Details

As the normal route via the Hörnli ridge is quite difficult to find, we strongly recommend that you book a mountain guide even if you're an experienced alpine mountaineer! For safety reasons, the Matterhorn ascent is guided on a 1:1 ratio only.

The best time for climbing the Matterhorn is from July to October. The actual day of your ascent, however, depends on the prevailing snow and weather conditions.

On the day before your ascent you will meet up with your guide at the Hörnli Hut in the early evening hours. After a short night, you will start your ascent early the next morning when it's still dark, between 4am and 5.30am. We reach the summit in a total of about four hours. The descent takes about four hours as well.

Requirements

You will need to acclimatise for several days doing hikes in high altitudes, have a great level of fitness, be comfortable climbing with crampons on rock and ice, and be an experienced rock climber; covering 500 vertical metres per hour in a high-altitude environment isn't a problem for you.
To ensure proper acclimatisation as well as a good level of fitness it is best to undertake intensive training in the surroundings of Zermatt (hiking up between 1,000 and 1,500 vertical metres per day, covering 650 vertical metres per hour)
It is essential that you have a very good level of fitness well before you arrive in Zermatt. You also have to be familiar with alpine rock climbing techniques (grade IV) and with using crampons on snow and ice, both in ascent AND descent.

Please note
As you register, please inform us about the tours you have done so far and which are relevant for ascending the Matterhorn (climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc cannot be compared to climbing the Matterhorn, as there is no rock climbing involved in either of these tours).
The cable car rides are not included in the price. There are special multiple-day passes available; for further information please go to www.matterhornparadise.ch

Equipment

​Crampon-compatible hiking boots with a profiled, stiff Vibram outsole, crampons, hiking/ski pole with basket, ice axe (not for use on the Matterhorn), helmet, head lamp, silk sleeping bag liner for the overnight stay at the Hörnli Hut (available for rent), weatherproof clothing (incl. gloves, hat, and sunglasses).

Equipment checklist

• crampon-compatible hiking boots with a profiled Vibram outsole
• climbing harness
• crampons
• ice axe (not for the Matterhorn ascent)
• helmet
• backpack, approx. 30 litres in capacity
• warm weatherproof clothing
• pair of full-fingered gloves (if possible, also bring a spare pair)
• hat
• headlamp
• sunglasses and sunscreen
• a few high-energy snacks
• thermos flask (hot tea available at the hut) or drinking bottle
• extra set of underwear

In case you don't have your own climbing equipment: everything is available for rent from various sports shops in Zermatt.

Not included on the price

Overnight stay at the hut including half-board for you and your guide (CHF 150.-- per person), equipment, sleeping bag liner, cable car rides Zermatt-Schwarzsee and back.

Please note that safety is always our first priority; therefore, we recommend that you take part in a training tour and obtain your guide's approval even if you are an experienced mountaineer.
In case you have overestimated your abilities and aren't properly prepared for this kind of terrain or are moving too slowly, jeopardizing the safe progress of the tour, your mountain guide may choose to suspend the tour at his/her discretion.