The Matterhorn

Please see the Essential Information for the Alps page for info on guiding fees, preparation, accommodation & travel, equipment, and an explanation of fitness levels and mountaineering experience.

Is This The Right Course For Me?

What is the appeal of the Matterhorn? It is one of the world’s most recognisable mountains, and it has an amazing history, starting with the first ascent in 1865 by Edward Whymper et al. This programme is for fit people, who can scramble and rock climb for extended periods at altitude. Also essential are the ability to concentrate for long periods and to move smoothly over serious ground of a technical nature.

The first three days include rock climbing and mixed climbing in the Chamonix valley, before driving round to Zermatt for the final three days. Whilst the preparation days can be done at 2:1, the Matterhorn is always done at 1:1, and if extra guides are needed, they will join us for the three days.

What Will The Programme Look Like?

We design each course programme individually, but the itinerary below gives a good idea of what you can expect to achieve. Please be aware that we often have to adjust an itinerary because of weather, snow conditions, fitness, lack of acclimatisation, etc.

Day 0: Arrive in Chamonix. Meet in the evening for a gear check and a chat about the week

Day 1: Rock climbing in the Aiguille Rouge via the Flégère/Index cable car

Day 2: Ascend the Aiguille du Midi cable car to 3842m. Climb the Cosmiques Arête. Stay overnight in the Cosmiques hut (3613m)

Day 3: Climb Left Edge Route on Mont Blanc du Tacul (4248m). Return to the valley

Day 4: Drive from Chamonix to Tasch, take a taxi to Zermatt. Walk to the Hornli hut (3250m)from the Schwarzsee cable car. Overnight in the hut

Day 5: Ascent of the Matterhorn (4478m) via the Hornli ridge, and descend to the valley to celebrate! Return to Chamonix

Day 6: Valley cragging in the Chamonix valley

The Matterhorn summit day may be swapped to the last day to take advantage of better weather. This may involve an extra hut night, which would incur extra costs.

What Dates Are Available?

See the calendar for availability for Alpine mountaineering

What Will I Have To Pay?

See the Essential Information for the Alps page for info on guiding fees, hut fees and cable car costs.

Here are some examples of what our clients expected to pay in 2023, based on the programme above.

With TWO clients with one guide for three days and two guides for three days:

Guiding fee per person: £1875
Share of mileage charge for travel to Switzerland and back: €55
Out of valley expenses per person, including personal expenses and guide's expenses: €310 + 665CHF

With ONE client with one guide for six days:

Guiding fee per person: £2460
Mileage charge for travel to Switzerland and back: €105
Out of valley expenses per person, including personal expenses and guide's expenses: €395 + 665CHF

Useful Blog Posts

See the Essential Information for the Alps page for blog posts about equipment and Alpine mountaineering and rock climbing.

What Do Our Clients Say About Us?

Honestly, it has been such a phenomenal, brilliant, exhausting, heart-filling and wacky couple of weeks. I had a ball and learnt masses, even when I didn’t want to :)
Kate Baecher, July 2018