We are climbing to the 2nd highest peak in Europe!
LAST AVAILABLE SPOT!
You've been to Mont Blanc and Kazbek and are now wondering which mountain to conquer next? Maybe you have a proud goal in mind to climb the highest peaks of as many countries as possible? Then we have a great idea for you - let's go to the highest peak in Switzerland!
Dufourspitze (also known as Monte Rosa), the highest peak in the Monte Rosa massif, is the second highest mountain in the European Union with its 4634 m high peak (if you count Mont Blanc and its Italian counterpart, located 50 m away, as one mountain). This peak is located in Switzerland, where more than half of the 4000+ meter peaks in the Alps are located. You can't go higher anywhere else on Swiss territory — this fact makes Dufourspitze a rather sought-after destination for those who enjoy the exciting challenge of standing on the roofs of as many countries as possible. Perhaps this would be a fascinating challenge for you too? However, Dufourspitze is not as popular a peak as Mont Blanc, which is 170 m higher than it; so if you don't want to stand in line in the mountains, this trip is just for you!
The difficulty level on the mountain is PD+, which means that it is a technically easy route, but it does have some slightly more technical sections. In this case, these sections are UIAA level II climbing - turning on a rocky ridge, where you need to use your hands a little, but the main emphasis is still on working your hind legs.
PD - The summit climb is long in both distance and elevation gain, the snow slopes do not exceed 45 degrees. The glaciers are more complex, the ascent and descent may require some belaying, and the descent may require a support rope. - Wikipedia
We start our journey to Dufourspitze in the beautiful town of Zermatt, a popular ski resort and hiking Mecca in Switzerland. The town also offers a breathtaking view of the famous Matterhorn (the Toblerone mountain). What makes Zermatt special is that cars cannot enter the town, so our activities are not disturbed by car noise or exhaust fumes, and the town is only for alpinists and hikers like us. In addition, of course, there are tourists in Zermatt who travel from different parts of the world to see the mountains (read: Matterhorn) from the foothills. You have the opportunity to look down on the Matterhorn from above, because Dufour is 200 m higher than the Matterhorn.
Before climbing the most important goal of the trip, the Dufourspitze, we need to get our bodies, which have arrived from sea level, into the right condition for climbing so high. To do this, we will travel to the highest gondola station in Europe and spend 3 adventurous days among the nearby peaks. There are a good handful of easier 4000+ m peaks in the area within walking distance, so there is plenty of choice for acclimatization peaks (or peaks?).
Monte Rosa is not a particularly technically difficult peak, but reaching the top still requires strong mental and physical preparation — on the summit day, you will need to cover a lot of vertical and horizontal meters. Therefore, this trip is intended for those whose experience is a little more than the climb to Munamäe. However, successful summit climbs are not ruled out even for those who have never set foot above 4000 m before; good physical shape and at least some exposure to mountaineering are important. If the latter is lacking, don't worry - we will also organize preparatory training some time before the trip. There is also the opportunity to participate in mountaineering training in Tartu, either regularly or as part of a private training session. So if you like mountains and your physical endurance is good, quickly review the rope work facts and pack your backpack!
Overview - short & sweet
Goal: Dufourspitze (4634 m)
Dates: 19.-27.07.2023
Activity: mountain climbing, mountain hiking
Adventure guide: Kaarel Kuslap, assistant guide Kelli Kuslap
Technical difficulty level: 3/5 (previous experience required)
Physical difficulty: 3/5 (requires good physical fitness)
Group size: 12 (including 2 locomotives)
Early bird ticket (until 19.04.2023) — €1490
Less dizzy chicken (from 20.04.2023) — 1640€
Please note: For community members discount of -5% applies
(I.e. If the trip is canceled due to circumstances caused by the pandemic, we will refund the advance payment in full!
