought at the border and at petrol stations.
At St Niklaus, you can park in the underground carpark (approx. 15CHF/ day) or next to the train station (5CHF / day). You can buy your parking ticket at the cablecar behind the train station (cash and Swiss Francs only) or at the tourist information office in St Niklaus (closed on Sundays) or at St Niklaus train station. As a last resort, you may leave a note in your car which mentions your arrival and departure dates. You will pay at the end of your hike. Please note that this solution does not commit our agency.

End of the hike on Friday at around 5pm at Zermatt train station.

RETURN TO DEPARTURE POINT

FROM ZERMATT TO ST. NIKLAUS: a train every hour (approx. CHF 20, 40-minute journey) or by taxi organised by the guide (approx. CHF10-CHF15 per person, to be paid locally, 15-minute journey).

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Saint-Niklaus: Hôtel La Réserve***: +41 27 955 22 55         
Tourist Office Zermatt: +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 on: + 33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & luggage

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.

EQUIPMENT FOR THE SUMMIT

Crampons, harness, helmet and ice axe for climbing the Breithorn summit are provided. An ascension at 4000m requires warm clothing in case of deterioration in the weather (thermal leggings, warm hat, waterproof gloves, waterproof jacket and supplementary warm layers to add if necessary). High rising walking boots with a good rigid sole are mandatory (no low trail-type shoes). Poles are essential.

BAGGAGE 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 and day 4, 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

For the nights 2 and 4, without your baggage at the accommodation (you will get it back the night after), here are the things to add to your backpack (about 2 kilos are enough!):
- small toiletries bag
- sleeping bag liner sheet
- change of clothes (bare necessities!) and comfortable clothes/shoes for the evening