Itinerary
Here you can see the programme for the tour.
Check-in at the first hotel is from 15.00. Arolla is the highest village in the canton of Valais, and is reached via a series of hairpin bends on the edge of the last sparce Arolla pine- and larch forests, which only thrive in this high altitude area, at the foot of Mt. Collon (3,637m.) From the town there is also a view of the Pigne d'Arolla (3,796m).
Hotel (example) 2* hotel in Arolla.
You start with a very beautiful hike from Arolla up to the abandoned village of Pra Gra at 2,480 metres.
From here you can enjoy a fantastic panoramic view, and from here you follow an old irrigation channel through a moraine landscape with gravel slopes, indicating that the glacier "Aiguilles Rouges" ran here just a few decades ago. When you arrive at the refuge of the same name, you have the choice of hiking or taking the bus down to the village of Haudères (1450 m), where you spend the night in a hotel in the centre. The village is beautifully situated here at the foot of the "white tooth" Dent Blanche.
Hotel (example) Haudères in a 3* hotel
Today's stage goes up through the Torrent Pass via the rustic village of Villa (1,742 m). Today's views are exceptional over the Grands Combin massif with Mount Fort and Pigne d'Arolla. After visiting the very beautiful mountain village of Grimentz, built entirely of larch trees, you will take the post bus to Zinal.
(It is possible to book a local taxi to take some of the altitude of the descent - to be paid locally).
Hotel (example) A simple hotel in Zinal, with shared bathroom/toilet in the hallway.
Today's hike takes you up to the majestic viewpoint "Roc de la Vache" (2,581 m). From here there are stunning panoramic views unfolding both below and above you. You can see the Moming glacier, the Zinalrothorn (4,221 m) and the north-east side of the Dent Blanche, among other things. The tour is worth all the effort before spending another night in Zinal.
Hotel (example) A simple hotel in Zinal, with shared bathroom/toilet in the hallway
You will hike along trails that offer panoramic views of the Anniviers Valley, while behind you you will see the peaks of the Matterhorn and Zinal. You hike up over the Forcletta Pass at 2,874 m and continue down through green pastures with meadows and larch forests until you reach Grüben Meiden (1,822 m). This cottage village is only inhabited in summer and you will stay here in a rustic hotel.
This stage leads you through forests of larch and arolla pines. You pass Lake Augstbord and continue up over the Augstbord Pass at 2,894 metres. This pass acts as a natural border between the valleys of Turtmanntal and Mattertal. Here you have the option of extending the hike with a route to the summit of the Schwarzhorn (3,201 m). Here there is a unique panoramic view stretching from Mont Blanc to Monte Rosa. From here you hike down to the hanging hamlet of Jungu (1,955 m). The hamlet only features a few houses, and it is built into the mountainside, giving the place phenomenal views of the Nadelhorn and Monte Rosa, among others. You continue the hike down to St. Niklaus (1,127 m).
Here the hike ends with a transfer by train to Täsch, where you spend the night in a hotel.
- It is possible to shorten the descent by taking a cable car in the middle of the descent In this case the descent is 1,000 metres instead of 1,800 metres.
Hotel (example): 3*hotel in Täsch.
From here you hike up to Täschalp (2,214 m), from where you take the high route to Zermatt: this is a balcony route with views of the 4,000-metre-high mountains, including the toblerone-peak Matterhorn, with its spectacular profile.
The hike finishes in Zermatt, where you have time to enjoy the charming little town.
When you're ready to head to the hotel, the journey is by train back to Täsch (about 20 minutes) for a final night before your return journey.
Hotel (example): 3*hotel in Täsch.
After breakfast, check out and return home on your own.
Photos from the tour
Prices and dates
Price includes
- 7 nights in double rooms
- Half board all trip
- Luggage transfer
- Welcome package with roadbook, maps and other important information
- App for Navigation and GPS-data available
- Transportation to/from destination
- Drinks during meals
- Lunch
- Possible entrance to Visits of sites etc.
- Internal transfers (cable car, trains, bus)
- Insurance
- Administration fee (20€ pr. booking)
Practical information
The price is based upon two people sharing. For safety reasons, this tour cannot be booked for solo travellers. There must be min. be two participants.
On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.
Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill in anything. Here's how:
- Choose your desired start date
- Click on the green button "See price and reserve your holiday" and go to the booking form
- Select number of people, add any optional extras and see the price at the bottom of the page (you don't have to fill in anything on the form).
