BARRON ADVENTURES
GRAND ALPS TREK
ITALY-SWITZERLAND
Trek around the Alps' highest peaks, Switzerland and Italy. Spectacular mountain hiking through magnificent glaciers, traditional mountain villages, high ridges and beautiful alpine waterfalls and meadows. 13 days Inn to Inn hiking, climb the Breithorn and hike to the base of the Matterhorn
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BARRON ADVENTURES
PHONE (562) 592 2050
FAX (562) 592 2038
BOX 100, SUNSET BEACH, CA, USA 90742
INFO@BARRONADVENTURES.COM
INCLUDES:
Internal group transportation
All transfers
Hotels, lodges
Meals (check itinerary)
Professional guides
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
International Airfare, some meals in the city
Optional tours-skiing, Liquor, laundry, tips
LAND COST: $3890
ITINERARY
Day 1-2 Home City / Geneva / Aosta, Italy Arrive Geneva and transfer overland to Aosta, Italy, at the edge of the Italian Alps, getting there by late afternoon or early evening. The town has a charming Roman and medieval center, offering a bit of old Italy before we head off into the mountains. Capital of the Val d'Aosta, this ancient Savoy town functions as the gateway to the Great St. Bernard Pass, and as such has always had great strategic importance. Dinner at a lovely traditional restaurant. (D) (breakfast and lunch on flight depending on flight)
Day 3 Aosta We take a morning city tour focusing on Aosta's center, which has a number of interesting buildings of Roman origin, including a fine triumphal arch and portico. After lunch the day is free to wander the streets. Late afternoon return to our hotel. (B) (luch Aosta)
Day 4 Valtournanche / Cervinia This morning we take motor transport and branch off from the Val d'Aosta to lovely Valtournanche, the best known valley of the Italian Alps. Our destination is the resort town of Cervinia, headed by Monte Cervino (the Matterhorn 14,692'). Today's challenging hike follows the remarkable Grande Balconata del Cervino from Corgnolaz to Cervinia, surrounded by a amphitheater of mountains and marked by spectacular views all along the way. An easier hike leads to the village of Paquier (also known as Valtournanche), which occupies a splendid position in the middle of the valley with extremely fine vistas. Here, chestnut and walnut trees frame views of the Matterhorn, whose granite pyramid dominates the head of the valley. Many of the most famous Italian guides and mountaineers of the 18th and early 19th centuries lived here, and numerous memorial stones commemorate them. Depending on the groups conditioning and acclimatization, we either walk or bus to our hotel in Cervinia (6,640') at the head of the Valtournanche and the foot of the Italian Matterhorn. (B,L)
Day 5 St. Theodule Pass / Matterhorn, Switzerland Today we must carry what we need for overnight (tooth brush, etc), we will meet our gear tomorrow. This challenging day begins with our glacier crossing of the St. Theodule Pass, one of the oldest routes out of the Val d'Aosta and into Switzerland. The pass was known by many other names-the Matterjoch and the Col de Cervin-until in the 1840s map makers gave it the name by which it is known today, the St. Theodule Pass. From Cervinia, three cable cars whisk us to the Testa Grigia (11,420'). Skiers depart from here onto the Theodule glacier in the early morning, taking advantage of the excellent summer snow. The Italian/Swiss border is here too, and a plaque marks the spot where we cross into Switzerland. We rope up for safety (no previous experience is necessary). The crossing is quite easy; the glacier is covered with firm snow, and slopes gently down towards Switzerland. Depending on the snow condition, we spend part of the morning practicing ice axe techniques preparing for our Breithorn ascent. Along the way, we are rewarded with some of the finest views in the Alps. To the southwest, countless peaks stretch towards the Gran Paradiso. To the east, Zermatt is far below us and giant cliffs of ice and rock rise to form the summits of the Klein Matterhorn and the Breithorn (13,650'). The summits of the Monte Rosa massif are concealed just behind the Breithorn, but it is the Matterhorn that is the most spectacularly impressive. Our glacier hike continues from the pass, crossing by Gandegg-Hutte (10,000'), then on down a trail on a rocky spur to the cable car station at Trockener Steg (9,700'). We'll eat lunch here beneath the towering east face of the Matterhorn, with the entire Monte Rosa Massif stretching out in front of us. Then we descend the Luftseilbahn cable car down to Furgg and then up to Scharzsee Station (8,265') and begin our climb to the Matterhorn itself, climbing spines and switchbacks up the incredible east ridge gaining the most spectacular views of the mountain until we reach Horlihutte (10,695,), the climbers refuge for the final ascent of the Matterhorn. Also known as the Hotel Belvedere, it's rustic, but posh by climb hut standards. We overnight here just a few feet from the roping up point, a unique experience where you will meet hopeful climbers, and hear their stories from around the world. