SWISS ALPS GRAND TRILOGY CLIMB OVERVIEW

The Alps are the birthplace of alpinism and mountain climbing. On this Swiss alps climbing odyssey, we climb the three most fabled of the European Alps - the famous Matterhorn, the imposing Eiger, and the highest peak in Switzerland, Monte Rosa.

An alps climbing trip can be the trip of a lifetime for any alpine climber. The climbing is spectacular on wildly exposed terrain among iconic peaks. The moves are never too difficult but the challenges are the routes in their entirety in which speed and efficiency is the key to success. The climbing culture in the Alps is unlike anywhere in the world.

We begin our journey in the alpine climbing center of Zermatt, Switzerland under the shadow of The Matterhorn. We venture high into the Swiss Alps with a few spectacular warm up climbs before climbing the famous Dufourspitze on the Monte Rosa Massif and the highest Peak in Switzerland. New, its the Matterhorn climb, one of the world's most recognizable mountains. Our Matterhorn climb is via the Swiss Hornli Ridge, the first and most famous route on the Matterhorn.

Then it's on to the Swiss village of Grindelwald in the Berner Oberland in the shadow the famous Eiger's North face. After a train journey through the inside of the Eiger, we climb the Spectacular Mittellegi Ridge (east ridge) of The Eiger. The Eiger climb is a long and challenging day of climbing with the massive North Face of the Eiger below on our right. A fitting end to the Alps trilogy trip.

Our itinerary is designed to ease into the more difficult peaks. We begin with the easiest of the three, Mont Blanc and then move on to climb the Matterhorn and then then the most difficult of the three, The Eiger climb. Choosing Monte Rosa first also provides acclimating before attempting the more technical peaks.

All along the way we will sample some of the rich and historical climbing culture of the Alps. The Matterhorn and Eiger climbs are run at a 1:1 guide-to-guest ratio due to the nature and seriousness of the climbing, the other climbs are at a 1:2 ratio.

We guide both a scheduled trip and we also guide custom dates for private or group Alps trilogy trips.  Or, have some special routes or peaks in mind? Give us a call...we guide all over the Alps.

We offer our Alps climbing trips as all inclusive private trips that include all lodging, ground transportation,
lift tickets and some food. This is an exceptional value unmatched by other companies.

NOTE: We no longer do guided climbs of Mont Blanc due to the deterioration of the mountain and the increased danger.

“Thank you Dave and Bernd for an amazing Alps climbing trip!”
— Eliot H.
 
 
 
 

ALPS TRILOGY CLIMB SKILL & EXPERIENCE LEVEL

Climbers on the Monte Rosa, Matterhorn and Eiger climbs should have previous ice axe and crampon experience as well as the ability to efficiently and quickly follow 5.7 rock climbs. The climbing is not exceptionally difficult and can be compared to US 4th class and easy 5th class. However, you are climbing very exposed terrain in lightweight mountain boots and there is the need to move quickly and efficiently all day. Excellent physical shape is required.

ALPS TRILOGY CLIMB GROUND TRANSPORTATION & LODGING

We will arrange and include all the hotel reservations for you with breakfast included in comfortable 3-star hotels. Your guide will travel with you from town to town and we will include travel expenses such as trains and all lift tickets. At the alpine huts, we include all hut fees with breakfast and included. This all allows you to have a worry free trip at an exceptional value.

 

DATES 2026:

Custom dates in from July 10th till Sept 10th

COST: 

All inclusive (includes all lodging, some food and all transportation & lift tickets):
$12500 for one
$8450 each for two

INCLUDES

  • IFMGA/UIAGM guides and all the guide's expenses

  • Logistical support throughout the trip

  • All lodging:

    • Hotels in town with breakfast included

    • 4 nights alpine huts with breakfast and dinner

  • All lift tickets on the normal itinerary.

  • All group climbing equipment

 

For more info on this trip please fill out the form below:

ALPS TRILOGY CLIMB ITINERARY

Day 1:
Arrival in Zermatt. The best airport to use is Zurich, Switzerland. There are easy train connections from the airport. We meet in the evening at our hotel in Zermatt and go out for dinner to discuss the upcoming adventure and do a full gear check.

Day 2:
A warm up training climb in the Zermatt area, probably on the Riffelhorn to stretch the legs, start the acclimating process and get used to the style of alpine rock climbing in the Alps. Overnight in Zermatt.

Day 3:
Another climb in Zermatt to further our acclimating and training, probably the classic Breithorn Half Traverse. Today we will step it up a bit in altitude and technicality to help prepare for the more challenging Matterhorn and Eiger. Overnight in Zermatt.

Day 4:
Travel to the Monte Rosa Hut on Monte Rosa. This is an easy day with a chance for some rest in the afternoon. Overnight at the hut.

Day 5:
Summit attempt of Dufourspitze, the highest point on the Monte Rosa Massif and the tallest peak in Switzerland via on the normal glacier route. It is a long day and we get an early start. There are spectacular views from the top of Switzerland. We descend back to the Monte Rosa Hut. Overnight at hut.

Day 6:
Descend to Zermatt for some well deserved rest. The late afternoon is free is explore more of Zermatt. Overnight in Zermatt.

Day 7:
Also a shorter day, we travel to the Hornli Hut in the afternoon via a gondola ride and a two hour trail hike. Overnight at the Hornli Hut..

Day 8:
Early morning pre-dawn wake up for the summit attempt of The Matterhorn via the Horni Ridge. Starting by headlamp, this is a very long and athletic day. The climbing is never too difficult but it is unrelenting and always very exposed. Mostly a rock climb, we do put on crampons near the top. In some sections, there are fixed lines to assist. Descent back down the same route all the way to town. Overnight in Zermatt.

Day 9:
Travel by train to the Swiss resort town of Grindelwald, under the shawdow of the North Face of The Eiger. Overnight in town.

Day 10:
Travel up the famous Jungraujoch Railway that tunnels through the middle of the Eiger North Face to the Eismeer station where we exit via ventilation tunnels to the East Face and right onto the Glacier. After some technical rock climbing and scrambling, we arrive at the spectacular Mittellegihutte perched on the Eiger's East Ridge. Overnight at the hut.

Day 11:
Climb the Eiger via the Mittellegi Ridge, a technical alpine rock climb with the North face of the Eiger below on the right. The climbing is slightly more diffucult yet more aesthetic than the Matterhorn. The exposure is tremendous with over 9000 feet of vertical relief on our right side as we negotiate the ridge. We then descend the South Ridge via rappels and scrambling to the Eigerjoch Col and then up part of a ridge of the Monch with some more exciting technical climbing. After an easy glacier hike, we eventually end up at the Jungfraujoch station where the train takes us back to Grindenwald...once again inside the Eiger. Another long spectacular day. Celebration and overnight in Grindenwald.

Itinerary subject to change