Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn

Customer Reviews

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  Peter Stokes (Exodus Staff)

  · July 20th, 2013
  The
  Trip date: July 2013
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  Harriet Woodcock

  · October 4th, 2011
  A fabulous trip over some of the highest and most spectacular parts of the Alps. The walk was at times demanding but the effort was definitely worth it.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?We were blessed with some fantastic weather, only a couple of days rain so we had fantastic views of both Mont Blanc at the beginning and the Matterhorn at the end.  As an ex geography teacher I was fascinated by the range of landscapes, geology and glaciers.   We got close up and dirty with lots of glacial features.  The walking was superb with generally good paths but a few steep rocky bits to keep you on your toes (the conversation tended to drop at these points).  The wildlife kept us amused as we tried to spot the marmots that kept squeeking to warn each other of our presance (and yes I fell for a cuddly toy one in Zermatt).  It's hard to say what was my most inspriational moment(there we so many good bits) but probably watching the sun setting over the Alps from the Cabane Mont Fort with a well deserved beer- marvellous!What did you think of your group leader?Paul our leader looked after us and all our sprains, falls and bruises.  He did a great job encouraging us over the cols. Mark (who cooked and transported our tents) always welcomed us with a cheering smile and most importantly tea and cake!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?This is a spectacular walk but as the grade says, it is challenging.  It's rather like going up Ben Nevis everyday from Fort William (but with no rain and lots of fab views).  I was certainly fit at the end of the two weeks and lost an impress 4 kg but if I did it again I would try and be a bit fitter at the beginning of the walk.  But hey I'm a short fat 51 year old so if I can do it so can you!Is there anything else you would like to add?Just a really fab holiday - who wants to go to the beach when you can climb mountains, really big ones with glaciers, travel on scary cable cars, get loads of  fab views all with such excellent company.
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  Trip date: October 2011
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  NICOLLE DIEUMEGARD-THORNTON

  · September 20th, 2011
  Without doubt this trip delivered everything one would expect for a great trek. Great people, group, scenery and memories.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Completing each day amidst amazing scenery with beautiful weather conditions and a great group of people to do it with.What did you think of your group leader?Paul was a leader you would trust to guide you  on any mountain. He gave you confidence and you could trust whatever the situation. His sense of humour will not be forgotton.Mark always provided a warm welcome after each days trekking. Kettle always on and was always approachable to ask for advice.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?As a single person, booking a tent supplement was well worth paying extra for. Make sure you pack warm sleeping bag as nights can get chilly in September. Pack as light as possible.Is there anything else you would like to add?If there is one trek you should embark upon, do this one!!! Savour every moment as views are just amazing.
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  Trip date: September 2011
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  Chrissie Verduyn

  · September 15th, 2011
  A very challenging walk, with excellent support.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The amazing panorama of the Matterhorn and the surrounding mountains as you round the final bend on the Europaweg in Mattertal.What did you think of your group leader?The group leaders did everything possible to support the group achieving the goal of completing the Haute Route and with a relentless sense of humour.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Make sure that you are fit enough, particularly having recent experience of strenuous walking uphill. There are days which involve 5 hours of walking uphill!Don't underestimate the possible drop in temperatures with altitude and at night in camp when packing. Is there anything else you would like to add?A very well organised trip!
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  Trip date: September 2011
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  Matthew Handford

  · October 20th, 2010
  Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn. This felt like a great, alpine journey taking in some of the best peaks in the Alps. It seemed like I had been away several months, rather than just two weeks!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?With this type of trip, it is the whole panaramic experience that I find inspiring.  This ranges from the majesty of Mont Blanc range, the Mer de Glace glacier, the Grand Combine, the Matterhorn, etc, to the changes in the weather (bright sunshine to snow) to the close encounters with wildlife on the trail, particularly the Ibex.What did you think of your group leader?Liz Noakes, our leader, is a very competent mountain guide, who got us over some quite tough terrain unscathed and without getting lost.  As ever, there was a very high level of organisation in setting up the tents and the nightly camp in general, combined with co-ordinating our stay in the huts.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?I loved this trip, but it is quite physical and a step up from the Tour du Mont Blanc, for example.  Be prepared for multiple long days in a row with more challenging terrain such as big boulder field crossings.  In September, the Alpine valleys are heading into early Autumn when it can be quite cold first thing in the morning before the sun reaches down the mountain sides.Is there anything else you would like to add?This is a good challenge for anyone wanting to experience trekking in a true, mountain environment!
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  Trip date: October 2010
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  Brian Horseman

