MONTE ROSA

DAYS
6

RATIO
3:1/2:1

PRICE
£2,245

Climb the Dufourspitze on Monte Rosa, Switzerland's highest mountain and 2nd highest in the Alps (4634m) with training and preparation climbs in the Arolla valley.

The Dufourspitze is a long climb with an exciting mixed ridge to finish, a little harder technically than Mont Blanc and far less crowded. Technical standard PD+/AD-. Less than 200m lower than Mont Blanc, Dufourspitz has the crux section just below the summit and needs good conditions, good acclimatisation and good weather! For more photos read our blog: Dufourspitz.

We recommend that all participants come out to the Alps for a couple of days before the course to begin their acclimatisation.

DATES / AVAILABILITY
ITINERARY
EXTRA INFO
TESTIMONIALS

DATES	AVAILABILITY	PRICE
5th Jul 2025 - 12th Jul 2025	FULL	£2,245	BOOK NOW
19th Jul 2025 - 26th Jul 2025	AVAILABLE	£2,245	BOOK NOW
16th Aug 2025 - 23rd Aug 2025	AVAILABLE	£2,245	BOOK NOW
30th Aug 2025 - 6th Sep 2025	AVAILABLE	£2,245	BOOK NOW

What's Included?

Guides fees for 6 days
Guides mountain hut and lift expenses
Transport between Evolene and climbing venues
Valley accommodation for up to 7 nights
Valley meals: breakfast, picnic lunch food, afternoon tea, 3-course dinner with aperitif
Free Wifi in valley accommodation
Free Parking in Evolene

What's not Included?

Client’s mountain huts and lifts (c.CHF380)
Dinner in restaurant on Friday night
Travel to Evolene (see “getting here” for info)
Insurance
Supplement for single room (£200, subject to availability)

Sample Itinerary

Saturday afternoon: Arrival at Evolene accommodation from 2pm. Dinner and guides briefing from 7pm.

Sunday: Walk in to Dix hut (2928m) via Pas de Chevres ladders. Possible rocky ridge route on the way. Coaching in snowcraft and alpine ropework in the afternoon.

Monday: Traverse Pigne d'Arolla (3790m) with glacier training en route - crampon skills, ice climbing, crevasse rescue then overnight in the Vignettes hut (3158m).

Tuesday: Ascend L'Eveque (PD - 3,716m). Return to Arolla via Col de Vignettes.

Wednesday: Drive to Zermatt; take Gornergrat railway and walk to Monte Rosa Hut (2883m).

Thursday*: Ascent of Dufourspitze(4634m) by W Ridge, return to hut for second night.

Friday: Return to Zermatt and drive back to Evolene.

*In event of unsettled weather on the Thursday a fit party could delay the ascent until Friday and return to the valley the same day but this is a very long day!

Saturday morning: Travel home - check out by 9am.

Often under-estimated, the second highest peak in the Alps needs good crampon skills and some airy scrambling. This is definitely NOT a walking peak. Whilst people sometimes climb Monte Rosa as their first Alpine peak, it's much better if you have some experience with crampons and UK scrambling. Our UK preparation weekends will give you a good head-start. Monte Rosa is harder than Mont Blanc as the tricky bit, although short, is at the top... above 4300m. Careful acclimatising is important so the first 3 days are planned in huts with 1 or 2 summits, whilst saving energy for the big summit. There's always a BIG day on this trip - 1700m+ ascent - hard work at altitude.

Running, cycling and gym sessions (in fact, any regular sport) all provide good fitness training for summer alpine courses, but it's hard to beat good days out in the hills. If you don't have easy access to hills, your gym training will need to be carefully planned - mountain days are long, low-intensity exercise, which is hard to replicate in short gym sessions. Strength exercises (squats, step-ups, stair-climbing with a rucksack) are gaining favour over speed exercises (running, spinning).

