Undertaken over 10 days, this circuit around the Matterhorn is outstanding. Each day it takes you over the 4000 m peaks of this alpine range. As it is located in 2 countries, Italy and Switzerland, it also brings you into contact with three European languages: Italian, German and also French in Valais in Switzerland.
Author's time : 10 days
Distance : 97.02mi
Vertical gain : 38143ft
Vertical drop : 37680ft
Highest point : 10876ft
Lowest point : 3688ft 
Difficulty : Difficult
Back to starting point : No
Walking
Location : Bionaz
Starting point : N 45.899788° / E 7.490252° 
Arrival : N 45.921091° / E 7.533053° This walk needs several days, please find the details below.
Warm-up walk to reach the Prarayer refuge along the right bank of the lake.
Stage starting in pasture which quickly heads into the high mountains passing through the Valcornera pass.
Discover the giant that resides here, the splendid Matterhorn itself, before getting a closer look in the evening at the Gandeg cabin.
A Tour du Cervin alternative today, visiting the north side of the colossal peak before reaching Zermatt.
An easy climb reaching part of Zermatt ski slopes, extending to an uphill-downhill balcony trail leading to the famous Europahutte (Hut).
Watch out: The Himalayan footbridge just before Europahutte is currently out of service. You'll need to head down to Randa valley along the second blue marked trail on the map before heading back up to the hut (allow for 2 extra hours).
A new balcony stage at the foot of high summits separating the Zermatt and Saas Fee valleys.
Beautiful mountain stage going through a pass by the name of Augstbordpass.
The next stage to this mountain hike with a stop at Saint-Luc then a transfer by postbus to Zinal.
A long stage through two passes however, shortened by the cable car link in Zinal and the coach transfer between Villa Evolène and Arolla.
Warning: Taking into account the cable car transport, the positive altitude isn't 2156 m as indicated but only 1380 m.
A high mountain stage which requires hiking boots with crampons to cross the Arolla glacier. You should get an early start for this long stage of the hike.
Water is always available all around, however it needs to be purified.
Shelter is mainly to be found in huts or gites where we spent our nights.
Day 1: Refuge de Prarayer.
Day 2: Perrucco Vuillermoz Shelter.
Day 3: Gandeg cabin.
Day 4: Zermatt youth hostel.
Day 5: Europahütte cabin.
Day 6: Hotel in Saint Nicklaus.
Day 7: Schwarzhorn Hotel in Gruben.
Day 8: Zinal youth hostel.
Day 9: Hotel Tsa in Arolla.
Day 10: Refuge de Prarayer.
To complete this circuit in 10 days we used, especially in valleys, buses or cable cars to travel between routes. This requires a good knowledge of public transport timetables, especially in the case of the Swiss buses which are always on time.
General note on this tour: it is 10 days long, and requires each participant to be in adequate physical shape to have the minimum necessary equipment, including crampons to cross two glaciers, to pack light, to book shelters, hotels and cabins well in advance, to have pocket timetables for transport (by road and by cable car) and be prepared to sleep in groups with the occasional snoring and other annoyances that hikers become accustomed to ignoring. And finally you come back, already delighted by one of most beautiful hikes in the Alps, and take a tour around Mont Blanc, crossing the Grand Paradis, the Queyras Tour and many others... that are also described on the website.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
This itinerary crosses many settlements including Cervinia in Italy, but also Saint Nicklaus and especially Zermatt in Switzerland.
A quick tour of this place that closed to cars (except electric cars) is a must, including (alas) the cemetery where many famous climbers now lie.
2.77mi
+604ft
-440ft
1h50
Easy
Starting point in Bionaz - Province de Aosta Warm-up walk to reach the Prarayer refuge along the right bank of the lake.
3.61mi
+3609ft
-725ft
4h50
Very difficult
Starting point in Bionaz - Province de Aosta Stage starting in pasture which quickly heads into the high mountains passing through the Valcornera pass.
12.01mi
+5151ft
-4665ft
10h00
Difficult
Starting point in Valtournenche - Province de Aosta Discover the giant that resides here, the splendid Matterhorn itself, before getting a closer look in the evening at the Gandeg cabin.
10.43mi
+3957ft
-3829ft
8h15
Very difficult
Starting point in Evolène - Valais A high mountain stage which requires hiking boots with crampons to cross the Arolla glacier. You should get an early start for this long stage of the hike.
9.67mi
+702ft
-5348ft
5h05
Average
Starting point in Zermatt - Valais A Tour du Cervin alternative today, visiting the north side of the colossal peak before reaching Zermatt.
63mi
+27411ft
-26129ft
7 days
Very difficult
Starting point in Bagnes - Valais In the Swiss valley, this particularly pleasant hike allows you to explore the many 4000 m peaks that surround the route.
N.B. this route is outlined on Openmap which doesn't have the details of our fine IGN maps. Before being able to get your hands on a Swiss map, which are more precise, the route and GPS layouts will be handy for this pleasant trek.
2.01mi
+2618ft
-203ft
3h10
Average
Starting point in Bagnes - Valais First stage of this trek linking Fionay village to Saas Fee. A pleasant stage reaching Louvie Hut (la Cabane de Louvie) built on the edge of Louvie Lake.
12.28mi
+4314ft
-7510ft
9h25
Very difficult
Starting point in Hérémence - Valais An unusual stage today: it starts with a downhill hike before a long climb uphill, a second descent and a ski lift ride followed by a walk over flatland and a bus ride to the lodge.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
