NEW TRIP
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 the base of Oberrothorn (9,850') then hike to its summit at 11,200 feet for incredible views of the Matterhorn as well as Monte Rosa.
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 Trinite.
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
Average Hiking Day
- 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
At lower elevations, the trails are usually packed dirt, but at higher elevations they are often much rockier, with occasional sections of glacial snow, loose scree, and large boulders. 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.
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).
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Book your trip today
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—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.