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Zermatt Morning descent to Zermatt-on foot and by cable car. Zermatt is a unique mountain village steeped in the lore of alpinism and dominated by the crooked pyramid of the Matterhorn and spectacular alpine views. Traffic free, the only access is by train or in our case by foot, Zermatt is the quintessential Swiss mountain village. It's scenic charm, the fantastic Matterhorn, and accessibility to hiking and skiing make it one of Europe's great destinations. Surrounded by glaciers and a dozen 13,000-foot peaks, Zermatt nestles in its 5,300-foot alpine perch. It's a town of both modern sophistication (boutiques, hotels, and guesthouses) and authentic Valais chalets and mazots (small wooden barns). Zermatt is famed both for summer skiing and mountaineering, and tends to be bustling the year round. Special tour of the interesting alpine museum. Time permitting we will ascend to a nearby glacier for ice axe training for tomorrow's Breithorn climb. Evening dinner at a traditional Swiss restaurant famous for it's folk singing, yodeling and music. (B,D)
Day 7 Zermatt / Breithorn / Swiss National Day Optional climb of the awesome Breithorn (13,650') high above the valley. After a stunning cable car ride to the top of the Klein Matterhorn (Europe's highest cable station at 12,530'), we emerge from a tunnel through the peak, rope up, and don crampons and ice axes for our glacial ascent to the summit of the massive snow peak. Afternoon return to Zermatt. The other option takes a short hike to explore the beautiful Gorner River Gorge as it weaves through the canyon above Zermatt. We climb past multiple waterfalls and then up out of the gorge to great views above the village. (B) (lunch and dinner on own, Zermatt)
Day 8 Zermatt to Europa Hut From Zermatt, we take a short underground train to Sunnega and begin our high trek, The Europaweg-the most spectacular part of the Monte Rosa circuit, to the newly opened Europa Hut. We hike the high slopes above the Mattertal through forests, above the treeline and though tunnels carved from the living rock. Passing below the Oberrothorn we continue to the Europa Hut (7560'). (B,D)
Day 9 Europa Hut to Grachen Continuing from the Europa Hut, we gradually descend to the sunny small village of Grachen (5325') with tremendous views of the valley and snow peaks. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Grachen to Saas Fee From Grachen, we take a short cable car to Hannigalp and continue our high trek, where the Mattertal and Saastal river valleys intersect. From here depending on conditions we will take one of two options for hiking to the beautiful mountain village of Saas Fee. With gradual climbs and no steep descents, the Gsponer Hohenweg, a high level panoramic walk traverses the eastern slopes of the Saastat to Saas Grund, with wonderful views of the 13,000-foot peaks fringing the valley. Hiking along at about 7,000 feet, we pass stands of lovely Arolla and mountain pines, remote high pastures, and quaint wooden houses perched high above the river. A more challenging choice is the Hohenweggrachen to Saas Fee. Unlike the Gsponer track, this route features a fair bit of exposure and many steep pitches, but intrepid hikers are rewarded with glorious vistas. Saas Fee nestles beneath an enormous wall of glaciers, an amphitheater of 13,000-foot peaks, including the Dom (14,908'), the Alphubel (13,880'), and the Allalinhorn (13,289'), and views with Zermatt for the most dramatic mountain location in the Swiss canton of Valais. But while Zermatt is internationally renowned, Saas Fee-in the very next valley and equally blessed by nature-is scarcely known outside of the Alps. It's a much quieter place, and possibly more spectacular. (B)
Day 11 Saas Fee Saas Fee, free of cars, is a traditional Alpine village which enjoys a magnificent setting, nestled beside the beautiful Fee glacier. Known as the Pearl of the Alps, this quaint village of narrow streets and chalet buildings is full of charm, peace and tranquility. Today we make a spectacular gorge expedition from Saas Fee to Saas Grund. Donning harnesses and helmets, we descend via multiple ziplines, tyrolean traverse, pendulm and rappel down to the Saas Grund Valley. The other option is to explore the world's largest ice pavilion, deep inside the Mittelallalin glacier at an altitude of 11,200'. This huge ice grotto covers an area of over 5000 meters. (B)
Day 12 Saas Fee to Geneva After breakfast we travel by bus to Geneva. Afternoon free to explore Geneva's fine museums, shopping and restaurants. (B)
Day 13 Geneva to Home City (B)
Trip Details Van supported trekking. No prior experience necessary. Carry a light daypack with you lunch, rain gear, camera, etc. Your luggage is transported to your next lodge/hotel (except two nights, at the Matterhorn Hut and the Europa Hut). All internal transport (vans, trains, cable cars, etc.), choice of moderate to steep trails. Altitudes of 5,000-11,480' feet (optional climb of Breithorn 13,650'), services of two leaders. INCLUDES: Internal group transportation, all transfers, hotels, lodges, most meals (check itinerary), guides. DOES NOT INCLUDE: International Airfare, some meals in the city, optional tours-skiing, liquor, laundry, tips.
