A Legendary Hike through the Swiss and Italian Alps
Tour de Monte Rosa
Overview
One of Europe’s epic mountain adventures is the multi-day hike circling the massif of Monte Rosa (15,203'), a towering realm of rock and ice and the second highest peak in the Alps, topped only by Mont Blanc. The Tour de Monte Rosa (long known as the “TMR”) is a very challenging trekking route full of steep ascents and descents, but the rewards are many as we cross the heart of the European Alps from Switzerland into Italy, climbing major passes and contouring rocky trails thousands of feet above serene valleys where ibex roam. We begin and end in Zermatt, right below the awe-inspiring north face of the Matterhorn. The Alps’ famed cable cars bring us to and from most trailheads, and nights are in alpine hotels in atmospheric mountain villages in both Italy and Switzerland. Join us for the TMR challenge!
Arrive: Zermatt, Switzerland
Depart: Zermatt, Switzerland
Highlights
- Cross high passes and glacial terrain, explore mountain hamlets of character, stay in alpine hotels
- Savor breathtaking, less-traveled trails away from the crowds, crossing through the Aosta and Saas Fee valleys
- Enjoy mid-hike lunch stops in historic alpine huts perched in incredible spots
- Hike the legendary TMR trail encircling Monte Rosa on a spectacular route through the Italian and Swiss Alps
- Begin and end in Zermatt, the delightful village right below the Matterhorn
Itinerary
In the famed mountain village of Zermatt, the crooked pyramid of the Matterhorn dominates the view. For a warm-up, we take the cable car to Furi and then hike up to Schwarzsee for close-up views of the north face of the Matterhorn.
Zermatt's clever cable-car system carries us up to the Klein Matterhorn at 12,525 feet, then across the border into Italy for superb hikes over the Cime Bianche (9,842') and the Col Pinter (9,110'). One hike brings us up to the superbly located Rifugio Quintino Sella, a historic Italian Alpine Club hut. Overnights are in the charming towns of Champoluc and Gressonay la Trinité.
Hikes into wild and remote alpine terrain in the Aosta Valley bring us over Passo Zube (9,430') and Passo Foric (7,975'), with an overnight in a village at the foot of Monte Rosa. Crossing the Col del Turlo (8,985'), we descend the beautiful village of Macugnaga, and important center of Walser culture in the Val Quarazza.
From Rifugio Oberto Maroli (9,186'), one of the famous stops on the TMR, we cross Passo Moro (9,843'), with the help of aluminum steps bolted into the rocks. Crossing this pass brings us back into Switzerland and we head down to the impressively situated village of Saas Fee, surrounded by a dozen 13,000-foot peaks.
Our last hike brings us back to Zermatt via the Matter Valley (Mattertal), with the Matterhorn proudly standing at the end of the valley. Depart Zermatt on Day 11.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 5+ (Strenuous to Very Strenuous) according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 10-12 miles a day, gaining and losing 4,000+ feet of elevation for several days in a row, and hiking on uneven surfaces with long descents that can be hard on the knees.
Average Hiking Day
Challenge Days
Review Trip Level Details
- 8 miles
- 6-7 hours
- 3,000 feet gain/loss
- Altitudes range 7,000 to 10,000 feet
Challenge Days
- Day 7 & 8: both roughly 12 miles, 8 hours, 4,000 feet gain, and 4,500 loss
Most hiking is between 7,000 and 10,000 feet, with considerable elevation gain and loss along the way. While the Tour de Monte Rosa is not exceptionally high, it can be steep and rugged. This trip is not technical, but is aimed for those who have some experience hiking in the mountains. At lower elevations, the trails are usually packed dirt, but at higher elevations they are often much rockier and more uneven, with sections of loose scree, large boulders, and occasionally glacial snow. Recent rockslides may impact the routes we use. On some days, you will encounter sections of narrow, exposed trails. You will also occasionally need to use your hands to scramble over and between a jumble of boulders. Your experienced mountain guides are there to assist you if needed. No climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, but all participants must be in good physical condition, have good balance, be comfortable with moderate levels of exposure, and be confident on their feet.
Of course, you are always free to skip a day’s hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle. The support vehicle transports the group’s luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (sweater, camera, water bottle). Hiking poles are highly recommended.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared-make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in.
Altitude is generally not a problem on this trip. However, some people still experience a few problems when they first reach high altitude. Slight headache and sleeplessness are the most common symptoms. Most accommodations are between 3,500-7,000 feet. Each day, we hike over passes at altitudes between 7,000-9,500 feet.
Temperatures are likely to reach the 60s°F and 70s°F during the day, with cool breezes and occasional rain. At night the temperature will drop quite a bit, depending on the altitude. The months we run these trips have the optimal weather conditions, but still can be fickle. It can range from blue skies to cloudy, wet, and cold conditions, making rain gear and warm garments necessary items to carry with you on every hike. The early-season departures may encounter snow on the trails.
Our accommodations are in small, comfortable hotels and inns. While they are clean and well located, they are not always of uniform size or amenities. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole.
Lunch will usually be in a mountain lodge or at a picnic spot amidst the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Most evening meals will be taken at our hotels and will be hearty, nourishing mountain fare, often with the cuisine the region is known for. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meals will be at 7:30 pm.
Our support vehicle will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day).
Client Testimonials
"This trip lives up to it’s 5+ rating, but it's a beautiful, relatively uncrowded trip (I loved the Italian towns we stayed at)."
Larry A.
Golden, CO
"A fantastic trip! I loved the challenging, long days of hiking followed by great dinners. Our group was compatible hiking-wise and all the days were enjoyable. Everything was organized and ran smoothly."
Sandy C.
Ridgway, CO
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Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.