Travel cost
Price includes
Travel arrangements and on-site guidance
Two experienced Elamus+ adventure locomotive
All overnight stays (cabins in the mountains, camping fees at the campsite below)
Breakfast and dinner in mountain huts
All on-site lifts/mountain railways
Special climbing equipment for the group (ropes, ice augers, carabiners and other glacier equipment)
Stylish Elamus+ designed sports shirt
Group pharmacy (including high-altitude medications)
Price does not include
Flight tickets Tallinn-Geneva-Tallinn (~350€)
Train tickets from Geneva to Zermatt and back (~100€)
Insurance (travel insurance and MANDATORY sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking)
Personal hiking and climbing equipment (can also be rented from ElamusPlus if necessary)
Personal hygiene products and medications
Drinks and snacks (i.e. lunch) on the mountain
Meals off the mountain
Tents and cooking equipment at the campsite (we will fold the tent up)
Unscheduled excursions, transportation, etc. (or if you want to do something extra)
Registration for the trip
Before registering, please read travel conditions. To secure your place on the trip, a deposit (20%) must be paid within 3 business days of receiving the confirmation and invoice by email; if there are less than 30 days left until the trip, the total cost (100%) must be paid. Read more: frequently asked questions ja package tour information sheet.
Schedule and activities
Day 1 - Arrival in Switzerland
Hiking enthusiasts take a morning flight to Geneva Airport, from where the magnificent Swiss trains will take you to Zermatt. NB! Prepare for jaw pain from keeping your mouth open, because the views are simply AMAZING. By the way, Zermatt also offers the best view of the Toblerone mountain, the Matterhorn, for which many people travel to Zermatt.
When you arrive in Zermatt, the adventure locomotives Kaarel and Kelli are already waiting for you. After a familiarization tour and the first (verbal) icebreaker, we head to the campsite in town. We set up camp and recover from the flight. If necessary, we replenish our snack supplies with the help of nearby shops.
Day 2 - We begin acclimatization
After packing up camp, the first serious effort begins — we begin acclimatization. To do this, we first take the gondola to an altitude of 3000 m, where we can learn about walking with cats and other things related to moving on the glacier in glacier language. We spend the night in a nearby hut called Gandegghütte.
Day 3 - We rise even higher
In the morning we will travel even higher from the already familiar gondola station. We will head to the highest gondola station in Europe, located on the northern slope of the Klein Matterhorn, at an altitude of 3880 m. Upon leaving the gondola station, we will begin the work of our hind legs along the glacier, which is not a particularly difficult undertaking in terms of time and technology. In the evening we will reach the hut, where we will have a refreshing dinner and continue acclimatization in a horizontal position, on soft seats.
Day 4 - We sniff the peaks
Time to climb the first peak of the trip. Our chosen hut is in an extremely convenient location — the trails to several higher peaks, such as Breithorn 4164 m, Pollux 4092 m and Castor 4223 m, start here. There are several options, and we decide on the most suitable acclimatization peak for us immediately before the hike, taking into account the group's wishes, glacier conditions, weather and other important things. In the evening, we take the gondola back to the Zermatt campsite, where we celebrate our achievements and recover from the altitude.
Day 5 - Rest day
To be in particularly good shape for the big event of the trip, we give our body one more day to gather its strength. The opportunity to explore the town of Zermatt and find something exciting to do there, for example, visiting the fascinating Matterhorn Museum, the Alpinism Museum or one of the many spas that can be found in the town. But if you want, you can also just eat ice cream and eat bread at the campsite. In the evening, we pack our bags and discuss the last important points regarding the mountain summit ahead.
Day 6 - Monte Rosa Hut
After breakfast we start the hike to the Monte Rosa hut. We take the train to the starting point of the trail at an altitude of 2815 m and start walking from there. The hike lasts about 4 hours in total and goes over rocks, rivers and glacier tongues. After a hearty dinner in a beautiful and modern hut we fall asleep early. Hopefully this time the active vacation has done its job and there are fewer insomniacs. ;)
Day 7 - Summit day!
In the early morning hours, we throw on our summit packs and set off with our headlamps. Since the hut is at an altitude of about 2800 m and the Dufourspitze peak is at an altitude of 4634 m, we have a rather difficult day ahead of us. The hike to the top is not that technically difficult, but the journey there and back is quite long — usually about 12 hours. The trail runs mostly along the glacier, only the last 300 m require the climber to have stronger nerves and firmer feet, because the path leading to the top runs along a rocky ridge. At times, in addition to your legs, you also need to use your hands to help. But the wonderful views and the immense sense of pride in such a great achievement are well worth all the effort! After hugs and a photo session for successfully reaching the summit, we head back to the hut, where we spend another night, because we have a long, long day behind us.
Day 8 - Backup Day
In the morning we head back to the train station the way we came from the hut and down to the Zermatt campsite. The rest of the schedule is free and will be filled with plans depending on the wishes of our traveling companions, their motivation level and the weather. (NB! This is also a backup day in case the weather forecast does not want to fulfill our order regarding the weather as planned in the schedule).
