Climb The Matterhorn
overview
Welcome to one of the worlds best alpine climbing venues and home of the Matterhorn, or as we like to say “The Horn that Matters”. In this program, we will take your fundamental knowledge of alpinism and focus on giving you the additional skills to prepare you and your guide to operate as a team on the Matterhorn.
Our focus will be on a variety of fun, low commitment, hut based objectives, that set the movement expectation for the route on summit day. During this time, you will also acquire important acclimatization, allowing for a safer, more enjoyable experience during your ascent of the Matterhorn.
The Hornli Ridge on the Matterhorn as seen from the Hornli Hut Terrace - Photo Mark Allen
Climbers Ascending the Hornli Ridge
Most of this program is designed as two-climbers to one-guide (2:1 ratio) to make it more enjoyable and affordable. We do offer a private program for those interested in a premium experience. Regardless of the ratio during our preliminary objectives, the Matterhorn is always climbed at a 1:1 client to guide ratio. This means that we will bring on additional guides for the main ascent of the Matterhorn to accommodate the entire group. This also means you will have an autonomous ascent to the summit and back and you will not be attached to other climbers.
Our team will operate out of Zermatt and also visit Saas Fee. Our goal is to provide the best climbing that is possible in the Swiss Alps during your trip. We have built in time during the program to allow for flexibility around the weather. If the worst case scenario were to occur and the Matterhorn becomes unclimbable due to foul weather or other events outside of our control, we have options for alternative objectives.
Climbers walking the streets of Zermatt
accommodations
We arrange all Zermatt accommodations for you in the City Hotel. Our program is shared at double occupancy. The owner is a long time friend of the Mountain Bureau, and is a local 3rd generation Swiss Guide. The Zermatt heritage runs deep here and we are among one of the families that gets to live part of that history. The accommodations are clean, comfortable and include breakfast, gear storage, and Wi-Fi.
While in the mountains we will stay overnight in Swiss Climbing Club alpine huts. These huts have been a tradition since 1860. The team will base out of these climbing huts for each peak and will relocate to the hotel in Zermatt between the climbs. Lift tickets and local shuttles for your group are included in the total price and your guides will arrange all of these logistics.
The European huts range in comfort from rustic to luxurious. This will add to the adventure and character of your trip. The conveniences of the huts have made them popular with climbers throughout Europe. You won’t need sleeping bags or thermal- insulation pads. The hut staff will provide bunks with blankets and pillows. Your pack will only include your personal climbing gear, foul weather gear, lunch, and water.
Pricing
Cost: $6800.00 per person (Standard Ratios)
Deposit: 25% Due at Booking, Balance Due 30 Days Prior to Trip
Length: 8 days, 7 Nights
Ratio: 2:1 climber to guide (1:1 during Matterhorn Ascent) - Max. 4 participants
2024 Dates
Custom dates and 1:1 ratios are also available. If you are interested in booking this trip with a custom date or as a 1:1 trip, please complete our Custom Program Request Form and we would be happy to start the planning process with you.
Trip 1: July 21-28, 2024
Trip 2: July 18 - August 4, 2024
Trip 3: August 4-11, 2024
Itinerary
Day 1 - Travel to Zermatt and meet your guide for dinner.
Day 2 - Breakfast in Zermatt and early start for a warm up classic alpine rock objective, then a single night in an Alpine Hut.
Day 3 - Alpine starts for an alpine climb of a 4000m objective and back to Zermatt.
Day 4 - Civil start for final Alpine rock objective for specific Matterhorn training and back to Zermatt.
Day 5 - Lazy Start and rest morning in town. Travel to Hornlihutte in the late morning. Practice on the Hornli Ridge and early to bed.
Day 6 - Summit Attempt and return to Hut for 2nd night or back to Zermatt.
Day 7 - Descend to Zermatt or Optional Weather day.
Day 8 - Depart Zermatt when desired.
Excludes
✗ All Personal Transportation to Zermatt
✗ All dinners in Zermatt
✗ All snack and lunch food
✗ Rescue and International Medical Assisted Travel
✗ Local Equipment Rentals
✗ Trip Cancellation Insurance
Includes
✓ All Hotel Accommodations in Zermatt (Includes Breakfast)
✓ All Alpine Hut Accommodations (includes Breakfast and Dinner)
✓ All Mountain Lifts
✓ All Local Suttles
✓ 2:1 IFMGA Guided climbing for preparatory objectives
✓ 1:1 IFMGA Guided climbing for main objective
TRIP INSURANCE
Mountain Bureau recommends that you protect your trip from unforeseen changes and cancellations with Trip Insurance from International Medical Group (IMG). We encourage clients to use the Signature Plus Travel Insurance, which includes a Cancel for Any Reason benefit. This allows a traveler to cancel their trip up to 48 hours prior to their scheduled departure date and remain eligible for 100% reimbursement of pre-paid non-refundable trip costs for a covered reason, and 75% for a non-covered reason (any reason). The Signature Plus policy requires you to insure all of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs, and must be purchased within 20 days of the initial trip deposit. You can read more at https://www.mountainbureau.com/trip-insruance.
All programs are subject to The Mountain Bureau Terms & Conditions