The Spaghetti tour on skis, around the Massif of Monte Rosa, including the Dufourspitze summit – the highest point of Switzerland // April & May 2026
Dates:
2. April – 8. April // 8. April – 14. April // 20. April – 26. April // 27. April – 3. May //
and on request
Six days. Two countries. Switzerland’s highest summit. This is the Monte Rosa Spaghetti Tour – one of the great ski mountaineering traverses of the Alps. The route threads its way across the entire Monte Rosa massif, crossing between the Swiss-Italian flanks, taking in summit after summit above 4,000 meters, and linking high mountain huts.
Staying in the huts on the Italian side means proper espresso at 3,400 metres, hearty rifugio cousine – pasta, polenta, the kind of simple food that tastes extraordinary after a long day on skis.
It demands experience, fitness, and a head for big mountains. In return, it delivers the kind of terrain and views that stay with you for a long time. // For very experienced ski tourers with a solid high-alpine background.
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TOUR OVERVIEW
The Monte Rosa massif sits at the heart of the Pennine Alps, straddling the Swiss-Italian border and home to some of the highest and most glaciated terrain in the Alps. The Spaghetti Tour – so named for the way the route weaves back and forth across the range – has long been regarded as one of the finest ski traverses in the mountains.
We start in Zermatt and take the cable car up to Klein Matterhorn station to begin our journey. Over six days the route crosses glaciers, climbs major summits, and moves between huts on both sides of the watershed. We pass the Capanna Margherita on the Signalkuppe – the highest guarded mountain hut in Europe at 4,554 m – before the centrepiece of the whole trip: the ascent of the Dufourspitze at 4,634 m, the highest point in Switzerland.
The descent from the summit via the Silbersattel is one of the most memorable runs in the Alps. Views from the high ground are extraordinary – across the Valais peaks to Mont Blanc, south to Lago Maggiore, and north to the Bernese Oberland. The traverse finishes with a long glacier descent back to Zermatt, or – for those who want more – a spectacular alternative via the Schwarzberggletscher all the way down to Mattmark.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
– Dufourspitze (4,634 m): Switzerland’s highest point / summit, with the classic Silbersattel descent
– Nordend (4,609 m): A rarely visited and commanding summit – optional, but worth it
– Six four-thousanders in six days: Breithorn, Vincentpyramide, Signalkuppe, Dufourspitze, Nordend, Cima di Jazzi
– A true traverse: hut to hut across the full Monte Rosa massif, Swiss and Italian sides
– The Silbersattel descent: steep, exposed, and unforgettable
– Capanna Margherita (4,554 m): the highest mountain hut in Europe
– Exceptional panoramas: from Lago Maggiore to Mont Blanc and the Bernese Alps
– High alpine mountain huts: Monte-Rosa-Hütte SAC, Rifugio Mantova, optional Rifugio Quintino Sella
– Mattmark variant: a long, wild glacier descent via the Schwarzberggletscher as an alternative finish
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DETAILS:
| Location: | Monte Rosa Massif, Valais / Piedmont (Switzerland / Italy) |
| Dates: | April and May 2026 – further dates on request |
| Recommended Season: | Mid-March to late May. Spring brings the best combination of settled weather, longer days, and good snow – often powder early on, firn conditions from April into May. |
| Duration: | 6 Days |
| Group size: | 1–4 persons (private guiding) |
| Accommodation & meals: | Mountain huts with half-board – Monte-Rosa-Hütte SAC (2883 m), Rifugio Mantova CAI (3400 m), optional Rifugio Quintino Sella CAI (3585 m) |
| Getting there: | Travel independently to Zermatt. Exact details confirmed on booking. |
| Guiding: | IVBV / UIAGM certified mountain guide |
Required skills:
This ski touring traverse is designed for experienced ski tourers with a solid alpine background. It is not an introductory trip. The terrain is committing, the days are long, and several consecutive nights are spent above 3,000 m. Candidates should be able to honestly meet every requirement below.
– Ski technique: Confident and in control on steep, icy, and variable terrain up to around 45°. Assured skiing in all snow conditions and on all slope aspects.
– Ascent technique: Proficient kick-turns on steep ground, confident ski crampon handling.
– Fitness: Strong aerobic base. Expect up to 1,800 m of vertical gain in a day with stages of up to 12 hours on the mountain.
– Alpine experience: Solid glacier travel, rope work, ice axe and crampon technique, crevasse rescue, and confident route-finding in complex high-alpine terrain.
– Acclimatisation and mindset: You acclimatise well and are comfortable spending several consecutive days above 4,000 m. The tour demands mental resilience as much as physical fitness – conditions change, days are long, and commitment is required throughout.
– Preparation: Completion of a Backcountry Preparation Clinic or equivalent is mandatory before joining this tour.
Equipment:
Touring skis with skins, ski touring boots, touring (adjustable) poles, ski crampons, avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, first-aid kit, bivouac bag, GPS / altimeter, ice axe, steel crampons (12-point), harness, carabiner, prusik sling, accessory cord. Layered ski touring clothing, down jacket, multiple pairs of gloves, category 4 sunglasses, glacier goggles, hut sleeping bag liner, headlamp, thermos, pack of around 35–40 litres.
All technical equipment can be hired if needed.
Pricing – Private Guiding:
Private guiding with flexible dates, customisable itinerary tailored to your fitness level and preferences. Book me exclusively for your group (1 to 4 individuals). The following fees cover guiding only.
– 1 participant: CHF 4,900 (southern variant CHF 5,250)
– 2 participants: CHF 2,600 per person (southern variant CHF 2,800 per person)
– 3 participants: CHF 1,800 per person
– 4 participants: CHF 1,350 per person
Not included: hut accommodation and half-board, cable cars, personal equipment, and travel to / from Zermatt.
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Die Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen (AGB) / Terms and conditions
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