Situated on the Swiss Italian frontier, Monte Rosa is spectacular from all angles. The Tour of Monte Rosa is an adventure, challenging and very varied, taking a high route around the massif. Monte Rosa claims ten separate summits over 4000m, and in areas of true wilderness on this tour walkers will experience a sense of remoteness rarely found in the Alps. The Tour of Monte Rosa covers a great variety of terrain, ranging from major forest tracks, narrow single-track footpaths to scree slopes and glacier. You need to be fit, with good balance and the ability to walk on very rough ground. The glacier section of this trek is discussed in detail in this guidebook. For the glacier crossing and/or ascent of the Breithorn you need either to have some experience in glacier travel or to hire a Guide. You should allow 9-10 days to complete the 134-km long trek, so it is a suitable option for a two-week break.

The Tour of Monte Rosa takes hikers over high passes, using ancient trails, to superb viewpoints and through fascinating alpine villages. Italy and Switzerland meet on the summit of Monte Rosa, and the contrast between these two countries, their different culture, food and languages, is what gives this trek its originality. In Italy the walk spends considerable time high above the plains, visiting tiny hamlets, including the fascinating German-speaking Walser settlement, whilst the Swiss section crosses a glacier to reach Zermatt, dominated by the Matterhorn, before taking the impressive Europaweg trail to the spectacular village of Saas Fee. Includes Saas Fee, Zermatt and the Europaweg trail The author Hilary Sharp is a qualified Accompagnateur en Montagne (Trekking Guide).