  · September 22nd, 2009
  This was a highly enjoyable trip that ticked all the boxes: -sunny weather, a decent group of people, good organisation and excellent accommodation. By that I mean, that the official camp sites were high-class with spotless facilities and steaming hot showers. I was also impressed with our hi-tech tents. No more 20 minutes of assembling poles and wrestling them through colour-coded sleeves (amidst muttered curses!). These tents virtually erect themselves in a matter of seconds and were roomy and robust. You really come to appreciate this when making and breaking camp is a daily ritual.As for the trekking itself, this was pretty special. There can
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  Trip date: September 2009
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  Don Appleton

  · September 22nd, 2009
  If you cruised the Tour of Mont Blanc and like camping then you will find this more challenging trek very enjoyable. Fantastic scenery, good food and very professionally organised by the leaders. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Fantastic mountain views every day (aided by the beautiful weather !) - the view from the Col Torrent must be one of the best in the Alps, if not the world. Wide variety of colourful alpine flora, especially descending from the Col de Balme to Le Peuty via the northern route (which is much more interesting than the standard TMB path). Day 7, when we crossed three 2660-2990m passes (Cols Termin, Louvie and Prafleurie) was the most challenging day but very rewarding as it provided both an interesting experience of high altitude glaciated terrain as well as a chance to get close to the Grand Dé sert glacier and an entertaining crossing of the glacial outflow river, which was wider and deeper than usual due to the hot weather.What did you think of your group leader?Carey : very professional walk leader; GSOH, sensitive to individual client’s needs, tolerant but firm; good at organising trekkers who want to walk at different speeds; very knowledgeable about alpine flora.Mark : enthusiastic, very well-organised, camp logistics and catering leader; enjoys (and is good at) cooking appetising meals for large numbers of hungry trekkers using limited facilities; even managed to convince me that it is possible to wash up without a dish-washer.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take earplugs to help reduce the noise of snoring (not only in the huts - tents are not soundproof !!) and a clothes line. If, like me, you don‘t spend much of your life climbing hills, then put in a few days training in the weeks before you go to the Alps - being ‘uphill’ fit will greatly increase your enjoyment of this spectacular trek - I wish I had done more ! Make the most of the first day in Chamonix by taking the path directly from the camp site at les Bossons via Merlet and the Refuge de Bel Lachat to the summit of Le Brévent for magnificent views of the Mont Blanc range. Descend via the Col du Brévent (not the boring ski piste) to Planpraz where you can take the cable car back down to Chamonix to avoid about 1000m of rather tedious descent. This was a good way to ‘limber-up’ and it made the first two days of the trek seem quite easy.The scheduled route on Day 13 is quite short so it is well worthwhile extending the walk by ascending from the coffee stop at Tufteren to the Fluealp hut for drinks and good views of the Findel glacier. Descend via the path that runs along the edge of the lateral moraine down to Gant, then on to the picturesque hamlet of Findeln before the final descent back to Zermatt. For an epic final day, take the cable car from Zermatt to Schwarzee then do the 2 hour climb up to the Hörnli hut (3260m) for lunch and some impressive close-up views of the Matterhorn. Descend via the track to Stafel (good place for a drink), Zmutt and thence to Zermatt. The sign posting is good on all these routes. Including these options gives about 13,800m of ascent and 14,600m of descent in 12 days - readily achievable with a bit of effort by a 63 year old uphill plodder.Is there anything else you would like to add?Apart from the fantastic scenery and beautiful weather, enjoyment of this trek was, as usual, greatly enhanced by the qualities of the leaders and by the companionship of a diverse group of interesting ‘clients’.
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  Trip date: September 2009
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  Josephine Lunt

  · September 14th, 2009
  Overall, this was a great holiday. It was well organised and was consistent with the itinery published in the trip notes. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Looking back on the trip, the most memorable moments were as follows: Walking between the mountain huts in the higher altitude section of the trip, enjoying the rocky mountain scenary and navigating all the boulder sections. In Zermatt, taking a cable car up to Schwarzsee and then walking up to the mountain hut on the Matterhorn (3250 metres). We had stunning views of the Matterhorn in the mist and cloud and could only imagine what it must be like to climb the whole thing. Surving my first night in a tent during which there was a thunderstorm! Thankfully, the tent was fully waterproof.What did you think of your group leader?We had two very good leaders who, whilst UK citizens, have lived out in the Alps for several years and were very knowledgeable about the area. We learned a lot about the Alps during the 2 week trip including information on the mountain ranges and flowers and wildlife etc. The walk leader allowed members of the group to walk at their own pace, rather than 'as a group' which meant there was plenty of time for taking photos and admiring the scenary, not to mention taking rest stops on the big ascents. The other support leader prepared excellent camp meals and ensured 'camp life', was efficient and lots of fun. I even enjoyed the washing up on our team's allocated evenings !Do you have any advice for potential travellers?The accommodation in one of the mountain huts and mountain inn was basic; the whole group (15 people) had to share 1 dormintory and there were limited toilet and shower facilities. I was pleased to have packed my ear plugs !!. However, the basic accommodation was more than compensated by the stunning, rocky scenary on the walks on the higher altitude sections of the walk where the huts were located. Make sure you pack a big enough rucksack for the backpacking section of the trip (3 days)-its amazing how much food you need to carry for 3 lunches and other snacks to keep you going through the days. Whilst the tents were '3 man' tents, if you can afford it-pay the supplement so that you can enjoy the extra space in the tent. There were some big ascents and descents on the trip (as per the trip notes). Thankfully, I had done some specific training walks in the UK to prepare for the trip and would advise potential travellers to do the same.Is there anything else you would like to add?I would firmly recommend this trip to anybody who has completed the Mont Blanc circuit trek and is looking for a bigger challenge in the Alps.
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  Trip date: September 2009
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  Denis Spencer

