Day 1 — From Alagna to Capanna Gnifetti
We will meet in Alagna at the ski lift departure station to meet the guide, check our equipment and collect the lift passes.
We will take the lifts to Punta Indren, at 3,275 metres. From here, we will begin the ascent with climbing skins towards Capanna Gnifetti, crossing the Indren Glacier. Depending on conditions, some sections may require the use of crampons and a harness.
We will reach the hut in the afternoon, with time to settle in and prepare our equipment for the following day.
Dinner and overnight stay at Capanna Gnifetti, 3,647 metres.
Elevation gain: approximately 400 metres
Hiking time: approximately 2–3 hours
Day 2 — Colle del Lys and descent to Zermatt
We will set off early in the morning and climb with skins along the Lys Glacier to the Colle del Lys, at over 4,200 metres.
From the pass, we will cross onto the Swiss side of Monte Rosa and begin the long descent across the Grenzgletscher and Gornergletscher glaciers. We will follow the route selected by the guide according to glacier conditions, snow cover and visibility.
Snow conditions at lower elevations will determine where we finish the ski descent and how we continue to Zermatt, where we will arrive in the afternoon.
Overnight stay in Zermatt.
Elevation gain: approximately 600 metres
Elevation loss: up to approximately 2,600 metres
Travel time: approximately 6–8 hours
Day 3 — From Zermatt to the Theodul Hut
From Zermatt, we will take the lifts to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, in the Klein Matterhorn area.
We will spend the day skiing in the international ski area, alternating between groomed slopes and off-piste descents selected by the guide according to conditions and the time available.
In the afternoon, we will reach the Theodul Pass and the mountain hut of the same name. This will be a less demanding day than the previous one, allowing us to recover some energy before the final stage.
Dinner and overnight stay at the Theodul Hut, 3,317 metres.
Elevation gain/loss: variable depending on the descents selected
Activity duration: full day
Day 4 — From the Theodul Hut to Alagna
After breakfast, we will leave the Theodul Hut and climb with skins towards Plateau Rosa, gaining approximately 200 metres in elevation.
From here, we will initially descend along the groomed slopes to the Colle delle Cime Bianche, before continuing off-piste towards Val d’Ayas and reaching Frachey.
We will then enter the Monterosa Ski area. Using the lifts and alternating between groomed slopes and off-piste descents, we will cross the Gressoney Valley to the Passo dei Salati. We will follow the descents selected by the guide, taking into account snow conditions and the lift schedules needed to complete the connections.
From the Passo dei Salati, we will make our final descent to Alagna, completing the journey we began four days earlier.
Elevation gain: approximately 200 metres, plus any additional short ascents
Activity duration: full day