View Kit List

Download Kit List

View Joining Instructions

Download Joining Instructions

"To say we had a great time is an understatement, all of our objectives were achieved and exceeded. Graham and Paul were the perfect guides, giving us the confidence in everything we did, offering advice and encouragement where needed and all with a great sense of humour. We loved your valley and we are already discussing which hills we would like to do next!"

— Steven, Steve and Andrew, September 2015

MORE TESTIMONIALS

DATES / AVAILABILITY

5th Jul 2025 - 12th Jul 2025

£2,245

FULL

BOOK NOW

19th Jul 2025 - 26th Jul 2025

£2,245

AVAILABLE

BOOK NOW

16th Aug 2025 - 23rd Aug 2025

£2,245

AVAILABLE

BOOK NOW

30th Aug 2025 - 6th Sep 2025

£2,245

AVAILABLE

BOOK NOW

What's Included?

Guides fees for 6 days
Guides mountain hut and lift expenses
Transport between Evolene and climbing venues
Valley accommodation for up to 7 nights
Valley meals: breakfast, picnic lunch food, afternoon tea, 3-course dinner with aperitif
Free Wifi in valley accommodation
Free Parking in Evolene

What's not Included?

Client’s mountain huts and lifts (c.CHF380)
Dinner in restaurant on Friday night
Travel to Evolene (see “getting here” for info)
Insurance
Supplement for single room (£200, subject to availability)

ITINERARY

Sample Itinerary
Saturday afternoon: Arrival at Evolene accommodation from 2pm. Dinner and guides briefing from 7pm.
Sunday: Walk in to Dix hut (2928m) via Pas de Chevres ladders. Possible rocky ridge route on the way. Coaching in snowcraft and alpine ropework in the afternoon.
Monday: Traverse Pigne d'Arolla (3790m) with glacier training en route - crampon skills, ice climbing, crevasse rescue then overnight in the Vignettes hut (3158m).
Tuesday: Ascend L'Eveque (PD - 3,716m). Return to Arolla via Col de Vignettes.
Wednesday: Drive to Zermatt; take Gornergrat railway and walk to Monte Rosa Hut (2883m).
Thursday*: Ascent of Dufourspitze(4634m) by W Ridge, return to hut for second night.
Friday: Return to Zermatt and drive back to Evolene.
*In event of unsettled weather on the Thursday a fit party could delay the ascent until Friday and return to the valley the same day but this is a very long day!
Saturday morning: Travel home - check out by 9am.
EXTRA INFO

Often under-estimated, the second highest peak in the Alps needs good crampon skills and some airy scrambling. This is definitely NOT a walking peak. Whilst people sometimes climb Monte Rosa as their first Alpine peak, it's much better if you have some experience with crampons and UK scrambling. Our UK preparation weekends will give you a good head-start. Monte Rosa is harder than Mont Blanc as the tricky bit, although short, is at the top... above 4300m. Careful acclimatising is important so the first 3 days are planned in huts with 1 or 2 summits, whilst saving energy for the big summit. There's always a BIG day on this trip - 1700m+ ascent - hard work at altitude.
Running, cycling and gym sessions (in fact, any regular sport) all provide good fitness training for summer alpine courses, but it's hard to beat good days out in the hills. If you don't have easy access to hills, your gym training will need to be carefully planned - mountain days are long, low-intensity exercise, which is hard to replicate in short gym sessions. Strength exercises (squats, step-ups, stair-climbing with a rucksack) are gaining favour over speed exercises (running, spinning).

View Kit List
Download Kit List
View Joining Instructions
Download Joining Instructions
TESTIMONIALS

"To say we had a great time is an understatement, all of our objectives were achieved and exceeded. Graham and Paul were the perfect guides, giving us the confidence in everything we did, offering advice and encouragement where needed and all with a great sense of humour. We loved your valley and we are already discussing which hills we would like to do next!"

— Steven, Steve and Andrew, September 2015

MORE TESTIMONIALS

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