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.

GUIDING

Group between 6 and 14 people supervised by a qualified professional mountain leader. At the beginning of the season, the group number may be reduced depending on snow conditions. 

ACCOMMODATION

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

YOUR BACKPACK FOR THE NIGHT WITHOUT YOUR BAGGAGE

For the night 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 toilet bag
- sleeping bag liner sheet
- change of clothes (bare necessities!)

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.
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.

FITNESS LEVEL

A good fitness level is required for this trek.
Ability to easily walk 20km (on flat trails) in a maximum of 4 hours. This trek requires a certain physical fitness level but presents no particular technical difficulty. 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 "high mountain" trek to the maximum.

MAPS

Federal Office of Topography: Matterhorn Michabel 5006

Practical information

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Meet Sunday at 9:00am infront 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 2:37pm arrive in (Paris) Gare de Lyon at 9:42pm.
Or the day after : Zermatt 9h13am, arrival à Paris 4h04pm
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 (swiss motorway pass = 47,95€ / www.vignetteshop.fr/vignettes-autoroutiere/suisse-2023​).
At St Niklaus, you can park in the underground carpark (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 point Friday at 5:00pm at Zermatt train station.

RETURN TO DEPARTURE POINT

FROM ZERMATT TO ST. NIKLAUS: By train 20CHF (hourly train service) or a group transfer can be organised by your mountain leader for those who wish (around 10€ per person, to be paid on site).

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Saint-Niklaus: Hôtel La Réserve***: +41 27 955 22 55 la-reserve.ch/            
Tourist Office Zermatt: +41 (0)2 79 66 81 00 zermatt.ch

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 & 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.

EQUIPMENT FOR THE SUMMIT

Crampons, harness, helmet and ice axe for climbing the Gran Paradiso 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. Poles are essential.

BAGGAGE TRANSPORT

Your baggage will be transported daily (except Day 4) between accommodation by our logistics vehicle. You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag with all your possessions inside, no heavier than 12kg. Your bag has to be carried everyday by the driver, where access is not always easy, please think of their backs! Baggage which is too big and too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers!

If you wish to prolong your holiday, we can safely hold another bag for you which you may leave with us at the departure point and it will be deposited at the end point with your other baggage.