  · October 7th, 2013
  excellent guide (Mike Rhodes) - right out of the top drawer. Would have enjoyed it more and would have been happy to pay more if the trek focused on Auberge accommodation. Under canvas is not the best way to prepare oneself for a daily slog.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?First sight of the Matterhorn from a colWhat did you think of your group leader?Warm, accomplished, highly experienced, confident with an easy relaxed style - but we still all knew who was in charge.  Right out of the top drawer.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Despite the bulk, try to take a substantial mat for sleeping on the hard ground.  Self-inflating but with a 5cm height would be preferable.
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  Trip date: October 2013
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  Daniel Smith

  · August 14th, 2013
  An outstanding and challenging trip. The mix of day walking and light backpacking, and the slow transition from France, French Switzerland to German Switzerland meant every day was subtly different and interesting. The reward of the Matterhorn on the last day was mesmerising. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?For me, there were several. Finally getting to see the Matterhorn was superb. I don't know who Exodus pays to do the weather, but they pay well - it was bathed in shining sun and was a worthy end to the trip. The challenge of getting up the Fenetre d'Arpette, Col du Reidmatten and Col du Torrent was immense. It was hard work, no doubt, but the views and feeling of elation was worth it. The best of all was chatting to a fellow tripper Mike, an engineer, experienced alpiniste, mountain walker and an inspiration. More of one of life's adventurers really, who had some amazing tales, like pushing a pram from London to Leicester in under 12 hours! It goes to show that the group really make the holiday and in this case, ours was excellent.What did you think of your group leader?I felt Simon was an excellent guide. His hands off style really suited me as I felt I could try and walk on his (very fit) heels if I wanted to push myself, but equally, I could stroll at the back in my own time and not feel under pressure to be in sight at all times. It was quite refreshing to be "off the leash" a little as some Exodus trip-notes describe how a leader might allow everyone to walk at their own pace, but I'd yet to experience it. Again, it underlines how having a sensible, fit and smart group can really be the making of the holiday. Simon dealt well with the variable walking styles in the group too. Some wanted to walk and stop, have a paddle or take photos, others just wanted to push on, so it was nice to see trust from him to allow people to come on in their own time while he steered the diesel engines who just ploughed on relentlessly up front. I suffered with an ongoing injury that mean I had to sit out two days of walking (hence the ish), but I communicated with Simon each night as required to get an idea of what was coming, how I was feeling and so on and always felt looked after. In the end it came down to this for me - I had total faith that if there was a problem, Simon would deal with it perfectly.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Go for it. It's a great route, and don't be put off by it sharing some of the TMB route at the start, if you've done that before. Even a month apart, the hillsides are totally different. If you're new to alpine dorms be aware, you might get a bunk bed, but equally, you might end up in an eight person wide mega-bunk. There's plenty of room and your own pillow and duvet (plus your liner) but private it ain't. It pays to get in early and bag a tidy spot, preferably next to a good friend. Earplugs and something to cover your eyes, like a Buff, really help too. Eat many rostis. With cheese, egg, bacon, ham, whatever. They're such good fuel and super tasty. If you're thinking of saving money by bringing your own chocolate bars in, this works really well, until they all melt horribly and you have to put them in a stream to make them solid again. Maybe muesli bars are the way to go? Is there anything else you would like to add?The only minor grumble in a five star trip is the lunch rations were a little meagre. Not even the fillings - there was always plenty of filling, just never quite enough bread. It got better in the second half of the trip, but no one wants to be a hungry little soldier! Otherwise, in my deeply biased view, this is an excellent trip. Some of this is based on luck - I got great weather, a great guide and best of all, a fit, fun and great group - but much is simply due to the stunning terrain over which you walk each day, from high alpage, hot valley floor, picturesque Swiss villages, past clanking cattle, up thigh-screamingly steep cols with chains to pull you skywards and glacial streams to cool your feet (and more) off.  Book it. Now. It's worth it. 
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  Trip date: August 2013