Day 9 - Back home
We pack up at the camp and say goodbye to the locomotives, who continue their adventures in the Swiss Alps. The rest of the traveling party will find their way home either with the help of trains and planes traveling along the already familiar route, or they will embark on another adventure. In any case, one thing is clear - everyone will go home richer with unforgettable memories and powerful experiences!
NB! There may be minor changes to the schedule and planned activities - for example, due to weather and conditions or passenger requests.
Don't worry, let's do it!
My altitude record is Munamägi. Can I still do it?!
Not quite. It is still the 2nd highest peak in Europe. Take this challenge seriously, the endurance hikes in Estonia will definitely help, where you can test your physical and mental endurance in a safe environment while moving for 10+ hours straight.
But I don't have any hiking gear, who can afford to buy it?
You'll still have to spend a little, but not much. Hiking and climbing equipment can be rented at a very reasonable price and, of course, borrowed from friends. In addition, you can use any kind of clothing you have - for example, a ski jacket is also very good for the mountain. The more resourceful can manage with almost no additional expenses.
I've heard that Switzerland must be terribly expensive!
Depending on what and where you buy, Switzerland can be very expensive. This opinion can actually be misleading... When shopping, you just have to make sure you buy local goods. Switzerland has imposed such high taxes on imported goods that foreign goods are 3-4 times more expensive. However, eating in a restaurant is expensive - the cost of dinner should be around 30-50€/person.
NB! In Switzerland, payments are made in Swiss francs (1 CHF = 1,03 €), but many businesses also accept euros. However, card payment options are quite widespread in the country. Before your trip, we will inform you in more detail whether and how much Swiss francs you should bring with you as a minimum in cash.
But can I make an Insta story from the top of the mountain?
When going to Switzerland, you have to consider that it is not a member state of the European Union and mobile data with an Estonian package is extremely expensive. To upload videos taken during the day, you just have to use the free WIFI at the campsites in the evening. If someone really needs to be constantly connected to the internet, then please note that local calling cards can only be purchased for Swiss francs, not euros.
Will I survive?
It's an extreme sport/hobby, but you shouldn't be too afraid here. Of course, there are certain dangers in the mountains and you have to take that into account, but at the same time, you could get hit by a bus walking across the street tomorrow. The most important thing for the group leader is to ensure the safety of the participants - to do this, we learn and use correct mountaineering techniques and turn around if the weather gets too bad. The point is still to have an enjoyable experience and not let this mountain go away. ;)
Okay, I registered. Now what?
Well, theoretically you could just vanish into thin air and appear on a plane, but then you risk discovering on the spot “oops, I have the wrong cats and what is this middleman node?”. It can happen, but a warm recommendation is to participate in preparatory events - that's part of the fun. We organize preparatory hiking training, give advice on suitable insurance and equipment, where to rent cheaply, what to train for, etc. We will definitely review the collected equipment just before the start of the trip and send reminders about important things.
Read more also frequently asked questions.
Travel documents and footnotes
The participant is responsible for the validity and condition of their travel documents. For this trip you will need:
ID card/passport;
sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking (read more on the FAQ page). A suitable sports insurance policy must be carried and is a prerequisite for participating in the mountain hike;
travel insurance.
At least one month before the trip, we will make a decision whether the trip is possible under Covid-19 conditions. If the trip is canceled due to circumstances caused by the pandemic that make the trip impossible (e.g. closing of national borders), we will refund the advance payment in full.
Plan your trip early and start training for it. We will organize several trial trips, training sessions and recommend training plans beforehand. It would be a shame if the peak was only behind the physique. Also a good opportunity to get in shape. ;)
Summits are not guaranteed. As you might expect, weather is king in the mountains. So it is entirely possible that weather or dangerous conditions will prevent us from even attempting the summit. Nevertheless, it will definitely be an awesome experience!
Although at the end of the day everyone is still responsible for their own actions and consequences, we do our best to mitigate the risks associated with mountaineering. As a result, the group leader has the right to make ongoing decisions about the competence of the participants, the suitability of their equipment, physical/mental capacity, etc. and, if necessary, for example, to prohibit participation on summit day if it endangers the health of the group or the participant themselves. Hopefully, of course, there will be no need for this.
Read also travel conditions.
Auxiliary tractor and support for “what if…” situations:
Phone : 5901 8970
Email: kelli@elamuspluss.ee