Get a quote
For example, if you want a flight included or changes to the trip, you can order a quote for this using the "Get a quote" button. Remember to describe in detail what, if anything, you want changed.
The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. This process typically takes 2-5 working days, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.
Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.
Important: Please note that transportation to Arolla and from Täsch in Switzerland is not included in the package, and that you have to make sure to book your own flight that matches the holiday start- and end date. This is easily done online or by contacting us for an offer.
There are direct flights to Geneva from most of the European airports.
From Geneva there are 1-3 direct trains per hour most of the day to Sion (1,5-2 hours). See trains here: www.sbb.ch
From Sion train station to Arolla Poste, there is a post bus via Les Haudères - centre (3-6 departures daily and a total of about 1.5 hours by bus).
You go out through the main entrance of the train station and find the post bus station (big yellow buses) a few hundred meters on the left.
See bus timetables and prices here: www.postauto.ch
Alternatively, you can take a taxi from Sion (about 40 km).
The return journey from Täsch is by train. The journey to Geneva is about 3.5 hours, typically with a train change in Visp.
Important: We recommend that you book the trip with us before you buy your plane tickets.
Drive on your own car
Depending on your departure location, it can also be a solution to drive to Arolla, where there is parking at the hotel (or close by) for a small fee.
To return from Täsch to Arolla, take the train to Sion, typically changing in Visp. From Sion you take the post bus to Arolla, changing at Les Haudères, Centre. The trip takes about 3 hours.
The tour is arranged with overnight stays in double or triple rooms. The standard goes from a quite simple hotel up to 3* hotel. There will be 1 night in a rustic hotel in Grüben. In Zinal and Grüben there is only the possibility of shared toilet/bath in the hallway.
There are very few single rooms at each site. We try to book them, but usually we end up with a combination of triple rooms and single rooms. The price is adjusted according to possibilities.
The tour includes half board (breakfast and dinner).
It is possible to buy a packed lunch at all accommodation sites, but you will also find small kiosks/supermarkets in the villages (except Grüben).
If you have allergies or special dietary requirements, please inform us when booking. Then the accommodations will do their best to adapt your meals.
Luggage transfer is included on this tour. Upon arrival at the first hotel you will be given luggage tags along with the rest of the welcome package. You fill out the luggage tags and put them on your bags where they will remain for the duration of the tour.
Your luggage is picked up from the hotel lobby around 9am every morning and will arrive at your next hotel at 6pm at the latest (often long before that). If there are any special exceptions to the luggage transfer you will be notified upon arrival.
Luggage transfer includes one bag per guest and the bags can weigh 15kg each.
This trip has a difficulty level of 3-4, which means that most hiking days on the tour are level 3 and a few are level 4.
Grade 3
Hiking in mountainous terrain with longer ascents and descents. You will hike 5-7 hours a day. Requires generally good fitness and health, but no special technical skills or prior experience. Requires good shoes, such as trekking or mountain boots.
Grade 4
Demanding hiking with daily marches of 6-8 hours, often in difficult terrain at higher altitudes. There can be longer ascents of up to 1,000 meters. Requires good physical condition, endurance, and knees and ankles capable of enduring prolonged descents. You need to be in good health and preferably have hiking experience. Requires good hiking boots and regular outdoor clothing. There can be significant temperature differences.
Read more about our grading system here.
On this tour, you will receive the following documents:
Upon booking
Immediately after booking this trip, you'll recieve a pre-booking-email where you can get a complete overview of your booking. Once the tour is confirmed you get a confirmation email from us along with practical information about the tour.
One month before departure
You will receive a hotel list and final travel documents.
Upon arrival at the first hotel
You'll receive the welcome pack, which contains everything you need for the trip. There will be route descriptions, maps, luggage tags and specific local vouchers. The documents are in English.
Notice: On some tours it is necessary to either print the documents yourself or to bring them electronically.
We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.
Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.
After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.
This tour is only available from July to mid-September.
Even in early July there may be snow patches left in the high passes and on the trails, which may lead us to change the route for you. From mid-July onwards there is usually no snow. August is the busiest time on the trails. In September, the number of hikers drops and the temperature may drop a few degrees, but hiking is still good. This hike is at altitude, and surrounded by mountain ranges. The weather is changeable and temperatures rarely rise above 20 degrees C.
It is difficult to plan your trip according to the weather, but to help you get an average picture of the climate at Zermatt.
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"We look forward to making your holiday dreams come true"